{[Matt}]
["It's official. Shaun L'Braise has just called for a fifteen-minute break after frontman, Matt Zwei, seemed to have some kind of hysterical breakdown on stage just minutes after they started their new single 'Rebel Heart'.
He tossed his mic at a stage light - sending sparks flying all over the crowd. No one has been harmed and you can count your lucky stars we're doing our best to head backstage to find out what that was all about."]
The voice of the Vine reporter echoed in my ears as Lican played it back to me.
I didn't know what just happened back there. I just couldn't handle that song - my own lyrics choked me like barbed wire, cutting deeper into my already wounded flesh. Scars on my darkened heart that would never heal and always open, always exposed - constantly bleeding, reminding me of my wasted life lined with irreversible mistakes.
Maybe it was Jane. Maybe missing her was getting to me.
Maybe it was time for me to shove my pride in my pocket and phone her. But who was I kidding? After an entire month. Just call her and be like 'Hey, babe - what's up?'
"You can't go on like this, Matt-" Dixon said, clutching his water bottle between his hands, sitting on the couch opposite us with his drum sticks scattered on the ground.
"It's not that easy, Dix," I answered, barely audible as I ran my hand through my estranged hair.
"Just because she said the kid is yours?" Shaun asked, leaning against the wall.
"That's just the tip of the iceberg. I just don't know if she's the same Jane from three years ago," I admitted, angst lining my hollow voice.
"She still loves you," he replied, looking at the ground - kicking his sneaker against a nearby table.
"I don't know," was all I could say - my heart a hurricane of emotions, twisting and turning - ripping me apart from the inside, caught in the eye of the storm.
There was a faint knock on the door. Shaun went to open it, whispering softly before it sounded more like he was arguing with someone on the other side. It didn't sound like Theresa, the assistant.
That voice was just too – [familiar]. I got up to see for myself, my body feeling lifeless - drained of the last bit of energy I had left after barely sleeping the last week. I reached the door, pulling it out of Shaun's grip to see who he was arguing with.
Sure as hell - there she was. Her hair tied into a messy bun, skinny jeans, black converse, and a grey hoodie on.
Her hands were stuck deep into her hoodie's pockets as she spoke to Shaun, staring at the ground - her expression pained. It took her a while before she finally noticed me.
She'd been crying - mascara lines trailing down her beautiful face as she sniffled and wiped them away. She smiled half-heartedly at me before bursting into tears again.
I pushed past Shaun, taking her into my arms - just holding her as she clutched onto my shirt.
I noticed her slowly relax as she took in my scent, laying her head against my chest as she bit her lips together to keep herself from crying any more.
"What are you doing here?" I asked softly, stroking her back to keep her calm.
"And in the end - I'd do it all again. I think you're my best friend," she whispered, cupping my face.
"I'm yours. When it rains it pours. Stay thirsty like before," I replied, hugging her tighter against my chest.
"Why haven't you called yet?" she asked softly.
"It's complicated-" I lied, avoiding eye contact.
She chuckled, shoving me away from her, "After everything we've been through, the reason you couldn't call me is too [complicated]? Really, Matt – [really]?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at me.
I dropped my head, unable to answer her.
"I knew coming here tonight was a bad idea," she said hatefully, looking at me with utter disgust before turning to leave.
"Jane, wait-" I called, grabbing her arm and turning her around. Before she could change her mind, I did what I thought I had to and pressed my lips against hers - instinctively tilting her head to deepen our kiss.
Startled at first, she didn't know what to do - looking at me utterly shocked before cupping my face and returning the kiss. She moaned softly into my mouth, savoring the taste of me as I did of her - the flood of memories and emotions filling my mind as I pulled her closer, unwilling to let her go.
I heard a wolf whistle and some slow clapping from further down the hallway as the crew and that darn reporter - iPhone in hand - stood looking at us.
I broke the kiss and leaned my head onto hers, lightly stroking her bottom lip with my thumb.
"I'm not passive, but aggressive. Take note it's not impressive. Empty your sadness like you're dumping your purse on my bedroom floor - We put your curse in reverse," I whispered, smiling down at her.
She shook her head in return, chuckling softly. "Not your song, but definitely written about us."
"I love you, Jane," the words just flowed right out of me, bypassing my brain.
"Friends - best friends till the end, but better of as lovers, not the other way around," she replied, rolling her eyes at me.
"Uhm - I know you guys are having a moment here, but we kind of have a show to finish and standing there, quoting random song lyrics isn't really helping," Shaun said, clearing his throat behind us.
"I guess I'll see you later," she said, shyly wiping her loose hair out of her face.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world."