{131}✔️

**Saturday, June 23rd**

Dahlia's outfit:

Kit's outfit:

Dahlia's POV

************

"I can't believe this is happening! I'm at an actual festival, bro! About to watch performers fucking perform! That's sick!" I screamed as I looked around excitedly.

It was Cadence's day to pick what we did and she decided that we should go to a festival that was being held not too far from our hotel. It's really just a bunch of newer and smaller local artists performing, but I'm just as excited to be here as I'd be if Beyonce was performing!

Okay, that's an exaggeration, but...The point is I'm really excited! This is my first time ever going to a festival!

I spent the entire ride here trying to memorize the lyrics to some of the artists' songs. I like to think that I have a good memory, but...That's a lie. I do not. I tried my best, though, and that's what matters.

"This is your fourth time saying that exact sentence in under an hour." Billie snickered.

"I can't help it! I'm just so excited!" I yelled as I jumped up and down in front of her.

"Yeah?" She smirked. "Well, if you keep jumping up and down like that then your titties are gonna pop out and then I'll be so excited."

I stopped jumping and readjusted my top. I wanted to wear something cute but comfortable, and Billie kept that in mind when she picked this out for me.

She begged me to let her pick out my outfit and I don't know why I agreed to it, but I did. This one is better than the first one she picked out for me. It was a bodycon mini dress that literally didn't cover my ass.

"I can't wait for winter so I can start wearing hoodies again," I rolled my eyes. "And how come you and Kit get to dress like it's negative twenty degrees out and I'm stuck walking around in what looks like underwear?"

"Aye, don't bring me into this. My 'fit is nice, and you know it." Kit grinned as she stepped closer to me and Billie.

"You're gonna get super sweaty." I smirked.

She shook her head. "Nah, I don't sweat."

"What the fuck do you mean you don't sweat? Everybody sweats." I frowned. She shrugged. "Not me. I never seem to sweat."

"You're an alien." Billie mumbled.

"Nobody's performing for another...forty five minutes. Nows a good time to use the bathroom and get snacks." I told them after looking at the time.

"Oh, no. I'm staying right fucking here." Billie shook her head. "Nobody's stealing this spot. This is the perfect spot. Great view of the stage and we're under the shade."

"We have, like, a billion friends who could save your spot for you—"

"Trust no bitch. Just like your Nana said." She let out a sigh as she plopped down right in her spot. "What if one of them decided that they wanted to keep the spot for themself? So then I get back from getting my fucking popsicle or whatever the fuck and they refuse to get up. Nope. I'm not having it."

"Weirdo." I muttered before turning to walk with Kit toward the concessions stand. I want a hotdog. And a corn dog. And...I don't want a salad, but I need one. I've been eating outrageously for ages.

"I have good news for you, Doe." Kit said after a few moments of silence. I raised my brows at her and she smirked. "Bea and I—"

"Oh my god, you're girlfriends now?!" I screamed. She sent me an unamused look. "That's not gonna happen, Doe eyes. But we did fuck again."

I squealed and did a happy dance in my spot. "I'm so happy for you!"

"I'm so happy for me too. Lack of pussy can make a bitch lose her mind real quick." She chuckled.

When we got to the concessions stand I noticed that they actually did have some salads...I got corn dogs and cheese tots instead.

"Can you take my stuff back to our spot? I need to pee." I mumbled as I squirmed around.

"Alright, but hurry back. You're the type of bitch to get lost real easy and I ain't looking for your ass in this heat."

I flipped her off and then walked toward the porta-potties. I was about to go in one when I noticed that they were pretty close to the backstage area, somehow, and I could literally see the sign for an actual bathroom hanging up 'inside' the performer area.

I realize that I definitely shouldn't go in there, but...I'd rather use a real bathroom than a porta-potty. So, that's what I did.

I went in, did my business quickly, washed my hands and then walked out. Just my luck, I bumped into a girl as I was leaving and I gasped as I knocked the corn dog she was holding out of her hand.

We both stood there, mouths wide open and eyes just as wide. I was terrified that she was, like, an undercover security guard or something. I was two seconds away from begging her not to arrest me for using the artist's bathroom when she spoke up.

"Dude...That was my dog!" She pouted as she picked it up off the floor and threw it in a nearby garbage can.

"I am so sorry about that! I'll get you a new one if you want?!" It was me trying to be polite and me trying to secretly bribe her into not arresting me.

"I'll take you up on that offer because I'm starving." She shrugged.

We began walking back toward the concessions stand and I let out a small sigh of relief. This is good. I probably won't get in trouble if I buy her the corn dog.

"So, What's your name? And what time are you performing?" She asked. Crap. Should I tell her I'm performing? She can't know I'm not an artist! I was literally just in the artist's bathroom! I could tell her I'm going on last, I guess? But what if she's going on last? What if she freaks out and thinks she's been replaced by me or something and gives up her entire singing career? All because I didn't use the stupid ass porta party!

Huh. I wonder if this is what Billie meant when she said that sometimes I overreact...

"Um, I'm not performing," I mumbled after a few moments of awkward silence. "I'm just here to watch. Please don't tell!"

She gave me a weird look and let out a small laugh. "Don't tell what? That you're here to watch the show?"

"No, don't tell that I used the artist's bathroom without being an actual artist!"

"Dude, people do that all the time." She laughed.

"Right...Right." I smiled awkwardly. I'm glad she's not gonna snitch on me. "Oh, I'm Dahlia, by the way."

"I'm Bridget." She reached over to shake my hand.

"Are you performing later?" I tilted my head. She nodded. "Yeah! In about an hour and a half, I think. It's my first time playing...Literally anywhere other than an old diner down the street."

"That's cool! You must be really excited!" I grinned.

"I really am! I mean, I've always wanted to be a singer but I never really thought that I could do it. I've been releasing songs on YouTube and Soundcloud and shit for the last few months and performing at the diner, and I thought of it all as practice for when I actually started to pursue a singing career, but then I was contacted and asked to perform at this festival and it's just made me think that maybe there's a chance that I actually can do this, you know? This is like...Everything to me! Which, I know there's just, like, five hundred fucking people here at the most, but still! This shit is crazy!" She gushed.

She blushed and shook her head after a moment. "Sorry, I know that was a lot. I'm just so excited, though!"

"It's okay! If I was performing at a festival I'd be pretty damn excited too!" I smirked. "If you don't mind me asking, is there anyone here to see you? Like family and shit?"

"Yeah, my parents, my two brothers, and my girlfriend!" She smiled.

"That's dope! I just ask because I always, always wondered what it was like for artists to perform in front of their family and shit. Especially if your songs are dirty. Like, how in the fuck does Beyonce perform 'Partition' if her mom is in the crowd? I could never!" I laughed.

"Yeah, it's pretty strange! I've only got ten songs out and they're all mostly PG, but I've written some that aren't so family-friendly and I dread performing them in front of my family. I think I'll manage, though."

The line at the concessions stand was short and I got her another corn dog and got myself a popsicle because it was hot as shit and I needed something to cool me down.

After getting the food, we began walking back in the direction of the backstage area. I shot Billie a quick text, letting her know that I'd bumped into an artist and that I'd be back soon so she wouldn't worry about me.

"It's okay for me to be back here, right?" I asked before we went back. She nodded. "Yeah, just stick with me and it'll be cool. Don't tell anybody, but security here isn't really strict. I mean, they hired about six guards to watch over thirteen artists." She snickered. "Do you know any of the artists performing today, by the way?"

"Honestly, no. But I tried to memorize some people's lyrics before I came! I didn't do a very good job." I sighed. "I can google your songs and try to memorize those lyrics if you want, though?"

"Nah, it's fine." She grinned. "I don't really expect anyone to know any of my songs. Except my family, obviously. They hear my shit practically all day everyday."

"Do you record your songs at home?"

"I go back and forth between recording at home in my own little studio and recording at an actual studio. I usually record all my songs at home first, then I go to the actual studio to rerecord them. The actual studio versions usually sound better than what I manage to do at home because I suck at mixing and mastering and shit. And my equipment is old as fuck. Most of it's from the fucking nineties."

"Really?!" I gasped. "Vintage equipment seems pretty cool, though."

"I guess. It's my dad's old shit. He used to have a band and everything."

"Oh, that's really cool. My dad wanted to be in a band when he was younger," I let out a loud laugh as I thought about it. "He wanted them to be called H. O. R. N. Y."

"Are you kidding?!" She cackled. "What was it supposed to stand for?!"

"I literally don't remember, I just know it spells horny!"

***

I ended up talking to Bridget until about ten minutes before she had to go on stage. I got to meet her girlfriend and family and they were all absolute sweethearts! They were super chill, and her dad was telling me funny stories about his old band for half the time that I was with them.

They offered to let me stay backstage with them while she went on to perform, but I needed to get back to Billie and my friends so I politely declined. I made sure to swap numbers with Bridget, though because I didn't know if I'd see her again later.

After saying my goodbyes, I went back to where my friends were all sitting and they greeted me loudly.

"Dude, you missed the first performer! She did a striptease on the stage!" Caden smirked.

Ken slapped the back of his head and I snickered as I sat down beside Billie. "I was busy talking to one of the artists, and—"

"Oh my god, you're gonna be besties with a famous person!" Cora screamed. "Fuck yeah!"

"Um...I don't know about that, but okay." I laughed. "Anyway, she was really cool. She mentioned that she makes alternative music, so I think you'll really like her!" I said as I turned to Billie.

She merely shrugged and took a sip of her drink.

"You okay, babe?" I tilted my head.

"Yeah, I'm cool." She mumbled before standing up. "I need to go pee, though. And I might walk around for a bit after."

"Okay," I frowned. "Well, don't freak out if you decide to use the artist's bathroom instead of the porta-potties. You won't get arrested for it or anything!" I smiled.

She walked off without saying anything and I sighed. "She's mad at me, isn't she? Did she mention why to anybody?"

"Nope." They all said.

Great.

I don't know why she's mad but I'll just let her cool down for a while before I start questioning. She clearly wants to be alone right now, and besides, Bridget is gonna be onstage any minute now. I'll find Billie after Bridget's set is done.

"Hey, Dahlia, I got you some airheads." Bea smiled as she slid closer to me. I thanked her and she nodded before glancing around to make sure no one was paying attention to us. "I need your help."

"With what?"

"Kit." She whispered. "And first of all, just to get this out there, I know you know we fuck."

"Wha—I don't—that is news to me!" I blushed. She narrowed her eyes at me. "Kit told me she tells you when we have sex."

"Why would she tell you that?"

She smirked as she looked down. "She asked me for my permission to tell you. Said she doesn't kiss and tell without permission."

"That is so sweet!" I whisper yelled! "What is it that you need help with, though?"

"I...Ugh...Okay, well, this is awkward but I wanna know what she likes to do. Like...You know...I wanna know what exactly she's into?" She muttered.

My eyes widened. "Like, sexual stuff?"

"Yeah. I mean, don't get me wrong I'm great in bed," She smirked. "But I just wanna know what she's super into so I can know what to do to drive her crazy."

"Why can't you just ask her?"

"Because...Is a surprise party really any fun if you know about it?" She raised her brows.

It took me a few moments to understand what she was saying, but when I got it, I nodded. "I guess not. But what am I supposed to do? I can't just ask her what she's into."

"Yeah, you can." She chuckled. "Just go up to her and say, hey, what are your kinks, and I'm pretty sure she'll tell you."

"What if she wants to know why I'm asking? What if she gets offended and punches me in the face? What if she has a foot fetish? What if she likes to be pissed on?! Oh my God—"

"Dahlia, chill." Bea snickered. "I'm sure she doesn't like to be pissed on. Just, pretty please, ask her what she likes? Please? I'll owe you a huge one!"

I let out a small sigh and then nodded. "Fine, I'll ask. You owe me!" I repeated. She nodded. "So, if you don't mind me asking...What's up with Heidi? I mean how's she been handling you guys' breakup?" I tilted my head.

"You should ask Caden," She smirked. I looked over at him and she was talking with him and Ken, and clearly flirting with him. "She's been hanging all over him since I told her it was over."

"Damn," I shook my head. "Ken is gonna beat her ass if she tries anything."

"God, I hope so." Bea snickered.

***

Bridget's set was twenty minutes long and her songs were actually really good! It was the type of music that I could definitely see myself jamming to as I got dressed or something. I made a mental note to download some of it later, followed her on Instagram and subscribed to her YouTube channel.

I did the same with the other artists that got on stage after her. They were all super talented and I legitimately liked most of their music. I hope they all get big one day cause I definitely think they deserve it.

I meant to go find Billie after Bridget's set but I ended up watching three other performers before I finally got up to search for her.

After checking the time on my phone, I saw that it was 5 pm and she'd been gone for a little over an hour.

I first went to look for her by the porta-potties and the entrance of the backstage area, but she wasn't there. I went toward the concessions stand to see if she was over there and she wasn't. I discreetly made my way through the smallish crowd near the stage and didn't see her anywhere.

I'd tried to call her when I first started searching, but she didn't pick up, and I texted her but she didn't reply.

I didn't really know where else to go, so I headed toward the bus to see if she was there.

As I was walking toward it I didn't see her on the bus or anything, but when I poked my head around the other side of it I saw her leaning against it, on the phone. I let out a breath of relief as I saw her and quietly started walking toward her.

She was facing away from me, and I'm guessing she hadn't heard me coming because she jumped and let out a few curses when I tapped on her shoulder. She quickly hung up the phone and placed a hand over her heart, causing me to laugh.

"That wasn't fucking funny! You scared the shit out of me!" She huffed.

I snorted and tried to hold in the rest of my laugher as I shrugged my shoulders. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you or anything. I just came to check on you."

"I didn't need you to check on me," She rolled her eyes. "I'm a big girl. I think I'll be fine without you watching me for ten seconds."

"What's with the attitude?" I questioned as I leaned up against the bus. "Why are you mad at me?"

"You should know why I'm mad at you." She scoffed.

"Well, I'm a little slow, so..." I gestured for her to continue talking and she narrowed her eyes, coming closer to me and glaring down at me.

"I saw you flirting with that girl earlier." She spat.

"What girl?"

"Don't play dumb. The one you bought the corn dog for." She grumbled.

"Girl, I know you're not moping around here because of that." I rolled my eyes. "There was literally no type of flirting going on between us."

"You bought her a corn dog and spent a whole fucking hour backstage with her." She informed me as if I didn't already know what I'd done.

"Yeah? So what? I made a new friend. I don't see the problem."

"The problem is that you flirt with every fucking girl you see and then you always turn around and try to make me feel crazy for being mad about it." She spat.

"Dude, I was not fucking flirting with her! And I do not flirt with every girl I see. Being nice and flirting are two very different things. Literally, where's all this coming from?" I tilted my head.

"Nevermind," She muttered. "Just go back and watch the rest of the show. I'm gonna be on the bus."

"No, I'm not gonna let you sit out here all by yourself for the next few hours and sulk and be mad at me for no reason!" I huffed. "Everything was completely fine earlier today and now you're mad because I hung out with a girl. Is this gonna start being a common occurrence? Are you gonna start pouting every time I even so much as bump into a girl who isn't you?"

"Get out of my face, Dahlia. I don't wanna talk about this right now." She said as she began climbing the stairs to the bus.

"Well, I do! Talk to me, Bil. I just want—"

"I don't give a shit what you fucking want, Dahlia! Get the fuck away from me, bro, I can't be around you right now!" She yelled.

I glared at her and let out a bitter chuckle. "I think somethings going on with you. I think you're mad about something that's got nothing to do with me and you're taking your anger out on me. That's the only logical explanation because I know you're not throwing a whole shit fit because I hung out with a random ass girl today."

"You're wrong. This is has everything to do with you. Like I fucking said, you always flirt with bitches and then act all innocent afterward and you try to make me feel like I'm stupid for being angry about it, but I'm done with that shit. Of course I'm fucking mad, Dahlia. I know you cheated on me. I literally have proof." She spat. "Get the fuck out of my face and don't come back to this bus until that stupid ass show is over!" She screamed before closing the doors.

That bitch is wilding for real. I don't know what crawled up her ass, but I won't be finding out right now. I will go back and watch the rest of the show, and I'll have a great time too. I'm not gonna let her spoil my fucking fun just because she's in her feelings for no reason. And what the fuck did she mean she had 'proof' that I cheated on her? Whatever, I don't care. I'm gonna focus on having fun.

***

Everyone was done performing by 8 and we all began gathering our stuff up and getting ready to head back to the bus. I'd put what had happened with Billie in the back of my mind and actually managed to enjoy the rest of the festival. All the artists had nice music, and they seemed like pretty chill people. It was nice.

"I'm gonna take all this shit to the trash." I told my friends before walking off with a sack full of trash, some of it ours, some of it other people's who'd left it on the ground despite knowing that we need to be saving the fucking earth before we end up on some WALL-E type shit.

I trudged over to the trash can slowly, not really wanting to get back on the bus. It's gonna be fucking awkward, I just know it. Billie won't sit with me, talk to me, or look at me and all our friends will notice it and then eventually start asking questions. I don't wanna deal with it.

They were already wondering why she hadn't come back to watch the rest of the festival, and all I'd said was that she wanted to be alone. I didn't feel like talking about her and I guess they picked up on that because they didn't ask anything else.

I'd been able to forget our problems for a bit during the festival because I was busy jumping around and dancing to the music, but now the festival is over and I'm forced to actually think about this shit.

I just wanna know why she thinks I cheated on her and why she thinks she has proof of it. And I wanna know why after a little under eleven months of knowing each other and nine months of dating she can even think for a second that I'd do something like that to her.

Of course, this isn't the first time she's assumed that I'm a cheater.

I blame this all on her relationship with Luna. Luna really fucked her up and made it hard for her to trust people, and I totally understand that.

I know I did nothing wrong and I have no reason to apologize, but I think I'll still talk to her and apologize for making her feel uncomfortable when I talk to other girls. That's never my intention.

Obviously, I'm gonna talk to and be friends with other girls, and she has to understand that, but I guess I can make the effort to be less 'flirty' with them.

We just need to sit down and talk this shit out and everything will be okay afterward. This is just a little misunderstanding.

After putting the sack in the trash can, I turned around and began walking back toward where my friends were.

"Dahlia!" Someone shouted. I turned around and smiled as I noticed that it was Bridget. "Hey, I wanted to catch you before you left!" She breathed as she jogged up to me.

"Hey! Your set was amazing, by the way. I loved every song!" I grinned.

"Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed. Listen, I was wondering if you'd wanna come to a party tonight? It's for all the artists that performed today and I think it's gonna be pretty cool because it's a blacklight party."

Damn, I always wanted to go to one of those. I guess this is a summer of firsts for me.

"I don't know, I mean, I'm here with a shit ton of friends—"

"They can all come too! It's no problem." She smiled. "I totally understand if you can't make it, but I figured I'd ask since you seem so nice. Plus, you took my mind off my nerves a little bit before I went onstage."

"Aw, I'm happy I could do that! I'll ask my friends about it, but no promises."

"Okay, just text me and let me know. Party starts at 9 but you can come by whenever." She told me goodbye quickly as her girlfriend started waving her over.

I really don't think we'll end up going, but I'll mention it. It seems like it'd be fun, but I already know that Billie probably won't go for it and although I think it'd be fun to go, I'm not just dying to go to it.

Everyone was already on the bus by the time I got on, so the second I was seated, Cooper closed the doors and began driving us back to the hotel.

I sat in the back, right next to Billie, causing her to huff. "I know you're mad at me—and we definitely need to talk about that—but I just wanted to let you know that we got invited to a party where all the artists from today will be and I just figured I'd mention it in case—"

"A party?!" Caden's nosy ass shouted, poking his head over the seat to stare at us. "I wanna go to a party!"

"Yeah, me too, especially if the artists from today will be there!" Jessica smiled.

"Um, I don't know guys, I was just mentioning it, but—"

"I think we should go." Billie said, shocking the shit out of me.

"Are you sure? We don't have to." I told her.

"Yeah, it could be fun." She mumbled, turning away from me to look out the window.

"Alright, well it's a blacklight party so—"

"Oh my god, that's so cool!" Jules squealed. "I already know exactly what I'm gonna wear!"

"Me too!" Madi grinned.

"Madi, if you don't want to go—" I started.

"No, I do!" He cut me off quickly. "Parties are fun and I like alcohol!"

"Me too, bro!" Caden cheered as he reached over to high five him.

So, it's settled then.