Chapter 7
I ignored all the online chatter, focusing on catching up and preparing for my departure.
As the band’s popularity soared, the fanbase quickly split. One faction was Blake’s solo fans, believing their idol should stay single. The other was Madison’s personal fans plus devoted “Blake–Madison” shippers.
The two factions were at each other’s throats online.
Solo fans attacked Madison:
[Top–tier slut! Says they’re friends but every move is calculated.]
[Right! Talking shit about his ex is so gross!]
[Championship night she literally jumped on Blake with her legs around his waist. That’s “just friends“? Bullshit!]
[I know slut when I see it, this operation is textbook.]
Shippers fired back:
[Blake looks at Madison with such obvious heart–eyes!]
[Madison’s been keeping her distance, who’s the one doing the chasing here.]
[Some girlfriend–fans need to stop being bitter, the principals get along great!]
The war peaked when a reporter teased Blake and Madison about their relationship during a public interview.
Blake wore sunglasses, his expression perfectly managed. “She’s just a junior I work with, a good friend, an excellent bassist.”
Madison smiled sweetly beside him, immediately chiming in, “Exactly! Really just friends! Blake takes good care of all the team members. Please don’t speculate!”
The reporter persisted, asking Blake, “So are you single now?”
Blake was silent for a moment, then nodded. “Yes, single.”
“What type of girl do you like?” The reporter teased, glancing meaningfully at Madison. “Maybe someone with shared interests, beautiful and outgoing?“–
Blake frowned slightly, answering formulaically, “Right now I just want to focus on my career. Music is everything to me.” When the interview aired, solo fans felt victorious:
[Hear that? Single! Career–focused! Certain someone needs to know her place and stop the calculated moves!]
Since our last meeting at school, Blake and I had no contact.
Until the eve of my departure, when I got a message from my high school desk mate: [Emily, Blake went on “The Voice” competition! OMG, he fought through all those veteran powerhouse singers and got third place! Now he’s exploding in popularity! A bunch of major companies are fighting to sign him.)
I casually clicked the news link and saw Blake transformed–gone was his usual rock wildness, replaced by someone sitting quietly under the lights, holding a guitar and singing softly while Madison watched from the audience, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Comments were going wild:
[Holy shit! I knew Blake could rock, but didn’t know he could kill it with ballads!)
[This “Moonlight” song is his own composition, right? So much emotion!]
[Listening to this, I automatically picture Madison as the female lead, like a real goddess.]
[Madison was crying in the audience, these two are definitely together. Eyes don’t lie.] Chapter 7
Mober
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The melody was achingly familiar–the song eighteen–year–old Blake wrote for me under summer stars, promising. “Emily, when I stand on the biggest stage, the first song I’ll sing will be for you, telling the whole world you’re my one true love!”
Now here he was on that glittering stage, singing our song to thousands of screaming strangers, while the girl in his song was about to be an ocean away.
Chapter 7
