"You bitch!" I feel a hard smack across the left side of my face.

Yes, one of the many perks of being a famous star involved in Hollywood's "Most Dramatic Scandal Ever."

Don't worry, I'll tell you the full story. Every little detail on how I went from a loser in her small town to one of the world's most famous pop artists.

First, we have to go back to the beginning of this year.

JANUARY 2023

"Estella," a loud scream forces me to jump up out of my twin sized bed in my parent's dusty, old basement.

Yes, I am that girl. The one who still lives with her parents. The one who wasted her time going to college to get a degree in Political Science. I despise political science. Why did I do that to myself?

That's beside the point. You're here for the story of how I became famous, not the one about how I still live in my childhood home.

I know what you're thinking. Look at me. I'm a mess. My pink ripped overalls lying on my bedroom floor. Hundreds of crumpled up pieces of paper lying on the hardwood floor. Empty water bottles sitting on my bedside table.

The truth is: I am a mess. I thought that at 25 years of age I would have a family by now. I never expected to be back in Hillsdale, Michigan living with my parents. Now, don't get me wrong. I love my parents. It's just, I expected more of myself.

I went to the University of Michigan and kept a solid 3.8 GPA. I could have applied to law schools, but I eventually came to realize that law was not my passion in life.

That passion would be reserved for music. What a pipe dream. I currently work at a local music store where we host open mic nights once in a blue moon. The next one happens to be tonight. Our mic nights are fairly popular. We have about 20 or 30 people show up – 40 if we're really lucky. Sometimes, if I can, I get up and perform.

"Estella!" My mom barges down to the basement. "Have you seen the news?"

"What news?" It's untelling what the news of the day will be. Here in Hillsdale, you never know.

"Ryan's back in town."

My face drops at the news. Whatever I was expecting, it sure as hell wasn't that.

Ryan Davies. The cute, curly-headed boy. Those big brown eyes that draw you in so easily. Oh, and, my ex-fiancé of 5 years. He ditched me for New York City for his career.

"Stell," my mom pats my shoulder gently, "Did you hear me?"

"Yes," I let out a sigh that I had no clue I was holding back, "I thought he was in New York for that publishing gig."

"I think he was, but Mindy got sick. I guess he felt like he had to come back and help her."

Mindy Davies was Ryan's lovely mother. She got diagnosed with lung cancer a few weeks back. Mindy's all by herself, so it makes sense for Ryan to come back.

"Poor Mindy," I look at my mom, "She has to deal with the spawn of Satan."

My mom lets out a small laugh. "Stell, I know Ryan broke you, but you don't have to see him. I'm sure he won't be out in town much."

I nod. "I have to go set up for open mic night," I give my mom a quick hug and go to pick up my tiny pink purse.

The thing I love the most about living in Hillsdale is that I get to walk everywhere. Cars are expensive and overrated. The walk to the store takes about 10 minutes and is my favorite time of the day.

"Oh, excuse me," I hear an oddly familiar voice say as I open the door and a man bumps right into me.

I see those big brown eyes and curly hair. Oh no. I know exactly who that familiar voice was.

"Ryan?" I let out a gasp.