curled like dead skin. The Uber driver didn't even pull into

garette, her movements jerky and nervous. She looked exhausted. Dar

aid, tossing the cigarette onto the a

a lump form in her throat. In the original stor

smoke and lemon cleaner. It was cramped, wi

s," Zoe said, sitting on the edge of the bed

have work to do. I need to go to the studio l

suicide. Everyone there hates you right no

d. She started unpacking her suitca

t Studio lot. Avery had changed into black jeans and a black t-s

hadows of the soundstages, b

ll. Look

n of a major producer. A man who had peaked in high sch

flanked by two guys in expensive sui

but it came back," Hamlin sn

ve us alone, Hamlin. We'r

t wasn't a hard shove, but it was dismissive. Zo

very's head. Her visio

y said. Her v

stepped into her personal space. He s

her hair, a move he used to do to intimidate girls in prep s

er eyes: a humid training hall, the sting of sweat, and an instructor's voice yelling about vulnerable points. It was for a role in

t his wri

in, pivoting her hips. She drove her elbow into his solar pl

o

air leaving his l

e collapsed onto the pavement, gasping like a

e. They looked from Ham

he brought her face

whispered, "and I bre

d up. She adjus

s go,

mouth open. She looked like she

do that?" Zoe hissed as they

sses," Avery lied. "K

d exited through the side gat

ty camera blinked red. It had captured the enti

his stomach, tears of humiliation sting