Page 178 of Shy Girls Can't Date Rockstars
“Not important.”
“Alice, are you okay? Gosh, I’ve been so worried about you. You just disappeared. I didn’t know if you were okay or if you hated me. Nobody would tell me anything.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” I reply. “I just, couldn’t. I didn’t know how to be a person who talked to other people. Everything hurt. You were part of the world that existed before, and I couldn’t.” I stop. “I’m sorry. I know it’s not an excuse.”
“It kind of is, though,” Jill says. “I mean, it’s a pretty good one. Besides, I started following Sky Chaos for updates on you.”
I sit up slightly. “What?”
“I was worried about you, and I knew you were living with the lead singer. Well, I saw some recent photos, and I recognised your style immediately.”
“You did?”
“The framing of that third shot? Alice, come on. That’s you.”
I press my hand over my mouth and laugh despite myself. “You always were a fan of mine.”
“At least I knew you were alive. So, are you going to tell me about him? Or do I have to keep getting my information from social media?”
“There’s nothing to tell.”
“The way you just said that tells me there is absolutely something to tell.”
“Jill.”
“Is he as good-looking in person as he is online? Because if so, I fully understand why you’ve been distracted.”
“I haven’t been…” I stop. “I’m not having this conversation.”
“You are literally having this conversation.”
I fall back against my pillows, hug my stuffed elephant close, and look at the ceiling. “He’s just,” I start, “complicated.”
“Are you okay, though? Actually okay?”
“Actually okay,” I say, patting Ellie’s trunk. “It’s been a lot. But I think I’m where I’m supposed to be.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“So, my mom and I saw Mrs. Patel at the grocery store. She said she might be bringing your boxes up soon.”
“Oh, yeah. The house is under negotiation.”
“Well, if the Patels drive up, I’m coming with.”
I sit up, letting Ellie fall to my side. “You’re visiting?”
“Try and stop me.”
My hand rests above my heart. “Oh, I’m so glad. I thought I’d pushed you away for good.”
“Alice, I gave you space. How the heck am I supposed to know how to help you grieve? I totally left you high and dry.”
“It’s okay. I had a few moments of being comforted by a brooding rockstar.”
“Oh my gosh, you have to dish.”
