Rebel Rockstar Read Online Free Page A

Tears start to well up under my lashes. Tonya had joined the same company as us when we had just begun our careers—she was a soul singer and we had vied for media attention ever since she figured out that I was her competition. We don’t even sing the same kind of stuff. Why does she have such a problem with me? I wish I had a glass of water nearby. My mouth is suddenly dry and I still feel dizzy. I hope I won’t have to throw up again.
    As I groggily sit up, I see Nathan walking towards me, a tall glass of water in his left hand, his right hand closed around something.
    “Jem? I thought you could use something for your head. You look kind of pale.” His voice is soft, nearly a whisper, but it seems loud to me, louder than the waves lapping up the sides of the ghostly white ship.
    “Thank you, Nate. I was just thinking about how I could use some water.” I reach out to take the glass from his hand and brush my knuckles against his fingers accidentally. We both feel the spark when our skin touches. I quickly gulp down some water.
    “Here. I brought you an Aspirin, too.” Nate smiles at me in the soft, orange light. His eyes are fiery in the glow, his skin almost golden. I inhale softly, staring at him.
    “Sit down, Nate.”
    “Oh…sure!” Nathan looks surprised at me telling him to sit, obviously thinking I would tell him to leave me alone. He lowers himself to the bench next to me and smiles slightly.
    “It’s so peaceful on the dock tonight. The sea sounds like music almost.” I don’t look at him.
    “Yeah, it’s beautiful out at sea. The water looks like silk, and you can see all the stars,” he replies. “You look amazing in that dress, you know. I never thought I’d see you in such a tight outfit!” Nate teases, and I hear myself giggling in return.
    “I never thought I’d see you in a clean white shirt!” I retort, taking in Nate’s crisp white button-down and neatly ironed cargo pants. “Seems like your manager wanted to make you over too, mister Bad Boy.”
    Nate smiles and pokes me playfully on the arm, but turns suddenly serious. “Jem, what happened with us? Why did you break up with me?” His voice is pleading, almost a cry.
    “Nate, I don’t want to talk about this right now,”
    “You didn’t give me an actual reason, Jem! You just…you just left me.”
    I turn my face to him, my eyes blurry with tears, lips quivering, holding back a sob. “Nate, you won’t understand. You could never understand!”
    I get up from the bench, forgetting my shoes, and stalk over to the farther end of the dock. We remain in charged silence on the deck, neither one prepared to speak to the other, both lost in our own thoughts.

4
    Nate
    T he white , button-down shirt that my wardrobe assistant picked out for me feels scratchy and uncomfortable; the starched collar rubs into my neck when I turn my head. I’ve never enjoyed wearing formal clothes, but I know I look good in them and I’m hoping to impress Jem with my new, more clean-cut look. I brush my curled hair back and rub in more mousse, causing my curls to become more prominent. Well, here goes nothing, I guess! I wink at my reflection, my nerves jangling at the thought of being close to Jem once more.
    I turn to my suite door and open it smoothly, walking out into the brightly lit, lushly carpeted corridor. I am not looking forward to the dinner but I force myself to go to the dining hall, hoping that at least the meal is somewhat edible. I’ve been on cruises before and have always found the food to be on par with nasty hospital food.
    The managers are already seated, including my previous manager, Cole Hayes. He’s looking older, a paunch being held in by a tight, purple silk shirt. He always dressed like a Vegas gambler, I snicker to myself and take a seat across from Paul, who is engrossed in furiously emailing from his tablet. He doesn’t even look up at me, so I busy myself pouring some iced strawberry water into a glass. I take a