chapter6: the breakup

july 29, 2009

 At the same time, Josh was at a coffee-shop. He was on his iPhone. He was looking at the photos taken from the concert. He was angry. His girlfriend was dressed like a Victoria’s Secret Angel model, and she danced provocatively. 

 As he was busy on his phone, Stacey entered the coffee-shop. She was there to get some drinks for her band, and have the paparazzi follow her around. 

 When she got her drinks, she saw Josh at a table. She recognized him as the guy that got slapped by Maddie. She approached his table, and sat down. She said to him, “It was quite a show Maddie put on last night backstage.”

 Josh looked up, and immediately recognized her. He asked, “Why are you talking to me? Don’t you have a concert or something?”

 “That’s tonight. I’m just here getting drinks for my fabulous band, 7STARz. So who are you? Does Maddie know you?”

 Josh gave an annoyed sigh, and said, “I’m Maddie’s boyfriend, but I doubt it.”

 Stacey raised an eyebrow, and asked, “Really? Why do you say that?”

 “Did you see the way she was dress…or not dressed last night? She and her fucked up band have been pushing the envelope for months, and I’m sick of it!”

 Stacey thought for a moment, and said, “Look, whoever you are…”

 “It’s Josh.”

 “…Josh, Maddie is nothing but a slut. In fact, her entire band are nothing but a bunch of sluts. Even Hollister boy looks like he could be a whore. Anyway, you need a girlfriend who will treat you better than her.”

 “Like who? You?”

 Stacey flashed a grin at him. But Josh shook his head, and said, “No. I’m not dating another ‘celebrity.’ Besides, you’re in a band that’s about as bad, or worse, than 8STARz.”

 Stacey looked out the window. She saw paparazzi flashing their cameras, waiting for her to come out, holding hands with Josh. She then looked back at him, and suddenly blurted out this lie, “Maddie is cheating on you with one of our male backup dancers!”

 Josh stared at Stacey, then he glared at her. He asked, “Is this true? Maddie is actually cheating on me with a male dancer?”

 “Yup. Saw them smooching it up when we were touring in North America.”

 Just as he was about to speak, he got a text. He looked at the message, and it was from Maddie. She told him to meet with him at a restaurant near the stadium, as she wanted to talk to him. He wasn’t really in a good mood to talk to her, but he texted her back anyway, saying he will.

 He then looked out the window, and saw the paparazzi standing around. He turned to Stacey, and said, “I’m willing to be your boyfriend.”

 Stacey smirked. Then Josh walked Stacey out of the coffee-shop, and kissed her lips in front of the paparazzi. The photogs flashed their cameras. He made the kiss look passionate, even though he was fuming at Maddie. He knew Maddie would see the photos of him kissing Stacey, and he didn’t care.

 It’s now night. Josh was at the restaurant where Maddie told him to go to. He has been waiting for about thirty minutes for her to arrive. She soon arrived. She was in a pair of jeans and a tank top.

 As soon as she sat down, she said breathlessly, “Sorry. I had to sign some autographs and take photos with fans. But I’m good now. We also went back to our North American costumes.”

 Josh asked coldly, “Why do you need to talk to me?”

 Maddie bit her lip, and said with a forced smile, “It was trick. I tricked you so we can finally have a real date.”

 Josh stared at her with icy eyes. Maddie noticed, so she asked, “What’s the problem?”

 He replied, “You’re slut. A trainwreak waiting to happen. Your bad behavior is going to catch up to you, and you won’t be able to get out of grave you’ve dug.”

 Maddie glared at him, and then gave a frustrated sigh. Then she said, “How many times do I have to tell you? The bad behavior you keep seeing on the internet? It’s all a fucking act! We’re only doing this so we can gain worldwide attention. It’s so people can pay attention to us, not 7STARz.”

 “Then why are you cheating on me with a male backup dancer?”

 That made Maddie very upset, so she said, “I have never cheated on you. Who would you tell that lie?”

 “Stacey from 7STARz.”

 Maddie thought for a moment, and then she asked, “Be honest with me, Josh. Do you support my career?”

 Josh stared at Maddie. He was silent for a moment, and then he said, “No, I don’t.”

 Maddie twists her lip. The she said coldly, “Josh, this pop music, the Disney Channel thing, the band thing…that’s my career now. It’s my life now. I have always wanted to become a popstar, or a dancer, or an actress. Being in 8STARz gave me that opportunity. And if you can’t support me, then I’m gone.”

 Josh looked at the table in silence. Then Maddie threw her cup of water at him out of anger. Then she said bitterly, “Go fuck with Stacey for all I call. I’m done with you.”

 With that, she stormed off into the women’s bathroom. She went into a stall. She took out her phone from her purse. Then she called someone she thought she would never call. Ryan.

 A few minutes later, Ryan arrived at the restaurant. He saw Josh at a table, eating. He didn’t see Maddie anywhere. So he went up to Josh, and asked, “Where’s Maddie?”

 Josh just gave a shrug, and said, “Don’t know, don’t care.”

 Ryan then texted Maddie where she was exactly. She texted him back, saying she was in the bathroom. She walked out, and went with Ryan into a taxi. 

 As they were being driven home, Maddie started crying softly. Ryan heard her cry, so he asked, “What happened?”

 She told him, “Josh…we dumped each other. He kept judging me, and shaming me. He admitted that he doesn’t support my career after I asked him. How could he this heartless?”

 Ryan gave a sigh, and sat closer to her. He puts his arm around her. Then he said, “Josh is a fucking douchebag. He doesn’t know how good he has it. You’re a sexy badass. You’re fearless. You’re bold. You’re not afraid to speak your mind. You’re Maddie fucking Steele. You deserve better than that fake saint.”

 Maddie gave a weak smile, and said, “Thanks, Ryan. I’m…sorry for pushing you away and insulting you. You really are a nice guy.”

 Ryan smiled, and gave her a hug. Then the taxi stopped in front of their hotel. Once they got out, Maddie asked, “Can you forgive me for being mean to you?”

 He replied with a soft, yet warm, smile, “Of course. You’re my bandmate and my friend.”

 “Really? I’m your friend?”

 “Of course! You may come off as mean to me, but I know you have a good heart.”

 That made Maddie smile. She gave him a hug. He hugged her back, and said, “Maddie, you’ll find a guy who will accept you and your career. He doesn’t have to be a hipster. He can be any type of guy. As long as he loves you for who you are.”

 Maddie pulls away, and said, “Thank you. Let’s go to sleep.”

 So the two went to their suite. Once they entered, they got ready for bed. Maddie, on the other hand, went into the bathroom. She got on her phone. She started looking at photos of Ryan from various photo-shoots he did with the band, and with Hollister. 

 When she finally admitted she liked Ryan, she felt like a huge weight was off her shoulders. But now she has a new obstacle: Rylie. Maddie now wants Ryan as her boyfriend, but Rylie is his girlfriend. So now she has another thing she has to do. Break up Ryan and Rylie, and make Ryan her boyfriend.