"So what if I don't have,
A lot to talk about?
I shut my mouth and keep it,
Locked until it counts." -Be Alone

Every part of my body tensed, and I felt my hands instinctively ball into fists, clenching with each strain of the muscle. A proposition, Mike had just said. There was a part of me that was undeniably curious, but I knew I had to understand what I was getting myself into first. I was quite aware of the blood running through my ears at an almost deafening volume.

"Lacey?" Mike asked again, making me shake my head in order to hear more clearly. "Did you hear what I said?" I shook my head no, drawing my lips into a straight, emotionless line.

Mike sighed a little before glancing over my shoulder to make sure he wasn't heard as he began to repeat himself. "I know that you and that Xavier kid-"

"Xander." I corrected automatically, resisting the immature urge to roll my eyes.

"-aren't really related." He continued as if I hadn't interrupted. "I have every right to report you to both the police for fraud and to the executive board of Infinity Records to get you and your band kicked out of this competition." I bristled, feeling the blood in my veins freeze. "But I won't."

"You... you won't?" I managed to sputter out in disbelief, sending him a skeptical look- my blue eyes bore into his.

"Under several conditions, of course."

"...Of course." I muttered under my breath. Releasing a sigh, I let my fists relax as I pinched the bridge of my nose and closed my eyes wearily. "What conditions are talking about, exactly?"

Mike hesitated, as if uncertain where to begin. "I saw the way that Blake Mercer was looking at you earlier." That gave me a jolt and I felt myself grow defensive.

"He wasn't looking at me in any way." I snapped, my eyelids flying open.

"Oh, he was, dear." Mike smirked, a knowing look in his eyes. "He obviously is interested in you, though I don't know what his intentions are- Look, Lacey. You're blushing like mad."

"Shut the fuck up." I retorted, willing the fire in my cheeks to subside. "What the hell does this have to do with anything?"

"I suppose you know who Tilted Reality's manager is, right?" His tone changed to something more menacing... irritated. He wasn't the only one. I was getting annoyed by the sudden jumps in topic shifts. An image of Tom flashed in my mind and I visualized the professional-looking man in the expensive suit who seemed to be the master tugging at the strings of his puppets- er, I mean his band.

I replied slowly, "We've met once, I guess. Why?"

Mike switched his gaze to the curtains blocking us from any spectators' view. He gestured for me to come closer, which I did, and as I stood beside him he pulled back the opening of the black traveler to reveal an almost empty auditorium.

Albeit, there were a few stragglers, including technicians, some remaining contestants, and the judges- who were talking to a familiar looking man. Tom.

"Listen close, Lacey. Tom and I. We have an... unsteady relationship, in simpler ways to put it."

"So you want me to be your relationship counselor? Listen, Mike, I don't swing that way so I wouldn't know shit-"

"I'm not gay." Mike snapped at me, glaring as I held my palms up in the universal sign for surrender. "Our business relationship is rocky, got it? He's not a man to be trusted; he's a cold and heartless manager who means business."

Realization dawned upon me and I snapped my fingers, arching an eyebrow at him. "Let me guess: he's done some shit to you in the past, probably stole your job, your girlfriend, your friends, and maybe used to be your best friend until he stabbed you in the back?"

Taken aback, Mike could only gape at me while I smirked victoriously. "How did you-"

"My mom used to watch these corny soap operas." I answered without thinking but as soon as I realized what I said, I almost clamped a hand across my mouth. Instead, my lips quirked as Mike caught my use of past tense words. He raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

"Anyway," I cleared my throat and veered away from the topic before he could ask questions and before the hole in my heart could rip open even more. "I still don't understand what you're trying to get at. And why do you need me?"

"I'm getting there." said Mike, releasing another sigh. "Isn't it obvious? I want revenge. And the only way to get it is through you." I frowned at him, but before I could open my mouth to ask questions, he continued. "It's obvious that that Mercer kid has the hots for you- don't even try to argue," He glared at me before I could retort. "So we can use that to our advantage."

"Advantage...?"

"My plan: tear Tom apart from the inside out. And we start with Tilted Reality."

A brief image of Blake appeared in my head and I quirked my lips again, hesitant. "Look, I really don't know. How long has it been since Tom has done these... crap things to you? Can't you just forgive and forget?"

"I can't!" Mike nearly yelled but quickly brought his voice down when he realized how loud he was being. "I have nothing now, Lacey. And it's all because he. set. me. up. You're my only chance at getting my life back, as much as I hate it." I wanted to kick him in the shin. "Don't forget, I have your band's chances at winning at stake. I also have the power to send you to jail. And I know about your problems at home. How's Marco by the way? Does he know that you're here?"

I kicked him in the shin. Hard. My voice was deadly as I raspily choked out, "Don't you dare talk about him in front of me. Or your shin won't be the next thing I kick."

Mike didn't look the least bit threatened, only smug as he grabbed his throbbing shin. "Empty threats, Lacey. I'm the one who has you by the reins here, remember?" I had never wanted to strangle someone with such a passion. This man was going to ruin everything for me.

Everything.

Unless. . .

"What exactly do you want from me, Mike?" I whispered in a low voice. Straightening himself, Mike cracked his knuckles and smirked once more.

"I want you to get Blake Mercer to fall in love with you. And once you're absolutely sure he's fallen in too deep to climb out, you get information from him. About Tom, the band's secrets, anything that the press and media would kill to get their hands on. Act like you're innocent. Act like you love him back. But don't you dare start developing feelings for him, because in the end you're going to stab him the back. You keep all this a secret until I say so. We'll destroy Tom's reputation, his most precious band, and of course, there are benefits for you of course.

"I know there's a reason why you're so desperate that you would go to the extremes of committing fraud just to get into the competition. And I know it must have something to do with your step-father-"

"Wow, you even knew he was my step-father. What did you do? Pay a detective to stalk me?"

"Anyway," Mike continued, his tone noticeably more annoyed. "I know that you want out of here. So that's probably why you entered this contest in the first place."

"Whoop-dee-dingle, we have a winner."

"I'm a talent scout, Lacey. I'll take your band under my wing, and then your popularity will soar. I can raise up your ranks, give you a better chance at winning this thing. And one more thing, but you can't tell your band. I can buy us tickets to London. I know a guy who stuck with me through all of Tom's shit; he can get us a studio. We can record there, make you a solo artist. I've seen you play and heard you sing; you have great potential. Once the deed is done, we can just head over to England and you can finally be free. Without the weight of your band or father bringing you done. It's just you, Lacey. You can leave your past behind."

There was a lump caught in my throat as I digested all this new information. I could only manage a weak and guilty nod. Am I such a selfish bastard that I would go through with this? Is it worth it?

No, no it's not. Right?

"So, what do you say, Lacey? Is it a deal?" Mike grinned a toothy grin at me, his eyes twinkling with deception. This was wrong; this was really wrong. And I readied myself to decline when my mouth took over without my brain realizing it.

With mild shock, I heard myself blurt out, "Yeah. It's a deal."

--

Wow, I actually updated.

Hey,have you listened to Paramore and Fall Out Boy's new albums? They're fucking amazing, go listen to them. I'm posting the song, Still Into You by Paramore just because it's so damn catchy and I've been listening to it on repeat for a while.

Comment, vote, fan.

-Isabelle