"Hello Amelia."

Dodger's even expression greeted her, after she knocked on Sebastian's door.

"Hey."

As she crossed the threshold, she reached out and tugged on Dodger's sleeve.

"Dodger, is he okay?" she asked, quietly, looking to where sat. "I feel like he's been off all week. At the very least, distracted."

Sebastian sat in the living room, his fingers tangled in his hair. Dodger glanced towards the couch, a distant look darting across his face.

"He's fine," he said, breezily.

"You sure?"

"Amelia what you have to understand is that Bash pours himself into his music. It's the thing that helps him out of hard situations. But there's also a down side to it as well. Putting himself so much into his songs means he has to deal with tough emotions at times. Listening to those emotions over and over again can be kind of difficult."

Dodger's gaze was intent upon her.

"Like everyone else he has his ups and downs," he said. "This week just might be a down week. You understand?"

Amelia nodded.

"Good."

Dodger walked back to the living room, stopping in front of Sebastian.

"Bash, Amelia is here. Go work with her and we can finish this song later," Dodger said.

"What?"

Sebastian's hand fell from his hair and he gave Dodger a blank look.

"Amelia is here."

Sebastian swiveled towards Amelia. She greeted his look with a small wave.

"Right. I don't like the song. We'll start something else," Sebastian said.

"Go work with Amelia," Dodger said.

Amelia trotted up to Sebastian's side as he moved down the hallway and into the music room.

"Hi," Amelia said.

Sebastian nodded in response, his expression clouded. He sat on the arm rest, his face wore the same tired, distant look it had all week. Amelia wondered again, for what felt like the hundredth time, whether he was getting any sleep at all.

His hair was a mess, like his hands had gone through it looking for solutions to his problems too many times. His blue eyes held a worn look that disappeared only when he forced himself to focus. The more Amelia had watched him the last three days, she could see that behind the look was a million and one thoughts pulling his attention every which way.

"What's next?" Amelia asked, sitting down at the drums.

The blue eyes took a beat longer to focus on her, and still there was a brief pause.

"Thunderstorm," Sebastian said.

"Okay then."

They had finished Walking this World with You the day before, to Amelia's utter relief. With Sebastian's new tired and distracted state the process had seemed to take longer than usual.

Sebastian picked up the maple wood guitar. The curve of the smooth wood settling onto his leg seem to have a calming effect on him. When he looked at her, the worn look was less apparent. The strum of the song was quick and steady, flowing with the lyrics. Sebastian's voice was low as he sang about getting caught in a thunderstorm, the thrill of being surrounded by chaotic lightening and rushing rain; about having no where to go, needing to leave but wanting to stay.

"It's really good," Amelia said, her throat dry. 

The emotions behind the words hitting her. He said nothing.

"Can you play it again?" she asked.

"Yes."

He ran through it again as Amelia started feeling out the beat.

"I'm caught in the thunderstorm
I can't seem to get away
The thrill, the chase are holding me
Needing to go but wanting to stay"

She played with him, the feel of the song so strong to her that the drums flowed easily with him. The two instruments blended and swirled around each other, harmonizing like two old friends being reunited.

"Close, but not there," Sebastian said, after they stopped playing.

Sebastian's leg buzzed and he pulled out his phone.

"Yes, Chuck?" he said.

He moved to the center of the room, his back to Amelia, his hand running along the back of his neck as he listened.

"Yeah, I remember that's tonight. How long do I have to be there?" Sebastian asked.

The response brought a weighted curve into his shoulders.

"Yeah, I understand. What's the dress code?...Alright. Yes, thanks Chuck."

He pocketed the phone and stood standing in the center of the room, a world of tired thoughts filling the silence. Amelia coughed.

"Do you want to get back to work?" she asked, cautiously.

He turned to her, his eyes clearing, forcing the thoughts aside. He nodded.

The light in Sebastian's eyes dimmed when another phone call arrived a couple hours later, announcing his car would be ready within the hour. The excitement of the day slipped from his face and the worn, weary look from that morning settled back into his feature.

He pulled himself up and told Amelia he needed to draw the day's work to a close. Amelia agreed, remembering Poppy was expecting her at her house to get ready for Winston's party that night. They said goodbyes and Amelia left, a worried line edging itself between her eyebrows as she called the elevator.

***********

Music pulsed through the crowded ballroom. Servers holding trays swam through the throng, as their burdens were lightened.

"I want to introduce you to Winston, follow me," Jackson said.

He took Poppy's hand and guided them through the flurry of movement. Sawyer trailed behind, Amelia still on his arm.

"Jackson! I was wondering if you would show up lil bro," Winston said.

"Hey Winst, this is Poppy. You know my producer Sawyer and you know Amelia," Jackson said.

Poppy gave a short, sweet hello that got a wide grin out of Winston before Sawyer stepped closer.

"Sup man, congrats on the signing," Sawyer said, shaking Winston's hand.

"Thanks. Jackson showed me the EP. You did a great job on it."

"Thanks," Sawyer said.

"Hey Winston. Congratulations on getting signed," Amelia said.

"Thanks. It's been awhile. How you doing?" Winston asked.

They exchanged a brief conversation until Winston's attention was pulled away. Jackson led Poppy away to go dance and Sawyer asked Amelia if she'd like a drink. All around them the twittering of voices filled her ears. The bartender moved gracefully along the wide length of the bar, his hands never stopping, always flipping bottles and filling glasses.

Sawyer got a beer while Amelia opted for a bottle of ginger ale. Pushed away by the mob of thirsty party goers, Sawyer directed them over to a space by tall windows that doubled the party scene in its reflection. Sawyer's personality was friendly and they easily passed conversation back and forth.

"Amelia!" 

Both Swayer and Amelia turned towards the voice. Reynolds swaggered towards them.

"Hi Reynolds," Amelia said, bored of him already.

"Now Amelia you don't have to get all dressed up on my account. I like you just the way you are," Reynolds said, taking in her short deep blue dress.

"Who is this fool?" Sawyer asked.

"He's no one," Amelia said.

"Reynolds King, nice to meet you."

"Sawyer."

"How come you're here Reynolds? I didn't know you knew Winston," Amelia said.

"I helped him with the drums for one of his songs," Reynolds said, unable to completely mask his pride.

"Cool," Amelia said.

When the pause drew too heavy Reynolds excused himself and left.

"How do you even know that guy?" Sawyer asked.

"He's second to me in my drum class. So he has the need to annoy me and claim he's first."

Sawyer nodded, seeming to completely understand. A girl appeared before them and Sawyer's face brightened.

"Lauren!" Sawyer said.

"Sawyer, I didn't know you would be here." She giggled. "I guess I should have known Jackson being Winston's brother and everything."

Sawyer's smiles grew wider as he looked at Lauren and Amelia knew it was her cue to leave.

"Sawyer it was fun chatting with you, I hope you enjoy the rest of the party," Amelia said, her tone light.

Sawyer gave her a relieved smiled and she returned it. She left them, their warm tones speaking volumes above their simple words. As she slipped in and out of the crowd, searching for someone she could pass a few non awkward words with, she considered leaving and texting Poppy later.

This thought was taking hold of her as she rounded back to the clearing near the windows and came face to face with Sebastian. She retreated a few steps, putting a comfortable amount of space between them.

"Hey, I didn't expect to find you here of all places," Amelia said.

He was dressed up and almost looked like his normal self, except for the tired expression.

"Let me guess, I look familiar but you're not quite sure where you've seen me before," he said. "Mostly because you tend to go to the opera, symphony, ballet or the theater."

He rubbed his fingers over his eyes and his tone sounded as if he was talking to himself.

"I'm sorry?" Amelia said.

"Sorry, difficult to explain. It's nice to see you Amelia," he said.

Amelia didn't get the chance to ask for an explanation because a girl in a tight dress, showing more skin than Amelia thought possible, swayed up to them. Her face the perfect mask of curiosity.

"I'm sorry," she said, in a silky voice. "But do I know you? You look familiar."

Impressed, Amelia watched as Sebastian smiled pleasantly, his manner calm.

"No, I don't believe so," he said.

"No, but you do look familiar," the girl said. "Are you singer?"

Amelia fought back laughter as understanding dawned on her.

"I've been known to hold a tune fairly well," Sebastian said.

"Oh I knew it. So what is it Opera? Musical theater? Cause that's really the only thing I ever listen to," the girls said.

"I'm sorry, you must be mistaken. I'm neither. So you couldn't have heard of me."

Amelia could tell by his tone and weary look he had had the exact conversation multiple times that night.

"That's a shame. I thought I knew you," the girl said, trying to find another way of keeping the conversation going.

"I guess so," Sebastian said, simply.

"Well, even though you aren't an opera singer, I'm sure we have something in common," she said coyly.

Sebastian's calm expression fell imperceptibly and Amelia made a rash decision.

"James Dallas, it's so good to see you. It's been awhile," Amelia said, moving closer so she stood between him and the girl.

"I'm sorry, who did you say this was?" the girl asked, all composer gone.

"It's James Dallas. He graduated last year from Juilliard. Started singing for The Canadian Victors."

The girl pointed at Sebastian, but stared at Amelia.

"You're saying this is James Dallas?"

"Yeah, who else would it be?" Amelia said, raising one eyebrow tauntingly.

Realizing she couldn't argue with that comment, the girl shot Amelia a vicious glare and stalked off. Relief radiated off of Sebastian as his shoulders lowered.

"Who is James Dallas?"    he asked.

"The lead singer for The Canadian Victors and a former Juilliard student. I worked with him on his final showcase performance. Oh and he looks nothing like you," she said.

"Right."

"Why are you even here?"

"Midnight Records behalf."

"Okay-"

Amelia was about to go on when another girl approached Sebastian. Amelia started thinking about how she could help him out of this encounter, when a lilting voice called Sebastian's name.

A flash of conflicting emotions skittered through Sebastian's eyes. He schooled his features as a long, thin arm wrapped around his neck, and Olive's body sidled up to him. The girl who had, a moment before, been trying to engage Sebastian in a conversation, was shocked into silence at Olive's arrival.

"Who is this?" Olive asked, eyeing the stunned girl with mock curiosity.

Sebastian's arm had instinctively wound its way around Olive's waist and his focus, which had been so floaty over the past week, was anchored to her face. His gaze took in her every feature as if committing it to memory.

When Sebastian didn't respond to Olive's question, she turned to him, their faces a few inches apart. A warm smile spread across her lips and Sebastian's weariness melted from his face.

"Sorry. I'm not sure. We were just getting to the introductions," Sebastian said, his eyes still glued to Olive.

The petrified girl found her voice.

"I'm Alice Cox," the girl said.

"Pleasure. I'm Olive Fletcher and this is my boyfriend, Sebastian Colfax."

Alice gave Olive a short, mocking smile and left. Once gone, Olive looked back at Sebastian, her hand reaching up to stroke the side of his face.

"Liv, we need to talk about Paris," Sebastian said, an edge to his voice, though his eyes were still absorbing her.

She smiled sweetly and lowered her gaze to meet his.

"Don't worry, all is forgiven," she said.

Sebastian's jaw clenched and the arm around her waist tightened. Before he could form words, Olive's lips stole them away. When they broke apart, Sebastian's shoulders sagged and his hand relaxed.

"Chuck called me and told me about tonight. He knows how you hate parties so he asked me to come and support you. Of course I jumped at the chance to be there for you," Olive said.

Sebastian's smiled and kissed her again.

"Thanks Liv," he said.

"Let's get a drink," Olive said.

Sebastian nodded. He seemed startled to find Amelia still standing there.

"It was a pleasure talking with you Sebastian," Amelia said, giving them a polite smile. "Have a pleasant night. Nice to see you again Olive."

Olive gave Amelia a blank look, and Sebastian nodded in thanks. Pulling Olive away, they moved towards the bar. The noise in the room seemed to double as Amelia was left alone. Feeling as if she had absorbed Sebastian's tiredness in an instant, Amelia found her way towards the door and left.

**********************************************************************

Howdy!

So I have a challenge for you, the band The Canadian Victors is actually the name of a real band, I just switched up the names. Can you figure out what the real band was? It's pretty popular. Also what do you think of Olive?

Vote, comment, follow! Tell me all! Because I know nothing! 😉