“GET OUT OF HERE, YOU LIAR!” Nate shouts at me. “DON’T EVEN SHOW UP IN ANY OF OUR SHOWS, BECAUSE I SWEAR, I’LL REPORT YOU TO THE POLICE FOR DECEIVING US!”

I back away from him. I’ve never seen him this angry before. For the first time in a long time, I’m scared.

“Nate, please,” I plead.

“Don’t even say my name,” he says through gritted teeth. “Go pack your things and leave us! I don’t ever want to see you again!”

“But—“

“KYLE! ZEKE! LANCE!”

The guys wake up one after the other.

“Can you see we’re sleeping?” Lance complains.

Zeke puts his shirt back on. “What is this all about?”

KY just scowls at me, as if I’m the one who woke him.

Nate points at me. “She lied to us! She’s just pretending to be the real band manager!”

“What?” Lance asks incredulously.

“Get out of here!” KY shouts at me. "We don't need a liar like you!"

*~*~*~*~*

Okay, that didn’t really happen! HAHAHA I was just trying to scare you :P You know me, I like giving tricks every now and then ;)

I enjoyed reading your comments on the previous chapter <3 So thanks, keep them coming! (P.S. It’s much better if you say something about the chapter, rather than “Update soon!”) I hope you’ll like this one.

The song is Talk To Me by Lauren Aquilina. I found the photo on deviantart. Like the Facebook page! Thanks!

Happy Reading! (:

*

“Who are you?” Nate repeats.

“I’m Brielle,” I say, taking the towel off my head.

“You’re not the band manager.”

I drop the towel and with measured voice say, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I’m forcing myself to remain calm, but deep inside my emotions are breaking like a dam. My heart is thumping loudly in my chest. Surely, Nate is just kidding, right? Because there’s no way he can know my secret. I’ve been doing my best to hide it.

“You know what I’m talking about,” he says, walking towards me. The calmness in his voice scares me. The expression on his face is still unreadable; I back away from him.

For the weeks I stayed with the band, he’s the one I’m closest to. The way he looks at me now makes me feel like a stranger.

When my back touches the wall, Nate is just two feet in front of me. He puts his hands on either side of my face; trapping me.

“Who are you?” he says again.

I close my eyes and take deep breaths. I need to accept the fact that I’m already busted. This is the end. I can’t keep pretending to be the band manager anymore. It’s time to come clean.

“I’m sorry,” I start. “I didn’t mean to deceive you.”

“You didn’t?” he asks bemusedly.

“Let me explain,” I say quickly.

He shakes his head, his hands on his face.

“Nate, it’s not what it looks like,” I say quietly.

“Really?” he says in a voice that makes me cringe. “You lied to us!”

“Please let me explain.” I’m afraid the guys will wake up because of this, and then Nate will tell them. They will not let me explain; I won’t have a choice but to leave immediately.

“So that you can give me one of your lies?” he says, glaring at the space beside me. “You know what? I’m tired of it! I thought you were my friend. I didn’t know you were lying at my face. Did you even say something honestly?” He looks at me, and God, I can see the pain in his eyes. “No, forget it!”

His words pierce like a knife through my chest.

His usually cheerful face cannot be painted right now; I hate myself for hurting him. “I can’t believe I trusted a liar like you!” He storms out of the room and goes to the front of the car. A few seconds later, the bus stops.

What did just happen?

Nate found out my secret. I’m sure he’ll tell the guys tomorrow morning. I need to pack my things and say my apologies.

I know from the start that it’s not right to deceive people but I didn’t think rationally and continue to do what I want; not thinking about the consequences that people will get hurt in the process.

I didn’t notice the tears streaming down my face; I wipe them with shaking hands. I don’t even deserve to cry. I brought this doom to myself.

My knees are still shaking, but when I see Nate gets out of the car, I follow him. I must talk to him even if he will not listen.

I forgot to bring a coat; it’s freezing out here. We’re in the middle of the highway; there are no buildings in sight, just land on either side of the road.

“Nate!” I call him.

He whips around; his eyes widen when he sees me. “Stop following me! I need to think.”

“I’m sorry,” I say. I have to walk faster because he has long strides. I need to keep up.

“Leave me alone!”

I touch his arm, and then he stops and turns to face me. He’s looking at my hand on his arm. I quickly let go of him when I see the expression on his face.

Nate takes a deep breath; his eyes are closed. “I have to tell the guys—“

“Please don’t,” I murmur. “I can’t lose this job.”

“I can’t lie to them!”

I bite my lip. What now? Do I have to pack my things already and say goodbye to them?

“Please hear me out. . .”

“Brielle, please go away,” he says, “I won’t tell the guys about what I found out.”

“Thank—“

“Don’t.” The way he looks at me makes me freeze in place. “After a week, I’ll decide what’s best for us.”

A week, I only have a week to make things right.

After a few seconds of staring, I turn around and walk away.

*

“What’s wrong with Nate?” Lance asks.

“I don’t know,” Zeke says.

“Did he argue with Yves?” Lance asks me.

I shake my head.

Now the guys are worried. It’s my entire fault.

After every concert, instead of hanging out with us, Nate goes out all by himself. Maybe the less time he joins us, the lesser the probability of telling them about me and my lies.

He doesn’t even sleep in the bunk next to mine. He rests on the sofa. He probably despise me so much, he doesn’t want to be near me.

Every night I cry myself to sleep. I lost a friend, and a good one at that.

Should I tell them that Nate found out my secret? That I’m just deceiving them?

It will certainly solve the problem.

I’m still gathering my wits to say the truth. Every time I want to confess, I end up stuttering. I want to be the one to tell them; they deserve to hear it from the culprit.

During my day off, a day without a show, I decide to be on my own. It’s been two days since Nate found out, and I haven’t eaten much. Aside from that, I had no one to talk to. Zeke and Lance are busy with their own things, while KY. . . well, he stills acts as if I’m not around when I’m in the same room with him.

I bring my laptop with me, and go to the nearest coffee shop. I call Naomi and ask if we can Skype. I’m glad she doesn’t have a class right now.

“Where are you?” she asks.

“Coffee shop,” I answer.

“Are you alone?” she asks, sounding excited. “Or are the guys with you?”

“I’m alone,” I answer. Fortunately I chose a place in the back corner of the shop.

Naomi looks disappointed. “I thought you’re hanging out with them.”

“Nate found out the truth,” I tell her.

“What?” she asks. “How? When? What did he say?”

“I don’t know how,” I say. It’s still a mystery to me. “I just saw him holding my phone.” After the incident, I checked my phone but I didn’t see anything.

“That’s it? Did you talk to him when he found out?” she asks, a concern expression crossing her face.

“Yes,” I say, “but he’s avoiding me. It’s much harder than KY’s because Nate and I are close. I mean, we used to be close.” I can hear the sadness in my voice. I don’t want to cry again.

I tried talking to Nate multiple times, but he only ignored me. Even during their shows, he didn’t ask for my help.

“What are you going to do now?” she asks.

“I don’t know,” I say honestly. “As of now, Nate is still keeping it a secret.”

“What will you do if he tells the other guys about it?”

I sigh. “I have no choice but to go home.”

Five days, I remind myself, after that I’ll be gone from their lives.

Naomi frowns. “I’m sorry to hear that. I know you like living with the band. If I could, I’ll hug you right now. I know you need it.”

I sniff. She sure can make me cry. “Thanks Yumi.” I’m glad that even though we’re thousands of miles apart, I can still count on her.

I’m tired of being sad so I decide to tell her about what happened before Nate found out my secret.

“Fudge!” Naomi says, her eyes round as saucers. “You kissed Kyle? I mean, you stole a kiss from him while he’s sleeping?”

“Hey, it sounds bad when you say it like that!”

 “It’s the truth!” She hits her laptop with a pillow. I know she meant to hit me. “I can’t believe you’re bold enough to do that.”

“It was an accident,” I explain. “I didn’t mean for it to happen.”

Naomi rolls her eyes. “I know you’re glad that accident happened.”

I bite my lip to stop myself from grinning.

“See?” she says, narrowing her eyes at me. “You liked it!” She shakes her head. “No, you loved it!”

“No,” I deny. “Who would want their first kiss to be like that? Besides, KY doesn’t even know it.”

“It’s his right to know.”

“Are you kidding?” I ask incredulously. “He already hates me! There’s no doubt he’ll kick me out if he finds out!”

“But that’s his lips you kissed.”

“Naomi!” I groan. “I don’t want to lose my job. Please let’s stop talking about it.”

She raises her perfectly arch eyebrow. “Are you sure?” She smiles at me meaningfully. “What does it feel like kissing you’re—“

I close my eyes and put my hands over my ears. “Stop it!”

She laughs. “Okay, okay,” she says amusedly. “I’ll stop teasing you.”

I breathe a sigh of relief.

“Seriously, though, is Kyle's lips—“

“One more word about it, and I won’t introduce you to the band!”

She playfully seals her lips and throws away the key like she used to when we were kids.

“I’ll see you in a few days,” she says, grinning. “Then I’ll meet Infinite Chase! Can you ask Zeke if I can hug him?”

I try not to roll my eyes. If only she knew how the guys asked about her, she’ll be totally thrilled.

“Okay, fine,” I say. “Need to go! See you soon!”

“But you know,” she says before signing off, “at least you get to kiss KY before he found out that you’re lying to him.”

I know Naomi is just trying to make me feel better but I just get sad in the end.

*

Two days later, while I’m observing before the start of the concert, I see someone familiar. When he turns around and face me, I automatically smile.

“Oh my God, Seth, what are you doing here?” I ask, surprised at his unexpected visit.

“I’m around the neighbourhood so I decided to drop by,” he says, grinning. “How are you? It’s been a long time!” He opens his arms, and I don’t even think twice in embracing him.

“Are you alone?” I ask his shoulder.

He nods. “I missed you,” he murmurs in my hair.

I get goose bumps at his touch. He’s warm, and his smell is delicious; not that I want to eat him.

“What are you doing here?”

I pull away from Seth and see KY staring intently at him.

Girls are squealing, of course. If there are no bouncers with him, there’s no doubt they will throw their selves at him.

“Hey,” Seth says. “My dorm is just a half hour away from here—“

“Brielle go back inside,” KY says, interrupting Seth. “They’re looking for you.”

I snap my mouth shut before I can tell him that he’s rude. What’s wrong with him? He’s not moody a while ago.

I turn to Seth. “I’m sorry, but I have to go,” I say.

“It’s alright, I understand,” he says, giving me a smile.

I want to melt.

“Do you want to watch the show?” I ask. “Do you have a ticket?”

“I have a free pass,” he says, getting an ID from his back and raising it in my line of sight.

“Cool!”

“Let’s hang out later?”

“Sure,” I agree.

“Brielle,” KY says impatiently.

I roll my eyes.

“Go ahead,” Seth says amusedly. “I’ll call you later.”

“See you!” I smile one last time and walk back inside the car, with KY following a few steps behind me.

“Don’t forget you’re working for us,” he says.

“Thanks for reminding me every few seconds,” I mutter.

“What did you say?”

“Nothing,” I say, glancing back to see that he’s scowling at me. I look straight ahead.

“Are you making fun of me?”

“Of course not,” I say.

I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. For the past few days, talking to KY makes me tired, like he’s draining all my energy away.

During the concert, I’m just standing where I’m supposed to, and doing everything I’m ordered to. It’s as if I finally know what it’s like to be a robot. Even KY’s voice can’t make me happy right now.

True to his word, Seth waited for me at the end of the show. He stays with the band for a couple of minutes to catch up with them, and then he asks them if it’s alright if he can borrow me for the meantime.

They say it’s okay. Besides, they will have dinner as well. We agree to meet an hour before our departure. We need to get back on the road because they will still have their last show before their vacation.

Seth knows the perfect place to have dinner; we go to an Italian restaurant.

I badly need someone to talk to. I trust Seth, but KY is his cousin. And though it feels like we’ve been friends since high school, I barely know him.

“Hey, are you okay?” he asks.

I nod and force a smile.

“So, how are things with the band?”

“Fine.”

He cocks his eyebrow. “Is there something wrong?” he asks. “Usually you’re excited to chatter about Infinite Chase.”

“I’m just tired, I guess.” I say honestly. “I didn’t expect my job to be this hard.” When I’m with Seth, it feels like I can be honest all the time.

“I suppose it will get better someday,” he says.

Unfortunately, someday might not arrive.

“How’s school?” I ask, because I don’t want the topic to center around me.

Seth sighs. “Actually, I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s stressing me out.”

I smile. It’s unusual to hear him say he’s having a rough day. I see him as a walking rainbow.

“Do you have a girlfriend?” I ask without thinking.

Of course he has. With a handsome face like his, girls are probably waiting at his doorstep every night.

“Why’d you ask? Are you jealous?” he asks, wiggling his eyebrows.

“No,” I say quickly. “I’m just curious.”

“You’re cute,” he says, pinching my cheek. “I don’t have a girlfriend.”

“Are you kidding?”

“No,” he says. “The girl I have a crush on likes someone else.”

“That sucks,” I say. I exactly know what it feels like.

Seth tells me about his funny childhood memories, and asks me about mine. Talking to him is ordinary and normal; we’re not having difficult times switching topics.

“You met my parents?” he says after a while.

“Yeah, your dad is cool.”

“Cool?” he says amusedly. “He’ll be ecstatic when he finds out that you think he’s cool.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you close with Kyle?”

“Used to,” he says, scratching the back of his neck.

“What happened?” I ask, tilting my head to the side.

He shrugs. “We grew up.”

Unfortunately, we only have a limited time. Seth promised that he’ll visit again soon, or we can just meet because he’ll be home after their exam.

After he drops me off, I go back to being miserable. My happiness is short-lived. Now that I’m alone again, I remember that Nate and I are not in good terms.

I decide to stay on the bench beside the bus. I don’t want to go inside yet because I know Nate will just avoid me, and KY will just ignore me.

I sigh as I look at the starless sky.

I only have three days. I should make the most out of it.

“Brielle.”

I stand up when I see Nate walking towards me.

Before, I didn’t have to think twice about my actions towards him. Now, everything is measured. It’s like, I’m reading from a script.

“Hey,” I say quietly.

Will he tell me to pack my things because he’s done making a decision?

“I missed you.”

“I mi—“

Wait, what? What did he say?

“I missed you,” Nate repeats, pulling me in a hug. He ruffles my hair like he used to.

God, I missed this. I missed his teasing remarks. I missed him.

“I’m so sorry for—“

He puts his forefinger on my lips, stopping me from talking. “There’s nothing to forgive,” he says. “I understand why you have to do this.”

“Still, my actions—“

“No, it’s okay,” he says. “I’m sorry for ignoring you. I was planning to stretch it for a week but I couldn’t. I already missed you.”

I push him away to look at his face. “You were never angry?”

“Of course not,” he says, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “How can I be angry with you? It was hard to ignore you! Every time you were near, I wanted to talk to you, but I couldn’t.”

 I bite my lip as tears swim my vision. It was just an act? He was never angry at me?

“I thought you hated me!”

“That will never happen.” Nate pulls me again and puts his arms around me. “Brielle, promise me that you won’t ever lie to me again,” he says.

“I promise.”

Nate lets me go. “How old are you?”

“Twenty,” I answer.

“How did you become the band manager?”

Of course he would ask that. I tell him what happened; I start from the beginning when I found the backstage pass that changed everything.

Nate listens while I talk. After, he asks, “So, you’re not the real band manager?”

“No, I’m not.”

He smiles. “Good.”

“Why?” I ask.

“Because the rule doesn’t apply to you.”

“Which rule?” I ask, raising my eyebrow.

“The band manager can’t fall in love with any member of the band.”