I’m going insane, Karma thought as she watched the insane crowd that had gathered to spot them outside the hotel. How are we ever getting out of here?

Since Karma ordered breakfast for Matt, they hadn’t really spoken. Things were tight between them. She thought that if she didn’t have other things on her mind, she’d probably worry about their current situation. But as it was, there was nothing she could do to avert a breakup - that was if he wanted one. If he doesn't yet, she thought with a heavy heart, he will soon.

She shoved those thoughts away decidedly. He loves me, right? We can get past this. “Shit,“ she heard the singer cuss next to her as he looked out of the window from behind the curtains. “I’m gonna stay in here until they’re gone, right?“
“Right, I guess so.“

“Look, I'm sorry for what I said yesterday," Matt said at a low volume. “I didn't mean to upset you. I... I don't think you're a mean career-focused bitch."
“I did consider going public just because of that, so maybe I am," she replied.
“I don't know. Do you really have to do this?"
Karma rolled her eyes. “Yes. It's been my dream ever since I was a kid. Please. Either you support me or you don't."

“I know..." he sighed. “I'll try. But please, be more gentle to yourself. You're having issues and all, but I feel like you're taking it out on me. And eat. Please."
“We can find a way, right?" She asked.
“Yeah, we can."

Karma walked out of the hotel some minutes later. She had her hickeys covered up and hid her wary eyes with large sunglasses. “SEVENFOLD, SEVENFOLD, SEVENFOLD!“ The fans started to scream, and Karma slowly made her way through the crowd.

I should really hire a bodyguard, she thought as they screamed at her at a deafening volume, making it unable to make out single words.

But it all stopped when a blonde tugged firmly at her shirt. She was obviously desperate to get her attention, but didn’t want to hurt her. “Karma, are you and Matt a thing?“ Karma was torn. Trey said go open. Larry said leave it. Fuck, what do I do?

“No comment,“ she said with a conspicuous smile as she walked past her. She was pleased with her reaction. It gave away a hint, but not too much. “Forever shipping you guys!“ She heard one of the girls scream behind her, but she did not dare turn around.

It was too much. They couldn’t see her cry. And that was exactly what she was doing after that question.

Me too, girl, she thought, I’ll be forever shipping Matt and me, but I’m afraid we might be over before you all even know we were a thing…

She bravely waved her arm to get a cab and told the driver where to go. Why do I feel like he didn't mean all that? It would hurt so much to lose him. On the way to the studio, she had another idea at lyrics for a dance song, so she opened her Notes app, then started typing.

“You’re gone and I gotta stay high all the time to keep you off my mind,
High all my life to forget I’m missing you
I'll spend my days locked in a haze
Trying to forget you babe, I'll fall back down“

“We’re here, Madam,“ the driver remarked and Karma tossed him a twenty pound bill and got out before he could even count the change he wanted to give her.

“You’re singing that with a passion from within,“ Alex remarked as she recored a song with those lyrics an hour later. “Maybe it does,“ she replied and wiggled her eyebrows. What does he know, right?

Suddenly, Alex came into the booth. It felt like the temperature had dropped by ten degrees. “You know, you don’t have to get high when you’re lonely,“ he said in a breathy voice. What the fuck is going on? Can you please get out my booth thank you very much?

“Uh, I don’t understand what you mean, frankly,“ she replied evasively, dreading he meant exactly what she understood he meant. “I’ve been told I’m a pretty good rebound fuck,“ he whispered in her ear. Yeah, about as good a chance as snow in hell. Not gonna happen. Nope.

“Uh, thank you, but no thank you,“ she replied, gently pushing him away in the direction of the door. When her hands touched his chest, Alex’ eyes lightened up. Uh-oh. Mistake. That was a mistake. His face turned red with anger in a split second.

“Do you think I’m doing all this because you’re seriously talented?“ He laughed, then forcefully pressed her against the wall. “Or for the money I'm getting from your sales? I’ve been wanting you since I first laid eyes on that photo of yours. That’s why we’re collaborating. And I’m getting something out of it as well, right? That’s what I’m going to get right now.“

Karma took all her strength to push him away again. His head bumped against the glass on the other end of the booth with a thud. “Definitely not.“ She saw his jaw clench at the pain. “Your record is worthless without me,“ he hissed. Suddenly, his fingers were around her throat.

I can’t breathe. Adrenaline rushed through her body. She could feel it everywhere. I can’t fucking breathe. Karma stood very still. She felt his cigarette breath on her face. His fingers dug deep inside her skin, and she knew he would leave marks.

“Panties off, you fucking slut,“ Alex hissed. “And no funny business.“ He let go of her throat and Karma sucked in the air greedily. Now or never, she thought. Her knee landed in his crotch. He winced in pain, then she opened the door as quickly as she could.

“Not so fast,“ he commanded, and with that, he ripped down her panties from underneath her dress. Karma kicked his knee, but he pushed her against the wall again. One hand held her, the other disappeared under her skirt. Tears stung her eyes as he forced his fingers inside her.

Suddenly feeling very strong, she spat at him. Right at his face. He turned around and took away the hand that held her against the wall to swipe it off. Then she hit him again, as hard as she could before leaving him behind in the booth.

Out, she needed out. And now.

Karma ran. She didn’t care in which direction. She just ran. Suddenly, there was a familiar road name. Hittington Road, wasn’t that where her hotel was at? Matt. He might be still there. But he doesn't wanna see me. And there are all those fans in front of it...

Then she spotted the golden M. She ran inside, finally calming down. She held her hand to her wrist, almost to reassure herself she was alive and this was indeed happening. She was relieved to feel a panicked heartbeat.

“One Happy Meal please,“ she told the woman over the counter, feeling far from the meal's name. She rushed to the bathroom. She looked sick.

The cold water felt soothing against her skin. Karma scrubbed her face with soap, wanting to wash off the filth.

I wish I could call Matt, Karma thought, but how is he gonna love me after all this? She swallowed, then put on a brave face and walked out, hungrily devouring her food.

Not a second after she was finished, she felt the old familiar acid reflux and rushed to the bathroom again, only to empty her stomach entirely into the toilet bowl.
God damn it, something’s terribly wrong with me.

Notes

So the show business is not treating her well, is it? :/ Do you think that will be the last impulse needed for her to realize she has to quit?

Hope y'all had a great weekend :) Thanks for your comments, thoughts and suggestions. Yeah, it was my plan for you guys to not really like Karma for a while, but I do hope you can understand where all of this is coming from. She's torn.

By the way: I just wrote the end to this one and I'm proud to say this will be my first story to have a sequel - which I already started. :)