Although she frowned slightly at the sound of the smooth female voice, Keely didn’t lift her head from where her forehead was pressed on the bar. “Oh, well, I’m more of a bitch usually. But those were song lyrics, sorry, I’m off my game tonight. Not my best analogy.”

“Oh,” the faceless voice responded sounding rather confused. Yet her voice strengthened with her next words, giving the impression of a hint of laughter. “You were really great up there.”

Wincing slightly at her cowardly behaviour while someone was trying to comfort her, Keely lifted her head from the bar, staring straight forward as she brushed her hair from her eyes. “Yeah, freaking brilliant, right?” she replied dryly, tucking ginger curls behind her ears. “I’m wondering how long until security shows up, I bet they think I’m going to start stealing jewellery soon.”

“Plenty to choose from,” replied the voice, holding a note of disdain that made the sides of Keely’s mouth quirk up slightly. “Do these people even like music? I thought this was supposed to be a concert.”

She shook her head ever so slightly as the next band started up, but the crowd hadn’t learnt the lesson from her screaming at them before and just continued to talk. “I think it’s less about the music and more a “let’s show off how much money we have” kind of thing,” Keely sent back smoothly, tilting her head towards the side.

Immediately she choked in the back of her throat in surprise when she met the light brown eyes that slid over to a tint of gold.

Coughing at the sharp intake of breath, Keely spun around in the stool, making sure she was face to face with the dark haired girl. The same girl who belonged to Burn To Shine, the same band who had made the album that was still in her record player in her hotel room.

“You’re Rosemary Adams?” she managed to get out, her eyes bulging slightly.

The girl blinked, but a slow smile spread across her lips as she spoke, “You know me?”

Feeling a bit blindsided, Keely leaned her arm against the bar, rubbing her other hand over her forehead blankly. “Yeah, of course I do. I saw a video of Burn To Shine covering Doesn’t Remind Me months ago, I’ve pretty much been following you ever since. I have your album on vinyl and CD,” Keely laughed slightly, realizing she sounded a bit like a hysterical fan, but not able to control herself yet. “And when I was teaching myself to play the piano, I would learn a lot of your compositions by ear.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Rose responded disbelievingly, letting out a shaky little laugh. “You’re pretty much my hero. When you were on that talk show and you threw your headband offstage and sang Bad Reputation, I was watching it on my computer cheering you on from hundreds of miles away–” her pale cheeks tinged with red at the words “–oh and your music is amazing, of course. God, your voice,” she breathed, seeming to sink back into memories as her eyes focused inwards before closing them. “I’ve never heard anything like it.”

In response Keely couldn’t help the sarcastic smirk that flitted onto her mouth even though she could feel her heart swell in her chest at the words. “Oh, yeah, I’m great at screwing things up for myself,” she answered with a little roll of her eyes. “But seriously, I really want to learn the guitar part of your guys’ song Counterfeit, I’d love to be able to play a cover. The song is…” she trailed off, trying to find the words as she stared absently over Rose’s shoulder. “Well, I think it’s incredible, but I don’t think that word is enough.”

When the other girl let out a chuckle, her eyes twinkling with excitement, Keely felt an answering smile come onto her mouth.

“So it’s safe to say we’re fans of each other,” said Rose as she shook her head. “I’ll make you a deal, I’ll personally teach you Counterfeit, if you’ll teach me Yesterday’s Gone. Fair warning, I’m going to sing because there are a few things that I’d like to get out and screaming seems like a good idea at the moment.”

As the laugh bubbled out freely from her stomach, she ran a hand through her hair, shoving it away from her face again. The moment seemed almost surreal, meeting someone who had been an icon to Keely when she’d been a child, but she was quite content to stay there. “I’ll take you up on that. And I understand that completely, screaming a song is the best kind of therapy. I almost blew Seth’s–” her voice cracked over the word and she hastily corrected herself “–my producer’s eardrums a few times when I was in the studio and needed to get something out.”

“It’s awesome, isn’t it?” she put in, her eyes becoming slightly unfocused.

Sighing, Keely leaned her cheek into her hand, propping her elbow on the bar. “Yeah, yeah, it is.”

After a moment of silence, she sent her eyes to her companion who looked ready to speak. Yet before the words could leave her mouth, the familiar beginning riff of Nowhere Fast exploded through the room without warning, causing more than a few people in the crowd to jump violently.

It was familiar for Keely since she heard the same song every concert without fail, it had been chart topping for NSR when it came out. The sound of it made Keely’s heart clench painfully in her chest, flinging her back to the previous argument with Seth, the one she’d managed to push from her mind for a few moments while speaking to Rosemary. Her heart began to race, making each passing beat more painful.

Unable to help herself save her own threading sanity, her eyes flickered up to the stage as if captured by some magnetic pull. However the pain only increased when she saw Seth standing with his back to her, his whole body moving as he played the guitar, matching the drums to his playing as his head moved up and down. Did that guy, the one she didn’t doubt she’d do anything for, really think that of her? As she watched, he turned away from the drums to face the crowd without glancing at them, focused solely on the guitar in his hands.

Her breathing began to strain as she stared, yet her focus was turned away when Rose’s voice saved her from hyperventilating. “Hey,” she whispered, leaning forward with a concerned look in her eyes, “You okay?”

For a moment Keely just blinked at her, unsure of everything going on in her entire life.

“Um,” she choked out through her tight throat, “No, I’m not. I’ve got to go-right now,” Keely tripped over her words, shoving up from her seat and pushing away from the bar. “I’m going to go get some air.”

“All right–” Rose cut off her words, making Keely send a glance her way. The other girl’s work fixed on someone cutting through the crowd, a mixture of panic and pain shining brightly from them. “Actually, some air sounds great right about now.”

Nodding, she didn’t bother to ask; apparently she wasn’t the only one running from something at the moment. Without a word, Keely hooked her arm through Rose’s thoughtlessly, pulling her into the midst of the thick crowd in hopes of finding an exit. Seth’s voice was pulsing in through all about her and she could hear the power gaining behind it as he went from a smooth quiet voice building to the raspy shout that he did so well.

Refusing to look back as NSR hit the hook seamlessly, she tried to dodge through the crowd. But it was getting more difficult with each passing second.

It was as if something was against them, trying to keep them from escaping the stuffy hell.

Cutting through the people dressed up in their best clothing was difficult enough on her own, but with Rose it was almost impossible yet Keely didn’t let go of her arm. She was too panicked to go on her own, and it brought her some comfort to know she wasn’t the only one who was scared at the moment.

Becoming more frustrated, she began to speak loudly, trying to clear them a path. “Excuse me – sorry – please, we need to – can we get through? Excuse me.”

More than a few scowls were shot in their direction, but she couldn’t help but feel their shoving through the congested crowd wasn’t the cause. She hadn’t exactly been polite while on stage when she’d been speaking or singing, not to mention she’d flipped them off. It was odd, if she was standing face to face with a stranger, she’d never be able to speak the way she had earlier, no matter what had happened. Her polite upbringing too enforced into her bones. However, when she was on stage, it was like she gained a new power, becoming louder and more outspoken, the music giving her a protective barrier and allowing her to say what was on her mind to a room of complete strangers.

Although, it had been that way for a long time, but it had grown from what she said in her music to what she spoke to the people. She sang things and released feelings in her music that she’d never dare to show people in ordinary life.

Eventually they broke through to the point where Keely could see a dark door almost melding into the walls, and a sigh broke through her lips.

Yet when they were a mere step from pushing through the door, an arm shot out across it protectively, effectively blocking an escape from the party that was making her more and more claustrophobic. “I’m going to have to search you again, Miss Staub.”

Hearing the familiar voice, Keely finally dropped Rose’s arm, rubbing her hands over her face wearily. “Seriously?” she snapped, sending a glare in the stoic woman’s direction. “You checked me when I came in; it’s only been like half an hour at the most. When was I supposed to get drugs in that time?”

The woman’s mouth was tight as she looked down disdainfully at them, no hint of apology in her eyes as she shrugged. “It’s procedure.”

“Really?” piped up Rose sardonically, causing Keely to look around in surprise at the person jumping to her defense. The dark haired girl was scowling fiercely at the security guard, obviously displeased as her voice got louder than before. “That’s weird because unless I missed something, I wasn’t searched when I came in and you don’t seem overly concerned with me now.”

“And I’d love to watch you search the rest of the people at this party,” Keely jumped in afterwards, throwing her arm to the side to gesture to the crowd.

Yet the security guard stayed stock still, blocking them from getting out. “You won’t be getting out without being searched.”

Momentarily Keely opened her mouth, about to argue the point more, realizing that she was getting a very potent hatred of authority figures. Yet from behind her, NSR started up a new song and she couldn’t help the panic that leapt into her throat, shoving her forward to just give into the woman's demand so she could escape.

The slower song pulsed forward her fear of being stuck in there any longer, she could remember being closed up in the studio at UAE writing that song with Seth. The allusions to death and pain that she had never truly understood at the time were much clearer to her now.

“Okay, fine,” she snarled succumbing.

Holding her arms out, Keely let herself be patted thoroughly down and once again the woman found nothing.

When the woman stepped back, an obviously disappointed look gracing her face, she didn’t wait for the go ahead. Instead Keely just glared at the woman and straightened her jacket before shoving past her and into the crisp cool air that was in New York at night in early January.

Keely groaned slightly, the weight of everything pressing down on her as she leaned back against the brick wall.

A humorless laugh had her looking up to where Rose was standing straight, glaring around the thankfully empty alleyway. “Maybe we should’ve stolen some jewellery. As long as you weren’t carrying it, we would’ve been golden.”

Snorting, she leaned my head back against the wall, closing her eyes as the wind nipped at her bare throat. “That would’ve been interesting,” Keely murmured.

Silence settled down upon them as if a blanket of snow had fallen, cutting them off from the rest of the world for the precious moments.

However while the quiet had started off comfortable, Keely began to feel a question itching at the back of her mind, asking what Rose was thinking about to make her so quiet. Unable to keep her eyes closed, she looked at the other girl who had started to pace ever so slightly back and forth, her arms crossed with a thoughtful expression heading towards pained.

“I’m not a drug addict you know,” Keely blurted out without thinking.

The other girl answered with an unsurprised, “Okay.”

Yet she was far from listening, the panic coming back as she realized that most people who knew who she was would believe it. She was the heroin addict in their eyes because of one song, and though she didn’t see it as a mistake or feel the need to explain it to the public, at the moment she needed to tell somebody–anybody the truth.

“Seriously, nothing was true, well; I guess some of it is. I got arrested twice, but only for underage drinking. I could count on my fingers how many teenagers I know that haven’t gotten drunk. I’d never even been pulled over before I moved here. And, yeah, Seth did punch somebody one time and we weren’t exactly nice to the cops the other, but it’s not like I’m some badass. I get annoyed and I swear at people, but that worst thing I’ve ever done is get thrown into the drunk tank. Seriously, if I wasn’t signed onto UAE no one would care. All I did was sing a song that most people get sung to them as a lullaby when they’re kids,” Keely finished ranting, finding herself out of breath by the end.

“I know. Not that it’s anybody’s business either way but I believe you,” Rose paused, her eyes fixed on her, “You good?”

Nodding she just took in deep breaths, sending Rose what she hoped was a reassuring smile though she felt it probably came of rather vague. It was nice to know that one person besides the band knew without out a doubt she was lying.

In response the other girl sent her a smile, but it quickly fled when the door beside Keely slammed open.

Jumping violently Keely had a mere moment to be thankful that she was standing just out of reach from the door, or else she would have been flattened. With wide eyes, she turned her head, meaning to share a surprised look with the girl she’d just met minutes before but Rose was focused on the door. Seeing the blood rush from her face and take in a sharp breath, her eyes swerved towards whoever had opened the door.

The tall guy who stepped out of the door didn’t even spare her a glance, taking a step forward. Even though his shockingly vibrant blue eyes didn’t shift over to her for a mere half a second, Keely couldn’t help but notice that he was more than attractive not to mention he was the lead singer of Burn To Shine. From the loosened tie around his neck that fell over the black dress shirt across his broad chest to the long lean legs, then to the unruly dark brown hair that fell easily over his forehead; the guy simply screamed sex appeal.

Yet she didn’t miss the fact that he was completely and utterly focused on Rose, and Keely knew just enough to know that he was more than taken. Absently she couldn’t help but think the single-mindedness that he had on Rose was sweet.

“Rose,” he began with his voice low as he took another step towards her.

Suddenly Rose stood up straighter, meeting his eyes boldly. “Mac, what do you want?”

Without a word, just an incredulous look sent in her direction, he took a step forward. However instantly she shifted away from him and although he hid it quickly, Keely caught the flash of hurt that flickered across his expression. “We need to talk.”

In response she gave a derisive snort; Rose shook her head, saying, “I don’t think so.”

“Don’t do this,” he told her, his jaw clenching obviously. But even with his clear anger Keely could hear the underlining pain. “Don’t shut me out.”

Feeling bewilderment rise up in her stomach, Keely couldn’t help but wonder if she should interrupt and excuse herself. Or would it be better to just sneak away, leaving them to deal with what they needed? However she couldn’t bring herself to leave, not when Rose was so bent on refusing to speak to him. If anyone understood not wanting to talk about something, she did.

“All right, sure, let’s talk. I’ll start,” she said, giving a manic laugh that sounded dangerously close to panic, successfully freezing Keely in place. “I love you. I love this guy,” the girl informed her, gesturing over to Mac who sent Keely a startled look, both their eyes focused on her momentarily. Feeling the confusion settle in even more, Keely nodded slowly, unsure of what to do when Rose was heading towards hysterical.

“I love you and it scares the shit out of me, Mac. Do you know why? Because I could lose you just like I lost everything else in my life that mattered to me.”

“Rose–” Mac began, but she cut him off immediately.

With her fists clasped tightly at her side, Rose shouted, “I’m not finished! Here’s the thing, Mac. The band is my family. It’s my only family which you already know and today, this morning, you jeopardized that because you couldn’t lie to Ferrari Brown about your feelings for me. So yeah, I’m pissed off and no, I don’t really want to talk right now because of all the ways I’d imagined our relationship being exposed, you confessing to Ferrari Brown was not one of them!”

Speechless Keely stayed in spot, staring dumbfounded between the couple. But even in her baffled state, she felt her heart clench at Rose’s words. Losing all family, that was something she could relate to. Maybe her family was still alive and in Bellingham, but she wasn’t even sure if they wanted her around anymore.

“Rose,” he repeated, sounding as if he was at a loss for words as he ran a hand through his dark hair with a pained yet guilty expression on his face, making Keely’s heart twist now. Why was it nothing could go right for anyone lately? “I–”

However he was cut off once again by the door beside her slamming open. Before Keely could stop herself, a surprised squeal burst from her mouth as her heart leapt into her chest, her hands flying to cover her mouth. She really should move, it was getting to be a dangerous position.

Recovering from the shock, Keely stared wide eyed back at Seth who had stepped out of the door, letting it slam behind him. Groaning, she ran her hands through her hair, noticing that they were beginning to shake slightly.

Losing all the anger that she’d felt before, she looked back up, her eyes feeling moist as she stared up at him, her hands resting on the back of her neck. “Just-don’t,” she told him, pressing her lips together.

“No,” he responded firmly, taking a step in her direction. Keely hurriedly tried to step back, but her back pressed against the brick wall making her throat clog in panic at her trapped position. “We are going to talk about this for once,” Seth informed her, his eyes not for a moment flickering away from hers.

“We don’t do that!” she exclaimed hysterically, throwing her arms to the side even though she still felt close to tears. Some part of her knew she shouldn’t be doing this with to strangers standing to the side awkwardly, but she couldn’t stop herself.

“We don’t talk!” Keely continued. “Yeah, we talk about music constantly and you understand like no one else, you even get my random quotes that most people just stare at me for! You know more about music than I do. We write these amazing songs together and I’d never give it up, it’s like nothing else I’ve ever been a part of when you understand things about me that even I don’t know,” she told him, pressing her hand absently on her heard, as if hoping it would stop being so painful while she stared at him, completely focused.

“You know about my family, all of it. You know exactly what I want when we’re recording, you tell me if a take sucks or if I was brilliant, but we’re not in the studio anymore Seth! The album is over and we don’t talk about what’s going on between us or our feelings! I cry, you get broody and we fight. And I’m sick of it, but I don’t know what to do!”

His eyes darkening on her slightly, Seth took another step forward, opening his mouth but closing it again as if not knowing what to say to make it all better. Even she didn’t know what he could say to make everything better, he always had before but she didn’t know if it would work this time.

Silently he reached a hand upwards, moving to brush the lock of hair that had fallen over her face away.

But before he could do so, Keely slapped it away, glowering fiercely at him. “No,” she snarled, “You don’t get to do that. Not after what you said to me.”

“I didn’t mean–”

“You kissed me,” she piped up, addressing the matter for the first time, her voice cracking slightly over her words. “You kissed me and you said sorry. You said sorry. What am I supposed to do about that?”

Something flashed across his face that Keely didn’t understand as he stood immobile in front of her, his hand falling to his side. “You didn’t want me to say sorry?”

Her head beginning to throb from the pressure, she rubbed her hand over her forehead, peeking around Seth’s shoulders. “I’m going to go,” she informed Rose who was staring wide eyed with Mac by her side. She hastily stepped around Seth, but it proved of no use because he spun around when she addressed the others.

“Who are you?” he snapped rudely, crossing his arms over his chest.

The other boy in the alley reacted the quickest to react, glaring back with those indigo eyes flashing. “Who the hell are you?”

“That’s Seth Ryan,” put in Rose, gaining all eyes on her suddenly. “It’s nice to meet you.”

For just a mere moment Seth blinked, sending her a confused glance before it cleared quickly and he sent her a tight smile that barely passed as a grin, obviously his mind still back to their words. Yet Keely couldn’t help but wonder now if the shock was because she’d called him by the last name Ryan instead of Vaughn, or if he was simply surprised she knew him. “Uh, nice to meet you too,” he replied, a little line between his brows.

“All right,” Keely cut in, clapping her hands together as she stared at the group in a whole with a sarcastic glint in her eyes. “Now that everyone knows everyone else, Rose, you want to get out of here?”

The girl in question let out a deep breath of relief as her mouth tipped up in a smile, answering, “Hell yes.”

Grinning in response at her, Keely took half a step before new words caused her to halt.

“Wait, we’re not done talking, Rose.”

The grin sliding from her face immediately, her head spun back to see Mac holding onto Rose’s wrist, a pained expression gracing his handsome features as he tried to stop her from leaving. She wasn’t the only one who noticed though, Seth’s eyes were focused ublinkingly on the hold Mac had on her wrist.

“Actually, yes we are,” said Rose, staring pointedly away from him as her voice cracked slightly on the words. The distressed look in her eyes making Keely’s heart give a painful pang in her chest even before she spoke, giving her wrist a little tug, “I can’t. I can’t talk about this anymore tonight, Mac, please, just let me go.”

“No,” he replied, but there was a wounded tone lining the words.

Suddenly a new voice cut in, “Let her go.”

Immediately Keely felt her gaze dragged to Seth, although his voice had been devoid of emotion, she didn’t miss the dark look that had rested back into his eyes as he stared at Mac’s grip.

The other boy dropped Rose’s arm instantly at the words and spun around to face Seth, his eyes sparking with newfound animosity. “It’s none of your damn business.”

A scowl coming onto his face, Seth took a threatening step forward with tension running thickly through his shoulders while his eyes flashed dangerously, all gold gone. “You were hurting her,” he said through gritted teeth.

At his words, Keely’s heart jumped to her throat, beginning a fierce tattoo as she realized what must be going through Seth’s mind. He’d grown up with his mom – not to mention him – being abused by his stepfather, seeing Mac grab at Rose’s wrist, however harmless the movement had been, would have to bring back memories of that to the surface. And she hadn’t yet forgotten that when she’d bailed him out of jail he’d grabbed a guy, throwing him back just because he was about to touch her. That didn’t even come close to the first time when they’d gotten arrested because Seth had started the fight with the man who had grabbed her arm.

“Um, actually he wasn’t hurting me,” put in Rose quietly, but only Keely sent her a fleeting glance before focusing back on the boys. The tension crackling between the two of them was almost tangible. Muttering something that Keely didn’t catch in her focus on the boys, the other girl spoke up in a soothing voice, “I’m fine.”

Yet no one noticed.

The next words that Mac spoke had Keely grimacing, he really had no idea what he was getting into. “Why don’t you focus on your own issues, Seth and stay the hell out of mine.”

In the space of a blink Seth had stepped forward, gripping the other guy by the collar of his black dress shirt. With that sarcastic smirk on his face that Keely hadn’t seen for so long, he growled, “You really do not want to get into this with me.”

A groan escaped her lip when Mac didn’t back down, just returned the humorless smile, leaning in closer. “Oh, I really do.”

He obviously had no idea what he was getting into with Seth. He wasn’t exactly a slouch in a fight, he’d been fighting for years for reasons Keely doubted that she’d ever understand. And with his history, she very much doubted Seth would be the one to let this go.

Yet even as she began to panic, thinking about not only the damage that would be done to both of their handsome faces but to Seth’s hand, she couldn’t help but notice that it wasn’t the worst moment on the eyes. With his hands clenched into the other boy’s shirt, Seth’s arms were flexing attractively and the muscles in his back tense beneath his sweater. And even though it gave her a twine of guilt to think so when Seth was about to fight him, Mac was more than looking dangerously handsome as he scowled.

“Mac,” started Rose, her voice slightly breathless but she trailed off with, “Um.”

Seeing Seth pulling his arm back as if he was about to throw the first punch, Keely didn’t hesitate as she lunged forward. Knowing he’d probably simply ignore her if she tried to drag him back, she boldly gripped his hand, tearing it off of Mac’s shirt before shoving herself between them.

“Stop it,” she ordered sternly, surprised she could gain that tone when her heart beat was racing away as she faced Seth, her eyes flashing up at him. With her hands flat on his hard chest, she gave him a firm shove, pushing him back a step. “You’re not going to start another fight.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he threw back, but his eyes were still glued threateningly on the boy behind her.

Frustrated Keely smacked her hand on his chest, this time managing to gain his attention. “You don’t have to punch every single person you meet. You really think you’re going to get away with this forever?”

“Oh, c’mon–” Seth started, his eyes looking down to her.

“You know what? I’m done,” Keely exclaimed, throwing her arms to the side. “I don’t know what to do with you sometimes. When is it going to get through your head that punching someone when you’re a guitarist isn’t a good idea? I’m going,” she announced, shoving past him.

Without a backwards glance, she stalked away, her sneakered heels barely making a sound on the ground.

Sometimes she didn’t stand how he could make her so frustrated with him yet so worried about him at the same time; it was as if she was just created to be a walking contradiction of herself not to mention her own emotions. Or maybe she was just never meant to understand herself, and constantly be questioning and overthinking things as they happened.

Well, if that was true, she was going to have a very tiring life. Her brain already felt as if it was ready to putt out from just fhe time since September.

Hearing the muffled sound of hurried footsteps approaching, Keely’s eyes shifted to her side just in time for Rose to fall into step beside her, but thankfully no one else. “So what’s the plan?” she questioned.

“Ice cream,” Keely decided instantly, sending the girl a slight smile.

A slow smile crossed Rose’s mouth, almost relieved as she slipped her arm through Keely’s. “That sounds perfect.”

When they finally got back to Keely’s hotel room, she just pushed the door open carelessly, leaving it for Rose to walk through. Tossing the keys onto the table beside the door, she shrugged out of her jacket, having her mind on a certain album as she set down the grocery bag beside her keys.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” put in Rose from behind her, “Is this place for real?”

Kicking off the sneakers, Keely sent her an amused look. “Depends on your definition of real, but I was living here before the tour when we were cutting the album. A lot of good that did, I didn’t even sleep here that much.”

“What a waste,” murmured the other girl.

Smirking slightly Keely grabbed the bag, starting into the kitchen, opening drawers until she found spoons. Snatching up two of them, she found her way into the living room setting down the bag of cookies and ice cream in front of her as she plonked on the ground, leaning her back against the wall. The small stack of records she’d unpacked were beside her, the record player close by.

“Okay, you are officially my favourite person,” Rose proclaimed, dropping in front of her with the cookies and ice cream spaced perfectly.

Grinning, she offered the other girl a spoon, not needing to ask what she was talking about. “This is only what I’ve unpacked so far,” she informed her. “If you want to see a lot of records, Seth…”

Instantly cutting off at the name falling from her tongue, Keely shook her head, placing her own spoon on the top of the bucket of ice cream as she took a few records in her hands, pushing her mind away from him. “I’ve so far got sad and mad records out at the moment,” she laughed lightly, flipping through the few in her hands. “Oh wait, you’re a guitarist, have you heard of Robert Johnson?”

“What kind of music…” trailed off she when Johnson began to play. Keely grinned watching as her eyes became unfocused, clearly hearing the brilliance of Robert Johnson for the first time with his incredibly skilled use of the guitar and his voice. Even the static sound that came with cutting an album in 1936, he was undisputed as a marvellous musician, especially in an age like theirs when computers had started to overtake simple music.

As a smile touched the other girl’s lips, her eyes closing, Keely just shook her head as she peeled of the lid of the ice cream container. Closing her eyes, she rested her head back against the wall, scooping up some ice cream as she did so.

“Holy crap,” put in Rose, her voice sounding as if she’d just run a mile.

Keely’s grin broadening, she slipped the spoon from her mouth, swallow quickly. “I take it that this is your first experience with the King of The Delta Blues?”

“Yeah,” she said, her voice sounding far away. “Hey,” Rose announced, her voice stronger again, instantly Keely’s hand stilled as she glanced at the other girl with her eyebrows raised. “When did we start eating the ice cream?”

Rolling her eyes as Rose dipped her spoon into the plain chocolate ice cream, she just pulled her own spoon up to her mouth. “We started eating the ice cream when someone went into a music coma,” she returned jokingly.

“Oh,” she breathed before giving a shrug as she continued, “Yeah, that happens sometimes.”

After chatting about music while listening to it in the other ear, Keely found herself really laughing for the first time since the kiss with Seth. It was easy to relax around Rose, which she found nice. Even though she hadn’t really been subjected to it yet, she was beginning to feel when she spent time with other people off the tour bus outside of the boys they had a falsified feel. That was not the case with Rosemary Adams.

And as time progressed, as well as the albums that had been switched over to The Eagles’ Hotel California, the conversation had taken a dramatic turn to the boys. With that, she found what she’d been searching for when she’d been calling Haley, but a part of her couldn’t help but realize this was a thousand times better.

“I mean, ‘sorry’?” Keely exclaimed, crunching down angrily on the cookie she’d dipped in the ice cream. “Who the hell says sorry after that? Which album do you have?” she asked, eyeing the vinyl Rose had in her lap.

“Rubber Soul,” she answered with a fleeting glance at The Fab Four on the cover before focusing back on the regular conversation. “He’s an idiot,” Rose said with conviction. “At least he didn’t tell the whole freaking world that you were in a relationship. What was he thinking?” she questioned, shaking her head as she took a bite of her own cookie.

In the same disbelieving agreement, she shook her head as well. “He’s an idiot too!” Keely exclaimed. “Seriously, who does that? It’s awkward already with people being stalkers.”

Running her hands through her dark hair, Rose said frustrated, “See! You understand and I just met you today! Why doesn’t he get it?”

“Because he’s a boy, and boys are characteristically stupid,” Keely answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Biting viciously into the continuously depleting cookie, she dipped it back into the ice cream.

“That’s probably it,” sighed Rose, moving to lay back and stare at the white ceiling.

Giving a snort, Keely finished off the cookie, resisting the urge to rub her stomach because it was full to the brim. “But, you know what? At least he didn’t pretty much call you a tramp because some random guy kissed you on the cheek.”

In response Rose grimaced, turning her head. “Want me to hurt him? I know a guy who knows a guy.”

Smirking suddenly, she pushed the tub of ice cream away from herself. “So we bitched about his fans, and should we crush his sweet hands?” Keely quoted as the music puttered out on the record player. Sighing, she rubbed her forehead as she picked the vinyl off the turn table, sliding it carefully into the case. “But I think you own bitching rights tonight, with everything.”

Beginning to thumb through the records without looking, Keely watched as the other girl started sarcastically, “Thanks. Still,” she said, her voice becoming soft from memory and the edges of her lips typing upwards, “It was kind of sweet, the way he said it.” When she cut off, Keely watched as she began to scowl just as suddenly, all the while choosing a record at random before placing it on the player on easily and lowering the needle carefully. “But he shouldn’t have just blurted it out with no warning like that. I just sat there like an idiot while he–Oh.”

With wide eyes Keely’s gaze darted to the record player as Second Hand News started to spin, saying unthinkingly, “I love this song.”

Hearing Rose speak the same words in the exact tone, Keely burst into laughter at the same moment. Gripping her stomach as her muscles seized with the moment, she leaned down, stretching out on the ground as she continued to laugh, the sound bubbling straight from the pit of her stomach.

“I don’t live without coffee,” Keely proclaimed, wrapping her scarf tighter around her neck.

Even though it was early January, they were bundled protectively enough from the eastern chill, making the only difference the wind whisking against their faces. With Rose following since Keely still knew her way around the city fairly well, the first stop on their tour of New York was the coffee shop she used to habit before the tour.

 Despite the fact that the two had only gotten two hours of sleep the night before, Keely was feeling quite chipper. Giving her new friend a tour of the city she so adored was much better than being locked up her hotel room like she had been for the past few days.

In fact, it was a nice day for a tour of the city, it almost felt festive. There was snow on the ground, but the sun was shining brightly for above. It put a smile onto her face. After the stop, because these days it did seem that she didn’t live without copious amounts of coffee to keep her awake, they would take a stop at the warehouse and then proceed with the tour. It felt odd that only a few months before, Marissa and the boys had been doing the same for her. She’d forgotten how much she loved the city while she was on the road.

Shoving through the doors, Keely didn’t even bother to glance around, walking straight to the counter and ordering. Watching eagerly as they put a lid on her cup, she started drumming her hands on the counter, even in her state noticing it was Ten Years Gone from Led Zeppelin.

It was only when she was nudged in the ribs did her attention waver. “Ow,” she complained humorously without glancing away, “What?” Keely asked, trading her money for the coffee.

“Rosemary Adams,” a voice said, finally causing Keely to look over with a frown. “You two are here together?”

Even though her nose wrinkled at the high sounding voice, it wasn’t quite a pleasant sound, Keely’s eyebrows shot up into her shaggy bangs. With the time passing, she was becoming more and more adapt and picking reporters from a crowd. But this was no hard feat, everything from the notepad in his chest pocket and the thick glasses just screamed Clark Kent.

Sharing a disbelieving look with Rose, they said together slowly, “Yeah…”

Apparently not gaining their feelings towards journalists from their grudging tones, he just got an excited gleam in his eyes. “Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?”

“A bit late for that, isn’t it?” Keely grumbled, staring down at the coffee. It was strange, before she’d moved to New York coffee hadn’t been a big deal for her, she’d usually have a latte. But with Seth’s coffee addiction to keep him awake while they worked in the studio, she’d too become an addict. And the fact that it was a journalist – who she was not on good terms with in the first place – that was keeping her from drinking her coffee, she was far from pleased.

If it was even possible, his face brightened further. “Of course, why don’t we take a seat?”

As he turned and walked away, the two reluctantly traced his footsteps to a table by the window. Gulping down the coffee on the way, Keely could only hope that she’d be able to get through this one without saying anything too bad, but lately that seemed to be a rather hopeless dream.

FeelingRose's eyes on her, Keely sent her a grimace at the thought of what to come, hoping that would show her emotions on the matter.

Rose returned the look in kind before focusing on the journalist. “Listen, we don’t want to be rude or anything but we kind of have pl–”

“Hunter,” came a falsely sweet voice from them, cutting through Rose’s attempted excuses. Instantly a chill ran up Keely’s spine and while her eyes widened comically she shot up straight in her seat, thankfully holding the coffee away from herself as it lapped through the opening of the lid.

Keely didn’t need to see the person to know who it was, the voice was enough, she was surprised it hadn’t haunted her in nightmares. Rachael Gosling came walking around from behind them, resting her hand friendlily on the journalist’s shoulder. It didn’t surprise Keely to see the sucking up, after all the girl did nothing that wasn’t for publicity. With her thousand watt smile that never touched her eyes on at full, a short dress that Keely could only think would be frostbite inducing in the weather and ankle breaking heels, her dark hair poured over her shoulders, pin straight.

When the cold eyes landed on her, Keely just gulped dryly. This was something she hadn’t thought about. Even the fake smile dimmed at the sight of her and Rachael’s eyes began to inspect her up and down, from the casual sneakers to the grey zip up hoodie she was wearing beneath her black leather jacket.

“Keely,” she said through gritted teeth, “It’s wonderful to see you. I see that you haven’t improved much over tour.”

Unable to stop herself, she ran her hand over the ginger braid she’s tied in her hair that morning that was falling over her shoulder casually. Forcing a tight smile onto her face, Keely replied, “Rachael, pleasant as always.”

From beside her, Rose questioned, “Friend of yours?”

Glancing over in the direction, Keely felt an answering smirk come onto her mouth as she forced herself to lean back relaxed into her chair, sipping at her coffee. “Oh, yeah, we’re best friends forever,” she retorted sarcastically.

With a huff of breath, Rachael looked down at the reporter she’d called Hunter. “Why don’t we get back to the interview?” she asked, sending a condescending look in their direction. “The children will leave you alone.”

“So it was her shining personality that drew you, was it?” returned Rose ironically to Keely’s earlier comment.

Keely gave a loud snort, shaking her head and looking down at her coffee, but she kept silent.

Except Hunter’s eyes didn’t leave where she and Rose sat, that hungry look still in his eyes. “I’ll be with you in a while, Rachael,” he said vaguely, dismissing her.

Smirking broadly because she knew it would only infuriate her further, Keely looked up at Rachael who was blinking down at the journalist. “I think you’ve been dismissed, honey,” she said, sipping on the coffee as she slouched back. She was actually enjoying getting under Rachael’s skin, before she’d always held back since Rachael had been dating Seth, but she had no reason to now.

“Well, unlike you, I don’t need to search out journalists to write stories about me,” snapped Rachael, holding her nose up snootily.

Sharing an amused look with her new friend, Keely asked Rose in a mockingly questioning tone, “We’re despicable people, aren’t we? I mean, we walked into a coffee shop, how dare we!”

“We’re the worst,” replied she easily, her voice mocking as well as it trembled with laughter.

Rachael’s cheeks shined pink beneath the soft lighting, her eyes getting more frustrated with every passing moment. Ignoring their words, she held her chin high, as if she was rising about their childish antics. “I’ll see you at your record launch, then, Keely.”

Blinking, her smile faltered as she frowned upwards. “Since when are you invited to my record launch?”

“Ah, all the artists signed to UAE that are in town will be there,” she put in, her voice carrying a tone as if she was high and mighty. “And, it’s a good thing I will be there, it’ll be the last time I’ll get to see you before your album flops,” Rachael continued, infusing her voice with false sincerity. “It’ll have to be our goodbye forever then.”

Her eyes flashing dangerously, Keely had to work hard to keep her hand from shaking. “Oh, really, I thought you wouldn’t be allowed to come. I heard that Maureen killed your new album because it was that bad.”

“Well, someone took my producer,” snarled Rachael.

Although she snorted lightly in the back of her throat, Keely was beginning to feel sick to her stomach. “I’m terribly sorry about that, but he really wanted to actually produce something that didn’t need autotone every song, you were beginning to hurt his ears.”

“Funny, he told me the same thing,” Rachael threw back, full on glaring now. “But it was for a different reason.”

“Really?” piped up Rose, causing Keely glance towards her to meet the irritated golden gaze, “Seth finds you annoying? That’s odd considering how much time he spends with you.” Turning her gaze away from her, Rose looked straight at the other girl towering in the high heels. “And from what I hear he avoids you like the plague,” she finished, eyeing Rachael disgustedly.

Rachael opened and closed her mouth stupidly, unsure how to react to the new person jumping in. Finding herself again, she scowled down, for once her pretty face not being able to hide the ugliness. “And who are you?”

“I’m Keely’s friend, Rose,” she returned, sending the girl a pointed glare. All pleasantries appeared to have been forgotten. “Who are you?”

“I’m Rachael Gosling,” stated the girl, straightening. When Rose didn’t show any signs of recognition, she continued, “I’m a singer.”

With the surprise clear in her voice, Rose answered, “Oh yeah? I’ve never heard of you.”

As if she was trying to hold herself back for once, Rachael glowered at the two of them, taking in deep breaths. Unable to help herself, Keely smirked over at her friend while the third girl turned back to the reporter. Apparently she felt she’d made enough of a show of herself for the day. “Can we finish this interview now? I’ve places to be you know, I didn’t come down here when you called to wait around all day.”

“If I remember correctly Rachael, you called me,” the reporter called Hunter replied, speaking up for the first time in a while. The look in his eyes would be similar to Keely’s had she been told John and George were alive and the Beatles were doing a reunion tour; it was as if his dreams had come true.

Looking close to hyperventilating with rage Rachael’s eyes were bulging, her lips pressed together and her hands shaking, she spun around gripping a pea coat off the back of a chair close to them. “Fine!” she sneered, shoving her arms into it. “I don’t need this anyways.” With one last stylish flip of the hair, she stalked away from them, shoving through people to get outside.

Giving a mockingly wistful sigh, Keely watched her go, shaking her head. “Ah, she’s always so lovely to be around,” she mused sarcastically.

Hearing Rose give a laugh, she sent her a warm smile before glancing to the reporter sitting in front of them.

“You two seem to get along together well,” he started, “How long have you known each other?”

Sharing an amused look with Rose, the two piped up in unison, “Not long.”

Keely had to hide her broad grin in her disposable mug while Rose tried to bite back a laugh.

But as she was taking a deep sip, basking in the fact there was now the notable exception of Rachael, Hunter began to speak again. “Keely, where’s your boyfriend this morning?”

Irritated, she scowled across the table at him, retorting, “Which one?”

Hunter blinked stupidly at her for a moment. “Well, I meant Seth, but if there’s another, we can talk about him too.”

Deciding it would be better to be quiet, Keely just quirked her eyebrows at him, wearing a cheeky smile as she took a gulp of her coffee calmly. Maybe she wasn’t helping since the rumour mill seemed to love her and Seth, but honestly, when had she really cared before? Anyways, it would be nice at the moment to not hear of rumours about her and Seth’s “illicit” relationship or to be asked about it every ten minutes by journalists.

“So I’ve been meaning to ask you, how’s the pregnancy? Do you find it rough to be on tour in your condition?”

In complete surprise, Keely chocked on her coffee, sputtering drops across the table. She’d heard that rumour, but she didn’t understand where it had come from and she hadn’t expected people to take it seriously. “I’m not pregnant,” she replied incredulously, wiping her mouth with her sleeve as she stared up at him with wide eyes.

“You can’t just say stuff like that,” announced Rose, glaring at the reporter and thankfully gaining his attention while Keely wiped up the mess she’d coughed up, recovering from her shock and beginning to get angry as well. “That was a groundless rumour and as a reporter, you should be embarrassed that you blindly believed it without even checking the facts.”

Without seeming even slightly embarrassed, Hunter shot a question at Rose, “What about you?”

“I’m not pregnant,” she stated firmly, eyes narrowing on him.

Her foot beginning to tap in a show of irritation, Keely glowered across at Hunter, gripping her mug tightly in her hand, her knuckles white. She wasn’t sure who she disliked more at this point, the journalist or Rachael.

“No, of course not,” Hunter answered, leaning forward and smirking at Rose, making Keely get a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. “What about you and your secret love affair with your band mate, Mac Parker? Why did you feel the need to hide it from the public?”

Even though Keely’s mouth dropped open in a small ‘o’ at the gall of the reporter, it seemed Rose recovered quickly, though Keely hadn’t missed the slight grimace that had crossed her face at the question. “I’m a musician;” she said firmly, “My personal life has nothing to do with music I make.”

Staring at Rose interestedly in a way the made Keely’s skin crawl, he continued with his line of questioning, “Really? So being in a relationship with someone you work with doesn’t put a strain on your relationship?” Hastily she sent a look in her friend’s direction, but the other girl just kept silent, jaw tight.

Apparently he caught on that Rose wasn’t going to reply, because Hunter soon turned his attention to her. “What about you, Keely? Does your close relationship with your producer affect the music you play?”

“Everything affects the music I make,” she replied, narrowing her eyes. “From the tempo changing if it’s a sunny or cloudy day, even journalists prying into my personal life where they have no right to be looking. So, yeah, I bet it does.”

For a moment Keely thought they might have him stumped, but it appeared that nothing they threw at him would even cause him to pause. “What do you say to people who think being in a relationship with someone you work with is unprofessional? That by being involved with a band mate or a producer suggests to your fans that you don’t take your music seriously?”

About to snap at him, but Rose beat her to it as she rose furiously from her seat, her body shaking ever so slightly, making Keely stare at her. “You think I don’t take it seriously? You have no idea what my life is like and just how huge a role that band plays in it. It’s everything to me. Everything. And you have the nerve to suggest that I don’t take it seriously?” she asked, leaning forward with her eyes flashing with a shocking mixture of rage and pain. “You know what? Go f─”

Hastily standing up so she cut off Rose, she put her hand in what she hoped was a comforting manner onto the other girl’s arm. She might have cussed out a whole room of wealthy influential people the night before, but she didn’t think that Rose would need the backlash that would come with everything else going on.

“I think you’ve got everything you need to write another completely false article,” Keely said with a glower sent in his direction. Snatching up her coffee, she too grabbed the large cookie lying on a plate in the middle of the table. “Let’s go,” she whispered to Rose, giving her a light shove.

It wasn’t by the time that they reached the chilly outdoors did Rose come back into the present time. Blinking, she started, her face paling, “I almost told him…”

Starting forward in the direction she’d planned before, Keely sent the girl beside her a sympathetic look, but just took a casual bite of the cookie she’d stolen from him. “Yup,” she answered simply.

“That would’ve been really, really bad,” she said, looking as if she might be sick.

“But you didn’t,” Keely reminded her, snapping the cookie in half and handing Rose one part. “I’m still waiting to be chewed out for my performance last night,” she observed.

“That’s right; I almost forgot that you gave an audience of rich folk the middle finger last night,” Rose chuckled, “That was so great.”

Rolling her eyes, she stepped out, hailing down a cab, “Bloody brilliant.”

When one obligingly pulled over to them, Keely hastily slid into the seat, rattling off the address to the cabbie even before Rose had even settled into the seat next to her. Yawning comfortably, she took a sip of her coffee leaning back.

“Where are we going?” questioned the other girl, causing Keely to glance at her from the corner of her eye.

Rose was gripping the door handle, looking a bit queasy around the edges. It wasn’t hard to guess what from. New York cab rides were almost like roller coaster rides, it didn’t seem that far off that they might be upside down at one point. Yet Keely had long ago gotten used to it. “One of the best places in the city,” she assured her.

When they finally arrived on the familiar grimy street Rose looked rather on the sick side, but thankful to be out of the cab at least. As she climbed out of the door Keely felt a smile broaden on her mouth. Oh, this was another thing she’d missed desperately.

Without a pause she just began walking across the road, draining what was left of the coffee and starting up a steady rhythm with her tapping finger on the lid. Absently she began to wonder if there would still be coffee to make there, although she doubted she’d want to drink the milk even if it was there.

Not seeing the point to explain where they were yet to Rose, Keely pulled her keys out of her pocket, crouching down to unlock the garage door. Since the girl would see why they were at the warehouse in just moments, telling her seemed to be moot. Flinging the door upwards, she stepped inside, gesturing Rose in before slamming down again.

“Okay, this may have been worth the cab ride from hell,” Rose observed walking in. Her eyes travelled across the room, but Keely didn’t miss the way her eyes froze upon Seth’s guitar collection. “I officially forgive you.”

While Rose looked around, she took the time to walk over to the small garbage can by the mini fridge; oddly it still had a bag inside of it. Tossing the cup in it, Keely dipped her hands in her pockets looking back to where the other girl’s eyes had locked onto the piano. “It doesn’t look like the nicest piano in the world,” Keely informed her with a slight shrug, “But I love playing that one even if I’m not that good at it. I prefer playing that one than the one they had in the studio. By the way, what am I forgiven for?”

“For taking me on the cab ride from hell and bringing me to a creepy part of town where you proceeded to lead me to a warehouse that looks like a serial killer’s wet dream,” she answered promptly. Yet Rose added promptly, “From the outside.”

Laughing lightly, Keely rubbed her forehead, taking a few casual steps forward. “When Marco and Colton first took me here, I asked them if they were going to murder me,” she reminisced. Shrewdly she caught the sidelong glances that Rose was sending towards the guitars still hung on the walls. “They’re Seth’s,” Keely told her with a nod to the guitar collection, “A lot of them are missing actually. He would’ve taken them all on tour with him, but they put a limit on him.”

The disappointment was almost palpable in her voice as she responded, “So he’d be really mad if I played them, right?”

Keely gave a shrug, walking up to the wall casually and slipping a black acoustic Gibson off of the wall. “He brought his favourites with him on tour, go for it.”

Even as the other girl chose a guitar, Keely was turning away, strolling lightly towards the piano. Dropping her bag on the ground, she sat down on the bench, crossing her legs underneath her and settling the guitar on her lap. Listening carefully, she plucked a few chords testing, twisting the pegs as she held a C note lightly on the air, getting it perfect.

Playing a few chords, she felt the tension that had been built up in her shoulders since the meeting with Rachael and the interaction with the reporter flow out of her, as if it was escaping from the tips of her fingers.

Minutes later she sighed, looking up to where Rose was focused solely on the golden acoustic she’d pulled from the wall.

“Want to play something?” she asked, her eyes looking rather far away.

Smiling slightly, Keely propped her elbow on the guitar, leaning her cheek against her hand. “Tell you what, you play something for me, I’ll play something for you.”

Rose grinned broadly, replying, “Deal. This one’s dedicated to all the lousy reporters bent on ruining our lives,” she explained, beginning the opening chords to a song Keely recognized easily as Jack Johnson’s Good People.

Laughing lightly Keely watched as the other girl played and began to sing lightly, her voice was on the rough side, but that didn’t matter. It made her smile broadly when Rose put emphasis on the lyric “Where’d all the good people go” and she couldn’t help but join in, her voice holding the unmistakably sound of laughter as she sang easily, just letting it be natural, not worrying about anything; just singing.

When the song ended, Keely shook her head, letting her hands fall onto the guitar easily in a manner that was subconscious lately.

“Well, this is a song I haven’t gotten the chance to play to anyone yet, so you can tell me if I should never play it again,” she said, strumming a chord absentmindedly as she spoke. “I was just learning by ear, so that’s my warning.”

As she played the first chords of Friend of A Friend, Keely felt herself sobering from the jollity of the previous moment. Her voice softening with emotion, she stared at the wall without ever seeing it. Her mind was far away from everything else besides the boy who’s guitar she was playing, the song reminding her of it forcefully. The strumming was almost unconscious as she just let her voice go.

“He needs a quiet room

With a lock to keep him in

It's just a quiet room

In his head

He plays an old guitar

With a coin found by the phone

It was his friend’s guitar

That he played

He's never been in love

But he knows just what love is

He says never mind

And no-one speaks

He thinks he drinks too much

Cause when he tells his too best friends

'I think I drink too much'

No-one speaks

No-one speaks

No-one speaks

He plays an old guitar

With a coin found by the phone

It was his friend’s guitar

That he played

When he plays

No-one speaks

No-one speaks

When he plays

No-one speaks.”

As she finished the repeat of the chorus, Keely finally looked back down at the guitar, finishing it like that, her heart clenching at the parallels she was drawing between Seth and the song.

When she finished Keely drew in a shaky breath pulling the guitar away from herself.

“You okay?” asked Rose in a quiet voice.

Glancing over at her, she had to blink for a moment before things settled down in her mind. “Great,” she answered sarcastically, smiling slightly.

“I know you’re not ‘great’ but it’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it. If you ever change your mind though, I'd be willing to listen.”

For a moment Keely just sighed, this was something she would have liked to talk about, but it wasn’t exactly her place. As much as she’d have liked to talk to someone about Seth’s problems, it had taken that long for him to confide in her and even though she trusted Rose way too much seeing as they’d only met the night before, she couldn’t tell her that. Not even to ask what she could do to help him.

So instead she just smiled lightly, her hands dropping away from the guitar so it balanced in her lap while Rose strummed the guitar. “Thanks though,” she replied, closing her eyes and just listening.

While the other girl continued to play the guitar that she held perfectly balanced in her hands, Keely stood up, wandering slowly back over to the wall. After placing the guitar back on the hook she stuffed one hand in her pocket, running the other along the other guitars lightly; their sleek bodies running easily beneath her fingers.

She wasn’t even noticing where she was walking, simply listening to Rose play and taking in the guitars slowly. Over the time with Seth she’d played almost every guitar he owned, even if for just brief moments during a sound check, but it was different without him being there. She didn’t know if she liked it or not, it was just different. However, there was one thing she did know, no matter how angry or hurt she was, she liked him being around. And she missed the fact that he wasn’t there.

Reaching the edge of the row she was about to turn back to Rose, asking if she wanted to go on their tour, but her foot knocked something.

Surprised she looked down, finding a beat up looking guitar case, maybe years ago it could have been black, but it had long since faded and tore away into a dull grey.

Wondering if there was another guitar that Seth had never shown her, Keely crouched down, a line appearing between her eyebrows as her hands slid over the worn edges, popping the latches open familiarly.

But all she found was an empty case, nothing but a CD case with its cover facedown. Unsure of whether she was disappointed or not, Keely gave a sigh about to stand up. But that uncontrollable curiosity she was finding more annoying as time went by kicked in and she reached in, her other hand still holding the lid open and plucked up the CD, turning it over lightly in her hand.

Her throat jumped into her throat when she saw the simple word ‘Vaughn’ in thick black letters spelt across the white cover, behind the large letters were tiny black words with no pattern covering the almost all the white. Frowning, she began to read the tiny lettering, finding in moments that they were song lyrics.

Not sure what to think, she stood up, taking the CD with her to slip hastily into her bag. Maybe she should have asked before taking it, but at the moment she couldn’t say how open Seth would be about talking to her. And maybe it was just a coincidence and he had an artist that she’d never heard of, there were thousands of artists she’d never know no matter how hard she tried, it wasn’t uncommon. So maybe the name meant nothing.

The sound of her own name being called made her shake her head lightly, dragging herself from the reverie as she turned her head to look at Rose.

“Are we leaving?” questioned the other girl.

“Um…” she murmured, her wits moving slowly even as she attempted to gather them. “Yeah,” Keely said, her voice becoming stronger as she slipped her bag over her shoulder, “Let’s introduce you the right way to New York City.”

“God, my feet hurt.”

Smirking Keely crossed her ankles casually in front of her, leaning her elbows back on the step behind her. “And I even gave you the beginners tour,” she said, shaking in her head in mock disappointment.

“Next time I’ll wear runners,” Rose replied, watching the movement below them in the square with wide eyes.

She grinned, brushing her bangs away from her eyes absentmindedly. It really hadn’t been too long since she’d moved to the city from a small town no less; she could remember being a bit overwhelmed by the bustle and life of the city at first. In fact, she still got that feeling all the time. But she was more relaxed in the city now, even if she didn’t have a home in it, it felt like home.

“That’d be a good idea,” Keely replied, leaning her head back casually, closing her eyes against the bright lights.

The moments passed by, colors lighting on the edge of her closed eyelids, but she kept them resolutely closed. Maybe that was why she could survive living in a city with such life and bustle; she was talented at shutting everything else out.

“Keely?” asked Rose softly, finally getting Keely to open her eyes and look to the other girl. “If you couldn’t play music for a living anymore, what would you do?”

Biting on her bottom lip lightly, she stared at Rose, a concerned look painting her expression. “This isn’t the end of anything, Rose, you know that, right? You’re always going to be able to play music; you love it too much to not do it.”

“Yeah,” she agreed in a quiet voice.  However Keely could tell she was far from assured, the worried sheen in the back of her golden eyes was enough to tell her that. The girl gave a sigh, barely audible over the bustle, but Keely’s sharp ears caught it clearly.

Having been so intent on watching the other girl, Keely gave a startled jolt when her phone began to ring obnoxiously from her pocket.

Sharing a confused look with Rose, she swallowed the lump that had grown in her throat, pulling it from her pocket. Even though she had a bag of records beside her and a day full of good memories, she had been running from her problems as well. It had been a perfect day, but she’d eventually have to face up. Answering it without glancing at the ID, Keely pressed it to her ear, “Hello?”

“Keely, that’s you, right?” the familiar voice asked, speaking a bit too loudly.

Her brows drawing together, she returned, “Seth? What’s wr–”

However it wasn’t Seth who cut her off, but a voice more faded from the background, but loud enough for her to hear. “Ask her if she’s with Rose,” demanded the voice, trigging a clear memory in her mind.

“Man,” came Seth’s voice a tone of complaint, “Get away from me. It’s my phone call.”

Her mouth falling open and her eyes bulging comically, her eyes flew to Rose’s in shock. “Is that Mac with you?”

No one answered her right away, but she heard scuffling noises as if there was shoving. When Seth came back to the phone, there was a hint of triumph in his tone that made Keely suspicious as she straightened, sitting on the edge of the step. “What?” he questioned.

“Is Mac with you?” she repeated, slower this time. But she didn’t need the answer; she’d recognized his voice the moment he’d asked for Rose, it was clear who it was. But the worry was gripping her stomach tightly; she wasn’t dimwitted enough to forget what happened just the night before. The two of them had come dangerously close to trading blows, why were they together now?

However Seth just ignored her. “You looked gorgeous last night, rebel.”

“What the–” started Mac’s voice, but there was another violent scrapping sound, making his voice stop. There were muffled sounds of voices, but she couldn’t discern anything with any clarity over the line.

Sending another bewildered look in the other girl’s direction, Keely answered, “Huh?”

“Last night,” he clarified. “And then you flipped them off; it was incredible.”

Her brows drawing together, she narrowed her eyes at a random person walking in front of the steps. “Seth, are you drunk?”

“Maybe, no probably, I think maybe was a long time ago. Yeah, I change my answer, I’m pretty sure I’m drunk.”

Groaning she rubbed her temples wearily, asking, “And Mac?”

“Most definitely,” he replied, the smirk clear in his voice.

“And why are you calling me?”

There was a beat of silence before, “Well…”

“Oh god,” she moaned, the answer coming all too clear to her as she covered her mouth with her hand. “You guys are in jail, aren’t you? Please tell me you two aren’t that stupid.”

“I wouldn’t say ‘stupid’.”

“Of course,” she snapped. Without another word, she ended the call forcefully, rubbing her eyes resignedly. Without a glance at Rose, she stood up, gathering her bangs in her arms and announcing, “The boys are in jail. I need to buy damn doughnuts.”

- And the first part of the crossover. I hope you enjoyed.

All Rock Prodigy characters belong to jules130 and all that stuff. She was awesome, we had so much fun writing this. All the dialogue from her characters was written by her. And that's why it's dedicated to her. I'm so happy to post it, we've been planning this since we realized an eerie similarity haha. Ten guess what.

The gorgeous cover on the side was made by lavenderdays, thank you so much, it's beautiful!

Song is Friend of a Friend by Foo Fighters...

Hm... I think I might be done. Not really in the mood to rant, I know, it's incredibly shocking.