The phone conversation with Jared went smoothly. On the surface, they caught up and confirmed they were both in the area. Then, after tripping over her words, he put her out of her misery. “Are you asking me out, Molloy?” Jane chuckled, then sighed. “Something like that.” “Well, does tonight work?” he asked confidently, already knowing her answer. “Just…I’m not ready for downtown. Can we keep it casual?” “You got it.” Now, Jane was meticulously checking over her outfit - a black body suit that disappeared into a pair of black skinny jeans and a chunky cardigan on top - and her hair, which was brushed out smooth with ripples of waves that formed down her back. A knock at her door startled her out of her vanity, and Austin entered, already wincing. “Oh god,” Jane groaned. “What?” He let her read his phone, her expression growing more and more sour with each sentence. As she finished the article, Austin began to whisper “remember it’s my phone, it’s my phone.” Jane passed it back to Austin and started a breathing exercise as she paced. “Why would she choose now? That, that [i]bitch[/i].” The correlation clicked in her mind, and her focus darted to Austin. “Where the fuck is he?” In the moment, every feeling she had for Rob was replaced with rage. This wouldn’t have happened if she didn’t know In Bloom was writing. Austin put his hands up to show innocence. “He left after he got the news. He didn’t look good.” Jane rolled her eyes. Of course he left. But then, it changed to concern. “Where?” “Fuck if I know. He’s supposed to have a call with Evan any second.” “Well, I’m out of here in ten minutes,” Jane sighed, mulling the idea of staying home to await Rob’s return. Or to make sure Rob returned at all. “Please text me if you hear anything.” [center]***[/center] Jared’s matte black snaked up the driveway, Jane watching from the patio, fingers picking at each other. Once the light hum turned to silence, she approached with her chin up and shoulders back. Long, brown hair and a familiar face popped up across the top of the car. “I’d have gotten the door for you.” “I know,” she smirked. They both plopped into the car, and before she could blink, they were speeding down the road, her eyes on Jared’s tattooed hand barely touching the wheel. “You look beautiful, J,” he grumbled, his dark eyes staying on the road. “You look older but -“ He snapped his head towards her, “somehow just the same.” Jane grew warm in response to the compliment, shifting her to hide her cheeks which were most definitely red. “And that’s a good thing? The same?” His stoic expression cracked, and a smirk formed, revealing a gold tooth. It was permanent, she remembered. “Of course it is.” A deep breath, and Jane relaxed in the passenger seat. “I think you hear it enough,” Jane giggled, “but you’re not so bad yourself.” She was referring to the hundreds of women commenting on each photo he uploaded on the IG she’s perused earlier in the day. Jared rolled his eyes. “You remember how fans are. They get obsessive.” She pondered the statement. “In Bloom didn’t get that far. We were forgotten about as easily as we were discovered.” Realizing the statement was a buzzkill, she turned and smiled. “Maybe I’ll get my shot this time around.” The statement reminded her of Mae, and the fact that not only had she lived out Jane’s dream with Rob, but now she may take away her redemption. Her fists tightened in her lap, obviously enough for Jared to take one and place his lips on it gently. She vibrated. “Whatever’s going on, just forget about it tonight.” Jared gave her a knowing look. Whether he was referring to the Mae knees, her living with her ex again, or whatever else she could complain about. Entranced, Jane nodded as she watched him release her hand and put it back on the wheel. Whether she was ready for the affection or not emotionally, she was definitely responding physically. “Shyer than you used to be?” His willingness to call things as they were was always something she admired - but right now - she wished he wasn’t so bold. “Turns out drugs were covering up some bad anxiety.” Jared nodded. “Quitting drinking had me jittery for a while.” Apparently deciding her answer wasn’t sufficient, he continued on. “When’s the last time you were with someone?” “[i]Jared[/i],” she gasped in a mocking tone. “Doesn’t have to be like that. Anything. A date. A kiss. You have nervous-at-the-middle-school-dance energy. “ Jane didn’t want to laugh but couldn’t help it. “5 years,” she whispered. “I’m sorry?” he joked, cupping his ear. “Did I hear [i]years?[/i]” With her head in her hands, Jane nodded in confirmation. “How did the poster child for sex, drugs, and rock and roll turn to a nun? My rehab definitely didn’t do that.” The car was pulling up to an alcove, twinkling city lights illuminating the clouds dotting the dark sky. “Last time I wound up in rehab, it was after Nico - my ex - left. I…” She took a minute to gather her thoughts. “I told myself I’d only open myself up to someone like that again if I fell in love and -“ “You sit in your mountain home alone?” Jane nodded. “Yeah.” “Well,” Jared grunted as he reached in the back seat. “I have some take out and a blanket, plus a beautiful night.” He pointed to the sky. “Don’t think of this as a date, okay? Just two old friends catching up.” Jane smiled, grabbing a bag from him. “At a very romantic, secluded location.” He smirked. “You wanted low key. Can’t get much more low key than this.” [center]***[/center] The rest of the evening was, to Jane’s surprise, a fantastic time. They caught up over old stories, old bands. Catching each other up on more minute side stories of their lives. Sobriety. Her body had just started to relax when her phone vibrated in her pocket. She mouthed an apology to Jared before greeting Austin. “Did you hear from Rob?” Jane asked firstly, her voice dripping with desperation. “No, only Evan. He likes the song for the album, but he says it’s not the radio hit right now that we need, especially with MAE’s looming comeback.” “Fuck,” Jane sighed. “I have lyrics, we’ll workshop it in the morning. Tell the others 8.” “Got it,” Austin responded before disconnecting. Jared by this point had packed the picnic back in the car and had the engine running. “I’m so sorry,” Jane stuttered, hopping into the car and buckling in. “Guess you heard we have a song to write.” [center]***[/center] “You don’t have to walk me to the door.” Jared had an arm around her shoulders, rubbing the arm his hand reached. “You’re freezing.” As they reached the front patio, Jane turned and looked up to him. “Best date I’ve had in years,” she smiled. Jared rolled his eyes at the joke, but grabbed her arm and pulled her close. She felt the eyes of the security cameras on her like lasers, but she couldn’t help but let him pull her in. A man’s chest. His heart beat. His hands at the small of her waist. A feeling she had only fantasized about for so long. When Jared leaned in to kiss her, she obliged, gripping his shirt to keep her steady on her toes. But once the kiss began to deepen, and his hands began to move around, Jane pushed back and caught her breath. “Did I do too much?” Jared whispered, his brows furrowed. His arms were out like he wanted to comfort her, but at the same time, he didn’t want to get too close. “No, Jared, I…” Breath. “That was, that was hot. I just…I need to move a bit slower.” That, and Rob was still the only thing she could think about. His concerned expression turned back to his playful one. “I can do that.” “I’m not sure if you can,” Jane teased, leaning in and pecking him once more. “Thanks for the date,” she whispered as she turned her keys in the door. “I’ll text you later this week,” he whispered back, watching until she was safely in the door. It was early, and Jane was greeted by Austin and Sam sitting at the bar in the kitchen. Each had a beer in front of them, both looking defeated. “No Rob, I’m guessing?” “Nah,” Austin shook his head, “and more buzz about MAEs possible return.” “Fucking Mae,” Jane mumbled. “Well, look. We don’t need Rob to write a song, right?” She looked to the stove time reading 8:30. “Evan wants a radio song. Let’s fucking do it.” “Right now?” Sam finally chimed in, resting a cheek on his fist. “I was working on something on the ride home. I think it’ll work. Let’s just get down there.” Austin put a hand up. “Try calling him first?” He was referring to Rob, of course. “His phone’s been off, but maybe if he gets a message from you - “ “I’ll try. Meet you guys down there.” As Austin warned, Rob’s phone went to voicemail, and Jane nervously tapped her fingers on the marble countertop until it beeped. “Rob, it’s J. I don’t know where you went but…you should be here with me-us.” Jane hoped the fumble didn’t pick up over voicemail. Why were her eyes watering. “We’re working on a song. We’re gonna figure this all out together. Just come back, yeah? Okay. Bye.” [center]***[/center] The song was [url= https://youtu.be/OGWmAJ6RuZo]Everything[/url]. If Jane was never obvious before, with these lyrics, she was now. All that was left was for Rob to track his drums, then they could send the song to Evan in the morning and hopefully have a radio hit by that evening. “I’ve noticed he’s been drinking,” Austin mumbled as they went up the steps. It was close to midnight. “Rob’s always drank,” Jane shook her head, not understanding the point. “No, I mean [i]drinking[/i]. Might be part of his disappearing act today.” Austin kept ascending the steps, but Jane stood frozen on the staircase. Rob couldn’t fall for addiction. Shit, he left Jane for her’s. Possibly, Austin was just being dramatic.y And as Jane climbed into her bed that night, she stayed awake as long as she could to hopefully hear Rob returned, but drifted off eventually, humming the song they just recorded. If anything, she hoped Rob liked it.