"Collin... Collin. Collin!" I finally opened my eyes when my manager started to shake my shoulders. I gently removed my headphones as I stared at the microphone in front of me.

I could still feel sorrow and shame weighing down on my chest, and the only comfort I found was in the acoustic guitar in my lap.

"That was really good, Collin," he smiled at me, though I just felt numb. "We could really feel the emotions in your words when you sang. I think Gravity is going to be our best seller yet!"

"Yeah," I replied unenthusiastically, plucking lightly at my strings to try to fill the void in my heart. I felt so empty and hollow. It was as if all of that water was pushing down on my chest again, but because Dom had taken away some of its weight in the few days we had known each other, it came crashing down even harder.

God, at this rate, Dominik was going to inspire me to write another song.

It had been a week since I last saw him, and with the deadline for my song fast approaching, I had finally willed up the courage to get into the studio and record it.

"I think I'd like to go back home now,"  I said as I placed the headphones over the microphone and unplugged my guitar.

"Of course," my manager thankfully did not argue. I texted Harry to pull up the car and packed up my guitar when he said, "Let me walk you out."

Great. That meant there were reporters waiting for me outside.

Steeling myself as my manager led me out to the lobby, I erased any emotion from my face and took a deep breath.

Some of the body guards hired to protect me were busy pushing the crowd back and trying to clear a path to the awaiting car.

Just wanting to get it over with, I sighed and pushed open the door.

"Collin, Collin! What do you say in response to the statements of Ms. Tina Ellis?"

Who?

"Collin! Are the rumors true?"

What rumors?

"Collin! Are you going to keep the child?"

I stopped in my tracks. What child? What the hell is going on?

I turned in the direction of whoever had asked the question. "What do you mean, child? What's this about?"

"You-" the reporter started to speak but was cut off by a highly annoying feminine voice.

"Collin, I've been trying to reach you all day, baby."

I turned around and nearly groaned at the sight of the crazy girl from the bar.

"What are you talking about? I don't know you," I growled out in annoyance.

"Don't say that, baby," she pouted and placed a protective hand on her stomach. "It came back positive, Colly Flower. You're going to be a father."

"Ha. That's funny, because I never slept with you."

"Don't tell me you don't remember," she whined like the little lying bitch she was.

"Oh, I remember the night we met just fine, and can say with full confidence that I never slept with you."

"You were drunk," she summoned tears to her eyes.

"I wasn't that drunk," I growled, then continued with, "And even if I was, I know for a fact I still wouldn't have slept with you."

She gasped theatrically, "Don't lie, baby. Don't lie when you know it's true."

"You may be pregnant, but I know for a fact that I'm not the father. And you want to know how I know that?" I asked, months of pent up frustration leaking through my voice. Without stopping to think about what I was doing, I looked into the cameras and said, "Because I am whole heartedly and 100% gay."

The reporters went nuts, cameras flashing and questions spewing like there was no tomorrow.

"I'd be happy to take a paternity test once the child is born to prove I am not the father, because I am definitely not."

I threw a sideways glance at my manager who was positively fuming and looked like he was about to murder someone... probably me.

I looked over the crowd and said, "My label has been covering up my sexual orientation by arranging fake relationships with models, singers, and actresses I have not spoken more than three words to. They think that by coming off as a straight player, I will sell more albums. I say it doesn't matter whether I like girls or guys, and that if you are truly a fan of my music, you would listen to it either way. Don't prove me wrong. I'm done hiding who I am."

Everyone seemed to be stunned into a sort of silence after my little confession.

After a few moments, I added, "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some apologies to make to the man I fell in love with."

And with that, I opened up the car, door and slipped inside. I made a few calls to the right people, finding out in only a few minutes where the White Russian called home.

I'm sorry, Dominik.

But I'm not letting you go that easily.

×××

A/N

One more chapter to go!

-Anon