"Juggin' on a Friday, but I saw you on the freeway. How could I forget that face, I don't even know your name. I'm in love with a ghost girl, all alone in a lonely world. I just really wanna find her, I'ma do another line first."
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THIRD PERSON

After the initial confrontation and heated words between Gustav and Bexey, both of their worlds were left in shambles. Gus had to face the reality of his best friend being hopelessly in love with the girl he held dearest to him and Bexey on the other hand, was facing the fact that his best friend would never trust him again and he had destroyed everything that meant anything to him.

In true Bexey fashion, the only way he could respond was to leave. The day after he had discovered what had happened between Evelyn and Gustav, he couldn't face that either. It was easier to block his emotions out of his mind than to admit them and speak them into the air, ultimately making them true.

He wasn't sure how long he loved her. Was it the day they met at the mall? Was it when they were alone on the patio that night? Could it have been the way she ran to the swings with the excitement of a girl still able to enjoy her youth?

Possibly, just maybe, it could have been when he had to take care and nurture her when she was left utterly alone to the devices of a drug dealer whom at the time didn't have any concern or interest for anyone else's well being, including his own.

Bexey couldn't pinpoint a day or time, but all of a sudden one day she was just a friend and he was totally supportive of her and Peep getting together and the next he was chucking a TV out the window and fist fighting with Lil Tracy; Simply because the overwhelming feelings for her in his heart were crushing him—suffocating him.

"How many nights?" The elderly clerk with deep-set wrinkles at the motel asked the interesting man who clearly wasn't from around here. Bexey didn't exactly know how long he intended to distance himself, probably until the tour starts or at least until Gustav reached out to him. That's if he reached out to him.

Evelyn's graduation and the tour were only within days of each other, which Evelyn was scheduled to drive them to the airport when she needed to; she said she would make sure she had time for them. Unfortunately, she didn't know that would be the day immediately following.

Bexey held major guilt in his heart. If he hadn't introduced them all to each other he probably could have spared the teenage girl some heartbreak and pain. Feeling utterly responsible for all of the trials and tribulations the 'poor girl' went through, he decided he needed to apologize.

If he was never going to see her again, he at least needed this one chance to express to her how completely sorry he was. But a part of him wanted to make amends with himself, for putting himself through that pain as well. It wasn't Evelyn's fault he couldn't control his feelings.

She couldn't control the way she walked, or how she smiled, or her crazy out of control laugh when she thought something was fucking hilarious. Evelyn was simply Evelyn, a pretty average girl with an above average lifestyle who fell for a beautiful rapper by the name of Gustav—And she couldn't control that, either.

Of course, Bexey was hurt that it wasn't him that she chose. He didn't realize that until a few days ago, or especially when Gus was divulging the details of his 'plan' for Evelyn. Things were getting serious quickly and it was all too fast for him.

He just wanted to ask her a few questions.

Did she ever have feelings for him? She probably won't admit to that, he scolded himself. If she and Peep ever broke up, would it be him that she used as a shoulder to cry on? Probably not, she isn't that kind of girl. Lastly, did she forgive him? Forgive him for something he couldn't control, but felt the need to apologize for anyway?

Bexey told the clerk a rough estimate number of how long he'd be there and handed over the amount of cash that was required. The clerk who's name tag read Bernard slid him his room key and Bexey took it—after the old man smiled at him softly—going to go find his room to settle down for the night.

It wasn't the greatest place but he didn't quite have the money for a five-star joint and also it was the closest one he could find on foot. When he reached his room, he slid the key in the lock and opened up the door. Thankfully, it wasn't the most disappointing sight. There was enough room for him to put his belongings like clothes and other small things that he didn't destroy in his manic episode.

He tossed the duffel bag that held the remainder of his things on the couch adjacent to the bed. When he finally sat down on the bed though, he couldn't help himself from nearly passing out. It had been a very emotionally trying day for not only him but everyone involved in this shit show that was their lives for right now. He couldn't ignore the remaining stain of blood that so clearly came from Gustav's nose. He had gone through something that day and didn't seem like he felt like sharing, but Bex couldn't blame him. He wouldn't want to talk to himself either.

Bexey played with the hem of his black t-shirt, trying to distract himself from the impending doom that is going to be the tour and what Evelyn might say if she found out—which she probably will—he concluded.

Well, if she was going to find out, he figured he might as well be the one to tell her.

The phone rang three times before she answered the phone.

"Hello?" She spoke into the phone.

(a/n: for the sake of this part, bold = Evelyn and regular is for bex)

"Hey, Evelyn. . . How are you?" He hasn't spoken to her since the day he walked into the apartment to see her wearing Gus's clothes sporting bright new violet hair. She was stunning even though she just clearly woke up, and he'd never forget how the sunshine from the window shone in on her face.

Unfortunately, being reminded of that exact moment brings up more sad memories. The way he laughed at her calling his best friend Gussie, how when he walked in she didn't greet him as usual. There was something off and Bexey could feel it; he just didn't know what he had done at that point.

Was she just uncomfortable under his gaze? Or was it something worse?

"Hey, it's nice to hear from you—We haven't spoken in a while. I've basically just been working, hanging out with Sarah and Gus, prepping for graduation. What about you?"

"Uh. . . Well, not good."

"Oh? What's wrong?"

"It's really hard to explain over the phone. Do you think that maybe you could stop by my room?"

"Your room? And at 11 PM at night? I'm worried—"

"I got a room at the Starlight Inn and Evelyn I promise you when you get here, I will answer any question you have."

"Should I call Gus—"

"No! I-I mean, no. . . Don't tell anyone where I am. Nobody can know I saw you tonight."

"You're really freaking me out, dude."

"Evelyn, do you care about me?"

"Of course."

"How much?"

"A lot. . . None of this is making sense."

"If you care for me like you say, you will just do as I ask of you. Please."

". . . Fine, I'll do it. What room number are you?"

Once Bexey had disclosed what room number he was and some directions on how to get to the specific location, Evelyn was on her way. Anxiety had her on edge, she was paranoid about what could make him so freaked out to get a fucking room somewhere and ask that she not contact anyone. Why her?

The way he protested when she mentioned Peep was obviously a slip-up but she noticed it, she noticed it well. On the drive there, she continued repeating to herself, "This is a bad fucking idea. . . Bad, bad, bad." She pulled into the parking lot of the motel and quickly but discreetly got out of her car.

She held her keys in her hand with the pointy parts coming out past her knuckles in case she needed to shank someone, but she just hoped to God that it wouldn't come to that.

She swung the front door open a little louder than she had intended and it garnered a sideways look from Bernard. She reclaimed her composure as she walked up to the little window where you could only see the upper half of his body.

"You need a room?" He questioned gruffly. She shook her head.

"I'm just going to room fifteen if that's okay." He stared at her with his hazel eyes that she could tell have seen some things over the years.

"Yeah, whatever. Go ahead." She smiled at him and nodded as a thank you and turned down the corridor that was the only one off the main room.

1. . . 2. . . 3. . . 4. . . 5. . . . 10. . . 15!

She stopped directly in front of the door and rapped her knuckles against it three times. The door swung open to reveal a very concerning looking Bexey; she had never seen him in such a state before. Bruises littered his face and the beginning of a black eye were both made very aware to her; the dark blue and purple hues contrasting against his pale creamed colored skin.

"Oh my God, what happened to you?" Her soft voice cracked, from her position still in the hallway.

"Come in." He ushered her inside, locking it behind them and even going as far as to use the chain lock. He turned around to face her again, finally now that he knew for sure they were alone.

"Are you going to start fucking telling me what's going on?!"

"Yes. Just sit here with me, and you can ask away." She huffed, rolling her eyes just wishing he would get on with it already. The suspense was not doing her any favors and the sight of her friend in the shape he was in disturbed her to the point of tears she was trying so hard to hold back. They took a seat next to each other on the sofa, and she tried to figure out what question to ask first.

"Are you going to be honest with me?" She asked, her voice low. He maintained perfect eye contact with her as he nodded yes. "Okay. Tell me who did this to you."

"Tracy and I got into a disagreement."

"Tracy? Tracy fucking did this to you? What the hell?" Confusion seeped into her mind before she had the chance to ask more questions.

"I mean, I started it."

"Oh my God, why? What is wrong with you?" She asked with a chuckle. Bexey stared at her as she tried to make an otherwise dreadful encounter lighthearted. She had a way of making situations better without even necessarily trying sometimes.

"It's not funny!" Bexey shouted, laughing as well.

"I mean, Lil Tracy beat your ass. And you're the one who started the fight." She was trying desperately to hold back blatant laughter now instead of tears.

"Give me a break, I wasn't in my right mind." He defended himself.

"What was the fight even about?" She dove deeper into the details.

"Me, and my feelings." He admitted being the one to now stare at his hands.

"Feelings about what, Bex? You know you can tell me anything," She comfortingly placed her hand above his like Peep had done earlier that day.

"Evelyn, I . . . There's no easy way to say this. But I might as well tell you the story. Hold comments until the end, okay?" She nodded. "I have. . . feelings, about a certain situation. Okay—I mean you," He waited for her to twist her face up in disgust or pull away from him abruptly, and when she didn't, he continued confidently.

An hour and a half later, he had finally finished the story off with how he got to the motel. It was so quiet in the room you could hear a pin drop and Evelyn kept a similar blank expression the whole time. He had admitted everything to her, down to the last nitty-gritty detail. From every feeling and emotion to every action and reaction; he exposed himself to her and finally got the guilt elephant off his chest.

A few minutes went by with Evelyn just staring at him, puzzled. She was proud of him for admitting his truth but there were so many parts that didn't make sense; she wasn't getting the full story. Maybe he stopped when it wasn't his truth to tell anymore, that was for someone else to come to her about. She respected that about Bexey—the fact that he completely threw himself under the bus like that without dragging anyone else down there with him.

The most confusing part to the newly eighteen-year-old girl was where could this possibly end up? It wasn't her fault Bexey fell in love with her, she knew that. Nonetheless, it didn't make it any easier that Peep and Bex arguing about her, or the thought of her anyway.

"So, yeah. That's kind of what happened today."

"That sounds extremely eventful. I'm sorry you kept it in so long that it turned into something like this." She responded by trying to be as thoughtful as possible. Evelyn had no clue what she would have said if he came to her sooner, but she would have tried to be understanding.

"I mean. . . It's not how I wanted you to find out. I didn't even necessarily want you to find out, but I figured it was better coming from me than from Gus," He admitted, staring down at the purple haired girl.

"Thank you for telling me the truth. . ."

"Yeah, no problem," They stared at each other for a while, not saying anything. Evelyn's mind was racing and Bexey's was on one track. He internally groaned because he knew that his following actions would be the death of him, but there was such a war going on inside him that he couldn't stop himself.

Leaning in closer to the short woman, he tried to not make it seem obvious; so maybe she wouldn't be so startled. Her green eyes gazed up at him and all she could do was just sit there, trying to sort through her feelings. . . Until Bexey's face was so close she could feel his warm breath on her skin.

Maybe she was naive, some would call her an idiot but what happened next shocked her more than anything else really has. He leaned in to kiss her, just barely pressing his lips to hers but still managing to, before she shoved him back with all the force in her body.

"Are you serious?!" She shouted at him, catching the young man off guard. In a flash, she grabbed her purse and headed towards the door.

"We leave for the tour the day after your graduation! I think you deserve to know that too!" He shouted at her as she swung the door open and began running down the hallway. She stopped with a mortified look on her face, turned around and ran. Bexey stood there feeling extremely guilty, not knowing what to do.

_______