Chapter 1

CPOV

I stared in the mirror. I was alone in the dressing room, as I always preferred. I always did my own make up, partly because I knew my face better than anyone, but mostly because I had to cover the bruises myself so no one saw. There were dark circles on the back of my neck where his fingers wrapped around and throttled me. My black eye from the other day had turned an ugly yellow green colour. Not wanting to dwell on the latest incident, I glanced at the clock and saw I had only 30 minutes to prepare.

Tonight I was to dance at the MTV Awards for The Used. They were performing The Bird and The Worm in honor of the upcoming release of the movie Clash of the Titans, in which the trailer has their song playing. It was an elaborate ballroom dance number, with sharp and rough moves involved. I put on the makeup that paled my already white skin, but I had to put on more for the sake of the bruises. By the time I was done, my skin looked like flawless marble, nothing too heavy or tacky. My eyes were dark, but not gothic black, I had arranged several shades of blues and purples in eye shadows and liners to compliment my deep brown eyes.

Soon I was in my midnight blue ball gown and ready to dance. We heard the announcement, and than, took places.

QPOV

We were backstage, having just done a performance of our latest hit, Ladders on Wet Hillsides, just relaxing and getting ready for the after party. I went to the side of the stage to watch the next performance from The Used.

They were up on a platform to the side, performing their song, while a couple danced. They began the song with a gentle swaying, not touching each other, heads bowed low. Almost like marionettes on strings that haven't been used yet. Suddenly, the man took the girls hand and the began their dance. It was raw and unbound, completely free of restrictions. She whipped around and flew across the floor like the music was flooding her veins and causing her body to move. Than, during a slow part she turned my way and looked up. Her eyes found me. Her makeup was flawless, her hair elaborately curled, dark and rich and flowing like water. She was beautiful. I felt myself connect, somewhere between the two of us in that moment, I felt us connect together.

Than I saw the glimmer, there were tears running rivers down her cheeks. They could not have been faked, they were real. Her eyes met mine and I saw the sadness and emptiness. And before I knew it, she was whipped around again by the music, and the connection was broken.

No girl had done that to me before. Nothing had made me feel the longing I did now. I heard the song wrap up and the crowd go wild. But my heart wrenched, she was exiting off the opposite side of the stage! I elbowed my way backstage, trying to get to the other side as fast as possible, I had to find her.

I got my way over there and saw her. She was nodding at something the drummer of The Used was saying, not looking him in the eye but away, ready to run.

CPOV

Dan had stopped me before I could get to my dressing room. He commented on how well done my dance was and how 'real' the tears looked. If he only knew.

I merely nodded and turned to make my way to change and leave, when a hot hand on my shoulder stopped me. I turned and saw it was him. The guy I stared at for a brief moment in the song. My heart shrunk, I felt embarrassed for having so boldly watched him. He was tall and muscular, almost giving pro wrestlers and run for their money. His hair went over his ears and curled at the nape of his neck. It was messy and dark.

"Hi" He said breathlessly.

I didn't do anything, but once again got lost in his eyes. a deep brown with a green around the iris.

"Who are you?" He asked me.

I frowned, and merely shook my head. I couldn't tell him, nor did I want to tell him. I was a mute and physically abused by my manager.

I got this idea yesterday and I had to write it down before I forgot it, Enjoy!

Alasiel