Forever Blue by Jennifer Edlund Page A

in the vicinitywas pointing and laughingat me.
        “Hey, jerk off, you got a problem?” Cartersaid with his arms crossed.
         “Oh, I’m soooo scared,” Timsaid tauntingly. “Look, guys—toilet paper boy thinks he’s tough.”
         Everyone in school knew about Carter’s latest endeavor. Hehadrecently appeared in a toilet paper commercial, and the students wouldn’t let him live it down. I believed it was because kids were extremely jealous of Carter’s rising fame.
         Carter disregarded Tim’s heckling and snapped, “You do that to my friend again, and I will make you really sorry.”
        “Oh yeah? Try me, toilet paper boy.”
         “Carter, let’s go. Forget him. He’s not worth it,” I said,feeling my throat constrict as Iheld back tears.
        “Toilet paper boy, toilet paper boy,” Tim mocked, “likes to wipe his ass on national TV.”
         I’m pretty sure Carter weighed the consequences of punching Tim Morris’s lights out. Carter looped his arm in mineafter a brief moment of hesitation,andfinallydragged me away. This time, Tim threw a ketchup packet at the back of Carter’s head. Thankfully, it wasn’t opened, andCarter had the moral fortitude to ignore it. Once we got away, we ended up on the lower field under a tree.
        “Don’t let that jerk get to you,” Carter tried to reassure me.
        I swallowed down tears and said, “I’m so sick of this school and everyone in it.”
         Carter retrieved a napkin out of his brown lunch bag and wiped the remnants of ketchup off my blouse. “He’s a complete idiot, and no one likes him anyway except those stupid cronies of his.”
        At first I was humiliated, but now I was just fuming. “I can’t take this abuse anymore. When does it end?”
        “I’ve got your back, Alexa.” He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me in close. “If anyone messes with you again, I’ll kick their butt.”
        Maybe it was a good thing, but I could never imagine Carter harming anyone. This boy didn’t have a cruel bone in his body. Quite simply, it was not in his nature to be mean spirited. Nevertheless,the sentiment was endearing. To have a friend who cared for me in such a way was something I had yet to get used too. I had to admit that I’d never met anyone my agethatimpressed me more each day.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 6: Repercussions
     
     
        The Grammys are the considered one of the most significant nights of a musician’s life. The nomination can lead an artist to the top of their game, andremembered in music history as an honor that no artist forgets.
         Musicians and entertainers sauntered down the red carpeton a Sunday evening in February of 1998. Television reporters shoved microphones at any willing celebrity, hoping to get a moment of their time. Paparazzitried snappingpictures of every high-profilefigure walking into the venue as many celebrities walked on by, ignoring the annoying banter.
    The swish of couture gowns and the click of stiletto heels meant it was coming down to show time.
         Rock-and-roll hunks and pop-star divas filled the plush velvet front seatsof the Dome Theater in Los Angeles, California.Aiden Storm attempted to relax his nerves while his famous pop princess girlfriend, Whitney Milano, tried to ease his anxiousness. Therambunctiousness of Aiden’s entourage sitting in the seats behind had him feeling just a tad bit uncomfortable. They whistled and booed obnoxiously at award nominees like a bunch of rowdy teenagers. Aiden peered over at his manager, record producer, and lawyer, all of whom watched the show intently.
        A bright flash of light lit up the stage and the show began. R&B singer Koko Brown walked to the front in a gold flowing sequined dress. She read off a teleprompter, “This year we have been swept away into the pop music scene, but there can only be one pop