I take the back way through the theater to make it through to dad's office without fans stopping me. The hallway light is dim, giving everything a yellow glow. Mom's voice carries through the office door. She's ranting and raving about something. Dad's voice is calm, but stern. He always tries his hardest not to yell, even at me. Walker is trying to calm both of them down, but no one seems to be listening. I don't think any of them are actually listening to each other.

Reaching for the door knob, I twist, and it opens with ease. They all stop yelling when they see me. I slam the door so hard, the framed movie posters on the wall rattle.

"What the hell is going on?"

My voice is loud, but shaky. I know dad wants to scold me for my word choice, but he holds back. Mom's glare is enough to make me feel small and insignificant. A feeling I know a little too well. I can't let it get to me. All of the feelings I've pent up for so long come rushing out.

I hate how she stands there like the clothing and her newly dyed platinum blonde hair came straight from her pocket. It's all from the money she made off being my manager. The bling that hangs from her ear, neck, and the rings that line her perfectly manicured fingers are from me too.

"Lennox, the adults are talking right now. Please go wait out in the hall," she says, throwing her fake blonde locks behind her.

"I have every right to be here in this room. You are discussing my career, Mother."

"Lennox, I think you should..."

"No Dad, I'm not going anywhere!"

I send an apology with my eyes. His brows knit together tightly, and I know we're going to have a long conversation about this later. I don't mean to be rude to him, mom's presence brings out the worst in me. I spent many years hiding the way things were from him and from everyone else.

The first- and only-time dad had seen mom act this way, he pleaded with me to come home with him. I told him I'd be okay, that I could handle her, but really all it did was break me.

"Lennox, sweetie, this is an adult conversation, you are just a child."

My blood boils like hot lava ready to explode. I'm shaking but try to hold my ground. I stomp my right foot and clench my fists.

"Don't Lennox dear me, what are you doing here?" I raise my voice.

Dad is giving me a look asking me to calm down, but how can I calm down? She starts walking towards me but stops halfway and points at dad.

"Your father forgot to mention your little premier. I am your manager and I deserve to know what's going on!"

She may be my manager, but she has no right to burst into dad's theater and start yelling at him. Maybe if she had been around, she would have known. Her being here is bringing back all the emotions I have been working to fix. This is not the time nor the place for her to hash it out with dad or any of us. At least dad brought her in here to hide her from the press and my fans.

"He doesn't have to mention anything to you. Maybe if you weren't out gallivanting with your new flavor of the week, you might have known about it from all the press we've been doing. Or if you would have answered your phone, you might have seen all the missed calls amongst your full mailbox."

Dad makes a noise and I know I've gone too far, but I can't help myself. She needs to know how I've felt all these years.

"Lennox Marie Taylor! Don't you dare talk to me like I'm one of your little friends that you boss around. I am your mother and I at least deserve some respect!"

She's in my face, just like always. The screaming matches between her and I got pretty intense towards the end. I'm really surprised our neighbors never called the cops on us.

"Respect?"

Now she's done it, I'm about to go off the deep end, and I don't care who's listening.

"You respect no one! Especially me. You have no right to be here!"

I stand on my toes to get in her face better, mom is a little taller and I need to get my point across. In the corner of my eyes, I see Walker making his way towards me. Dad is a little stunned by my outburst.

"If you had any respect at all you would have waited to have this conversation for a more appropriate time. This is dad's theater. How dare you disrespect him like that. You don't think, you never do."

My voice waivers and I try to hold strong. I don't want her to see how much she's taken from me. Crying will just make me look weak.

"Michael Taylor!" She turns to dad. "Is this how you let your daughter speak to people?"

Dad's eyes widen, I can tell he wants to lash out, but being the type of guy he is, he holds back.

"I allowed her to live with you because I thought you and Walker could handle her crazy outbursts, but apparently you've gone soft in your old age."

Dad steps forward, and he looks ready to burst. His face is red as his eyes narrow in her direction. "Don't you dare," he says.

His voice is a low grumble, even when angry he doesn't yell. I know he's also trying to keep his voice down since this is his place of work. A place where family drama is not needed.

"Don't you dare come into my theater and speak to MY daughter like that," he growls, touching his chest.

"Your daughter? Who uprooted her whole life to make her happy? Oh - that's right not you. You were too busy being selfish."

Mom tosses her hair again like she's just won this battle. I step to get into her face again.

"I'm more his daughter than yours! You may have moved out there for me, but it was always all about you!"

My voice is even shakier at this point and I'm not sure I can hold it together much longer. My chest tightens. It takes everything in me not to hyperventilate in front of her.

"I should still be informed of what is happening in your life, I am your manager for Christ sakes!"

Now she's getting in my face. Dad reaches out to pull her away gently, but she throws her hand back with such force he steps away.

"Maybe if you hadn't been doing God knows what with whatever his name is, spending money that you made because of me, and being obsessed over these auditions that I don't want - maybe you would have taken notice to what was going on in my life!"

I breathe heavily as I stand tall almost nose to nose with her. Walker's arms reach around my midsection, and he pulls me back. I try to fight him.

"How dare you come here and ruin something that dad worked so hard for," I yell, as Walker continues to hold me.

"I agreed to do this because even though the thought of this part of my life being over is painful it meant that dad could have exposure for the theater. I did it for him, because he deserves all of it,"

Her resting bitch face is all I see. She has no remorse for what she's done. My body shakes.

"I can't do this anymore with her," I yell pointing to mom. "I want her fired. Dad, please fire her," I sob, begging him.

Dad stands there stunned by what I've just asked him to do. Walker is still holding on tight, but I'm starting to loosen myself from his tight grip.

"She's the reason I've held back from doing anything involving acting. I'm terrified that the moment I go back it will be all about her again."

My makeup is probably ruined at this point as the tears just keep coming. I finally free myself of Walker's grip. I don't want to be nasty with dad or Walker, but I can't help it. I'm in the zone and I'm not going to lie to myself any longer. I said there was one thing that needed to change if I was to go back to acting and that one thing is my mother. I can't have her be my manager anymore, she's killing the love I had for acting.

"I think you should leave," I say through gritted teeth. "Dad, please make her leave."

I refuse to look at her. Turning my body, I collide with Walker. He grabs a hold of me to keep me steady, but I shrug him off again and flee from the room. Dad and Walker call after me. I jet into the hallway and throw myself against one of the walls. I gasp for air as I sob into my hands and slide down onto my rear.

"Lennox."

Oh, damn it, why now?

"Lennox, what's wrong?" Chase skids over to me landing on the floor beside me. His hand touches my shoulder and I jump.

"Go away," I say in a low tone.

"I'm not going anywhere Lennox, what's wrong?" he asks again.

My sobs become worse, and I begin to feel short of breath.

"Lennox, listen to me," he says in a soothing voice.

Oh no here we go, he's going to make me breathe and I don't want to. No, he can't make me do this, not right now. I can't. I lift my hands to my ears to try and drown him out. Carefully he places his hands over mine and pulls them gently away.

"One," he says quietly.

I shake my head.

"Lennox," he says more sternly this time.

I breathe in.

"Think of the ocean," he whispers.

 I think about the waves crashing ashore, the sand beneath my toes, and the warmth of the sun on my skin.

"Two," he says.

I take in another one, it's shaky but a little less than before.

"Dip your toes in the water."

My favorite spot in California was on a small private beach we used to all go to. It had the most beautiful view of the ocean, and the sunsets there were amazing. I spent many days with my toes in that water just enjoying all of it.

"Three," he says when he's confident enough I've calmed down enough.

"You're the strongest person I know."

I want to laugh at that because I don't feel very strong right now. Why can't he take the hint and go? I want Max. I don't need Chase's comfort anymore, the thought of him only makes me angry now. Chase takes his hand and presses it against my cheek. Reaching back, I try to grab my phone, but its no use.

"You okay now?" he asks, leaning forward.

Chase is practically on top of me. Before I realize what's happening his lips are inches from mine and there's nowhere for me to back up and go. I feel trapped and claustrophobic. My chest hurts, and my breathing quickens with panic. I try so hard to keep him away, but his lips brush softly against mine. Before he can do anything more, I push his chest so hard he stumbles back.

"Woah."

Max's voice causes the entire world to stop. I can't even tell if I'm breathing or not.

I gasp. Standing above us is Max, Dan, and Maya. I had given them special VIP passes, so they had access to anywhere in the theater. The tears are coming back, and I can't stop them. I jump to my feet and start walking towards Max.

He's shaking his head and slowly taking steps backwards.

"Max it wasn't..."

He shrinks back, and I'm nearly knocked back on my ass by the look he's giving me. The glare from the airport. No! I can't stop trembling. I'm cold and nauseous and not even sure I can go through with this whole premier at this point.

"Max," I cry.

His face softens for a moment, and I think he's going to walk forward to comfort me, but when he looks over at Chase behind me anger takes over. He glares at me for a few moments, and then for some strange reason he does a double take of the outfit I'm wearing. He shakes his head before speaking again.

"I thought..."

His eyes are lined with tears, and he's doing everything in his power to hold them in. His chest rises and falls so quickly I almost think he's about to hyperventilate himself.

"Max, I love..."

"I knew something was up, but I kept trying to convince myself I was wrong."

He hangs his head like he's defeated. I take a few steps towards him to try to reach out. The anger fades and now all I see is his sadness.

"No, it's not - I love..."

Reaching for him is not enough. He keeps shrinking away. I hate his scowl and bloodshot eyes. I didn't mean for that to happen. If he'd just let me explain.

"Goodbye Lennox," his voice breaks.

This feels more painful than the moment Chase told me he didn't feel the same way. This is more than a million times worse than that. Maya and Dan stand there both in awe. Dan is glaring at Chase who's up on his feet now, taking small steps towards me. Max doesn't wait another minute. He starts running back down the hallway. I stumble after him, but trip over my feet. I expect to hit the ground, but Dan saves me from face planting. He pulls me into him and for some reason his hug is comforting. Dan growls something at Chase, and then he tells Maya to go find Max as he attempts to hold me up.

"Lennox!" Dad yells.

Two sets of footsteps come running down the hallway towards us.

"Mr. Taylor," Dan calls him over.

"Can you get rid of Mr. Dawson, he's upsetting Lennox." Dan sounds agitated, not sure whether it's more towards me or Chase.

Walker exchanges words with Chase, but I'm not sure what he's saying. Dan hands me over to dad and I collapse into his arms. Not only has mom ruined my night, but so has Chase. On top of that the one guy I've come to realize that I love, will never feel the same way. He looked at me like I was the devil. I want to run after him, but I have no energy, so I just lean against my dad for support and wait for this awful night to end.