"And your not listening again."

I shook my head and looked back up at my manager. "Ugh I'm sorry Lilly, it's just a lot on my mind."

"Is it something going on with you?" She leaned forward.

I shrugged. "Yes and no."

"Okay Y/n, I'm going to be straightforward for a second." I nodded as she continued. "I've known you for six months now and I can already see the type of person you are. You care about your loved ones a lot, and that's great but, you have to put yourself first sometimes."

I scoffed. "Yeah this isn't the first time I've heard that."

"Because it's true," she reached forward and grabbed my hand. "Hey, your music career is literally just taking off and your not doing anything. I bet you didn't know that four of your songs are on the top ten billboard charts, with Love Lies being at number one. I bet you didn't know that Khalid, Camila Cabello, Kehlani, and Justin fucking Bieber have all called because they want to do a song with you. Shit Y/n I bet you didn't even know that your verified on Twitter."

"Oh shit."

"You told me before that singing has always been your dream, your living it and what? Your focused on everyone else?" She leaned back in her chair. "Now don't get me wrong, I have no clue what's going on or how important it is but, all I ask is that you put yourself first just for one day, and if after that day everything is fine, keep putting yourself first until you reached your limit. But if after that day everything turns to shit then, maybe your not ready to make music."

I bit my lip and looked down at the table. Have I really missed out on all this because I've been taking care of everyone else? It was worth it though, right? I mean Jasmines pregnant I can't exactly let her do that all on her own and Vanessa is literally traumatized, something I can help her get through because I've experienced something similar.

"What are you going to do Y/n?"

I shook my head and sighed. I don't want them to hate me because I promised to be there but, this is my fucking dream.

"I'll still have time for them right?" I asked looking up at her.

She bit her lip. "Okay I'm not your manager right now, I'm your friend. Y/n I really, truly like you. All the other so called "artist" I've managed before were stuck up assholes but you, your genuine and that's either going to fuck you up in the long run or help you out tremendously. Will you have time for everyone else? Definitely. Will you have the same amount of time that you usually do? Definitely not. But it's a risk you have to take if your serious about your career. Like oh my gosh Y/n, plus you can actually sing, do you know how long I've needed you in my life?"

I chuckled. "Apparently for a while."

She nodded. "Yeah, so, what are we doing?" She gripped my hand.

Would it be fair for me to continue my career when I fucked up Jasmines? If I asked her that she'd probably call me a dumbass and tell me to go make music but, she is the master at keeping her emotions a secret.

Put yourself first Y/n.

"Okay, but let's schedule it for a couple days a week."

"Yes!" She threw her hands up. "This is great, so let's talk business first." I nodded. "You missed four interviews, granted they weren't big people but, it would've still been some publicity so that set you back, but this next interview your set up for will boost you so high."

"Yeah? Who is it?"

"Ellen DeGeneres, the lady that makes all the up and coming stars popular."

"Wow, good thing I decided to pick up your call today."

"Yes it is, I would have killed you if you missed this interview." I chuckled. "So the interview is in three days, Friday, and if all goes well we can make up a schedule. Since I like you I'll try my hardest to make your dreams come true and not pull you away from the people that need you."

I smiled softly. "Thank you Lilly."

She winked. "Of course. Now there's someone I want you to meet in about a two to three hours. Her name is Saiyr and-

"Wait, wait, wait, Saiyr from Ceraadi?" I sat up, the butterflies in my stomach going nuts.

Lilly chuckled. "Yes, I'm glad you've heard of her."

"Oh fuck," I placed my hand on my chest as I started to hyperventilate. "She fucking gorgeous."

"Okay don't die before you become famous please, take a breath yeah?"

I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. "Okay," I said exhaling. "I'm back."

"Good," she smiled. "Saiyr wants to go solo because of...drama and I thought, why not pair up two of my favorite people. Saiyr has the experience and you have the popularity, you two will literally be like the dream team."

"And what'll happen after we both blow up and get super famous?"

She shrugged. "Hopefully by then you two will be friends so, if you want to continue to work together then go nuts and if you don't then, that's your decision."

I nodded. "Is she as nice as everyone says?"

"Oh she's a sweetheart, as long as you don't piss her off and get on her bad side."

"Great just, put more pressure on my shoulders."

She chuckled standing up. "Y/n go hang out with your friends or get something to eat and meet me back here at 3:30, you'll be fine okay? She actually loves your music."

I nodded and stood pulling Lilly into a hug. "Your a pretty damn good manager."

"Of course I am, now go," she nodded towards the door. "And don't be late Saiyr doesn't like that."

"Of course she doesn't."

-

Walking into my house I shot my mom a text.

"Quincy my love!"

I heard feet running down the stairs and Quincy ran up to me. "I missed you so much."

I wrapped my arms around him as he jumped up and wrapped his legs around my waist. "Damn baby you getting heavy, might wanna cut back on the bacon."

"I'm getting heavier for you." He kissed my forehead.

"You two are so weird." Vanessa said walking out of the living room.

Quincy laughed and jumped down before ruffling my hair. "We're not weird, we're just in love."

I smacked his butt as he walked away. "Hell yeah we are."

Vanessa chuckled and I looked at her. She looked...dead but, better than she has been looking for the last two days. She hasn't slept for more than three hours and it sucks seeing her like that so, hopefully this is a start to her getting better. I walked up to her and slowly wrapped my arms around her. She rested her head on my shoulder and sighed.

"How was your meeting?" She whispered.

I nodded rubbing her back. "It was cool um," I leaned back and met her eyes. "I wanted to say this for a while but I think you might-"

"Quincy already set me up with a therapist when you were gone," she smiled softly. "He's actually pretty cool."

I felt the weight be lifted off my shoulders as she smiled. Way to go Quinchilla.

I smiled. "Yeah he's the best, did you eat yet?"

"No, I just woke up."

My eyes widened. "How long were you sleep?"

She shrugged and looked down. "About five or six hours."

I gasp. "Look at you, was your nappy time good?" I teased in a baby voice.

She rolled her eyes and chuckled. "It was great actually."

"How'd you..."

She blushed. "I um, slept in your bed, in your hoodie, with your stuffed animal. I think I'm ready to be held while I sleep now, at least by you."

I whooped. "I fucking missed your cuddles."

"Of course you did." She smirked and got out of my arms walking into the kitchen.

Everything's starting to look up. Slowly but surely.

Walking into the kitchen I spotted Quincy and Vanessa laughing. "What do you guys want to eat? I have to leave again in a while but I can eat."

Quincy nodded. "What happened at that meeting?"

"Oh fuck dude, I'm going to be working with Saiyr."

Vanessa gasped. "Saiyr from ceraadi?"

I nodded frantically. "I'm going to be meeting her in about three hours."

"You lucky bitch, id turn straight for her." Quincy said pulling out his phone. "I'm ordering a pizza and your going to pick it up since your meeting the love of my love."

"You literally have Rihanna's and Kehlani's numbed in your phone, miss me with that." I rolled my eyes sitting next to Vanessa.

He bit his lip and nodded. "You right."

I shook my head as he dialed the number to the pizza place.

I pulled out my phone as it dinged.

🤰🏽

I let out a sigh of relief when I read my moms text.

🤰🏽

Looking up at Vanessa, I smiled. "You ready to be cuddled hard as fuck tonight?"

She laughed. "The way your worded that sounded so wrong."

I chuckled. "How?"

"Ohh you ready to be cuddled hard as fuck tonight?" She mocked in a deep voice putting emphasis of fuck.

I nodded slowly. "Okay, when you say it like that."

She nodded. "Mhm."

"Okay Y/n, go pick up the pizza." Quincy said walking back up to the island.

"What the hell type of pizza gets cooked that fast?"

"It'll be done in about ten minutes but the pizza place is a fifteen minute drive from here so, leave now."

I rolled my eyes and stood up. "You just don't want me here," I pouted and pecked Vanessa's forehead. "I'll be back."

Walking out of the kitchen I heard Quincy mumble. "See, I told you I could get her to pay for our food."

Wow.

Getting into my car, I started it up, connected my phone to the Bluetooth, and pulled out of the driveway. Hm, my moms not home so maybe I should...

My thoughts get cut off by my phone ringing. I pressed accept and my eyes widened when I heard, her voice.

"Um, hey Y/n."

I glanced at the radio and saw Summers name.

"What's up?"

"I um, know we haven't talked for a while-"

"Yeah because you ignored all of my calls," I rolled my eyes. "But continue."

"Y/n I'm sorry okay and when I get back I promise I'll-"

"Don't bother Summer, what do you want?"

The phone went silent for a second and then I heard her sigh. "What's going on with Vanessa?"

I frowned. "Um, what do you mean?"

"I mean she's been acting weird on the phone, I can tell she's hiding something from me."

"You mean you don't know?"

"Don't know what Y/n?"

I sighed. "She obviously didn't tell you for a reason so neither am I, all I'm going to say is that she probably needs you more now than she ever has."

"It's that serious?" She whispered.

"However bad your imagining it to be, multiple that by ten."

"Shit," she cleared her throat. "Thanks Y/n I'll um, ask her about it."

"Actually don't, she doesn't need to re live what happened right now because I think she's getting better and I don't want her to have a set back. Just, if your going to call her, pretend everything's fine and talk to her like normal."

"Yeah, okay I'll do that."

I pulled into the pizza place and shook my head. Damn, I must've been speeding.

"How have you been?"

I scoffed and shook my head. "I've been great, I actually have to go so."

"Oh, okay yeah um, I'll talk to you whenever."

"Doubt that." I mumbled and then hung up the phone.

Dammit, now I feel bad.

Glancing at my phone I shook my head. Don't call her back, she deserves to know how pissed you are.

I nodded and then frowned. I deadass really talk to myself. Getting out of the car I walked into the pizza place. "Hi, I'm here to pick up a pizza."

"Sure, whats the name?" The man behind the counter asked.

Shit, I knew I forgot something. "Um, either Y/n or Quincy."

He looked down at the computer and shook his head. "Nope, I don't see anyone by that name."

I sighed. "One second."

I quickly pulled out my phone and called Quincy. Smiling at the lady behind me I stepped to the side. "You can go."

"Gello?"

"Gello? What- never mind, what name did you use for the pizza?"

I heard him and Vanessa laugh through the phone. "I-It's daddy." He said and started to laugh harder along with Vanessa.

"You two are so damn childish." I rolled my eyes and hung up the phone.

I walked back up to the counter. "Sorry um, pick up for...daddy."

The man smiled and nodded. "Yup here's daddy," he turned around and grabbed two pizzas. "Enjoy."

I blushed and handed him the money before taking the pizza. "Thanks, you too."

I turned and walked out of the pizza place. I stopped in my tracks as my eyes widened.

Did I say you too? He's not eating a fucking pizza, what the hell Y/n?

I quickly climbed into my car and groaned. I'm going to kill Quincy. Starting up my car I pulled off.

I turned on them radio and tapped on the steering wheel as I passed a familiar street. Maybe I should make a little detour. I slowed down my car and bit my lip. Kill two birds with one stone? My moms not home and neither is Travis so...

Fuck it.

I made a, very illegal, U- turn and drove back down the street making a quick right. My heart sped up and I drove down the street I grew up on. I eventually came to a stop outside of my old house and let out a deep breath.

Let's do this before the pizza gets cold.

Killing the engine, I got out of my car and walked up the driveway, passing the familiar black car. I stopped at the front door and knocked. My heart started to beat faster than it does when I see Vanessa smile, and that's saying something.

I heard a lock turn and the door knob rattle before the door was pulled open.

"Hey dad."

-

"Wow, my long lost, very famous, daughter." He held that same smirk on his face that's terrified me for years. "Why are you here?

"I just, need a favor."

He let out a spine chilling laugh. "You, need a favor from me? Oh shit this is gold, come on in." He stepped to the side and I cautiously walked in. He shut the door behind me and walked into the kitchen. "You want a beer?"

"Nah I'm good," I crossed my arms. "I don't want to be here longer than I have to so let me get straight to the point."

"Ohh someone grew a pair, if only you were this aggressive when I had you dealing for me." He chuckled pulling a beer out of the fridge and cracking it open.

I rolled my eyes. "Charlie Windor, you still hate him right?"

"Of course I do."

"Well I need you to... I don't know handle him."

My dad... Eddie, laughed. "You want me to kill him?"

"Something like that."

"Why should I risk my life just to do something for you?" He squinted.

"He might try and hurt me and a friend of mine, I can't have that."

He raised a brow. "Okay let me rephrase that, why would I risk my life for you?"

My heart dropped and I shook my head. "This won't only benefit me, he's your competition and if you don't do something about him, those cops that you have on your payroll will go bye bye," I leaned forward. "And when that happens, I can either go to the cops and have you put away forever or, I could go to him and have you, well, killed."

He sat his beer down and scoffed walking around the table and up to me. "Are you threatening me Y/n?"

I gulped and nodded. "Yeah, I am."

"First, I don't need the cops to get away with stuff, that's why I have men with big guns and second, you just said he's coming after you, how would you get him to off me?"

I shrugged. "Oh come on, Eddie, you've seen my name everywhere, I'm getting more popular and soon enough paparazzi will be following me everywhere. Those facts that I just told you could lead to a couple of things, first," I stood up straighter. "With me becoming more known I could just expose you, you and I both know you don't have enough money to keep that from happening, thanks to Charlie. Second, you can't try and have your "men with big guns" kill me," I scoffed and rolled my eyes.

"Because with that fame comes people watching my every move, so even when I don't want to be watched, I'll still be watched and whether you succeed in killing me or not, people are going to find out. And like I said before, you don't have enough money to protect yourself or all the guys you'd have try and kill me." I smirked.

"That alone will lead to more problems especially if the guys you had try and kill me get caught. You won't be able to pay to protect them which will lead to you eventually dying but, that's another scenario. So finally, like you said, if he's coming for how will I get him to kill you? Well, the more famous I get, the more money, and the right amount of money can make anyone do anything," I shrugged. "So, the balls in your court, father, off him for me and get your money up so you can try and protect yourself when I inevitably come for you. Or just give up because now that I think about it, I can really get anyone to "handle" Charlie for me," I patted his shoulder and walked pass him. "Think about it Eddie, great seeing you again by the way," I stopped with my hand on the door knob and looked over my shoulder to see him glaring at me. "Oh and, if I were you, I'd be very careful around my mother."

I walked out of the house and slammed the door behind me. Once I got into my car I let out a deep breath and chuckled.

Who the hell was that?