*Trisha*

Something's going on at The Avalon, but I'm not sure what, and there is no desire to investigate or get involved. There is ALWAYS something going on over there. But whatever it is today has Jonah on edge when he returns.

Evan and I are still exhilarated from our experience at the shooting range. It's hard to believe that I not only participated but genuinely enjoyed it. Evan putting me at ease helped. But when we came back to Nate's apartment we could tell something was up. 

Jonah is sitting at the dining room table with a plate of food in front of him- untouched. That's how you know something is wrong. His pasta has yet to be acknowledged, and Jonah's head is in his hands. Casey is standing behind him rubbing his shoulders which I think is sweet. It's rare to see the two of them interact lovingly in front of others. They are both very private with their relationship, even in Nate's apartment.

"Let me guess- you went to the Avalon today." I scoff. Evan stays silent, throwing the car keys in the dish and heading to the fridge.

"Oh good, you talked to Nate? I was going to ask you to reach out." Jonah looks up at me.

"No?" I phrase it as a question. "Should I have talked to him??"

"Oh." Disappointment floods the man's face. "I thought maybe you had when you said I went to the Avalon. I assumed you knew what was going on and talked some sense into him."

I let out a exaggerated sigh.

"What's going on...." I collapse onto the couch, losing my high from today's adventure.

"Lets see...'playboy' over there can't keep his dick in his pants for the life of him." Jonah sits up straighter and Casey backs away, taking the hint and sitting down next to him instead. Evan glances over our way and decides he wants in on the tea now too, so takes a seat on the other side of the couch with his water bottle.

"You need to be present, Trisha. You've been completely disengaged lately and have no clue what's happening over there, do you?"  

Is Jonah fricken mad at ME? For Nate doing whatever it is he did waving his dick around the way he does?

"Excuse me?" My attitude slips out and I give Jonah a dirty look. "I've been a little busy. Nor do I feel the need to babysit anyone over there. I will be doing plenty of that once we are on tour. What's going on here, Jonah, and why am I one catching all the heat for it?"

"Sorry." He sighs and reels it in. "I'm just frustrated. Your friend needs you. He needs someone to talk some sense into him. Meanwhile he's causing havoc over there, playing around with Julia's head and ruining a good thing she had with Paul."

Jonah's words sink deeply into me. Nate fucked around with Julia, didn't he? Paul won't stand for that.

"Nate told you this? That he needs me to reach out?"

"He didn't need to. Stuff is going down. Julia shut down. They think it's over this Mila Giovanni being single shit, but I know it's more. I know Julia. And Christ, I know Nate. I DON'T know what his intentions are seeing as he's leaving soon but he just can't stand the fact of Julia being with anyone other than him- whether he's around or not. Yet he can go off and do whoever he-"

"Watch it, Jonah." I snap. "He's still my best friend. And he has done a lot for you. For everyone. Only I'm allowed to tell him he's a fuck up."

"I don't need to explain it to you, Trisha. You're an intelligent woman. Hollan needs to let her go. It's not fair to Julia. He needs his best friend to talk some sense into him. That's you." Jonah's words are calm. He said what he said and is ready to move on. 

I watch him pick up his fork and twirl his pasta, raising his brows up at me before taking a huge bite. Casey, not really being the one to enjoy any kind of drama or confrontation now busies herself with heading to the kitchen and loading the dishwasher. Evan's eyes are glued to his phone.

What the hell is Nate doing over there? And why?? Paul is not one to be messed with. To even think Nate got in between him and Julia is ...God, I don't even know what it is... Or what the hell Nate is thinking. 

*******

*James*

As usual, Nate somehow managed to help Julia overcome the mood was in yesterday, and today she is in the spare room meeting with Dr. Tremont. What stands out is how anxious Nate appears while waiting for the therapy session to end, like he is nervous about Julia saying something he would prefer to keep private. I squint my eyes at him trying to read what's going on in that thick head of his while his anxiety creeps up.

"They are taking a long time in there." Nate impatiently rubs the back of his neck. 

"That's a good thing. It means she's talking." Jeremy says.

"Yeah, probably about Mila Giovanni." I scoff, just to get a little dig into Hollan and Paul nods his head. Nate gives us both a dirty look.

"This is NOT my fault." He snaps and plops down on the couch. "I can't control her breaking up with her boyfriend or it being all over the internet. And I can't control people's comments on posts!"

"You can tell management to screw themselves and not bring her on tour." I counter.

"You don't think I've tried fighting this, James? I fought Richard tooth and nail!!! It's not as easy as you think when he only sees me as money. Profit. There are contracts involved and people bigger than me!"

I frown and look away knowing half of Nate's problems are not because of things he's done but because of his poor management team. 

"Seeing you two together is going to tear Julia apart." I sit down on the other end of the couch but continue with my Mila Giovanni rant, only thinking about my best friend right now. Nate will get over shit. Julia will not.

"All I want to do is make music and sing. When did it all become so complicated?"

"When you were 16 and became famous." Paul sighs.

"And how old were you then, old man?" Nate teases and smirks at my bodyguard.

"29 or 30." He answers.

"Your turn." Julia walks into the living room, teary-eyed and looking depleted. "He wants to talk to you."

Her eyes are on Nate. Julia bypasses Jeremy, Nate and then Paul, choosing to sit down next to Jme, putting her head on my lap and closing her eyes, I shrug my shoulders as Paul and Nate watch, and begin combing my fingers through Julia's hair.

Nate huffs and heads to the spare room to talk to Trevor. A few minutes of silence pass as I gently brush my fingers through Julia's hair, soothing her and easing whatever is troubling her. Minutes turn into a half hour, then longer, the silence thick in the room.

Then I feel her tear slide from her face onto my thigh, where she rests her head.

"Babe, what is it? Something's eating away at you."

"Nothing." Her response is flat.

"We used to tell each other everything." I frown. "Now you barely talk to me. You keep it all inside."

"I'm sorry."

"You feel so far away from me."

Another tear rolls onto my skin before Julia sits up and wipes her eyes. She looks at Paul who is sitting on the recliner scrolling through his phone and then at Jeremy who is at the kitchen table writing in my chart.

"I'm so sorry." Julia mutters, but I have a feeling she isn't talking to me. She's talking to Paul. Paul who is oblivious. I think I was right.I think Julia and Hollan messed up, and it's really weighing on Julia now because she genuinely has feelings for Paul. And for Nate to pull something like this, knowing he's leaving, is such a jerk move. What? Just to split them up so he can make sure Julia is single while he's gone?

Julia's tears flow freely now and she covers her face.

"Moretti, what's going on?" I hear Paul ask right as the guest bedroom door opens and I hear Dr. Tremont and Nate come out. Julia jumps up, startling me in the process and storms towards nate, now furious. Her mood changed so quickly it caught us all by surprise.

"This is all your fault!" Julia pushes Nate hard in the chest, making him stumble backwards.

"Jule..." His voice is soft and broken. His eyes puffy from crying. Julia shoves him again, and again, not caring both Jeremy and Trevor are telling her to back away. It's not until Nate grabs her by her wrists does it register. He says something close to her ear. Something no one can hear. And whatever he said broke her down. Julia sobs into Nate's chest, her hands still in tight fists, his hands still holding her wrists.

"Let. Go. Of. Me. I hate you!" She seethes in between sobs. "You fuck with my head!"

This is the stuff I was talking about with Trevor. The stuff I can't handle. These quick changes in moods and outbursts. I tense up and scratch the back of my head, hoping for someone else to intervene. While waiting, memories of my parents hit me harder than a baseball bat.

My father, sober, attempting to console my mother after the dust has settled, after the bruises have surfaced and can not be concealed. How she'd cry into his chest and he'd hold her. Apologizing. I never could understand that type of relationship. Obviously, My mother once loved Joe deeply, enough to marry him and build a family together. But at what point does that love fade? Is it when you witness him strike one of your children? When he molests another? When does the breaking point come? Why did she choose to stay? This is something I have battled with for a long time. 

No, I don't blame my mother. Not at all. She was stuck. I get that and can't judge her for staying with that monster as long as she did. She tried to get help. She'd pack our bags, tell us we were going on an adventure, try to leave. But the threats were real, bold, physical and on us all. Not just my mother. 

She was determined to protect us while also trying to find way out. If she ran before having all her plans in place and all her ducks in a row, Joe would have unleashed his wrath on her and on all of us in one way or another. Someone could have lost their life. I truly believe this, and it's why my mother had to endure such a long wait before making her move. I vividly recall terrified she was. I was there. I remember everything. Constantly watching her back. Looking over her shoulder. Still living with that fear to this day.

"Julia, why do you hate Nate?" Jeremy keeps his distance but tries to play doctor. Trevor's eyes are on Nate while me and Paul stand in the shadows, unsure which way Julia's mood will turn. Will she calm down? Ramp up?

Nate releases Julia's tightly clenched fists and pulls her into his chest, shielding her face as if he instinctively knows it's what she needs. He presses his into her shoulder, overcome with emotion, and I have to look away. But not Paul. Paul stands stiff, rigid, upright, and alert. Catching on to what I think has happened but have yet to approach Julia about it.

"I fucking hate you." Julia murmurs into Nate's chest.

"I know, doll." Nate sighs.

"Hollan, talk." Paul demands in a low growl.

Nate stiffens and raises his head, his expression speaking volumes without the need for words. His face shows a silent confession, leaving no room for doubt. The room falls silent. Paul's eyes narrow in at Nate and the anger they hold is something I've never seen out of the man, and I've seen him anger. This is different. Nate betrayed Paul. Julia betrayed Paul. 

The bodyguard pivots and walks towards the Avalon door for an easy escape.

"Paul, wait!" Nate pleads.

The Avalon door slams shut, vibrating through the apartment. Julia falls limp in Nate's arms with a loud wail and he lowers her to the floor.

They both really fucked up now. But Nate knows better. He knew Paul was good for Julia yet sabotaged their relationship anyways. What a dick thing to do. I shake my head at him, losing a little bit of respect for Hollan, and sit down on the couch with my head in my hands, knowing Julia is going to need someone to pick up her pieces for her- once again.

******