Fade to Red

Just like that, her mood tipped upside down. Tears filled her eyes and she hit the wall with her fist. She grabbed a handful of material and paper and walked back to where they were still discussing whether she’d slept with Beckham or not.

“Who did this?” she demanded.

All eyes turned in her direction.

“What are you talking about?” Shelton asked.

“Who destroyed my blanket and books?” Roxie shouted.

Vanessa stood up. “Show me. What happened?”

Everyone walked back to the bunk and gasped when they saw it.

“Did you do this, Brooke?” Roxie got in Brooke’s face. “You did, didn’t you!”

“No! Get out of my face. Why would I do that?”

“You’re the only one who has it out for me!” Roxie yelled.

Brad took her arm. “Let’s get Anthony and Beckham and figure this out. Come on.”

“I don’t want to waste Anthony and Beckham’s time if you’re not going to tell the truth,” Roxie said quietly to Brooke.

“There’s no way you can think I did any of that,” Brooke whispered, her lip trembling and then settling into a sneer. “And certainly no way you can prove it.”

Everyone looked at Brooke then and it was silent for a beat.

“Shit,” Shelton muttered.

Roxie moved so fast, Brad couldn’t stop her. She shoved Brooke against the wall and said, “You leave me and my things alone. Got it?”

“I. Didn’t. Do. It,” Brooke said. And then louder, “But someone sure does hate you…” She started smiling and then laughed until tears were ru

Roxie’s whole body shook. She let Brooke go and walked off the bus. Joh

“Let’s go find a good deli, Joh

“Sounds good to me.”

Hanging out with Joh

When she got to hair and makeup, her normal girl, Suza

Beckham was pacing the bus when Sierra got on.

“I don’t know whether the pacing is a good sign or not,” she said.

“Well, she left, so, obviously not a great sign, but,” he bit his lip and beamed at her, “we did have a great night.”

Sierra made a gagging noise. “TMI, little brother, TMI!”

“No, not what I meant! Well, that too, but it was so much more than that. I feel better than I have … ever. We talked. A lot. I know why she’s been so angry all this time. I deserved every ounce of it, but … it was a perfect night.”

“When did you become such a girl?” Sierra laughed.

He stood still. “I know. I’m making myself nauseated, but I don’t even give a fuck.” He looked at her and laughed. “I think I could love her, Sierra.”

She dropped her bag on the floor. “Really? Isn’t it a bit soon for that? You’ve had one good night with her and love?”

“Maybe. Maybe not. I don’t know. It doesn’t feel sudden. She’s invaded my brain for nearly four months now. I’ve never felt this, that’s all I know.”

Sierra wrapped her arms around him. “I’m so happy for you, Beck. I really am.”

“I want to have Mom fly in—maybe when we’re in Atlanta or New Orleans—so she can meet her.”

“You’ve never had Mom meet a girlfriend. Wait—is she your girlfriend?”

He hit her over the head with a folded up magazine.

“Oh yeah, maybe you are finally growing up,” Sierra snorted.

He rolled his eyes at her. “I know. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

“You’re the one who’s all ‘I could love her’ and blah-de-blah!” Sierra laughed. “Prepare Mom, so she doesn’t pass out from the shock…”

He bopped her over the head with a banana.

“Ow! Why do I keep getting hurt over this relationship? Use a pillow next time, dammit!”

He resisted texting Roxie all afternoon. He was afraid he might have already scared her off. He’d lost his mind since the moment he met her. Well—oh God, he couldn’t believe how he’d treated her before. Just further proof that getting clean was the best thing he’d ever done. He’d been a complete asshole. The fact that she was even considering giving him another chance was unbelievable. He had so much to make up for and couldn’t wait to start.

He talked to his mom but didn’t tell her about Roxie. He’d wait and surprise her, despite what Sierra said. He bought a ticket for her to meet them in Atlanta in a few days. He showered and did vocal exercises while he shaved. Maybe Roxie would stay with him at least part of the drive tonight. They had a long trek to Tampa and she didn’t have to stay the whole night if that made her uncomfortable.

It only took one touch, and her stiff posture let him know they’d lost ground. Before last night, she’d begun to melt into his touch. There was no melting tonight. When her eyes met his, it was confirmed. His voice faltered and he missed a beat. Scrambling for control, he held his mic out to the crowd and let them sing a few bars of his song while he looked at Roxie. She wouldn’t look at him.

He wanted to throw her over his shoulder and kiss some sense into her, but he threw his frustration into the music instead. She matched his aggression, and it was hot as hell.

As soon as they’d done their final encore, he whispered in her ear. “I’m not giving up. You’re coming with me tonight.”

“No, I’m not,” she whispered back to him.

And then she surprised him. “Anthony was right,” she said over her shoulder as she walked away.

What the hell did you mean by that? He texted her in the middle of the night, unable to stop thinking about her. He was startled when she answered right away.

I need to keep the peace on the bus. And it was all going so fast anyway.

And a minute later: I’m still not sure about you, Beckham.

He cursed and continued tossing and turning all night long.

The next day was torturous. They drove all day and didn’t arrive in Tampa until late that evening. He ran along the beach at midnight and got up with the sunrise, ru

He hadn’t texted Roxie again. He didn’t know what to say. He was snappy with Sierra that afternoon and she told him to go run again. He would have if it hadn’t been time for di

Nate called as he was leaving to eat.

“Have you seen the latest pictures?” he asked.

“No—where?”

“I emailed them to you. Hang on, I’ll text it real quick.”

When Beckham’s phone buzzed, he pulled back and opened the picture. It was a little blurry, but it looked like him dancing … a long time ago.

“What is this?”

“Recognize the girl you’re with?”

He looked at the picture again and to the left of him, her eyes staring up at him, was Roxie.

“Shit.”

“Yeah.”

“Is this news to you?” Nate asked.

“No, she told me about it the other night … I didn’t remember her.”