FANGIRLS

It's gruesome to watch it all over again, but Jessica Lynn hasn't fully processed what happened. Rewatching her video recording of the concert is the only way to confirm it's real. Spurred on by horror and fascination, she presses play.

Yup there it is. Sky singing, looking great, then ten seconds later, splat! On the ground, flopping around like a done for fish. Everyone runs to his side and then the video stops. Mainly because Jessica Lynn got freaked out. She was about to end the video when the girl in front of her, who was flipping out worse than her, jostled her arm. Hence, causing Jessica Lynn to drop her beloved iPhone. And to top it off, the hysterical chick stepped on it as well. Now, Jessica Lynn is stuck watching the tail end of her video with a busted screen. Poor Sky. Her poor damn iPhone. More than one heartbreaking experience has gone on tonight.

"Turn it off. I can't stand it." Erin moans from the foot of Jessica Lynn's bed. Judging by her Requiem for a Dream fetal position, she's also sustained emotional turmoil from the night's debacle. After Sky's horrible collapse, everyone was rushed out of the amphitheater. The damn venue managers left the audience gypped, confused, and traumatized. The girls had driven back to her house to cope with the aftermath.  

"Sorry," Jessica Lynn says. She gently sets her damaged cell next to her.

"I'm having a hard time dealing. I mean, do you think he—"

"Of course, it was drugs, JL. We've been over this." Amber snaps from her position on the bedroom floor.

"Maybe he has a heart condition or something," Jessica Lynn says, ignoring her friend's pessimism. 

Erin lights up slightly at this possibility.

"Yeah, he could—"

"God, how can you both be so naïve!" Amber hisses at them. "He's a rock star. They shoot up all the time."

"Not Sky." Erin's denial is small, unsure of its own validity.

"All of them do it. Face the facts. The Dante boys are as fucked up as everyone else."

"Why are you being so mean? Granted, we're all upset, but why are you snapping at us?" Jessica Lynn asks.

"Because I'm not like you two. I'm not going to sit around and pretend some beautiful, ideal reality has been shattered. Nothing was perfect to begin with."

Without further ado, Amber storms out of the room.

"Jesus. What the hell is wrong with her?" Erin says.

"She'll calm down soon. It'll take some time, but she'll be fine."

But Amber is not fine, and she's not going to calm down any time soon. These thoughts race through her as she bursts out Jessica Lynn's front door—but then she stops dead in the driveway, wondering where she's going to go with her pent up anger. She can't stop thinking about how stupid this whole concert, this whole night, has been. How stupid she is.

Because it's been pointless. Her humiliation and self-loathing, breaking up with Adam, none of it matters. Not. One. Damn. Bit. Not after the way tonight ended because Amber's a damn liar. Tonight did mean something to her, a beautiful dream has been shattered. The idea things would work out in the end and be okay if they could see the guys. To see her favorite band and at least be able to say she got something out of what she did.

It was supposed to be a "win-win," according to Sandy. And what does she have, what has she gained? Before she's fully aware of it, Amber's picking up her phone and dialing his number. She's fuming by the time Sandy picks up.

"Hello."

"You bastard."

"Hmm. This is either my ex-wife or one of my many other admirers calling."

"It's Amber."

Silence. She can't fucking believe it.

"Adam's g—Adam's friend. Of Freaky Ferret."

"Why hello Lovely Lips. Huh. Freaky Ferret. They do need to change their name, don't they? Any suggestions?"

"Cut the shit, Sandy. You promised me."

"Promised what?"

"The Dante's Inferno concert. You promised my friends and I would get to see them perform."

"Yeah, I heard about that. But oh no, honey. I made no promises. Only that I'd get the tickets. I can't help it if that St. James kid has Sniff-It syndrome. He's a hardcore cokehead, in case you hadn't heard."

"I want..." What does she want? Why did she call this creep in the first place?

"You want what? A refund on your alleged chastity? Sorry. There's no getting that back."

"Go to hell!" Amber screams into the phone but Sandy merely laughs.

"Okay. See you there."

Amber doesn't get to fire back, hearing the definitive click.

He's gone, just like that.

And he's taken her self-worth with him.

*** Sandy's washed his hands clean of the whole situation, but how will Amber get by now? And what's happening with Sky?!

Feel free to discuss in the comments, and find out Thursday!

https://youtu.be/AM_liRkPwdg