Grown

Back in the recording studio, Korey and Enchanted start planning for the tour. Enchanted marvels at how “Korey’s words are always so sweet, thoughtful” (129), and how she can’t imagine being with a boy after being with a man. Korey locks the door and turns the music up, and Enchanted’s mother bursts through the door, demanding to know why it was locked. Korey distracts her by promising her tickets to Mary J. Blige’s Christmas show, and “Mom’s shoulders relax, her face smoothing” (132).

The tour begins, and Enchanted tries to stay in touch with her family. Her father and Gab won’t talk to her, and Enchanted notices that Korey “hang[s] out with the dancers” (135) many nights. Korey knows that Enchanted is jealous, but distracts her by calling her his “little secret [he] don’t have to share with no one” (136). Enchanted relaxes into Korey’s love, but wants to know when they will start working on her album. They are interrupted by Korey’s assistant, and he doesn’t answer her question.

Korey buys a wig (nicknamed “Melissa”) for Enchanted and tells her to start wearing it. He says that longer hair will make Enchanted look like a real star and help them to build her brand. He then reminds her that long hair will make him happy. Enchanted is hurt, because “[she] thought [she] already made him happy. [She] thought he liked the way [she] looked” (138). Nevertheless, she reluctantly agrees to wear the wig for him.

At one of the concert afterparties, Enchanted keeps her usual distance from Korey, who doesn’t want to “give people the wrong idea” (139) about their relationship. As she watches Korey flirt with other women, Enchanted meets Derrick, the son of Richie, one of Korey’s friends in the music industry. Derrick and Enchanted become friendly, but when Derrick asks Enchanted how old she is, she lies and says that she is 18, “practicing the line Korey fed [her]” (141). Derrick explains that he and his friends are passionate about music too, and Enchanted is excited at the thought of making friends with shared interests on the road. Korey catches Enchanted talking to Derrick, and “his eyes [are] stone-cold” (144).

As soon as they return to the hotel, Korey angrily accuses Enchanted of being unfaithful and “talking to some other man right in front of [him]” (146). Korey orders her to go to her room and stay in it. Enchanted feels like “he [is] grounding [her], like a child” (146). Enchanted stays in her room with no food or water and no connection to the outside world, and when she asks to use the bathroom, she is given an ice bucket instead. Enchanted is “sweating. Hungry. Thirsty. Dizzy. And the half-filled ice bucket in the corner makes [her] want to vomit” (148). After 16 hours, Korey lets her out and tells her that he wants to take her somewhere.

Korey surprises Enchanted by taking her to Disneyland. They spend the day together, and Korey buys Enchanted a stuffed Flounder toy, a character from The Little Mermaid. Back at the hotel, Korey starts to initiate sex with Enchanted, who becomes fearful and freezes. Korey says that if Enchanted really cares about him, she’ll “make [him] feel good” and make up for “the way [she] hurt [him] last night” (153). Enchanted gives in to Korey’s insistence, but she “[squeezes her] eyes shut and [floats] away, back to the sea” (154) until it’s all over.