Page 51 of The Masks We Wear (Satan’s Angels #1)

Harvey may have broken my heart but he also set it free.

He made me realize my faults and peeled the edge of my mask up, leaving the rest of the work for me.

Now? It’s fully removed. This could be my last show ever and I refuse to spend it pretending to be someone I’m not.

The entire world will see the woman I’ve become, emotional scars and all.

The makeup artist takes a step away, allowing me to take in the sight of myself.

My jaw nearly drops when I see my reflection in the mirror.

My makeup has never looked better. I have my usual smoky shadow but she added silver glitter on the outer edges of my eyelids.

The glitter stops on the tops of my cheekbones but what I love most about it is the fact that every piece of glitter is a star, all different sizes, but stars all the same.

I love it so much I could cry. The hairstylist steps away next, leaving the completed look for me to take in.

My hair ties in perfectly with my makeup, silver stars woven into the chains that decorate my sunshine strands.

I look ethereal, like a goddess of the night sky.

I thank them before they leave and my stylist enters, quickly helping me into my outfit.

She helps me into a pair of granny panties and a bra that match my skin tone perfectly, almost making me look naked.

She then adds a skirt and matching cropped top above and my eyes sparkle when they land on the pieces.

They aren’t clothing at all, they’re silver stars, cut out in different sizes and strung together to form a top and skirt.

The skin beneath is revealed which is why she put the nude bra and panties on me, but the look is so perfect, I feel a tug in my chest. I guess I’ll be going out in style after all.

She slips a pair of silver ankle boots on my feet and leaves the room right after, most likely heading into Aria or Ivory’s dressing rooms. I wish I could spend the last show with the girls not hating me but I understand why they’re so hurt.

We had so many ups and downs these last few months.

From fist fighting, to arguing, to hugging and crying, all of it, we did it and we did it together.

We were so close to finishing that album only to fall one song short.

I sit on the couch in my dressing room and sigh. One measly song ruined it all and will most likely be the reason the girls never forgive me. Just when I was starting to feel seen by them truly for the first time, I had to go and ruin it all.

My dressing room door opens and I look up to see who it is. I smile weakly when I see Selene. She gives me her signature, confident smile, “How are you feeling?”

I give her a look of defeat, “Like I ruined everything.”

Her exterior falls and she walks over to the couch, dropping beside me and sighing. “You didn’t ruin everything.”

I give her the most unconvinced look possible. “I did. We’re getting sued and dropped because I didn’t show up to the studio to finish one song.”

She takes a deep breath, “Yeah, you did do that. You’re a dick for that, by the way.”

“Tell me something I don’t know,” I huff sarcastically.

She pauses for a second and then looks at me with a small smile on her lips, “I missed you.”

My brows pull together, “What?”

She shifts so that her whole body is positioned facing me.

“I missed you, Brody. We’ve been best friends since we were kids and when you became famous a couple years ago and got big, you changed.

Not in a way that made me resent or dislike you, but in a way that made me pity you.

You were a shell of the person you used to be, the fire in you seemed to be put out by this constant worry and fear of what other people were thinking.

It felt like I lost that confident, carefree girl I loved so much and in her place I got someone who turned to drugs and alcohol because she was so insecure. ”

Tears threaten to rise and I try to force them away in fear of ruining my makeup. My face falls and my voice cracks, “Why didn’t you say anything to me?”

She tilts her head, “You and I both know you wouldn’t have listened. You would’ve gotten defensive. I’m just glad that the version of you I love and remember is back.”

“You really think so?”

She nods, “I haven’t seen you this way in so long. It makes me so happy to have you back.”

I feel free in a way, because of her words.

It was the confirmation I needed that I’m doing the right thing in taking the mask off.

I don’t care who sees me for who I really am nor do I give a fuck what they think.

There’s only one person whose opinion matters to me and he isn’t here to share it.

“It fucking sucks it took me this long to get it together. Only took losing everything we’ve ever had to make me see reason,” I shake my head, annoyance in my tone at my own actions.

Selene laughs, “We had quite the wild ride though. A lot of good times, a lot of bad times, but it was all worth it in the end. I’m glad we got to experience it all together.”

I reach for her hand, “Thank you for putting up with me for so long.”

She squeezes my hand gently, “You’re my best friend, Brody. I’d do anything for you even though you made me want to rip my hair out on many occasions.”

I smirk, “Sorry you had to bail me out of jail so many times. And that we stressed you out with all those legal problems. Oh and while I’m being honest, I’m really sorry for crashing into your Mercedes.”

Her eyes widen and her brows basically fly off her forehead. “I fucking knew it was you! You bitch!”

I chuckle, “That was totally my bad.”

She snorts a laugh, “I thought my neighbor crashed into my car and lied. I accused him of it and threatened him with a lawsuit. God, you sneaky little bitch. I knew you were acting suspicious around that time. That must’ve been what? Two years ago?”

I nod, “Yeah probably two.”

She looks amused, “You did so much crazy shit.”

I can’t help but smile in nostalgia, “That I did.”

“I guess it’s a good thing it’s all ending on a high note.” She pulls me into a hug and I hug her back. I have a flash of memories from our rise to fame, how much fun we had. I suddenly feel like I got hit by a truck of emotions but the most prominent is the love I have for my friends.

I guess it’s a good thing it’s all ending on a high note .

I repeat her sentence in my head. My body stiffens and my mind goes blank for a second and a minute later, when I’ve gotten myself together, I pull away and grip her by the shoulders.

“What if it doesn’t have to end at all?” I ask, excitement in my tone.

“What are you talking about?” Her voice is confused.

I leap off the couch and to the door, “I have to find Ivory and Aria,” I twist the knob and turn to face her, “Call the label and tell them we have the last song. Ask them if we can record it tomorrow but tell them we’re performing it tonight.”

Her eyes go wide and she places a palm on her chest, “You have the last song?”

I nod energetically, “Yes. I’ve had it this whole time, I just didn’t think about using it until now. I’m gonna fix all of this, Selene. We’re not gonna get sued and we’re not getting dropped. Call them!” I demand before I open the door.

“Brody!” Selene calls and I stop in my tracks, looking at her over my shoulder.

I give her a questioning look and she just gives me a gentle smile, “Don’t think I don’t know you were sleeping with Harvey Taylor for months.”

Her subject change is giving me whiplash. My jaw drops and she gives me a cocky smirk. “How did you…?” I trail off.

She rises from where she sits and raises her chin, “I’m Selene Stone, I know everything.”

That line sounds so recycled but I don’t comment on it. I’m too caught up on the fact that she knew. “You knew and never said anything?”

She walks over to the mini refrigerator in the room and swipes a bottle of water. She untwists the cap and lifts the bottle to her lips taking a large sip. “Of course I didn’t say anything. You know everything I do is motivated, Brody. I had a master plan from the start.”

“A master plan?” I’m still not catching on to what she’s getting at.

Selene announces, “When I was going through potential babysitters for you, I picked Harvey specifically because I knew he was your opposite in every single way possible. When I saw you two together for the first time, and I saw firsthand the tension between the two of you, I knew I picked the perfect match. You two hated each other so much but I knew you were attracted to each other. I watched the attraction grow and manifest into love and I knew when you were MIA on the shows and he was conveniently missing too that you were sleeping together. You see, Harvey Taylor is perfect for you and you him. Neither of you knew it or maybe neither wanted to admit it, but it was my plan from the very start for you two to fall in love and you did,” she shakes her head, looking at the ceiling, “I just wish things would’ve ended differently, preferably with him admitting he loves you instead of running away like a dog with its tail between its legs. ”

My jaw is practically on the floor. Selene Stone is an evil mastermind and she puts Lex Luthor to shame.

She plotted this out months ago and nobody was ever suspicious, not that they ever would be.

She knew before I did that Harvey was nothing I wanted but everything I needed.

“Well played,” I compliment, still baffled.

She dips her chin at me, “Thank you.” She slips back into her professionalism and my manager comes back, my friend on the backburner, “Now go save our careers and our bank accounts before it’s too late. I’m calling the label now.”

I nod, sprinting out of my dressing room and to Aria’s.

We have about fifteen minutes before we’re supposed to go on and face a million fans, our friends and family in the front row.

I open her door and find her and Ivory seated at her couch looking so defeated.

They look utterly gorgeous though, Aria wearing a light blue boy shorts and bralette set with rhinestone stars on the fabric and thigh high, silver boots, while Ivory wears a pink, chainmail bralette with dangling stars on the bare skin of her stomach and a white leather skirt to match.

They look up at me and their faces instantly twist into disgust and anger, “What do you want?” Ivory spits at me.

“I know how to fix everything,” I say breathlessly.

Aria pushes off the couch and strides over to me, her heeled boots clicking on the floor. “Oh really? Do you suggest we stand up the audience the way you stood us up all week?” She hisses through clenched teeth.

I look up at her and sigh, “I’m sorry I didn’t show up when we had a deadline and I’m sorry that my decision caused consequences that would hurt you both but I have a way to fix it.”

Ivory grumbles, “Why don’t you start by telling us what was so important that you had to fuck us over?”

I look between them and make an impulsive decision. I take a deep breath and tell them everything. I tell them how Harvey and I started, how good it was, how he helped me become a better version of myself, and lastly, how he crushed me and left me behind after telling me I meant nothing to him.

Their faces soften by the time I finish. Ivory falters, “I’m sorry, Brody.”

I nod, “Thank you.”

“Me too,” Aria sympathizes.

I give them both a tight smile, “I’m really sorry I wasn’t there when you guys needed me.

We were on a deadline and I didn’t care about anyone but myself.

I never wanted us to get dropped and sued, I’m so sorry,” I apologize.

My face hardens a few seconds later, “But I have a way to fix everything now.”

“What is it?” Ivory asks, curiosity in her tone.

“I wrote a song of my own. We can play it tonight and tell the album that was our last song, that we met the deadline,” I offer.

Aria’s jaw is practically on the floor. “You wrote a song?”

I nod, “I did.”

Ivory nudges my shoulder, “Holy shit, B. That’s awesome.”

I beam at her, “Thank you.”

“Wait, won’t they argue that since it wasn’t recorded, we never met the deadline?” Aria ponders.

I shake my head, “Selene is on the phone with them now, negotiating. Technically speaking we needed to have twelve finished songs, they never specified whether or not they had to be recorded.”

Their faces twist into excitement. “You’re a fucking genius,” Ivory asserts as she grabs my face and kisses me on the cheek with a dramatic sound.

I laugh, “So does this mean you’ll play the song? You haven’t heard it yet.”

They nod, “We don’t have to hear the whole thing to know it’s good. We trust you. Just tell us what our parts are and we’ll play them.”

We spend the next ten minutes going over every note, every detail.

We talk to the stage crew about a few logistics, all of which we work out perfectly.

It almost feels like this song was meant to be played.

I was so worried everyone would hate it, that I didn’t create something good, but now I don’t care what anyone thinks.

The world will hear my song and the world will see Brody Drake with her mask off.

They’ll see me for who I am and if they don’t love me, fuck em’ all.