Revolt (Legends and Love)

“The world exploded into chaos last night. If you didn’t see it, you must have been living under a rock. Last night, the world of rock was, well, rocked at the reappearance of our beloved rock princess, Reign.”

I snort at that as I sip my coffee, idly bending over the kitchen island as I watch the news report. My phone is blowing up next to me—a phone I haven’t looked at in months until this morning. Beloved rock princess? Priceless. These are the same reporters who, not five months ago, were calling me a slut, a whore, and a money-grubbing attention seeker.

Figures.

“Putting on an impromptu show in a seedy club called River’s, she sang a brand-new song.” The footage cuts to me singing, just me, on stage with the music I composed. The lyrics were torn from my very soul, my eyes hard with anger as I spilled my heart into the song.

“But you’ll never know.

The vultures circle for my soul, ripping me to shreds for my secrets but I hold them tight.

Hold them to me and run.

Oh, you’ll never know, not until I sing it on stage.

They will never get any more.

Not from me.”

My smile twists into something downright sinister as the footage pans back to the reporter. “After a four-month hiatus, during which no one has seen or heard from the infamous singer after her rumored split from long-term boyfriend and fellow rockstar Tucker, not even her friends knew what happened or where she went. She disappeared overnight, and it left a lot of fans worried, us included. Now, she seems to be back and rocking a whole new look.”

“Bullshit,” I sneer as I sip my coffee, holding back the venom on my tongue, not wanting to be that vile creature who lashes out anymore. They will never see me like that again.

I will protect my peace and my heart.

“Fans went crazy, and speculation has already started. Did you hear the accusations in the lyrics, Ted? It all hinted at the suspected and rumored infidelity of rockstar boyfriend Tucker. Could that have been the reason for her sudden disappearance? Was our rock princess nursing a broken heart while her ex went on to a sold-out, worldwide tour?”

Of course he did. It didn’t stop him from searching for me though, but like everyone else, he didn’t find me, just like I wanted.

“The world, including other celebrities, are expressing their relief and happiness at her return, with many siding with her online against her ex.”

I snort. Where were these celebrities or friends when I needed them? Nowhere. They were protecting their own image, but now that it suits them, they show their support.

Too little, too fucking late.

Once I was a foolish, naїve girl, spilling her secrets with hopes of creating friendships, but not anymore.

“We are left with more questions than answers,” Ted responds, smiling insincerely at the camera, and then at his costar who has done most of the talking, the shit stirrer herself, Diandra.

“Where has she been for months? And the most important question of all: is she back for good?”

Smirking, I down my coffee and turn the TV off as I stare at my empty mansion.

Lyrics run through my veins, never to be stolen again.

Not by anybody.

The rock princess is back, that’s for sure, but they will definitely be shocked.

Gone is the bubblegum, try-too-hard girl, and in her place is a fierce, no fucks given woman who’s ready to spit venom at those who stole her innocence.