I'm just drivin' at night I got no music on

I got no favorite song It's just me and my thoughts

-Arctic Nightmares, 1 Of Those Weaks

June 3, 2016: 5:27 p.m.

"You got everything down, then?"

I nodded to show I was good to go. It wasn't that hard to remember, really.

"Alright, you're all set for now!" The lady said before speaking into her mic and scurrying off.

I walked away, roaming the area for someplace to sit. Mercury's concert started in like thirty, but I wasn't appearing until one of her later songs so I had plenty of time to relax backstage.

"Hey Reece, you want to join in?"

My eyes shot up off the ground as I looked up for the owner of the voice. I grinned realizing it was Mercury, herself.

"Hey," I greeted walking over before scrunching my eyebrows, "What're you doing?"

She was sitting on the couches along with some of her dancers. They were all surrounding what looked like that one game with the wooden blocks that always fell over.

"It's Jenga!" She announced her green eyes bright and excited, "We play before every show."

I nodded realizing it was a pre-show ritual.

"So?"

"So what?" I asked, confused.

"So you want to play?" she chuckled showing off her perfect teeth that were hiding behind her red lipstick. She looked stunning in her outfit for the concert.

"Oh! Yeah," I said realizing how dumb I sounded. I took the seat next to her and nodded at the other dancers.

"It's Pete's go first," Mercury filled me in, "He never lasts long."

"Hey!" Pete exclaimed breaking his stare down with the untouched tower, "Only cause you all gang up on me."

"Oh please, you'd lose to a monkey," A girl sitting next to him stated.

I chuckled with the others as they began arguing.

"That's Nia," Mercury said amused, "We play Jenga elimination. She almost always makes it to the last round."

"Damn, that good?" I asked. I definitely wasn't going to make it that far. Hell, I was sure I'd take Pete's title as the worst player.

"She has a gift," Mercury sighed, her lips twitching into a smile.

"You know, I'm surprised you called me to come out for your show," I looked over at her hoping she'd explain why.

She turned toward me, moving her brunette hair out of her face, "Yeah, so was I," she scoffed, "Last time we talked, you were a dick."

"HA," I let out a laugh; she wasn't one to hold back. "Yeah, sorry about that," I said guiltily.

She shrugged waving me off, "But my fans have been asking for me to play the song along side you for a while. I hadn't given in until I heard about your whole 'turn around.'"

She eyed me as if she was looking for a reason to not believe in it. I didn't give her one.

"So I thought I should give it a shot. If you had really changed, I was willing to put the past behind us," she continued.

I looked over at her, surprised. It takes a big heart to do something like that.

"Well thanks for giving me another chance," I said smiling.

"I'm glad I did," she remarked, her words sounding genuine.

"Ah what the hell Pete!"

We looked over at the group to see what had happened.

"How the hell do you manage to knock down all the blocks down on the first go?" one of the dancers asked bewildered.

I let out a laugh looking at the collapsed tower in front of me.

"My fingers slipped!" Pete exclaimed still holding onto one of the blocks.

Nia shook her head, pointing her finger at Pete, "You need to be banned from this game."

"C'mon let's set it back up so I can beat you losers," Mercury said rubbing her hands before beginning to rebuild.

I was about to help when I felt my pocket vibrate.

Looking at the lit screen, my heart sunk in my chest. I felt myself frown as I unlocked my phone to read the whole message.

McKenna: No, Maia was busy sadly. Actually omy to Washington rn. Good luck at your show tho! Knock em' dead!!

I clenched my jaw. It shouldn't bother me. She was on her way to visit Noah, her boyfriend.

It shouldn't bother me.

But fuck, I wanted to kick that asshole all the way to Alaska. Where he'd freeze to death. He'd be food for the penguins. Everyone would win.

I hated trying to be friends with McKenna. It was frustrating especially when we had to act like we were in a relationship.

She was able to change my mood in a fraction of a second and all I was, was an inconvenience.

"Hey Reece! C'mon man it's your turn."

I blinked out of my trance and looked up to see all of them looking at me. I put my phone away trying to submerge the jealousy that was traveling through my veins.

I couldn't get hung up on that. I am totally cool. McKenna could do whatever she wanted. I'm cool with anything. Totally and completely cool.

I had a show to perform.

9:16 p.m.

"Oh my god, Reece. That was great!" Mercury wrapped her arm around me as we made our way off stage.

I laughed, her bubbly mood extremely contagious. "It was wasn't it," I agreed slinging my arm around her should her as well.

"The crowd was fantastic, they loved us. Perfect ending," she exclaimed drinking out of a water bottle that was handed to her.

I agreed, unable to stop grinning. That was in all ways, perfect. I forgot just how great being on stage felt.

It was like I was on a new high, excitement running through my bones.

"I gotta' do the meet n greet but you should definitely hang out with us after," Mercury told me as she untangled herself from me to get to her phone.

"Yeah, I'm down," the words came out of my mouth automatically. I didn't know what her team usually did after a concert, but I knew I wouldn't mind being a part of it. They all seemed really cool.

"Great," Mercury grinned, "actually why don't you just come with me. I bet they'd be stoked to meet you as well."

I hesitated in answering. I haven't done a meet and greet in a while. After a show, I always wanted to leave as quick as I could to try to escape the intense loneliness that came after a performance.

"C'mon," she raised an eyebrow, "Too cool for fans?"

I chuckled making up my mind. "Alright," I nodded following her.

"There you go!" Mercury encouraged as she led me toward the meet and greet room. "It doesn't take long, really. They're usually cool people too," she told me as she opened the door.

"Usually," I scoffed amused recalling my own experiences

Mercury shrugged with a smirk her eyes twinkling, "Some people can be a little too..eager."

I chuckled. Wasn't that the truth.

Walking in, we were immediately greeted by a bunch of fans that were shouting and nudging each other as if they couldn't believe it was actually us.

"What's up guys," Mercury greeted with a grin, "Enjoy the show?"

I watched amused as the majority nodded vigorously. There were lined up next to a backdrop where they were waiting to take pictures with us. There were a few guards there to make sure no one did anything crazy.

"I think most of you know my friend, Reece."

"Hey guys," I greeted with a small wave as I looked through them.

Most of them were girls, but there were some guys as well. They all looked crazy excited, unable to stop whispering to each other.

"I'm excited to meet all yo-" I froze as my eyes landed on a figure in the middle of the line. She looked like a ghost standing there in her Mercury tour T-Shirt.

She was staring right back at me with her unforgettable, stormy grey eyes. A shiver ran down my spine as I realized it was really her.

I swallowed taking in the sight of her.

She was real.

She was here.

She was her best friend.

"I'm just saying you looked soo hot up there on stage. Your band is awesome."

I eyed the girl who was obviously wasted. I knew that for a fact since for one, I was up there alone; no band. Two, she was getting really handsy and I swear a year ago she hated my guts.

I didn't care, though. She wanted to play and I was all for it.

The place was unusually crowded tonight and an actual band had took the stage. People were dancing as well as drinking, all having the best damn time of their life.

I had just wanted to get lost.

I put my cup down on the table ready to ask her to dance when I was suddenly spun around and met with a pair of stormy grey eyes.

"You! I have a bone to pick with you."

My eyes widened at the sight of Vye. She looked pissed.

I had given her a welcoming smile, "Nice to see you here."

It wasn't a total lie either. We were never great friends but she was always brutally honest with me. That still hasn't changed which I was grateful for.

"Don't try to play any games with me, Reece," she narrowed her eyes, her hands going to both sides of her hips.

"Um, I was actually talking to him," the girl from before poked out from behind me.

"And now you're walking away." Vye told her.

"But-"

"Bitch, either walk away now or after I give you a shiny new black eye to match your slutty black dress."

I watched impressed as the girl clamped her mouth shut before stomping off. Turning back to Vye, I raised an eyebrow, "You didn't have to be that harsh."

"And you don't have to act like a dick."

She was extra bitchy, today. It was kind of a turn on.

"What do you want Vye?" I asked picking up my drink and taking a sip of it.

She was Isabelle's best friend, though and even I wouldn't go there.

Although I did have a secret crush on her before Isabelle and I ever became anything more than friends. God, that had seemed like a life time ago.

"You need to apologize to Isabelle for what you said. And I'm not taking no for an answer," she told me her eyes fierce.

I finished the last of my drink and pretended to think.

"No."

I probably would apologize to her. And she'd wind up taking me back but right now I just wanted to be numb to the world.

"Reece," Vye warned, the threat clear in her voice.

I walked past her and toward the keg. Pouring two more drinks, I turned back toward her.

"Have a drink and I'll do what you want," I told her.

She crossed her arms.

I smiled down at her, daring her, "Just one."

I knew just as well as she did that she loved the party scene. It was loud and chaotic; everything her house wasn't.

Her parents were always traveling and she was always trying to forget.

I was using her need as bait for her to leave me alone and I had been sure it would work.

She didn't break my gaze as she took the cup out of my hand.

My smile grew wider knowing I had won.

But that drink had lead to another.

And another until we were both well past drunk which lead to the dance floor.

Which lead to a lot of touching and one kiss.

One kiss that we weren't the only witnesses to.

Isabelle didn't bring it up until the next day where she told me she couldn't do it anymore.

Where she told Vye to fuck off despite the number of apologizes she tried to give.

Where I watched, numb, as the last person who gave a damn walked out of my life.

I blinked back into reality realizing she had made her way over to me. I opened my mouth to say something when her palm made contact with my cheek.

My face whipped to the side as I tried to register the fact that she just slapped me.

Hard.

I turned back toward her, the side of my face stinging, to see the guards grabbing onto her.

"No!" I exclaimed unable to look away from her death gaze, "Let her go."

It took a moment, but the guards listened slowly backing away. I vaguely noticed the fans behind her as well as Mercury staring.

Vye glared at the guards before turning back towards me.

"I'm sorry," she said her chilling voice sending shivers down my spine, "You might be a different person now, but I am still the same."

"Vye-I don't-I," I stuttered trying to find the right words to say.

"You were selfish and fucked up so many things and I never got to do anything about it," she continued the hostility still clear in her voice as she crossed her arms.

Her words were like bullets impinging into my chest.

"I-Isabelle?" I questioned, my voice hoarse.

"Don't," she shook her head, "Please, don't ask me about her."

I swallowed, looking down at the ground. I nodding my head, feeling my throat tightening. She was trying to calm down but I knew what she meant.

I didn't deserve to ask about her.

I felt my heart begin to pang in my chest.

"I need to leave," I stated my voice thick.

I had to get out and away from her.

"Reece, wait!" It was Mercury.

I saw her reach out for me, but I shook my head moving away from her. "I'm sorry have fun at your whatever. I-I need to go," I gave up explaining, my voice breaking.

Scrambling out the door, I took in deep breaths trying to control my brisk heartbeat, but it wasn't working. With my hands on my knees, I blinked rapidly trying to keep the tears threatening to escape at bay.

"Fuck!" I gritted my teeth trying not to yell as I made my way out the building.

I quickened my pace trying to get to my car. Jumping into the driver's seat, I started the engine.

This wasn't real. This couldn't be happening.

I turned out of the garage, picking up my speed. The radio was blaring as the tires screeched on the pavement.

She couldn't just show up like that. She was just as much to blame as I was.

"It was the both of us!" I screamed but it didn't help.

I wasn't fooling anyone.

I floored it, wiping a tear that escaped with one hand.

Her words were echoing in my skull: You were selfish and fucked up so many things.

Vye.

Isabelle.

Germain.

Jared.

Mom.

My fingers trembled as I wiped my eyes again.

It wasn't right. None of it.

I shouldn't be the one to escape. I shouldn't be able to move on. I shouldn't be able to have this life.

I didn't deserve it.

"What the fuck. Can you just shut up!" I yelled at the stereo.

I leaned over to turn off the stupid  music.

In that instant, my eyes broke away from the road.

Even if I was paying attention, I doubt I would have the chance to evade the oncoming truck. My head whipped toward the direction of its headlights.

It was a mesmerizing, blinding white light that refrained me from screaming before my body jerked sideways by the impact of the crash.

A/N: Didn't I tell you to watch out for this chapter? I think I did. It's been a long week can't remember....buuuut comment and let me know what is running through your head!!!

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