chapter nineteen | haunted

MILA SAT ON the hardwood floor of the studio, her friend, Billie, and her brother, Finneas sat across from her, helping her finish this song. Finneas was producing the track, his headphones hanging around his neck as he adjusted the levels on his laptop. Billie sat cross-legged beside him, her gaze shifting between Mila and the notebook.

The events from the day before replayed over and over in her mind, she couldn't get it out of her head. The sound of Gracie's voice was sharp with frustration. The way her own voice cracked under the weight of it all. The way it started — a conversation meant to clear the air, one that spiraled so fast she barely recognized herself by the end.

It haunted her.

Tessa haunted her.

She could hear echoes of Tessa's voice in Gracie's words, as if her past carved its way into her present without permission. She knew it wasn't fair to Gracie, it wasn't fair to either of them, but her brain didn't care about fair. It only cared about survival. When Gracie raised her voice, it felt like history repeating itself. So, she ran before she could be left behind again.

"Mila," Finneas' voice cut through her spiral, snapping her back to reality. "That bridge needs more punch. It's building, but it's too...neat." He glanced up from his laptop, his eyes sharp, but kind. "You've got all this fire in the verses, but the bridge feels like you're holding back."

"Maybe it's because I am," Mila muttered in response, resting her forehead against her knees. The notepad slipped from her hands, hitting the ground face-down on the floor. She didn't bother to pick it up.

"Don't do that," Billie's voice was gentle but firm, the kind of tone only someone who had been there before could manage. "Don't talk yourself out of it just because it's messy. Messy's the best part."

"That's not what I'm doing, I just don't want to sound...bitter."

"Why not?" Billie shot back, leaning forward on her elbows. "If you feel bitter, then be bitter. Everyone's so scared to sound angry, but sometimes anger is the only thing that gets people to listen."

Finneas nodded in agreement, moving his laptop to the side. "She's right. People relate to raw, not polished or calculated."

Mila sat back, taking a long breath as she gazed up at the ceiling. The studio lights' soft glow flicked slightly, making the place feel too bright. Too exposed. "It's not just bitterness," She admitted, her voice quieter now. "It's shame and regret. I shouldn't have said the things that I said to her. I was just so—" She broke off, closing her eyes like she could stop herself from finishing the thought.

Billie scooted closer, her voice quieter now, more like a sister than a friend. "So what?"

Scared. That's what she wanted to say, but didn't. Billie could tell what she was thinking, so she didn't push for an answer.

"Use it," Finneas spoke up, eyes now on her. He pulled his laptop back into his lap, his fingers now clicking at the keys with purpose. "If you can't say it to her, then say it here. It'll hit harder anyway."

The weight of his words sank in slowly, and for the first time all day, she didn't fight it. She reached for her notepad, flipping it open to the scrawled mess of half-formed lyrics. Her eyes landed on the bridge, the one she'd been rewriting for hours. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't honest.

She then picked up her pen and began to write.

Billie watched closely, her lips twitching like she was holding back a smile. "What are you thinking?"

Instead of giving her an answer, she continued to write. Every emotion she had been feeling was being expressed on the page, everything she wished she had said was coming to light.

For once in her life, it didn't feel like she was chasing ghosts. It felt like she was letting them go.

Mila returned to the bar where everything went downhill. A place where she went to unwind, was now a place of reminder. A place that hurt her to be around with the new connection.

She had ordered a beer, taking a sip once the glass was put in front of her. It was a different bartender. Serena wasn't working today, it was some guy she had never met before.

Once her drink was placed in front of her, she muttered a quick "thanks" and took a sip, her gaze fixated on the foam at the top of the glass. It wasn't as bitter as she remembered, or maybe, she just changed.

She was minding her own business until she heard a voice behind her. A voice she wished to forget. One she hoped to never hear in public again, or ever. "You still drink like a rookie."

Her heart stopped.

It wasn't loud, wasn't sharp. It wasn't a voice that tried to startle her — it didn't have to. It slipped in smoothly and slowly as it had always been there like it belonged in her head. Her grip on the glass tightened, her knuckles going white.

She told herself not to turn around, not to give her the power.

"What? Are you going to ignore me, baby?" The voice spoke with a teasing tone. Mila could hear the smirk in it. The same infuriating smug grin she used to fall for. Tessa always knew how to wield her words like weapons. "That's cute. Real cute."

Mila shut her eyes. Her jaw tightened, her fingers twitched, and before she could stop herself, she glanced over her shoulder.

There she was.

Tessa.

She casually leaned against the bar like she'd been there for hours, one elbow propped up, her other hand spinning a glass of whiskey on the counter. Her leather jacket hung off her frame like she was posing for a magazine, her dark hair damp from the rain, curling at the edges. Her eyes —sharp, calculated, unblinking — fixed on Mila like a predator who's just cornered its prey.

It was almost impressive how she made herself feel so big in a room that didn't even notice her. Her presence felt like a shadow swallowing the light.

"Don't flatter yourself," Mila said flatly, turning back toward her drink. Her pulse was pounding so hard she could feel it in her teeth.

"Oh come on. We both know you missed me." Her voice was closer now. Too close. She let out a chuckle, low and quiet. It was the type of laughter people use when they're convinced that they already won. "Didn't know I was on your mind like that," Tessa whispered, the edge of her words brushing against Mila's ear.

"Back off, Tessa." Mila quietly spoke, her voice sharp as broken glass. "I'm not in the mood for your games."

"Not even in the mood for a little video I made for you?"

Mila looked at her, wondering what she was talking about. Those words could only mean something horrible when it came from her. "What the hell are you talking about?" She asked, unsure if she wanted to know or stay oblivious to the matter.

Without another word, Tessa opened her Tiktok page with a smile, clicking the most recent video she posted.

The AI voice began to speak as pictures of Mila and videos of her and Gracie played in the background. The video talked about Mila in a horrible, making claims that she was using Gracie for clout and only agreed to go on tour with her just to get close to her and get a chance to date her. Just a chance to say that she dated THE Gracie Abrams. The video already had so many views, likes, comments, and shares and reposts.

Her reputation was unraveling in front of her and it was at the hands of Tessa. She could only hope that Gracie hadn't seen this.

"I can easily take this video down as long as you do something for me. Don't worry, it would benefit you too."

This was the last thing she wanted. She fought for years to get away from Tessa just for her to end up in her life once again. She wanted the video to go away, but it wouldn't happen unless she did was Tessa told her to do. She had no choice. "What do I have to do?" She questioned with a tone of defeat.

Tessa pretended to think for a minute. She already had something planned, she always did. This was one of her mind games that she liked to play.

"Go on one date with me. That's all you have to do."

Gracie sat across from Jordan in her office. She had been called in to see something that she was sent. Someone had sent her a video, something she could use to prove her point. That had been talking beforehand, and Jordan was preparing her for the harsh things she was about to hear.

The longer Gracie sat there, listening to Jordan talk horribly about the woman she loved hurt her more and more. She couldn't sit there and listen any longer, but she was forced to.

This was her version of hell.

"I know you're still grieving the loss of your relationship, but I think this is something you need to see that will help you get over this faster," Jordan spoke as she opened her laptop. She flipped it around, letting her see the paused Tiktok video displayed on the screen. "I'm sorry that you had to find out this way, but I'd rather you see this from me than anyone else."

With a confused look on her face, she glanced up a Jordan and then moved her attention to the screen, hitting the play button.

As the video began to play, the AI voice began to speak as pictures of herself and Mila were displayed in the background. The voice in the video began to accuse Mila of clout chasing, using her to build herself up, and dating her just to say that she dated a celebrity. She opened the comments to see something she hoped to avoid all this time.

She saw countless comments from people telling her to run, that she deserved better. She saw people saying that they knew it all along, they always hated her but couldn't figure out why until now, just so many hateful things against her. This broke her heart to see, she knew Mila wasn't like this, and she wanted to know who or why someone would possibly do this to her.

She looked at the username, soon seeing the name that she recognized.

Tessa.

The one thing that Mila feared was coming true and she couldn't be there for her. She never realized how badly she messed up until now. "I'm sorry you had to find out how much of a snake Mila is—"

Gracie quickly cut her off by standing up. "No, we've talked about this a thousand times. You don't get to say these things about the woman I love and get away with it!" She shot back, the rage inside of her boiling to the surface, getting ready to overflow. "You don't understand what's going on, so you don't get to sit there and hate on her like you know everything."

Before Jordan could argue, Gracie made her way out of the office. She had a lot to process and little time to do it.

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AUTHORS NOTE !

y'all, it's getting real in

here. thank you all so

much for getting this

story to 3k reads. it

truly means the world

to me. i hope you all

enjoyed and i hope there's

no mistakes!