Accidents Happen

Chapter 9

(Skylar's P.O.V)
Emery and I decided on California Pizza Kitchen for lunch and when we got there, it turns out Ricky and Liam were there too.
"Now what do we do?" I ask Emery, following him inside.
"Well, I don't know. Simon never said anything about this." He says, seeing Ricky look up at us.
"I don't want you guys to get in trouble. I don't know what to do." I groan, leaning against the bar that runs parallel with the counter. I decide on what to order and I move out of the way and glance at Ricky. He looks down at the table and leans against his arm, looking like he's about to cry. Liam says something to him and he shakes his head, mumbling something back before getting up and walking out the door. I look at Emery and he shrugs, seeming just as confused as I am. We finally get our pizza and we go sit down.
"I guess we should probably share our life stories." Emery chuckles softly.
"You first." I smile at him, grabbing a piece of pizza and listening to his story and only responding when he asks me a question.
"So what about you?" He asks smiling at me.
"Well, I was born in Burbank and moved here when I was three. My dad got promoted here because he was the best in Burbank. My mom started working at the hospital as a nurse. My brother stayed in Burbank with his girlfriend for college and I haven't seen him in like four years. I started acting when I was four. And my dad only wanted to say he was proud of me when I got the important roles. Like this movie I'm working on, he was really happy this morning and like supportive and stuff, but my mom has always supported me. I think my dad is just in it for the money. He only likes it when I get the big roles. He's always trying to find me new jobs," I say, making Emery nod slowly.
"He sounds pushy." He says and I nod quickly.
"He is. I know he just wants what's best for me but he has to understand that I'm not gonna get every lead role I audition for. It's kinda like his job. He doesn't always get the cases he wants, I don't always get the roles I want. He just doesn't understand it I suppose." I giggle slightly, Emery smiling across the table at me.
"Dads usually don't. Especially with their daughters. He'll always see you as a little girl. His little girl." Emery says and I nod again.
"I think, like, has this big idea that I'll land every role I audition for and when I don't get it, he's really disappointed." I say and Emery nods slowly.
"Skylar. I thought I'd find you here!" Lisa's high pitched voice says.
"Um what?" Emery asks looking up at her.
"I need to borrow your date for a while." Lisa says grabbing my arm.
"Excuse me. Can't you see I'm busy?" I ask jerking my arm away from her.
"That's not important. This is an emergency meeting." Lisa tells me, reaching for my arm again.
"Reach for me again and I'll smack the crap out of you." I threaten her, her arm instantly back at her side.
"You have to leave now, Skylar." Lisa tells me and I look at Emery.
"It's okay. If you have to, you can go. I don't mind." He says smiling at me.
"Are you sure?" I ask him, looking for any expression of doubt on his face.
"Positive. I'll go sit with the boys." He says smiling.
"Okay. You have my number right?" I ask him.
"I think Ricky does. I'll get it from him later." He says and I nod. Lisa grabs my arm and pulls me up from the table.
"Woah, stop. I can walk on my own." I say glaring at her.
"Then let's go!" She raises her voice slightly, the feeling in my hand going numb from the right grip she has on my wrist. I yank my hand back and rub my wrist, following her out the door. We walk past a couple cars and I get in the front seat of Lisa's suburban, putting my belt on.
"You're not supposed to talk to Ricky at all." Lisa snaps at me, making me scoff.
"Why not?! We're just friends!" I say to her, her head shaking slowly.
"Simon doesn't want you to talk to anyone but Emery." She tells me.
"Well, Simon can just get over himself. I'm not blocking Ricky out just because some egghead wants me to." I snap at her and she sighs.
"I guess I tried." She sighs, turning on to Sunset Blvd.
"What do you mean?" I ask her, but she stays silent.
"Lisa!" I say to her, wanting to know why I had to leave the boys AGAIN.
"Just relax. You'll find out soon enough." She says parking the car in a garage. I get out and stand in front of the car, crossing my arms.
"What are we doing here?" I ask her seriously, refusing to move an inch until she tells me.
"Don't be a brat." She says to me, grabbing my wrist again.
"I'm not moving until you tell me what we're doing here." I say to her, pulling my wrist back quickly.
"Tell me what we're doing here or I'm leaving." I tell her, meaning every single word I say.
"I'll tell you inside." She says to me, urging me to walk inside the door.
"No! I'm NOT going in there!" I raise my voice, standing up to her this time.
"You're going to model for this company. Like it or not." She growls at me and I dodge her hand, storming out of the parking garage and away from the woman who, I thought was looking out for me. I walk along the streets until my legs hurt and I ignore the constant ringing of my phone. I lean against a wall and take out my phone, dialing Ricky's number. It rings once, twice, three times. Finally an answer.
"Sky? How are you?" He asks cheerfully.
"Not good. I need you to come and get me." I say, running my hand through my hair.
"Where are you?" He asks worriedly.
"I'm on the corner of Sunset and Ladera." I say, reading the street signs.
"Okay. We're on our way. Emery, let's go." He says just before he hangs up the phone. I lean my head back against the wall and try to calm down, but the anger only seems to bubble up more as I wait for the boys. I see the boys round the corner and I walk to them, hugging Ricky without even looking at him. His arms wrap around me and he hugs me tightly.
"I hate my job." I cry, his arms tightening around my back.
"What happened?" He asks softly, his voice full of worry.
"I don't wanna talk about it right now." I sniffle, pulling away and wiping my eyes.
"You okay?" Emery asks, rubbing my back and looking at me.
"I think so." I sigh, looking at them.
"Are you sure?" Ricky asks me softly.
"No." I admit, trying to fight more tears.
"It's okay." He says, opening his arms again. I eventually decide to let the tears roll down my face and I wrap my arms around him again, closing my eyes and wishing my life wasn't so controlled.

(Ricky's P.O.V)
Once Emery and I find Skylar, she walks up to me and instantly breaks down. I put my arms around her, trying to not cry myself. Emery looks at me and I smile sadly, his hand reaching out and rubbing her back.
"I hate my job." She cries into me, tightening her arms around me.
"What happened?" I ask her and she sniffles.
"I don't wanna talk about it right now." She says, pulling away and wiping her eyes. Please stop crying. It hurts me to know you're in this much pain.
"Why don't we just go and hang out for a while?" I ask her and she quickly nods, walking between Emery and I.
"I need a new manager." She says after a while of silence.
"We'll find you one. Don't worry." Emery smiles at her.
"We got your back." I smile at her, a bright smile coming to her face. I'm doomed.