Contents
Chapter 5
Overview
Skylar settles into West’s bunkhouse, ignores manipulative messages from her father and agent, and admits how fame has drained her joy in music. Wandering to the lake, she quietly bonds with Oliver and then meets Emmy, who invites her to dinner. Emmy’s mention of their mother’s new husband suggests West is single, reframing Skylar’s attraction and deepening her tie to this place.
Summary
Skylar unpacks in West’s bunkhouse, trading barbs with her parrot, Cherry, while dodging calls and texts from her controlling father and her agent, Jerry. Their messages push image management and quick returns, highlighting how Skylar’s career has been micro-managed. Skylar admits she’s lost joy in music and resents how her parents turned her passion into a burden.
Seeking space, Skylar walks to the lake and clumsily scrambles down to the shore. She discovers Oliver reading under a rooted lakeside tree. Introducing herself gently, Skylar respects Oliver’s quiet, shares her awe of the setting, and the two sit in companionable silence, giving Skylar a rare sense of calm and freedom from expectations.
Music blares from uphill as Emmy, Oliver’s energetic sister, arrives. Emmy recognizes Skylar, gushes, and jokingly pitches choreography for a fee, revealing her precocious confidence. The siblings’ dynamic charms Skylar and momentarily lifts her from bitterness about her past management and blind trust in her father.
Emmy insists Skylar join them for dinner, clarifying it’s just their dad at home. When Skylar asks about their mom, Emmy casually mentions their mother and stepdad Brandon, implying a divorce. This revelation corrects Skylar’s assumption that West is married and makes her reconsider boundaries and possibilities as she settles into this new, steadier rhythm.
Who Appears
- Skylar StonePop star hiding out; rejects controlling calls, confronts burnout, finds peace by the lake, bonds with Oliver, meets Emmy.
- OliverQuiet, bookish boy by the lake; shares a calm moment with Skylar and subtly welcomes her.
- EmmyEnergetic, confident sister; fangirls over Skylar, invites her to dinner, reveals their mom’s remarriage.
- Skylar’s fatherOverbearing manager-dad; texts to control Skylar’s image and push her return.
- JerrySkylar’s agent; proposes a cover story and publicity stunt to manage optics.
- CherrySkylar’s talkative bird; echoes Skylar’s thoughts as she settles into the bunkhouse.