𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘴 2

Chapter 2:

The Backlash

Lena was exhausted, and the tour hadn't even started yet.

Her phone wouldn't stop buzzing. Twitter, Instagram, TikTok—everywhere she looked, people were talking about her.

And not in a good way.

She sat on the hotel bed, knees pulled to her chest, scrolling through the endless flood of comments.

"Gracie could've picked anyone, and she picked... her?"

"Not to be rude but why does she sound like every other sad indie girl?"

"I'm not gonna lie, I'm skipping the opener lmao."

Lena's stomach twisted.

This was exactly what she was afraid of.

She tossed her phone onto the bed and groaned.

Eli, who had been watching from the other side of the room, sighed. "Lena."

"No." She buried her face in her hands. "Don't start."

"I'm gonna start." He got up and grabbed her phone. "You need to stop reading this shit."

She peeked at him through her fingers. "Give it back."

"No."

"Eli."

"Lena."

She groaned again, flopping backward onto the bed.

Eli sat beside her. "Look, I get it. They're assholes. But it's the internet. They don't know you."

"They don't want to know me," she muttered.

"They will. Once you start playing, they'll come around."

She stared at the ceiling. "And if they don't?"

Eli was quiet for a second. Then he shrugged. "Then fuck them."

Lena snorted. "You sound like Gracie."

"She's smart."

Lena sighed. "I know. I just... I don't want to bomb. I don't want to be the girl they talk shit about for the entire tour."

"You won't be."

"You don't know that."

"I do." He nudged her. "Because you're talented as hell, and once they actually hear you, they'll get it."

She wished she believed that.

But right now?

All she felt was dread.

The first night of tour was in New York.

Lena had never been so nervous in her entire life.

The venue was massive.

Fans were everywhere, screaming Gracie's name, wearing her merch, holding up signs with her lyrics.

Lena felt like an intruder.

She stood backstage, gripping her guitar so hard her knuckles turned white.

Eli was next to her, giving her a pep talk she wasn't really hearing.

Her heart was pounding.

She peeked out at the crowd.

It was a lot of people.

And none of them were here for her.

She took a shaky breath.

You got this.

The stage manager gave her the signal.

It was time.

The second she stepped onto the stage, she knew it was going to be rough.

The cheers were scattered.

The energy dipped.

It wasn't silent—some people clapped, some even cheered—but it wasn't the welcome she had hoped for.

And then, in the middle of her first song—

A boo.

Not loud.

Not overwhelming.

But loud enough for her to hear it.

Lena's stomach dropped.

She kept playing, forcing herself to focus.

Then another boo.

Then a few voices talking over her set.

She tried to ignore them.

Tried to pretend it didn't get to her.

But fuck, it did.

By the time she finished, her hands were shaking.

She mumbled a quick thank you into the mic and practically ran offstage.

She barely made it to the green room before she started pacing.

Her heart was still racing, her mind spinning.

That was awful.

They hated her.

She should've never said yes to this.

She should've stayed home.

A knock at the door made her jump.

Before she could answer, the door opened—

And Gracie walked in.

Lena blinked. "Uh."

Gracie smiled softly. "Hey."

Lena swallowed. "Hey."

Gracie closed the door behind her. "I, um. I wanted to check on you."

Lena forced a smile. "I'm fine."

Gracie tilted her head. "You sure?"

"Yeah." She shrugged. "Totally fine."

Gracie didn't look convinced.

She stepped closer, studying Lena's face. "I was watching from side stage."

Lena's stomach twisted. "Oh."

Gracie hesitated. "I... heard some of the crowd."

Lena tensed.

She didn't want to talk about it.

She wanted to forget it happened.

She forced a laugh. "Yeah, well. Could've been worse."

Gracie frowned. "Lena."

Lena exhaled. "It's whatever. It's just the first show."

"They were assholes."

Lena blinked. "What?"

"They were assholes," Gracie repeated, arms crossing. "I don't care if they don't know you yet. They didn't have to be dicks about it."

Lena stared at her.

No one had ever gotten mad on her behalf before.

Gracie's face softened. "I just... I don't want you to feel like you're alone in this."

Lena's chest ached.

She had been trying so hard to brush it off.

To act like it didn't matter.

But standing here, with Gracie looking at her like that—

Like she cared—

The mask cracked a little.

Lena swallowed hard. "Thanks."

Gracie smiled, soft and warm. "I mean it. I'll check on you after every show, okay?"

Lena blinked. "You don't have to—"

"I want to."

Her voice was firm.

Lena didn't know what to say.

No one had ever done this for her before.

Not like this.

She felt something shift inside her.

Something small.

Something dangerous.

Something she wasn't ready to name yet.

Gracie reached for the door. "Get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow."

Then she was gone.

Lena stood there for a long time.

Her heart was still racing.

But this time, it had nothing to do with the crowd.