|William|

Lucas followed me as I pushed my way through the crowds of new yorkers angrily towards Zoe Hall's apartment. One part of me couldn't believe she would throw Cassie under the bus like that. Another part of me knew it would happen.

"Will!" Lucas screamed behind me. Turning a few heads. "You're not thinking this through!"

"I've done enough thinking!" I screamed back before pressing the glass door open hard.

"Nice to see you Mr. Everest." The hotel man greeted me with a smile. "What level?"

"Zoe's apartment." I gritted through my teeth. Folding my arms impatiently. Lucas sighed knowing he wasn't capable of changing my mind right now.

"Of course sir." He pushed the top floor button, taking us up.

I quickly showed myself into Zoe's apartment. It was a lot cleaner looking than I last remember. Pops of color everywhere ranging from yellow to different type of pinks surrounded by whiteness. Zoe looked up from her couch and lifted the computer off her lap and onto the coffee table.

"How could you do that!" I spat.

"Well hello to you too." She glared. Standing up to be eye level with me. I didn't bother looking down at the obviously sexy clothing she was wearing. She's always been comfortable with her body being a model and all. I'd be lying if I said she didn't look good because she did, but that wasn't real beauty. Not on my eyes.

She leaned over and saw Lucas standing behind me, "and hello Lucas. Long time no see."

She walked past me, giving me a giant whiff of her rosy scented perfume. Lucas crinkled up his nose at the smell.

"So how can I help you boys?" She asked, holding the whine glass filled with water she just filled. Taking a small sip.

"How could you do that to Cassie?" I asked in a civil matter. Knowing I won't get anywhere if I was yelling.

She tapped her chin knowing it made me even more angry, "I didn't do anything."

"You practically ruined her life." Lucas glared deciding he rather side with his best friend even though he's never met her before.

"I saved Williams career!" She said in defense. "If they found out he broke up with her," she gestures towards me with her wine glass, "you know what the headlines were gonna say. Hottest male star breaks up with a fan after two months of dating after winning Best Youngest Actor, player on the rise? He might as well take his career out to the trash right now and burn it since all those opportunities will disappear in thin air. Besides," she takes another sip from her water, "it's not like I'm lying. William barely has the courage to kill a spider let alone breaks some poor girl who's not even on the same playing field as him."

"Oh and you are?" I glare.

She smiled. "Yes. And once you leave everyone will know that me and you are actually meant to be."

"William we need to go." Lucas whispered. He nodded his head towards the open window.

I walked over and looked out the window. Noticing the black SUV pulling towards the apartment building.

"How did they know?" I mumbled to myself but apparently Zoe heard me.

She lifted up her phone with a grin, "I couldn't help but tweet out that the one and only William Everest is at my home."

"You're unbelievable." I spat, before showing my way out.

"Welcome to show business." She called before the door slammed between us.

"I knew this was a bad idea. You can't reason with the devil William." Lucas explained.

"Yeah but you can fan out the flames." I replied.

Paparazzi was all waiting outside for me. Cameras and microphones ready at hand for anything I do or say.

"William is Zoe Hall you're rebound?"

"How are you dealing with everything right now?"

I felt Lucas holding onto my shirt behind me.

"Any comments on Cassie Gray breaking your heart after the Yearly awards?"

I stopped in my place and the interviewer knew he got to me. I turned to see the man who asked me that last question, he was a bigger man. Black beard already turning gray along with his hair. I opened my mouth to speak and everyone shoved their microphones or audio recorders close to my face.

"Can you ask that again please?" I smile politely so the man knew I was talking to him.

"Uh yes. I'm Bruce from The Daily News and I was wondering if we could get any comments about Cassie Gray breaking your heart after the Yearly Awards?"

I scoffed, maybe even laughed slightly shocking everything. "Cassie Gray didn't break my heart." Everyone leaned in listening closely. "I did."

I heard gasps before more questions began pouring in.

"Why did you break up with her?"

"What motivated you to do this action?"

"Is there a dark secret you're not telling the world?"

I signaled for a cab. Lucas close behind me.

"Is Zoe Hall apart of it all?"

I quickly got into the back of the yellow car once it pulled up to the curve. "State street by the cafe please."

"What are you not telling us!" Was the last question I heard before Lucas shut the door.

He turned to me wide eyed. "Why did you do that? It's going to ruin your career?"

"I'm sick and tired of people deciding what's best for my career for me." I take a deep breath. "I'm also not going to let them ruin Cassie life because of me."

Lucas chuckled. "You fell in love with her didn't you?"

I grin at the thought of love. What is love anyways, just an emotion two people feel. "I think I did."

"You're father not gonna be happy when he hears about this." Lucas said with a smile.

I leaned my head against the window.

◻◼◻◼◻◼◻

"What the hell is this!" My father yelled throwing the newspaper onto me.

I yawned before rubbing my tired eyes before they adjusted to the sudden light in room.

"What did you do William!" He screamed. Pacing around the room. "You ruined everything!"

I grabbed the newspaper and examined it. I made the front page, but not what people wish for after reading the header.

WILLIAM EVEREST RUIN HIS CAREER FOR A GIRL?

They're exaggerating a bit about the ruin career thing until I read deeper into the article. Turns out I'm a lying scumbag who is the newest player on the rise.

"Why William?" My father cried, literally cried.

"I wasn't gonna let them ruin Cassie's life." I said in defense.

"That girl should mean nothing to you Will."

"That girl has a name." I spat.

My father sighed, "you put everything we worked hard for on jeopardy you know that right? The newest offers for you are on hold until all this bad press passes over."

"You've always taught me to do what I think is right." I reminded him.

He rubbed his temples. "Im gonna go clean this whole mess up, until it blows over you're no longer allowed to leaves this building. You hear me?"

"I'm eighteen years old. You can't keep me locked up."

I felt his hand hit my cheek hard. I bit my lip in pain. "I said did you hear me!"

I nodded. My dad never hits me, not until now. The door slammed shut and I laid down on my back. Staring at the ceiling before hearing the door open again.

"You here to tell me how much I screwed up too?" I ask.

"No." Angie's soft voice answered.

I sat up and looked over.

"What happened to your face?" She rushed to my side.

"Don't worry about it." I mumble.

She sat beside me, holding the newspaper tightly in her hand.

"You wanna know something William?" She asked with a smile.

"That I should start thinking of my future instead of acting in the moment?"

"You're young. You're suppose to make mistakes still." She placed her hand on my shoulder. "I'm proud you did what you did. You stood up for what you thought was right."

I sighed heavy.

She readjusted herself onto the bed making mr looked at her in the eye.

"You know someone once told me that the best thing in tbe world is staying true to yourself even when it seems impossible."

I felt my phone buzz. Angie handed it to me.

Cassie 8:39 a.m.
Thank you.

I felt the tears start to form in my eyes and fall onto my cheek. Angie smiled softly before wrapped her arms around me for a quick hug.

"Try to get some more sleep," he patted my leg.

"I know I already tell you this, but thank you Angie. For everything you've for me." She smiled before leaving the room.

When it was just me in this room, I felt something that I haven't felt in a long time. It was that comforting feeling I use to get as a young child. In the first time in forever, it felt like my mother was in this room with me. Hugging my tightly that the pieces started to mend back together just like glue.