Page 88 of Play Me

I stand up, facing her, the frustration taking a hold of me.

“So Gemma lied about being an undercover pap. Now you tell us you lied about fucking half the band. Maybe you’re lying now, Hailey! What’s the truth? What am I supposed to believe?”

“I’m not. I promise you, I’m not. I...”

“You’re what, Hailey? You’re going to have to give me something, or else you need to leave. Were you trying to score with Sebastian or not? Or is everything you’ve just told us to cover your own ass?”

“I’m GAY!” Hailey shouts and stands up, her eyes glistening, “I am gay,” she repeats, her voice softer.

“What?” I stare at her.

“I have absolute no interest in Seb or the band or any man for that matter. I am gay and I always have been.”

And the revelations just keep coming. I sit back and watch her for a second. She’s trembling and I wonder how many times she’s had to tell someone what she’s just told us.

“Do the guys know?” I ask.

“Yes. And they were sworn to secrecy. I’ve known them half my life...they know everything about me, and yes, they know I’m gay. And they know that it’s up to me if I want someone to know or not.”

And then it dawns on me.

“So Sebastian...”

“Was just keeping his word to me.”

“Even if...”

“Even if it meant losing you, yes.”

The news doesn’t make it any easier.

“But it was never about choosing between you and me. It was about keeping his word. He doesn’t have anything if not his integrity. You should know that. But I can’t do that to him. Keeping my secret can’t be the reason that he loses you.”

“But...why did you say all that stuff to Gemma?” Sarah comes up behind me, trying to find her own answers.

“I don’t know. I guess I just felt like she was starting to get an inkling, and in some twisted way I wanted her to think I was cool. I haven’t had a lot of female friends and I guess I just wanted her to like me. I had no idea that she was really just using me the whole time.”

“Oh, Hailey.” I can’t help but feel for her. Living the life she does, mixing with famous people, never really knowing who to trust.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I’m sorry about the pictures, I’m sorry about you and Sebastian, but I’ll do anything I can to fix it.”

“You’re...not in love with Sebastian?” I have to ask, one last time.

“No. I love him like a brother, like I do all of them, but nothing else.”

“And you didn’t have anything to do with the pictures?”

“Other than bringing that lowlife into our circle? No, I promise.”

And I believe her.

“ OK.”

“I’m sorry, Cadence.”

“I believe you, Hailey. I accept your apology. I’m sorry it came to this.”

“What’s going to happen between you and Sebastian?” She asks after a few minutes of silence, as we all are lost in our thoughts.