Eddie's POV

'The only proof that I need is you.'

The audience roared in front of us,cheering for an oncore. "Hey Kal," I said as we ran backstage.

"Yeah buddy,what's up?"he called back.

"Well I was thinking, I write the songs, maybe I can sing one of them instead of just playing guitar." He stopped in his tracks.

"Look,Eddie, me and Nina are the lead singers. You write the songs and we sing them. That's how this works, remember?"

"Uh, yeah. Just a ... just a thought." He patted my shoulder.

"There we go buddy." Every time I ask its the same excuse.'Sorry bud, I don't think you're ready.' or 'Bud you're the writer we're the singers.' Poor Nina, the things she has to put up with. She told me he tried to start her on chrystal meth. When she rejected he punched her square in the face green beat her half to death... if she was with me, I'd treat her 1001 times better than he ever has. But girls don't want the song writer, they want the rock star. The closest I'll ever get to that is the lead guitarist...that's all I'll ever be to her.

Nina's POV

"Hey babe,have you seen my ... What are you doing?" I asked walking into our band's dressing room.

"Nothin baby, come here." He motioned me over.

"Kal what the hell is this?" I saw something in his hand. It was obviously something he was smoking...And it was no cigarette.

"Don't worry it's natural."

"Kal, that's marijuana, you're smoking a joint?" He reached his hand out for the bottle of beer on the table next to him."And you're drinking, are you trying to kill yourself?" I grabbed the alcohol out if his hand and set it back down.

"What'd you do that for?"

"Kal that stuff isn't good for you..." his hand went across my face causing me to fall to the ground.

"Why don't you shut up!" he shouted." You don't know what is good for me or not."

"Kal, you're drunk, let me help you..." I stated standing back up.

"Take another step and you'll wish you hadn't."

"Kal wait...Kal what are doing?...Kal...Kal!...Ahhh...Kal stop...PLEASE!" The pain was unbearable. This one would be hard to cover up.

Eddie's POV

"Stupid Kal...He knows I can sing way better than he can." I muttered to myself. I'm the only one still here anyway, might as well let...my...thoughts out? What is that noise? It sounded like someone or something whimpering. I began looking around the dark dressing room for the source. "Hello? Is anyone here?" I called out.

"E-Eddie? I-is that you?"

"Uh, yeah, who's there?" I looked into the dim lit vanity mirror and saw Nina sitting curled up in the corner with her knees up against her chest and her head hiding in her arms." Nina what's wrong?" I asked.

"Its nothing." She stated as I walked over to her.

"Nina, I know you're lying. Otherwise you wouldn't be crying." She was silent for a while.

"I don't want you to see me like this."

"What are you talking about. See you like what?…" Then it dawned on me." Nina let me see your face."

"No Eddie..."

"Nina look at me." She slowly looked in my direction. There was a blackish mark on her face which was covered in several bruises."Did Kal do this to you?"

"Yes. But it was an accident. He didn't mean it."

"Nina that's what you said last time." I said squatting in front of her.

"He was drunk that's why he did it."

"No he did it because he knows you're always going to forgive him. He knows you're not leaving." She looked down."Where'd the mark come from?"

"I can't tell you. You'll kill him."

"Nina..." Tears rolled down her face.

"He...He was smoking something...And he...he said sorry. Eddie he didn't mean.."

"Nina."

"Okay...He was smoking and...He took it out of his mouth...and said 'you brought this on yourself.' ...then he pressed it against my face..." she continued to let tears flow."and I screamed but...but he wouldn't stop...And I begged and I begged but he just held it there."She reached out and threw her arms around my neck. I put my arms around her grabbing her in a hug. "You were right...you always were...I should have left him."I rubbed her back with one hand and held her head with the other.

"I made you a promise not to long ago. And it's about time I kept it...I told you I wouldn't let him hurt you again ...I failed you." She pulled her head away just enough to see my face.

"You tried to let me figure it out myself. That's the best thing you could have done." There was a long pause as we slowly began leaning in. The love filled kiss lasted only a few seconds before she broke away. "I can't do this."

"Nina...You don't know how long I've waited for this to happen...for you to be over him...Please,please,just give us a chance." She leaned her head against mine.

"Okay...I'll do it for us." There is no telling the obstacles we'll have to overcome.