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Heartstopper(22)

By:Lauren Landish


After the cops come by, we go back in the club, where we're both treated  to a standing ovation and cheer from the patrons-the story's spread  that fast. "See, brother?" Nathan says, patting me on the back. "Take  out the trash, and the people love you!"

It's just after midnight when I walk into my apartment. I know I look  like hell. I'm wearing another torn shirt, and I've got a bruised hand  to go with my busted lip. Icing it helped some, but I'm going to look  strange in the office tomorrow.

As I step into the living room, I surprise Sophie, who quickly flips her  tablet face down on the sofa. "Jake," she says, jumping up, her eyes  looking furtive and nervous. "I didn't know you'd be back so early."

I'm sure I just caught her doing something, but my brain is too  overloaded to consider what it could have been. "It's after midnight,  Soph. What were you doing?"

Sophie's guilty look makes me more curious as she shifts from side to  side. "I was just watching this gross video. You know, girl stuff,  disgusting, really. You wouldn't wanna see it."

I can tell she's lying, but I'm too exhausted and emotionally drained to  push the issue. Instead, I remind myself to keep a closer eye on her.  "Well, you've got school tomorrow."

Sophie squints her eyes, peering at me. "Jake, your lip . . . what the hell happened to you?"

I shrug, not wanting to go into it. "Just some club business. Roughed up some douche."

"What the fuck?" Sophie asks, shocked. "Jake, you got into a fight?"

I shake my head. "Remember when I said I got drugged? Same asshole came in tonight, trying the same angle on some girl."

Sophie grins, going into the kitchen to return with a popsicle, which she hands to me. "Glad you got him."

I take the frozen treat gratefully. "I am, too. We already called the  police, and the girl he'd been stalking tonight gave a statement. His  ass is going down for a while."

I put the popsicle against my lip, sitting down on the couch. I pat the  spot beside me, saying nothing when Sophie moves her tablet out of the  way. She sits, curling her leg underneath her, and I give her a lopsided  smile. "So what's been going on with you?"

"Oh, you know, just school work, the usual," Sophie says. "Oh, I got a B on that test you were hyping me on."

"Did you? That's great," I reply, feeling a little bit bad. I haven't  been able to spend as much time with Sophie as I'd like. I've been so  busy with the club, and when I have been home, I've been distracted so  often by thoughts of Roxy. "And you're getting along well?"

"It's okay, really. I mean, I've been thinking of joining the track  team, so I've been able to get along, make some new friends."

Track, huh? That is new for Sophie. "Well, I want you to know that I  love you and as soon as I get a hole in my schedule, we're gonna do  something special."

That makes Sophie grin, and she gives me a hug. "Oh, thank you, Jake! You know, I was really hoping you could take me to-"

Before she can answer, there's a buzz on my phone. "One sec," I say,  holding up finger. I pull out my phone to see a text from Roxy."

Fuck it. I'm in. Next week?         

     



 

"What's that?" Sophie asks curiously.

I shake my head. I knew she couldn't resist. I'll get that spark to  ignite in her if that's the last thing I do. I quickly hit reply.

I knew you'd pull thru. Incidentally, we caught that creep. He won't be  spiking anymore drinks. Talk details tomorrow at the club, nine thirty.

Buzz.

Thank God. I owe u 1. 9:30 OK.

"Jake?"

"Just some club business," I half-lie to Sophie, sitting back and  relaxing on the couch with a satisfied sigh. I wrap my arm around her  shoulder. "Now, where were you saying you wanted to go? I'm thinking  Sunday would be a great time for some ‘us' time."





Chapter 16





Roxy





"Lalalala . . . la la lah lah-la," I sing, doing my vocal exercises to  open my throat. Standing in front of the mirror in my room, I know I  look stupid, but it's what I have to do. Ever since agreeing to perform,  I've been getting my voice in shape, torturing Hannah and Mr. Felix  with my late night and early morning exercises.

I'm going to have to change into my outfit soon. It's my first night  where I perform my own set, and I'm feeling the nerves. "Mimimimimi . . .  eeeeoooahhhchchch-" I cough and start choking a little. I pushed that  last low note a little lower than I really needed to. "Fuck."

"Damn, girl, sounds like you're gargling a mouthful of cock," jokes  Hannah. "Keep that up and Mr. Felix might decide to attack. He's about  to lose it in here. He's rolling around and giving me faces."

Going to the door, I look over to see Mr. Felix mean mugging me, looking  like he wants to scratch my face off. I've already learned to avoid  making the ‘ssss' sound with my vocal exercises if he's around. The last  time I did it, he hissed back and nearly clawed my leg to pieces. This  time, though, it helps. I place my hands on my hips and throw my head  back and laugh. "Oh, I so needed that, thank you. I can't believe I'm so  nervous!"

Hannah chuckles. "If it helps, I am too. Still can't believe you agreed to do this, but at the same time, I'm happy for you."

I'm excited. I still can't believe I'm getting to do it again. I'd given  up on it. And I know I shouldn't have accepted Jake's offer because of  everything it entailed, but being up there on stage brought me back to  life. That place in my spirit I thought I'd lost forever is back.

"Thank you, Hannah. And thank you for being there tonight."

"Don't thank me, just please don't sound like this on stage? The free drinks can only go so far."

I laugh and go get ready. I already know exactly what outfit I want to  wear. It was the same one I wore for my best performance ever at  Trixie's. With a frilly, lightweight skirt that'll flare some when I  spin and a sparkly red top that hugs my curves, I feel sexy. I pull up  the thigh-high sheer stockings and boots that complete the outfit,  giving myself a once-over in the mirror. "Oh, yeah," I tease, shaking my  hair side to side. "I'm gonna have them in the palm of my hand!"

You know what you want in the palm of your hand . . . and in your mouth,  my inner voice says, and I blush, thinking about it. Kinda shaped like a  microphone too, with a long, hard shaft and a flared head that you want  to . . .

I curse myself to focus on the task at hand. Just as I finish lacing up  my left boot, my phone rings. Checking, I see it's Mindy. "Hey, babe!"

"Ooh, someone sounds excited. What's going on?" Mindy asks. I bite my  lip. I haven't told anyone about this, but Mindy's always been  supportive of me.

"Well, I'm getting ready for an event," I answer.

"Oh? Who're you going to see? I'm glad you're going out to have some fun."

"Uh, it's for me," I say nervously, holding my breath while I wait for her to reply. "Min?"

"Roxy, I'm so happy for you!" Mindy exclaims, and I feel relief rush  over me. "I always thought your totally giving up singing was too much.  So tell me, what's the gig?"

"Nothing big, just a local nightclub," I reply. "It's a bigger place  than Trixie's, but really, it's just a once a week little gig. About an  hour total."

"Just a little gig," Mindy mocks me, laughing. "So you're going to tear  up the stage and break hearts for an hour. Remember, I've heard you.  You're gonna have everyone eating out of the palm of your hand."

"Yeah, I guess so."         

     



 

Mindy laughs. "Come on, don't be nervous. Just go out there, Rox the place out, and tell me all about it tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay. I promise, we'll Skype tomorrow or something."

From out in the other room, Hannah yells. "Move your fat ass! You're gonna be late!"

Mindy laughs. "Yeah, you two match up. Okay, Roxy, love you. Talk to you later."

"Love you too. Bye."



Club Jasmine is packed, with cars stretching all the way down the street  from the overflow lot. The line out the front is enormous, and I'm so  thankful that Jake arranged for Hannah and me to be brought around the  back.

"Nice to see you again, Miss Price," John the security guy says. "And you too, Miss Fowler."

"John, I'm beginning to feel like you're my personal bodyguard around  here," I joke, trying to allay my nerves. It's not working. I can feel  my chest get tight and I'm starting to pant.

"Hey, Rox?" Hannah says, patting me on the shoulder. "Just relax. Get it together. You got this shit."

"It's harder than I thought it would be," I say. "It's been so long since I did a real show."

"If it helps, I think you have an amazing voice," John says as he passes  Hannah's keys to the valet. "You'll do just as well tonight as you did  before."