Something About Us

"So, are you two together or something?" Chris asked, his voice laced with a playful curiosity that belied the intensity in his gaze. His eyes, a shade of warm brown, moved from Heather's flushed face to Rhys's, lingering on the hand still possessively resting on her waist. The air crackled with unspoken questions.

Heather's face, already warm from the evening sun and the light buzz of anticipation, turned a deeper shade of crimson. She jabbed Rhys's stomach with her elbow, a sharp, pointed movement intended to dislodge his hand. This time, she applied more force, her frustration simmering. When he still refused to relinquish his hold, she resorted to a pinch, her fingers digging into his waist with surprising strength.

Rhys finally let go, rubbing the tender spot on his side, a low groan escaping his lips. "Aah! That hurt," he mumbled, his eyes narrowing playfully at Heather.

"No, we are not a couple, if that's what you're asking," Heather stated, her voice tight, her gaze fixed on Chris. The subtle tension in the air was as thick as the humid evening breeze.

"Oh, that's great, then," Chris replied, his eyes lighting up with a spark of undisguised interest. The quick shift in his demeanor sent a shiver down Heather's spine.

Why is it great that we're not together? Don't tell me he's…, Heather thought, her mind racing, a flicker of unease settling in her stomach.

Before she could delve deeper into her thoughts, the emcee, one of the managers, stepped onto the stage, his voice booming through the speakers. "And now, to kick off our talent show, please welcome Lux!"

"Okay, we're up. See you in a bit," Rhys said, his voice laced with a nervous energy. He stood up, a sudden burst of adrenaline propelling him towards the stage.

Heather's attention was immediately drawn to the stage, her gaze fixed on Rhys and his bandmates. She focused intently on their performance, her mind momentarily blanking out the presence of Chris. She did not notice his eyes lingering on her, a soft smile playing on his lips.

After their performance, the crowd erupted in applause, and Rhys jogged back to where Heather was sitting, a nervous grin plastered on his face. "So, what do you think?" he asked casually, his voice betraying his underlying anxiety. This was the first time he had performed with Heather in the audience, and he desperately craved her approval.

"You looked soo coool!" Heather exclaimed, emphasizing the words, her eyes sparkling with genuine admiration.

Rhys laughed, a wave of relief washing over him. He playfully ruffled her hair. "Hey! Not the hair!" she protested, grabbing his hand and pushing it away.

"But seriously, I couldn't stop looking at you while you were singing," Heather whispered, leaning in close to him, her breath warm against his ear.

Rhys's face flushed a deep shade of red, a sudden warmth spreading through his chest. He looked at her, his eyes locking with hers, and Heather's face flushed as well, realizing the proximity of their faces. She quickly moved back, her gaze darting away, a nervous laugh escaping her lips.

They continued to watch the other groups perform, the atmosphere charged with excitement and friendly competition. When it was time for dinner, Rhys helped Heather stand, his touch lingering for a moment longer than necessary.

Meanwhile, back in the city, a social media post was rapidly gaining traction. A grainy, poorly lit photo of Rhys and Heather was being shared and commented on, sparking a frenzy of speculation and outrage.

"Oh my god! He has a girlfriend already?"

"I thought they weren't allowed to be in a relationship yet?"

"Why is the quality of the photo so crappy? I want to see what the girl looks like!"

Some fans were genuinely curious, while others were consumed by jealousy and possessiveness.

"Who is this b*tch that is trying to seduce our beloved leader?!"

"Should we go there and try to see that b*tch?"

"Yeah, we should!"

A group of fans, fueled by a mix of curiosity and anger, made plans to meet at the location where the photo was taken the next day.

After dinner, Heather and Rhys lingered by the pool for another hour, enjoying the cool night air and the gentle lapping of the water. They then returned to their room, finding baby Dave fast asleep in his crib. Her aunt and uncle were nowhere to be seen, likely still enjoying the company of their friends.

"Let me use the shower first," Heather said, grabbing her pajamas and heading straight for the bathroom. She closed the door behind her, the sound of the running water soon filling the room.

While Heather showered, Rhys removed his damp swimming trunks, wrapping a towel around his waist. He sat on the edge of the bed, turning on the television, the flickering images casting a soft glow across the room.

About half an hour later, he heard the bathroom door creak open. "Rhys, I forgot my towel, can you get it from my bag?" Heather asked, her voice muffled by the sound of the running water.

Rhys grabbed the towel from her bag and handed it to her. "Here," he said.

"Thanks!" Heather replied, closing the door again.

A few minutes later, Heather emerged from the bathroom, fully dressed in her pajamas. It was now Rhys's turn to shower.

He had just turned on the water when Heather knocked on the door, opening it a crack. "Jesse sent me a message. Would you like to hang out outside later?" she asked.

"Sure," Rhys replied, his voice echoing through the tiled bathroom.

Heather closed the door and sat on the bed, patiently waiting for Rhys.

After getting dressed, Rhys emerged from the bathroom, and they headed outside, joining the others.

The patio was alive with activity. Younger artists and trainees were still splashing around in the pool, their laughter echoing through the night. Others were gathered around tables, drinking and chatting. A karaoke machine, partially hidden behind a cluster of potted plants, played music in the background.

Jesse and the others were gathered with some of the older artists and managers, their voices raised in cheerful conversation. Heather noticed her uncle, his face flushed a deep shade of red from the alcohol.

"Eh~ Rhys is here with Tony's niece. Here, take a shot," a manager said, handing Rhys a shot glass filled with amber liquid.

Rhys downed the drink in one gulp, wincing slightly at the burn. The manager laughed, clapping him on the back. "Good good!" He refilled the glass and handed it to Heather.

Heather glanced at her uncle, who nodded encouragingly. She accepted the glass and drank it, her face contorting slightly at the bitter taste. She handed the empty glass back to the manager, who laughed again.

After a while, Rhys leaned in close to Heather, his voice low. "Are you okay?" he whispered.

Heather nodded, a slight dizziness settling in her head. "Yes. A little bit tipsy, but I can still go on, if needed."

Just as she finished speaking, another glass was thrust into her hand. She drank it, followed by a glass of juice handed to her by Rhys.

"Rhys really takes care of her, huh?" a manager said to Tony, his voice slurring slightly.

"Yeah. He does," Tony replied, his eyes filled with affection.

"Excuse us. We'll be going first. Heather's feeling a little dizzy," Rhys said, placing a protective hand on Heather's lower back.

"Yeah, yeah. You can go. It was nice meeting you, Heather," one of the managers said, waving them off.

"Nice to meet you all, too," Heather smiled, her voice slightly slurred.

Rhys guided Heather towards a quiet corner near the karaoke machine, where they settled into a couple of chairs. "Should I lower the volume of the music?" he asked.

"No, it's okay. I just need to rest for a while. You can go back there," Heather replied, her head resting against the back of the chair.

"Are you sure?" Rhys asked, his voice laced with concern.

"Yeah. I'll send you a message if I ever need anything," Heather said, her eyes fluttering closed.

"Okay. Just rest for now," Rhys said, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before he returned to his group.

"Wow. Eugene's really in the mood to sing, huh?" Henry said, his voice laced with admiration.

"Oh yeah, she's been singing a few of her songs for a while now," Dave replied, his eyes fixed on the direction of the karaoke machine.

They turned towards the source of the music, but their view was obscured by a cluster of potted plants. "She has a really nice voice. No wonder she became really famous at a young age. How old was she again when she debuted?" Jess asked.

"If I remember correctly, she was 13... Or 14...? We can ask her later," Emmett replied.

"Ask me what?" Eugene asked, her voice startling them from behind.

Henry jumped, a startled gasp escaping his lips. "Oh my god!"

Eugene giggled, her voice light and playful. "Why are you guys so surprised?" Eugene asked, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Weren't you the one singing just now?" Dave asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"No. I just got back from my room," Eugene replied, her voice laced with a hint of curiosity. "Why did you guys think I was the one singing?"

"Can't you hear your song playing right now?" Jess asked, pointing towards the karaoke machine.

"I do. But I thought you were just playing my song," Eugene said, tilting her head slightly.

"Yeah, and the voice sounds like you," Emmett added, his gaze fixed on the dense foliage obscuring the singer.

They all turned their attention towards the karaoke machine. "If it's not you, then who is it?" Henry asked, his voice laced with intrigue. "I can clearly see a person holding a microphone, though I can't see her face because of the plants."

"Why don't we check?" Dave suggested, his eyes gleaming with mischievous curiosity.

The group, drawn by the mystery, slowly approached the karaoke machine. They moved quietly, their footsteps muffled by the soft grass and the ambient music. As they rounded the cluster of plants, they finally saw the singer.

It was Heather, her eyes closed, her voice clear and strong, echoing through the night. She held the microphone close, her posture relaxed, her body swaying gently to the rhythm of the music. The soft glow of the string lights illuminated her face, highlighting her delicate features.

Eugene's eyes widened in surprise, a soft gasp escaping her lips. "Heather?" she whispered, her voice filled with disbelief.

Heather, lost in the music, didn't notice their presence. Her voice, a perfect imitation of Eugene's, filled the air with a soulful melody.

The group watched in stunned silence, their eyes fixed on Heather. They were mesmerized by her performance, her voice a captivating blend of power and vulnerability.

As the song reached its climax, Heather's voice soared, hitting the high notes with effortless grace. She held the final note, her voice lingering in the air, before gently lowering the microphone.

She opened her eyes, her gaze meeting the surprised faces of the group. A blush crept up her cheeks, and she lowered the microphone, her eyes widening. "Oh my god," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I didn't see you guys."

Eugene stepped forward, her eyes filled with admiration. "That was amazing, Heather," she said, her voice warm and sincere. "You have a beautiful voice."

Heather's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red. "Thank you," she mumbled, her gaze darting away. "I didn't realize anyone was listening."

"You sounded just like me," Eugene said, her voice laced with genuine surprise. "It was uncanny."

"I... I've always admired your voice," Heather confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I guess I've listened to your songs so many times that I've memorized them."

"Well, you have a talent," Eugene said, placing a hand on Heather's shoulder. "You should sing more often."

The others nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with admiration.

"We should do a duet sometime," Eugene suggested, her eyes twinkling.

Heather's eyes widened. "A duet?" she asked, her voice filled with disbelief.

"Yeah," Eugene said, smiling. "It would be fun."

Before Heather could respond, Rhys approached the group, his brow furrowed in concern. "Heather, are you okay?" he asked, his eyes fixed on her.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Heather replied, her voice still slightly breathless. "I was just singing."

Rhys glanced at the group, his eyes lingering on Eugene. "You were singing?" he asked, his voice laced with surprise.

"Yeah," Eugene replied, smiling. "And she's really good."

Rhys's eyes widened. "Really?" he asked, turning to Heather.

"Yeah," she mumbled, her cheeks still flushed.

"We were just talking about doing a duet," Eugene added, her eyes twinkling.

Rhys's gaze flickered between Heather and Eugene, a hint of surprise in his eyes. He had never heard Heather sing before, and he was intrigued by the idea of her performing with Eugene.

"That sounds interesting," he said, his voice laced with curiosity. "I'd like to hear that."

The group continued to chat, their voices filled with excitement and anticipation. Heather, still slightly flustered, found herself caught up in the moment, her initial shyness replaced by a sense of exhilaration.

As the night wore on, the atmosphere remained festive. The talent show continued, with each performance adding to the lively ambiance. Heather, now feeling more relaxed, joined in the laughter and applause, her voice blending with the others.

Meanwhile, back in the city, the online chatter surrounding the grainy photo of Rhys and Heather continued to escalate. The fans, fueled by a mix of curiosity and possessiveness, were becoming increasingly agitated, their online discussions filled with speculation and threats. The next day, they were determined to find the girl in the photo, their resolve hardening with each passing hour.