As soon as Jane eyes began fluttering open, a ringing noise hummed in her ears and a headache throbbed, each pulse more painful than the last. “Shit,” she mumbled as she used all her strength to lift her head and squint at the alarm clock across the room. “7:45 AM” blinked repeatedly, large and red, and a groan escaped her lips as forced herself to rise. How’d she get under the covers? 

As soon as her body was vertical, nausea bubbled in her stomach, and she sprinted to the bathroom just in time to reach the toilet and dove onto her knees. Jane did her best to hold all of her unruly locks in her small hands as her stomach retched and retched until it was satisfied with what it emptied. Jane’s arm wiped away the saliva on her lips as she plopped down on the tile, the frigid surface causing goosebumps to scatter across the thighs it touched. They were going to [i]kill[/i] her if she was too hungover, so Jane decided to run a hot bath to make an attempt to feel better.

Jane stood up and stripped lazily after her fingers worked at the stiff faucet’s nob, throwing her clothes towards the bathroom door, and she slowly sunk into the steaming tub until everything under her chin was submerged. The thought of never having to get out crossed her mind. [i]”If only it were that easy.”[/i] The hot water was soothing her aches and pains, but mentally, it did nothing to calm the madness ensuing inside her. If she could have it her way, in this moment, she’d march down to Rob’s room, kiss him slowly, and show him how she was feeling instead of talking, but that would be regrettable. Jane had done too much damage to simply fix the situation with physical intimacy. Plus, was she really going to drop such a bomb before a 8 hour car ride? No.

She slowly dressed herself in white denim shorts and a tight, black v-neck shirt. Jane watched herself in the mirror as she worked her knotted hair up into a sloppy knot on the top of her head, laughing at how crazy it looked. Her round-frame sunglasses hid the hazel eyes that became puffy from crying and drinking, and she lugged her bag down to the lobby where she saw Austin.

“Dude, I’m so sorry,” she spoke lowly. “I was so fucked up. You didn’t deserve anything I said to you.”
Austin wanted to be mad, but a smile slowly formed on his lips. “You’re right, I don’t. Now, tell me the truth.”
Jane sighed and mumbled something incoherent.
“What was that, J? I couldn’t hear you,” he laughed as he leaned in closer to her. 
“Fuck you. [i]I love him,[/i] okay?” Jane sighed putting her hands up to the bridge of her nose in embarrassment. A light pink hue appeared on her cheeks. “Don’t fucking say anything, you promise? Now’s not the right time.”
Austin nodded, completely amused by the situation. “I won’t.”

Jane made herself a cup of coffee at the small stand at the concierge desk as Sam passed by to go get the van from the parking lot. “Be right back, guys. Be ready.” 
“Got it!” Jane called out as she headed back over to Austin. “Where is Rob’s head at right now?” Jane whispered as she slid closer to him, hoping for some kind of hint about how Rob would be when she saw him.
“I don’t tell either of you what you tell me. It keeps me honest,” he smiled, which made Jane sigh in frustration. 
“Fine.” 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jane was feeling like [i]shit[/i] still, so she occupied the furthest row in the back of the van and slept for a good portion of the trip to New York, waking up usually only to chug water or smoke a cigarette or joint. Her and Rob hadn’t even talked that day yet, which made her feel even worse than the hangover was. But as always, Jane’s pride got in the way, and she maintained her silence until her phone rang. 

“Hello?” her gravelly voice greeted the unknown caller.
“Jane, Jane Molloy?” A cheery, male voice asked.
Jane’s brows furrowed. “Uh, yes, who’s this?”
“Hey, Jane. My name is John from WRMS 96.5 radio station here in New York City, how are you?”
She said up in her chair abruptly, as if it would make her sound more professional. “Yes, I’m great, thank you. What can I do for you, John?”
“Well, we know you guys are doing three nights here, and I was hoping before your last show on Ground Control, you could do an interview with me here at the station?” 
Jane’s eyes widened. “Yeah, man. I don’t see why not! Can you send me the address and the time you want me to be there?”
“Of course,” the chipper man responded. “Check your email in a few. I got it from Harold.”
“Awesome. Thanks, John. Bye.”

Jane hung up the phone and gripped the back of the seat in front of her. “Yo, a radio station wants us to come in for an interview before Ground Control on Friday,” she announced with enthusiasm. “This is [i]crazy.[/i] How much longer ‘til we’re in the city, Austin?”

“Two hours,” he called back. “We’re early, so we're gonna pull over to eat.”
“Sounds good,” Jane replied as she fiddled with her phone. She was so excited to be in New York, to see the sights and meet new people, and most importantly, to get her mind off of Rob, although she had a hunch that he had taken a permanent spot.