Part 1The Ex-Files: Celebrity Edition

The whole world knew I was Nathan Bell's most hated ex-girlfriend, the top celebrity singer.

On a reality show, a young idol casually turned on the car stereo and played the default playlist. It was my song.

Two seconds into the intro, Nathan, sitting in the passenger seat, spoke coldly: "Terrible. Skip it."

He skipped. It was my song again.

He skipped again. Still my song.

Nathan’s face looked terrible. He glanced at the driver and sighed. "Kid, you have awful taste for someone so young."

The young idol hesitated, then weakly spoke: "Bro, this is your car. And that's your playlist..."

Nathan: "?!"

* * *

Nathan and I are the entertainment industry's most famous feuding exes. Our track record is legendary.

Since we debuted, roughly a third of our songs have been direct disses at each other. I don't remember who started it. It was just: he releases one, I release one; he releases one, I release one...

Hatred is the number one productivity fuel. Stimulated by Nathan, I managed to pump out ten albums in two years.

Back when we were dating, only our close friends knew. But nothing escapes the all-seeing eye of the internet. Our lyrics, when pieced together, read like a public argument.

#NathanBellAndAlyssaLane: Hollywood's Pure Hatred Couple #NathanBellAndAlyssaLane: Did They Dig Up Each Other's Graves? #NathanBellAndAlyssaLane: Why Did They Break Up? How Can They Be This Bitter?

These ridiculous, trending topics popped up one after another. Our motto: No peace, only beef. Nathan and I topped the charts for months.

Then, at the end of the year, the platform forced us to attend the awards ceremony.

The host asked: "To both of you, who do you want to thank most for your success today?"

I listed everyone: "My family, my friends, my manager, my fans..."

Nathan looked straight at me. "I want to thank my ex-girlfriend for dumping me. She gave me endless inspiration for my breakup songs. She is..."

He smirked, a thin, fake smile. "...My muse."

He calls me a "paint-by-number zombie" and "Picasso's failed abstract project" online, but in person, I'm his muse? The guy is a piece of work. Always passive-aggressive.

On the way home, I wrote a new song:

Muse is your cheap tears, Packaging lies to cover fears. Voice cracked, career is down, Go home, wash up, and forget this town. My exit killed your drive, New album tanks? No surprise. You deserved the cruel break, I'm gone, no double take.

That night, I posted the demo and announced a new album. Fans went wild, tagging Nathan.

He finally logged on late that night. He liked my post, then left a friendly, neighborly comment:

[6.]

[Alyssa Lane, you just wait. 'Smiley face' emoji.]