Jaded (Rock Star Trilogy)

she would have just stayed home with me, this wouldn't have happened!”
    “Calm down,” Stephan interjects for me. “If anything, Scarlett helped her. She got her help.”
    “She wouldn't have needed help if she wasn't with her . I knew it was a bad idea to send my sweet, innocent child with this... this... whore .”
    Her comment hurts, but I've heard worse from the tabloids. I know that she's just mad right now, and once she calms down that she will regret what she said. Unfortunately, Stephan doesn't feel the same way. As soon as the word whore leaves her lips, I see Stephan's arm goes up. I know that he is about to punch her, but there isn't anything I can do.
    Everything is going in slow motion, yet so fast at the same time. I know that Stephan's fist is about to connect with her face. Before his fist connects with Mary's face, Rick steps in front of his wife, taking the hit for her.
    When Stephan's fist hits Rick's face, I literally hear bones crunch. Rick falls backwards onto the ground. I hear myself gasp as he hits the ground.
    Rick sits up, and I'm thankful the hit didn't knock him out, but his jaw is already swelling and hit lip is bleeding.
    “You!” I hear Mary. She goes to put her finger in Stephan's chest, but Rick pushes her back.
    “You've caused enough trouble,” he tells her. It's hard to understand him because his face is so swollen. He then turns to us. “You should leave. I won't press charges. Scarlett, you can come back in the morning.”
    Mary huffs beside him. “She can not come back.”
    “Mary,” he says, a little more firmly. “Bridgett is 19 years old. You can't keep her away from her sister . This would've happened whether she was home or here, and you know it.”
    “Thank you, Mr. Evans,” I tell him. I grab Stephan's arm, and pull him away. He doesn't want to budge at first, but finally, he turns and comes with me.
     
    As Stephan and I walk to my car, he is silent. The silence is awkward, and I am not sure what I am supposed to say. He is still fuming. Once we get to the car, Stephan takes my keys.
    “I'm driving.”
    I look at my Lamborghini, and then at him. I'm so grateful he offered to drive, because I realize I can't. I'm still in emotional shock from what just happened. I hand him the keys, and he opens the passenger side door for me.
    Once I'm side, he shuts the door, walks around the car, and gets in the driver's side. He turns to me, and smiles sadly. “I'm sorry about what she said.”
    I shrug. “I've heard worse.”
    “But this is different. She's your sister's mom. She's basically family. It has to hurt to hear that.”
    I nod. “Yeah, a little, but she was mad. I know she didn't really mean it. She just said it in the heat of the moment.”
    He grips the steering wheel tight.
    “By the way, thank you.”
    “For what?” he asks.
    “For standing up to me. I've never had anybody punch somebody for me. It was kind of hot ,” I admit.
    He laughs, and then starts the car. “Scarlett, you are crazy.”
    “Crazy can be fun.”
    He nods his head. “ Yes , it can be.”

Sunday, October 4
    6:51 am
    Before I change my mind.
     
    The next morning, I am woken up by somebody ringing my doorbell obsessively. I roll over and look at the time on my phone and groan. It's Sunday, and visiting hours at the hospital aren't until nine. I hope it's not Ethan and Stephan waking me up for early morning surfing again.
    When I open the front door, I am surprised to see Bridgett's mom, Mary, standing there. Immediately, I panic.
    “Oh my god... Is Bridgett... Is she ok?”
    “Yes, she's fine. The doctor says she is going to make a complete and healthy recovery.”
    “Thank God.” I sigh of relief, and step back. “Do you want to come inside?”
    “No,” she shakes her head. “I just came by to ask you to leave.”
    Her words hit me hard. “No way. I'm not leaving my sister. I just found her.”
    “Go back to California, Scarlett. You don't belong here. You are a negative influence on Bridgett,” she is begging me. “She is better off without you.”
    Her words hurt me, because maybe she's right. If she would have been with her parent's they would have known the signs to look for. Maybe they could have prevented this from happening.
    “You know it's true,” she continues. I think she knows she is getting to me. “Just leave, and give Bridgett a shot at a normal life. The normal life that you will never have. You chose the path for your life, let her chose