Grown

In the present day, police take a witness statement from the doorman at Korey’s apartment. The doorman reports that Enchanted went upstairs to see Korey on the night of the murder, but “[she] never came back downstairs” (156).

Korey begins to mold Enchanted into a different girl. He orders her to wear more designer brand clothes, lose belly fat, whiten her teeth, and practice walking in high heels. Enchanted feels like her music career is being forgotten, and “All [they] practice is how to look like anyone but [her]” (159). She feels “used” from being woken up again and again in the middle of the night for sex, and Korey makes fun of her body in front of his friends and orders her to drink. Enchanted tries to contact Gab, but gets no answer.

As the tour continues, Korey reveals more dangerous, abusive behaviors. He yells at Enchanted after performances and deprives her of sleep. He says that he can’t wait for Enchanted to turn 18 so he won’t have to deal with her parents anymore, and says her parents “practically begged [him] to take [her]. One less mouth to feed” (163). He claims that he is paying all of their bills, and that Enchanted’s parents are just leeching off of him.