Where the Rhythm Takes You by Sarah Dass

Author:Sarah Dass
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Published: 2021-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

Twenty

Even before my phone chimed, I awoke with a sinking sense of dread. Sunlight sliced through the gaps of the curtain and shot past my lowered eyelids, boring right into my brain. I rolled over, burying my face in the pillow. My head throbbed viciously, memories of the night before returning with cringe-inducing clarity.

I snatched my phone off the bedside table. Olivia had sent a ton of messages overnight.

Ok. I just want to say I get it now. Aiden playing the steelpan is HOT!?!

Sorry. I messaged that before I saw the end.

Are you ok???

I’m so sorry. call me

I let the phone drop and dragged myself to the shower. The night before, I’d fallen right into bed. Remains of the party lingered on my body—my hands sticky, my tongue tainted by a bitter, sugary taste. The scent of dried sweat, sweetened fruit, and alcohol permeated my hair and clothes. I wanted to stay in the shower forever, let the hot water wash away the feeling of grime and humiliation stuck to my skin.

I didn’t want to talk to Olivia. Or anyone.

For a flicker of a moment, while Aiden had been playing that song, I’d thought maybe. It was foolish. Apparently, all it took was one sliver of kindness from him to turn me into a fool. What was it going to take for me to realize everyone moved on except for me?

It wasn’t until later, after I’d gotten out of the shower, dressed, and grabbed breakfast, it hit me.

How did Olivia know about Aiden playing the steelpan in the first place?

“I want it on the record, it was not my fault this time,” Fish announced to the office.

“Not now.” Hailee yanked him into the seat next to her. “That’s really not important at the moment. Don’t you think?”

She tipped her head toward Eliza, who stood near the door.

A guest had filmed Aiden and Eliza last night. They’d captured the performance and the kiss, and posted it online. It took no time at all for it to start trending. In less than twelve hours, the video raked in more than a million views, spreading faster and generating more buzz than any of Eliza’s posts ever did. Eliza hadn’t said more than a handful of words the entire morning, her phone glued to her hand.

She was upset. They all were.

Sympathy bled through my numbness. I’d taken a peek at the comments earlier. It wasn’t pretty. When Aiden and Eliza’s rumored relationship was page three of the comments section on a gossip blog, no one paid attention; now their kiss was E! News headlines, people had something to say. Aiden’s fans, in particular, were the most vocal of all.

No one would even know who she was if it wasn’t for her sister.

Talentless—did you hear she’s actually trying to get big movie roles now? Not a chance in hell.

She’s not even pretty. At all. Not without makeup on.

It was sexist. And cruel. No one said a word against Aiden. Just Eliza.

It was probably a good thing Aiden and I had never worked out then.

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