A/N & Disclaimer: Yes, another story! When I have an idea/urge, I simply have to write it out. Anyways, I own nothing except Ember and then I sort of borrowed Jina. The song is by... Adam Lambert... my current musical obsession. This is the beginning to what I'm thinking will be a series, all somewhat based around songs.

1: Whataya Want From Me?

Hey, slow it down whataya want from me Whataya want from me Yeah I'm afraid whataya want from me Whataya want from me

Ember watched stonily from her perch on the windowsill as her boyfriend of three years packed his duffel bag, her pale face paler than usual; pink lips pinched into a thin line. Her brownish green eyes were rimmed in black eyeliner, smudged from her repeatedly wiping at her eyes with her fingertips.

"You're not going to say anything, are you?" He asked, staring at her from his place at their bed; stuffing socks and boxer shorts into the bag now. When she remained quiet, John Cena shook his head; wondering how anyone could be as closed off as she was. "Damn it, Em, you're just going to let me walk out that door, aren't you?"

"What do you want from me?" She finally asked, arching one black eyebrow as she stared at him; reaching for the lit cigarette that rested in the ashtray on the narrow table beside her.

"I want you to stop me, Ember!" He was so close to losing his temper, something John never did but he was so frustrated right now. He loved her, he really did, but he didn't know WHY anymore. She was a beautiful woman, but sometimes he wondered if that's all there was to her, her looks.

Not that she wasn't intelligent, because she was. She was one of the smartest people he knew, at least until it came to other humans, then she was clueless. He knew she wasn't completely heartless, she said she loved him and for the most part, he believed her. He just had a hard time understanding how… she could be the way she was.

"If you're going to leave John, you're going to leave." She said after a moment, her forehead creasing as she frowned; though that passed quickly; her face soon back to a mask of indifference. "And nothing I say will stop you."

"That's bullshit and we both know it!"

There might have been a time When I would give myself away Oooh once upon a time I didn't give a damn But now, here we are so whataya want from me Whataya want from me

Ember shifted so her profile was to him, staring out the window; the sounds of him packing reaching her so clearly it was like every action he did was being picked up by a microphone.

She stubbed out what was left of the Marlboro red, wrinkling her nose as she stared down at the overflowing ashtray. John never would kiss her after she smoked, he said he didn't like the taste.

John, who was packing, who was leaving her.

After two years, you would have figured she'd be better at this relationship thing and it wasn't like John wasn't easy to get along with, because he was. Alarmingly so.

But even he wasn't immune to her apparent flaws.

When he glanced at her again, expectantly, she disappointed him -and herself- by keeping her gaze steadfast, watching the rain pour down.

Just don't give up I'm workin it out Please don't give in, I will let you down It messed me up, need a second to breathe Just keep coming around Hey, whataya want from me Whataya want from me Whataya want from me

She was really going to let him go, two years together meant nothing to her, John thought; walking into the bathroom to gather up his personal things. He could hear the key tones of her cell phone and closed his eyes.

He was leaving her, and she was texting!

Ember had this THING, she was focused, but usually on one thing at a time, and her focus was usually intense. When she was with him, she was WITH him and nothing or nobody else mattered. When she was reading, she was READING and ignored the world around her until she had had enough.

And then on the other hand, she was all over the place; trying to do a million things at once, be a hundred different places all at the same time.

Nothing about this woman was normal.

And he needed some sort of normality.

Yeah, it's plain to see (plain to see) that baby you're beautiful And there's nothing wrong with you (nothing wrong with you) It's me, I'm a freak (yeah) but thanks for lovin' me Cause you're doing it perfectly (it perfectly)

Ember set her cell aside when John walked back out after muting it, knowing she would get back to her best friend -Jina- later. "John…" She murmured, walking up behind him.

Hesitantly, she reached up to place her hands on his broad shoulders and leaned in; resting against his back and inhaled, her eyes closing. "Please, don't go."

"Give me a reason to stay." He said again, coldly; his entire body tense.

"Because I love you."

"That's not enough anymore, Em, it's just not enough."

There might have been a time When I would let you slip away I wouldn't even try But I think you could save my life

"He left me."

Jina cradled the phone between her ear and shoulder; raising a finger to keep her husband silent as she listened to her friend. "Well Emmy, did he say why?" She asked sympathetically.

Steve leaned in the kitchen doorway, folding his arms over his chest and wondered just what the apparently insane Ember had done now. He had yet to meet her, but he had heard plenty.

"Because… because," Ember paused to blow her nose, the sound causing Jina to make a face. "Because I couldn't give him a reason to stay."

The fact that Ember and this John guy had lasted two years was cause for an award as far as Jina was concerned, and she made a note to tell Ember that, when she wasn't heartbroken.

Which would probably be in the morning.

Just don't give up I'm workin' it out Please don't give in, I won't let you down It messed me up, need a second to breathe Just keep comin around Hey, whataya want from me (Whataya want from me) Whataya want from me (Whataya want from me)

Two days after he had left, John came back.

For his furniture.

He brought his best friend Randy Orton with him, both men ignoring Ember as she pounded the keys of her laptop furiously; her eyes never leaving the screen.

She was aware of him, how could she not be? And Orton, she wanted nothing more than to hurl her coffee mug at him, but the coffee was cold; she had barely touched it. His scent filled the apartment again, causing her to close her eyes and take a deep breath.

"I'll come back for my dresser, okay?"

Startled, Ember pushed away from the table quickly; catching her heel on the wooden chair and grimaced. The realization dawned that he had already gotten most of his stuff out, wondering just where the time had gone. "Sure, sure, that's fine." She said hastily.

John just stared at her, his jaw clenched; his eyes glimmering with pain he was trying to hide. "You okay here, by yourself?"

Ember started nodding yes, but then shook her head. "John… please." She whispered, her voice cracking on 'please', she did not beg.

John closed his eyes, exhaling shakily.

Just don't give up on me (uuuuuuh) I won't let you down No, I won't let you down (So hey) just don't give up I'm workin it out Please don't give in, I won't let you down It messed me up (It messed me up) Need a second to breathe Just keep coming around Hey, whataya want from me

"So… I figured I'd come see you."

Jina had been preparing to settle down to watch a movie with Steve when Ember had called, knowing something was up because Ember usually only remembered to call every other month or so. Two times in four days was a record and it had actually worried the shit out of her.

When she heard her friend's 'plan', she was mildly shocked. "Hold on a sec, honey, let me get this straight… You're going to drive from West Newbury all the way to Houston, Texas?"

"Sure, why not? It'll be an adventure."

"That's a long drive, why don't you just fly?"

"I like to drive, besides… I'm going to make it a road trip, so it's not like I'll be there in the next week… Maybe next month…"

Jina groaned. "Emmy…"

"I'll call you as soon as I'm outta Newbury!"

Jina could only stare at the phone in her hand. Apparently, John hadn't taken Ember back.

Just don't give up I'm workin' it out Please don't give in, i won't let you down It messed me up, need a second to breathe Just keep coming around Hey, whataya want from me (whataya want from me) whataya want from me (whataya want from me) whataya want from me

"If you ever get yourself together, I'll come back. When you know what you want, Em, then I'll come back." John had promised.

Ember frowned, pulling down the visor as she pulled out onto the highway, the setting sun in her eyes. Going to visit Jina seemed like a good way to get her head on straight, clear her mind… figure out what she wanted, figure out just what it was John wanted from her.

Maybe, when she came back, she'd know.

Whataya want from me