Some of the ebooks that came out when Popstars in the Backyard first released was missing chapter 7. I have added it here for anyone who previously downloaded it.

The crowd outside the hospital was getting unruly, and so large that most of the Starlington police force was outside. The hospital had to lockdown the entire pediatric floor, ensuring no one other than patients and their visitors could come on that floor. The door to Andi’s room had to remain shut at all times, as well as the blinds on the window. Ryker and Andi had been talking for a while, trying to find a way for him to be apart from her. Although he didn’t want to be apart from her, he knew that she would find out one day and want to be away from him. He had her listening to some of his music seeing if that would help her. She was listening to one of the songs with headphones on when he heard the sound of KC’s voice coming down the hall. He didn’t want to deal with KC right now, he could tell how angry she was by the hard clacking of her footsteps coming down the hall, and the tone she was using with Josh and Nate.
He gently took the headphones off Andi’s head, so she could hear him. “Remember how I told you I’m a really big celebrity now?”
“Yeah.”
“Well my manager is here, and she needs to talk with me. I need to step out of the room for a few minutes. Do you think you will be alright?”
“I… I don’t know… I really don’t want the shadows to come back.”
“I know. And I will try to be fast. Let’s see if the music helps a little alright?”
She gave him a small nod. He helped her put the headphones back on, making sure to not mess with her bandages. He kissed her cheek then stepped out of the room.
KC was already standing at the door, arms crossed and tapping her right foot in her designer heels. She had long dark hair, dark green eyes and was extremely thin because she was always chasing the latest diet craze. She wore a blood red off the shoulder top with a black pencil skirt, always looking to have stepped out of a fashion magazine. She was in her late 20’s but looked to be no more than 21. Ryker closed the door behind him, making sure Andi didn’t hear all the things that KC would be shouting. Josh and Nate were sitting in a couple of chairs nearby. Josh couldn’t pull himself away from his phone, while Nate looked sick to his stomach.
“What do you think you are doing? You are destroying the image I created for you. That you have been working on for three years!” She shouted.
“I don’t care about that image. I never did. I care about our music, and our fans. You already know this!”
“I need you to make an appearance with the media. Make a statement explaining that she is not your secret girlfriend. That she is just an old family friend that got hurt and you are helping.”
“No. I’m not going out there and selling her out to them. She’s had enough humiliation to last her a lifetime. I’m not putting her and her family through that again. Just tell them you know nothing. Leave her out of this. Whatever my relationship with her is, is between Andi and me. No one else.”
“How am I supposed to keep everything running smoothly, keep the media at bay when you won’t tell me anything or even answer your phone. I have been trying to call you for the past 24 hours, and you won’t even respond to a damn text! I only knew where you are because it is all over the news!”
“Sorry, but this is more important than whatever the news is saying. They will get over it in a few days. The floor is locked down so no more photos will show up until she is released.”
“Tell me what’s going on, so I have something to tell these vultures.”
“I don’t have to. I’m on vacation, this is my personal life, I don’t have to tell you anything about what’s going on.”
“Yes, you do! According to our contact, you have to keep me informed of anything that might go public or reach the media.”
“No, I don’t! That contract expired on my 18th birthday, just like theirs did.” He gestured to Nate and Josh, who both looked surprised. They didn’t know that their contact with KC had expired. “Unlike those two, I keep track of all the contracts we sign, and know what is written in them. I have been working with my lawyer for the past week creating a new contract, and the possibility of a new manager if you keep this up. I’m not your property, you do not control me. Our contract with the record label ends the day after our concert in Supernova. I can either stay with the band and accept the new offer that the label has sent me, or I can go off on my own. Either way, you don’t have a say in my decisions anymore.”
Nate became nervous, he knew that Ryker had been thinking about going solo for a while now. He was sick of KC and the label telling him what he could and couldn’t record. He had saved enough to start his own small label and had a few investors interested in the idea.
“Why don’t we just set up a meeting in Samstine next week. All four of us can talk, and figure all of this out then.” Nate suggested, trying to calm the waters again. “Ryker go back in with Andi, I know she needs you. Just write down a statement that her family approves of being released and send it to KC to give to the media. This will keep everyone at bay for now.”
“Fine.” Ryker turned away and opened the door to the room.
“You are being so selfish it’s disgusting.” KC snarled.
Ryker closed the door and turned back towards her. Ready to fire her for that comment alone.
“I’m doing this for her!” He shouted. “She needs me, so I am helping her however I can!”
“KC, even I think that was out of line. And my moral compass doesn’t point anywhere near right.” Josh said. “Give him a break. He’s trying to help a girl whose life he saved. If anything, him being with her is great free publicity. Screw his image right now, he is making the whole band look really good.”
“Ryker, go be with Andi. Tell her we hope she starts feeling better.” Nate said.
Ryker went back into the room. She had her eyes closed tight, gripping the sheets, slowly counting, with tears rolling down her face. He ran right to her and grabbed her hand. KC was watching from the door that Ryker forgot to close. Andi gripped tight to Ryker, not wanting him to leave her again. KC noticed the comic books scattered across her bed, just like Ryker’s bed on the tour bus. She watched carefully how Ryker interacted with Andi. Nate closed the door, making sure Andi got her privacy.
“Is she who the songs are about?” KC asked.
“Yes.” Josh replied.
“The song The Old Me, that is about the two of them?”
“Yes. Josh and I are the reason she stopped talking to him.”
“So, My Supernova…”
“Is his confession to her. Which is why he has been begging you to let us record it. You might hate that he won’t always be single, but if you don’t want to lose our band as your clients. You need to make sure he can record that song, and that it makes it on the next album. He has been speaking with other labels that have heard our contract is almost up, and every single one says they will make that song the next single.”
Nate had an unusual seriousness to his tone. But he knew that this was the only way to save their band. He didn’t want to lose this band or his best friends. He already knew he would go wherever Ryker went, but josh was a wild card that they couldn’t predict his decisions, until now. By standing up for Ryker and Andi, he was telling them that he chooses the band over everything else.
“We will discuss this at the meeting,” KC growled starting to walk away.
“No, there is no discussion needed. Either you make sure that is our next single or we will go with another manager and label.” Josh said. “That is what you need to make happen to keep us as your clients. We will follow Ryker wherever he decides to go. Because we stick together no matter what.”
KC stormed off, she left the floor and went straight out to her car. She had reporters in her face trying to get answers from her, but all she could tell them is that she knew as much as they did. Nate and Josh were waiting to leave until it died down a bit. But they wanted to talk with Ryker first.
Nate knocked on the door and opened it slowly. “Hey Ryker, do you mind if the two of us talk with you for a minute?”
“I would rather not leave Andi right now. She’s still really upset.”
“We can talk to you about this in front of her, it’s fine. But we wanted to talk to you without KC, before we head out.”
“Andi do you mind if they come in?”
“You’re not leaving me, are you?” She asked squeezing his hand tighter.
“I won’t leave.”
She gave him a little nod. Nate and Josh came into the room. This was the first time Josh had really gotten a good look at Andi in three years. He could see why Ryker was so attracted to her, she was exactly the type of girl he would date. He noticed the massive bandage wrapped around her head, and a small amount of blood that was starting to go through the bandage. They each grabbed a chair and sat down. Josh didn’t take his eyes off her for a second though.
“So, what did you need to talk to me about?”
“We wanted you to know that whatever your decision is with the label and manager, we will go with you.” Josh said. “KC had no right to talk to you that way, especially with everything going on and how much work you put into our band. You are the reason we are where we are, and we will choose you and the band over everything else.”
“Thanks, I appreciate that. I mean I expected that from Nate, because he has known how I feel about KC, but I wasn’t expecting that from you right now.”
“After you said our contracts with her expired, I knew I could finally speak up against her. I’m much easier to replace than you, so I would never get away with something like that before.” Josh said.
“We told her that My Supernova has to be our next single or we walk.” Nate said.
“It’s about time that they let us play that one. It’s the best song you have ever written, and we know it will be our biggest hit yet.” Josh said.
Ryker smiled, he was happy that they were going to choose whatever he decided. He didn’t want to break up the band, but he was done with KC. Then he noticed that Josh hadn’t taken his eyes off Andi.
“Josh, why do you keep staring at Andi?” Ryker asked
“I’ve been watching her bandage. The blood is soaking a decent amount for it to be supposedly healing. I was just concerned.”
Ryker stood up and looked at the right side of her head. Josh was right, it was bleeding a decent bit. He pressed a button on her bed that called the nurse. The nurse didn’t even have to wait for them to tell her anything. She saw the blood getting worse and ran to get a few doctors. Two doctors rushed in and started looking her over. Her eyes rolled back, and she began convulsing. Once the convulsions stopped, her heart rate dropped.
“Go get Dani!” Ryker shouted. “Room 204 or 205. Get her quickly!”
Dani was luckily already on her way to see Andi, when they ran into her in the hall. The doctors were pushing Andi in her bed back to the operating room. Ryker following behind. He caught up to her and held her hand. Dani was running alongside her bed as well, trying to figure out what was going on. They had Ryker let go of Andi’s hand, but as soon as he did her heart rate dropped even lower. He grabbed her hand again and her heart rate went up. They took her into the operating room with Ryker. They had him put scrubs on and wash up quickly. If him holding her hand was keeping her heart rate from plummeting again, they were going to keep doing it. She had a small brain bleed, so they repaired it, hoping that it wouldn’t break open again. Once they sent her and Ryker back. They just let Ryker stay in the scrubs, knowing it was more comfortable than what he was wearing. He fell asleep in his chair, resting his head on her bed.

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