"Seriously, don't you get how huge this movie is for Miley? Why are you still throwing a tantrum? Can't you stand seeing her do well? What did she ever do to you? Can't you just be a little understanding?"
Colin yanked the dress he'd picked out for me from the closet. "Be good. Put it on. You're coming with me."
I rolled over in bed, sticking to my guns. "Nah, I'm not going. You guys have fun. I'm not feeling it."
Colin ripped the covers off me and dragged me up.
"Why are you being so difficult? Miley will be at the get-together tonight, so you can apologize to her properly. She's sweet and won't hold a grudge."
Ultimately, Colin forced me into that leopard-print mini-skirt and dragged me out the door.
The bar was packed and loud. Every pair of eyes turned to me when I entered the private room.
About a dozen people were sitting around and they all gave me these nasty looks, checking me out from head to toe like they wanted to strip me bare with their eyes.
Someone from the crowd called out, "Everyone's seen your perfect little pair. They look too good to be real."
Then came the sleazy comments, one after another. "Dude, Colin's got it good! He brought her along, so we gotta have a turn too, right?"
"Holy crap, she looks even more like a total you-know-what in person than in the pictures! This is gonna be fun!"
"That outfit is so slutty, it's driving me crazy! I just wanna jump her right now!"
Hearing all that made me sick. I immediately turned to leave, but Colin blocked my way.
He frowned at me. "Just be good and keep the clients' company."
"Miley was upset enough about her photos getting leaked. Do you want to ruin the whole movie for her? Are you trying to kill her spirit?"
I felt a wave of humiliation and despair I'd never experienced before. All I could do was stand in the leopard-print mini-skirt Colin had picked out, feeling completely lost.
I was surrounded by a dozen people, clutching at the hem of my skirt, feeling helpless.
Their eyes just kept staring at me with bad intentions.
Miley was sitting off to the side. Someone offered her a drink, but she knocked the glass away. "Mr. Carter, I'm not like Amelia. I don't drink."
The guy's face instantly darkened.
Colin quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "Mr. Carter, Miley is young and hasn't experienced things like this. Don't scare her."
Then he shoved me forward.
"You go."
"You go drink with them for Miley."
At the party, I downed one drink after another.
My mind started to get fuzzy.
Everything around me felt unreal. I heard Miley giggling as she chatted with everyone. "Has everyone seen Amelia's audition tape?"
"How come she pulls off moves like that? She must practice a lot in private, huh?"
Someone at the table said, "She looks so quiet, but I didn't expect her to be so wild in the photos. She's already had so much to drink and still holding it together. Pour her another one!"
I vaguely remember someone pushing me and then I collapsed onto the floor.
I struggled to get up, but a leather shoe kicked me back down.
Something cold and wet was poured over me.
"Who picked out her outfit for today? Not bad, it's kind of see-through."
I crawled towards Colin. "Colin, please help me."
"I've had too much to drink. I don't feel good. Take me home, please."
Unfortunately, all I saw was Colin's cold face.
Miley nestled into Colin's arms. Their faces pressed together and he kissed her.
I saw Colin's hand slide under her shirt.
I felt a wave of nausea, wanting to throw up, but nothing came out.
Someone kicked me again. Several phones were shoved in my face.
Later, somebody was telling me to pose the way they wanted.
The whole night was a blur. When I woke up the next day, the aching all over my body made me feel like I was in hell.
Because I drank so much last night, I just had my stomach pumped.
Colin was by my side, looking all concerned. "Amelia, are you okay? You drank way too much last night and passed out. I brought you back right away."
"Miley is really worried about you, too. She went out to get you something to eat."
I weakly closed my eyes, not wanting to look at him anymore.
"Colin, I want to sleep for a bit. Can you leave me alone for now?"
Colin looked at me with slight worry, but then he left the room.
Once I was alone, I quickly ripped the IV out of my hand, put on my shoes and walked out of the hospital.
Three days had passed. Today was the day I was leaving this place.
I didn't want to stay in this city for another minute.
By the time Colin got back to the hospital, I wouldn't be in that bed anymore.
The sharp ring of the phone shattered the quiet of the hospital room.
The empty hospital made Colin look a little lost. When he answered the phone, the person on the other end sounded really anxious.
"Colin! Something bad happened!"
Colin suddenly looked up, a bad feeling washing over him.
