A/N: I strongly recommend you listen to The Middle once Mitchie starts to perform. :D I'm kind of ticked that I can't use spacing effectively with this format, but eh.

This is it ahah. You guys are probably going to be like, "This is supposed to be epic??"

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Mitchie furiously wiped away a stray tear from her face as she walked into Club Bean. It was dimly lit like it always was, and smelled like coffee and wooden furniture. There was a small group of "hardcore" kids sitting in the corner trying to be philosophical. It was just the borderline-depressing atmosphere Mitchie needed to mull over her thoughts.

She could hear the clattering of Jackie in the back as she walked over to the stage to sit down.

'What am I doing?' Mitchie thought as she stared at her shoes.

"Hey, kiddo. You're early." Jackie snapped Mitchie out of her daydream. "A local band's going to open the show tonight. They've got a pretty good fan base, so there'll be a good sized crowd." She brushed off her apron as she made her way towards Mitchie.

"Sounds good."

Jackie stopped in her tracks for a second. "What's wrong?"

"What?"

"Don't pull that clueless thing with me. I'm assuming by the red eyes and sniffles that it's relationship related." Jackie said as pulled up a chair. Mitchie reluctantly nodded as she looked to the floor, feeling dumb for being in such an 'oh so cliché' predicament. "Spill."

"I'm okay, really. I just came to think."

"Come on. It always feels good to vent. I need you in top condition for your performance." Jackie smiled caringly.

Mitchie halfheartedly returned a smile. "I think I made a mistake."

"What kind of mistake?"

"I think I moved too fast for this… guy I like." Mitchie played with her hands as she stuttered. "I told him I loved him."

"How did he react?"

Mitchie inwardly flinched, remembering Jackie was unaware of who she was in a relationship with. "That's just it. He didn't. He just kind of spaced out."

"Well, how long have you been together?"

"Less than a month."

"Wow. Did you mean it?"

"Of course." Mitchie finally looked up from the floor.

"Well, you didn't make a mistake if you meant it. You were being honest."

"I just think I might have pushed forward too quickly. I don't think he's ready for a commitment. It's not his thing. I feel like a fool." Mitchie played with a loose string on her jeans.

"Don't. You put yourself out there, and unfortunately, it didn't go well. But everything happens for a reason. Who knows, this tiff may have strengthened your relationship some way in the long run."

"I don't know…"

Suddenly, Alex flew through the doors of the club, looking around frantically. "Mitchie!" She spotted Mitchie and Jackie and started to run towards them, stumbling over chairs as she weaved through the tables.

"I'm gonna go set up." Mitchie quickly said as she stood up on the stage.

"Mitchie wait!" Once Alex made it to the stage she took a moment to catch her breath, then straightened up. Jackie and Mitchie waited for her to speak, but she froze on the spot. "I- uh." She stuttered.

"I'm guessing this is the guy?" Jackie questioned. Mitchie turned red as she nodded tentatively. "Well, I'll just be leaving." Jackie slipped away, leaving the two girls alone.

"I've been looking everywhere for you." Alex said, still out of breath.

"You found me." A struggled smile tugged on the corners of Mitchie's lips as she sat back down to meet Alex's level.

"Right." Alex breathed out, racking her brain for the words she desperately needed. "Your mom wants you to call her. You should tell her to come to the show." She carefully offered a smile.

"I left my phone at your place."

"Here." Alex offered her phone. Mitchie hesitated before accepting the phone. "You look pretty."

"Thanks." Groups of kids were entering the club now.

Alex tried to swallow the lump in her throat. "Ready for the show?" She asked lamely.

"Actually, I need to set up, so I'll talk to you later." Mitchie said as she stood up on the stage.

"Wait!" Alex felt her chance slipping away. "I have to tell you something."

"I'm all ears." Mitchie looked expectantly.

Alex looked behind her to see more and more kids were pouring in. She looked back at Mitchie, then sighed in defeat. "D-do you need any help setting up?"

"No." Mitchie replied flatly. She quickly turned around in disappointment and walked to the back of the stage to sort out the amp cords.

I love you, Mitch.

Alex gave the back of Mitchie's head one last pleading look before turning away. She made her way through the steadily growing crowd to the exit. Once she stepped out, she let the brisk New York air fill her lungs.

She noticed Jackie smoking on a bench a few feet away. She walked over and slumped down next to her.

"You know, smoking's bad for you." Alex stated.

"I'll keep a note of that." Jackie smiled as she flicked away the cigarette.

Alex smiled as she tucked her hands into the warmth of her hoodie. She appreciated the company of the woman's collected personality even if they weren't talking. They sat in silence for a moment as the sun set.

"Something on your mind, Alex?" Jackie broke the silence. "I am the guru of love tonight. I take it your talk with Mitchie didn't go well?"

"Why do you say that?"

"Cause instead of being in there, calming her nerves, you're out here keeping this old bag company."

"I really screwed up." Alex sighed.

"Yep." Jackie replied.

"What? Aren't you supposed to say something like, 'We all make mistakes, kid. It's a part of life'?" Alex was slightly taken aback.

"Sorry. Thought I'd change it up a little." Jackie snickered. "But yeah, mistakes are a part of life. What makes you think you've made one?"

"I haven't actually made one yet. It's an ongoing thing. I can't find the words to say what I mean to Mitch, so now she thinks I hate her." Alex struggled to explain herself.

"You want to say you love her." Jackie didn't question.

"It just- It all makes sense when I'm not around her, but… I just-"

"Can't admit it?"

"I don't know…" Alex put her face in her hands. "I hate how hard this is." She mumbled.

"You know, it really isn't that hard. Take it from someone who's fallen in and out of love many times before." Jackie stood up as a van pulled up to the club. "Sometimes it's hardest to acknowledge the love you have for the person you love the most. Or… something like that." Jackie went to open the door for the band members exiting their van with equipment.

"What does that even mean?" Alex yelled to her.

"I don't know, figure it out!" Jackie said over her shoulder as she entered the club.

Alex let out a frustrated growl as she leaned back on the bench. It was getting pretty chilly outside. 'I should be inside with Mitchie.'

Alex thought over what Jackie told her as the muffled sounds of music leaked from the club. A couple of songs went by as the sun finally disappeared.

'I should be with Mitchie.' Once the band's third song finished, Alex brought herself to go inside. She wasn't going to let whatever was going on in her head prevent her from supporting Mitchie.

Alex was surprised to see so many people crowded inside the club. There was now barely enough room to move around.

"Alright! That was our last song!" The lead singer yelled into the microphone, causing the crowd to erupt in applause. "Give it up for a new face, Mitchie Thomas!"

"Torres, you jackass." Alex hissed to herself as she squeezed through bodies to get a better view.

When Mitchie didn't appear, the singer yelled her name again, "Mitchie?"

"Right here!" Mitchie came running onto the stage with an electric guitar strapped on.

'What's with the guitar?' Alex questioned, thinking of the song they wrote together for the piano. The band was about to leave when Mitchie stopped them.

"Hold up, guys!" Mitchie spoke into the microphone. "I think this crowd could use another song from you. You mind backing me up?" The crowd cheered loudly. The singer shrugged and motioned for his band to stay.

Mitchie turned away from the mic to talk to the band. Alex guessed they were instructions as far as what key to play in and etc. Alex couldn't help the large smile that was plastered on her face as she watched Mitchie finally take a leap towards her dream.

"Let's do this!" Mitchie yelled once she got back to facing the crowd.

The drummer started the song with a simple beat, and the guitar followed. Mitchie grabbed the microphone with both hands. "This song is dedicated to someone I thought I loved." There was a sinister glint in Mitchie's eyes.

'Ouch. Is this about Shane?' Alex thought to herself.

Mitchie started singing. "I knew where I was going when you left the room. You're the kind of guy who makes me wanna follow through to you."

She sang every word with harsh purpose. Alex closed her eyes as Mitchie's velvety voice surrounded her.

"I've been trying to leave you for the longest time, the second that I saw you I just knew I found my ride goodbye. I like it, I like it, I like it." The band kicked up, "I like it, I like it, I like it! I wanna crash!"

"Hey Alex! Look who I found!" Justin appeared next to her bobbing his head to the music.

"Justin? What are you doing here? Dean?!" Alex looked in shock at the boy standing next to her brother.

"Hey Russo." The brunette boy replied with a thick New York accent, flashing her a smile.

"Oh my gosh!" Alex immediately gave him a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I feel like I haven't seen you in years! How are things with Logan?" Alex yelled over the loud music.

"Very good." Dean winked suggestively.

"What?!" Justin yelled in disbelief.

"Oh my gosh! I'm sorry, Dean!" Alex mentally slapped herself for her slip up.

"No, it's okay! I'm telling the world!"

"Telling the world what?!" Justin yelled.

"I'm in love!" Dean yelled at the top of his lungs.

"With who!?" Justin questioned.

"Logan Johnson!" Dean screamed.

"Seriously?!" Justin stormed off, dodging a lame moshpit.

"Don't worry about him, he's just jealous." Alex smiled at Dean. She looked back over at Mitchie only to find she was staring right at her.

A cold chill ran down Alex's spine as they locked eyes.

"Maybe, you'll save me. You're gonna take me from this crazy I've been painting!" There was something extremely unsettling about the maniacal smirk Mitchie was shooting her way.

Dean wrapped an arm around Alex and kissed her on the top of her head. "I missed you, Russo!"

Alex didn't respond. She was trapped under an uncomfortable gaze that Mitchie seemed determined to uphold for an eternity. The band was going all out now. The song was at it's highest point and Mitchie was practically screaming out the lyrics.

"Crash! Fall!" Mitchie took the mic in both hands and fell to her knees. "I like it, I like it! Somewhere in the middle with you! Middle with you!"

The song ended powerfully as Mitchie held out her last note with pure, raw emotion.

The crowd exploded in applause louder than before. The lead singer went to high five Mitchie, but she ducked away from him as she ran off stage.

"I have to go." Alex said without looking at Dean.

"Alright. I'm gonna get a drink." Dean replied, but Alex was already gone.

She pushed through the crowd, chasing after Mitchie. Once she escaped the mass of bodies to the side of the stage, she unsurely went through a door in the back.

She closed the door behind her to keep out some of the noise.

The room looked pretty much like a hotel room, probably where Jackie slept. A small lamp in the corner cast an eerie glow, allowing Alex to make out a small entertainment center, mini fridge, unmade bed, and a couch.

"Mitchie?" Alex croaked out.

Mitchie was sitting on the couch, hunched over with her elbows on her knees. Her head was down, but Alex could tell she was breathing heavily, whether it was from the performance or something else.

"Mitchie, what's wrong-"

"I told you. I told you everything." Mitchie's voice wavered.

Alex stepped forward, "Don't come near me." Mitchie stopped her in her tracks.

"What?"

"You just decided to talk to me? This is why you can't say 'I love you'. Cause you don't." Alex was about to protest, but stopped when Mitchie finally looked up at her. Her bangs were stuck to her forehead from a slight layer of sweat, and her eye liner was smudged, making her look darker. "It was a game to you." Mitchie almost whispered.

"I don't understand."

"So, what, you thought you'd stick around cause you felt sorry for me?" Mitchie's expression was of pure disgust. Her vision was clouded with too much emotion to see the genuine confusion in Alex's eyes.

"Mitchie, please. Just calm down."

"Don't you dare tell me to calm down. I can't believe this." Mitchie breathed out shakily as she stood up. "I really opened up to you." she walked up to Alex and dropped her phone into her hands. "I hope it was worth it. You really went all out didn't you? You know what hurts the most?" Alex glanced at the phone and back at Mitchie, close to tears. "I really did love you." Mitchie didn't look up before quickly brushing past her out of the room.

Alex stood, dumbfounded. She shook out of her confusion and quickly fumbled with the phone with her clumsy, numb hands. She looked at her missed calls and noticed one from Harper.

No.

She dialed her voicemail.

'Hey, Alex. Just checking up on you. I haven't seen or heard from you in like a week. Having fun with that girl? Remember, you don't have to drag it out.'

No.

Jeez, the bet was to just get a kiss out of her. I know how competitive you can be, just don't hurt the girl. Anyways, give me a call b-'

Alex dropped the phone.

'No! She doesn't understand!'

Alex burst out of the small room and looked through the sea of teenagers, searching for her.

"Hey, Alex. What's up?" Dean casually walked up with a drink in hand.

"Which way did she go?!"

"The singer girl?"

"Yes! Which way?!"

"She left. Pretty much ran out of here." Dean pointed towards the exit and quickly stepped out of her way. Something was in Alex's eyes that he had never seen before.

Fear

Regret

Tears

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Mitchie sprinted down the street, passing all of the small shops that were now closed.

'I have to get away'

Her breathing was already ragged and heavy before she even started running. Her lungs burned for oxygen as she gasped for the cool northern air. Giving into her lungs' plea, she slowed her pace to a jog.

'I have to get away'

She was panting out distressed cries as her body gave up on her. She staggered to the ground in the middle of the street. Like a wounded animal, she writhed under the dim street light whimpering shamelessly.

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Alex ran out of the club and stopped to look in both directions of the small street.

'I have to find her'

She rounded on a couple of guys standing against the building.

"Have you seen a girl in a Beatles T run by here?" Alex tried not to sound hysterical.

"Yeah, she ran that way." One of the guys pointed down the street.

Alex bolted in the direction without another word.

'I have to find her'

Alex forced her body to quicken its pace.

'She's too important'

Through the darkness.

'I'll die if I lose her'

Past the little shops.

'I'll kill myself if something happens to her'

Run Faster.

'I'm such an idiot!'

RUN FASTER!

'I'M SUCH AN IDIOT!'

What was that?

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Mitchie unsteadily brought herself to her feet, her panic attack still taking a toll on her physically. She clutched her stomach, suddenly feeling nauseous, and stumbled into a small alley. She leaned against the brick wall of a building and shut her eyes as tightly as possible.

Trying to get a hold of her emotions, she slid down to the filthy ground into a fetal position.

"What'sa pretty girl doin' out at this time anight?" Mitchie quickly looked up to see a gruff guy in his twenties holding a bottle of vodka.

Mitchie quickly got up to leave, but he stood in her way.

"You should come party with me." His foul breath hit Mitchie's face. "We could have lots of fun."

Mitchie turned to run, but the man grabbed her from behind. She tried flipping him over, but he was too strong.

"Stop struggling!"

Mitchie rammed backwards against him as hard as she could, sending them both to the ground. She scrambled to her feet and tried to run away but a pair of large, grimy hands wrapped around her neck. The man slammed her into the brick wall with his body.

"Don't try to run. I just said you were pretty." He said into her ear as he started to unbuckle his belt with one hand.

"Get off of her!" Alex jumped on the guy out of nowhere, putting him in a chokehold.

"Agh!" He stumbled back with the weight of her on his back, and rammed her into a nearby trash bin.

"Alex!" Mitchie ran to Alex's aid, but was backhanded hard in the face. The man laughed as he kneed her in the stomach, sending her to the ground. "Alex, run." Mitchie tried to yell before she was kicked in the head. She started to black out. The man shoved a hand in his pocket and revealed a pocketknife, flipping it open.

Alex stood up from the ground and tackled the man from behind with a primal yell.

Mitchie looked in horror from the ground as they wrestled with the knife, yelling and throwing blind punches.

The man gained control, pinning Alex to the ground by her wrists, straddling her.

Through her blurred vision, Mitchie quickly looked around her, seeing the discarded vodka bottle. With all the strength she could muster, she snatched the bottle and threw herself towards the man smashing it over his head.

Their attacker stopped his fighting and fell on top of Alex.

"Alex!" Mitchie shoved the guy off of her and dragged her a few feet away from him; surprised she still had enough strength to.

They were both panting and Mitchie's vision was blurring again.

"We have to get out of here." Alex said in a raspy voice as she staggered to her feet.

Mitchie nodded as she stood up, equally as unstable.

"You're lucky I'm the hero type."

"You're lucky I'm the damsel in distress type."

They fell into a hug, Mitchie grasped her like she was hanging on for life.

"Alex…" Mitchie straightened up. She looked deep into Alex's worn eyes with a horrified expression. She removed a hand from Alex's back, and took in the sight of blood dripping sickeningly from it.

Help

"Help! Someone please!" Mitchie screamed to no avail. The only soul near them was the unconscious lowlife that caused this.

Alex swallowed hard before falling into Mitchie.

She struggled under the weight of Alex's limp body. She tried to walk with her, but slowly collapsed to the ground in her weak state.

"I'm not very good with blood." Alex whispered.

"Just hang on." Mitchie frantically searched her pockets for her phone. "No! Alex, do you have your phone?"

Mitchie heard Alex mumbling something incoherently.

"What?"

"We are in a state of desperation, take us to Waverly Sub Station..." Alex mumbled.

"What?"

Darkness

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