Just a heads up, this is about a few weeks later. Apologies for the late updates, had enrichment classes cuz my mom decided that optional isn't optional, had to help my sister cuz she got her heart broken, binging before hulu ran out, and all that good stuff.

(Ben's POV)

I made a bad decision. It was a decision fueled by jealously, and my irrationality.

Well, when I had first found out, my instinct was to sing a song to win her over. It worked in High School Musical, right? Well, then I thought, you know what? I don't need her! I can totally get over her! So I made the worst decision of my life, and asked Ashely Sparks out over text. We had a few drinks, I got kind of drunk, and she ended up coming home. (No, we did NOT do anything, I would never be caught dead doing anything with Ashley Sparks.)

So, the media saw use getting drinks, and now that's circulating around the world. Great. Great job Ben! Way to screw it up, like always!

(Erica's POV)

I was sitting at a table near the stage at Cody's, with Adam across from me. We were talking over drinks, and the conversation was flowing well enough, for the first time. Then, we were interrupted by someone taking the stage.

"Uhm, is this thing on?" He rapped on the microphone, making echoey noises bounce around the room. He cleared his throat. "Alright, this thing is on. Today, I would like to perform a song that I've really been feeling lately, and has been in my mind recently." His voice broke towards the ends of the sentence, and it was more of a croak, at this point.

I knew who the voice belonged to as soon as I heard it. I just didn't want to turn around, because I was scared that all the bad blood between us would just cease to exist if I just looked at him in person.

I focused my eyes on his adorable sort-of-adopted daughter. I don't think he has any custody, but I saw in the news he was a father figure in her life.

She had a small gap between her front teeth that made her even more adorable, large wide brown eyes, and shoulder-length slightly messy caramel-brownish hair.

She clapped her hands together excitedly and Mike made a big thumbs up at the stage.

I finally let myself turn around to look at him when Adam said "Hey, isn't that your ex?"

Ben looked nervous, and he let out a deep breath.

Finally, his fingers started pressing down on the keys.

"This loneliness is wearing me down. I swear I had it all figured out, but when she's kissing me I'm missing your mouth... reminiscing of the love I had found." I was not expecting that. It was a slow, melancholy, mostly led by the piano tune. It was a difference from the pop songs he usually played. And I knew who this song was dedicated to.

"Yeppp," I muttered under my breath. "I already know who this is about.

He looked right at me, startling me with direct eye contact. I froze, and couldn't look away as he sang the next couple of verses.

"Cause she's got your eyes, but they don't quite shine like the way yours always do... you've been trapped inside of this one-track mind, cause I lost it all in you..." His voice was raw with emotion, and I could almost feel the desperation in his voice.

I caught myself thinking 'Do my eyes really shine?' No, Erica! I reprimanded myself. A pretty voice will NOT change your mind!

"And when you finally rest your head tonight, are you wishing you're right by my side? And if I could breakaway, could you say all the things you want to say, oh darling could you wait for me? Cause maybe you're that thing I need..."

I mean, I don't think I've ever heard the song before, but it sounded pretty good. I didn't dare show it though. I kept an indifferent look pasted onto my face, although shivers were running down my spine.

His voice built up in strength as he sang the next verse. "And if I could follow through, you'd find me standing right in front of you, so tell me could you wait for me? Cause maybe you're that thing I need... can you save me?" He was crying by now, small tears making their way down his face.

"This loneliness will tear me apart... I'm wishing myself back to the start, because when I'm holding her I feel your heart... and I hope it beats till it leads me back to where you are!"

That last line really got me... I still upheld my mask, but I could feel my heart thumping uncomfortably in my chest.

"Cause she's just not you, and he's just not me, like two strangers in the dark, ooooh you've been trapped inside of a story line, where the pages lost their spark..."

"And if I could break away, could you say all the things you want to say? Oh darling could you wait for me? Cause maybe you're that thing I need... and if I could follow through, you'd find me standing right in front of you, so tell me, could you wait for me? Cause maybe you're that thing I need... can you save me?" More tears were shaking his body, and the decision should've been easy, seeing his trembling lower lip, and those green eyes spilling tears, but the trust was broken.

He went on for a few more verses, but I didn't hear them, I was too busy focusing on those wonderful green eyes overflowing with tears that shook his body, the way everyone in the audience was wiping their eyes, how everyone's eyes were on me, and how Adam was awkwardly sitting there twiddling his thumbs in his lap.

Mike was staring at me intensely in the beginning, probably trying to gauge my reaction, but I had kept on a mask of indifference and nonchalance the entire time. I wasn't an actress for nothing. After a minute, he had started sobbing at the emotional performance.

Ever had been watching him, her wide brown eyes pooling with tears, and sniffling softly as the emotion that Ben was practically oozing affected everyone. An older couple, both with gray hair, sniffles and squeezed their hands together, and one of them handed the other a handkerchief.

I could feel every single pair of inquiring eyes on me as the song finished, but now, I was in a staring match with Ben, his eyes still watering, but piercing into me, trying to see how I felt. I held his gaze levelly, and eventually, his eyes dropped from mine, and he wiped his tears away hastily.

"Thank you. I hope you know how much this song meant to me. I meant every single word." He looked meaningfully at me, and then abruptly headed for the door, trailed by a bawling his eyes out Mike, and a more composed Ever.

I dropped my head onto the table with a sigh, finally allowing my guard to be dropped.

Did this chapter hit you in the feels 🥺 I know it did for me... That song is not very well known, and it needs more attention! It's such a sad song, and I swear, it punches me in the feels EVERY time! For all you HP fans, I have a Marauders Era fic out rn that is being updated once a week just like this fic. (Yes this is a shameless self promo.) Check it out if you wanna! :) Also, can we just take a moment to admire sensitivity KING 👑 Mike!