A/N: Bruce Springsteen owns the lyrics.
You and me we were the pretenders
We let it all slip away
In the end what you don't surrender
Well the world just strips away
"Lex are you even listening?" Adam asked. Lex sat across from her. Lex had her head down, she was doodling on a napkin. They were both in the cafeteria at their work.
"Huh?" she looked up at him and gave a sheepish smile. "Sorry my mind was somewhere else."
He chuckled. "It's alright. Care to tell me what you were thinking about?" he gently slid the napkin out from under her hand. "Hmm you seem to have a fascination with the word punk." There was no condemnation in his voice. Instead it was light and teasing. "Care to explain."
"Alright I miss him." she admitted. "We went through a lot together but that does not mean that I am going to break down and contact him. I did nothing wrong."
"If he called you up today and told you he was sorry?" Adam asked. He was mildly interested in her answer. Although he was confident in their blooming relationship one could never be completely at ease when the person they were with was writing another man's name on a napkin.
"I dunno. In one way he was one of my closest friends for years. If it wasn't for him I would not be alive right now." She brushed her long hair back behind her ear. "But at the same time that does not excuse him for being a dick to me."
"Well he is obviously on your mind and he won't stop being on your mind until the situation is resolved."
"Maybe you are right but like I said I am not going to be the one to break." she insisted. He admired her tenacious attitude.
"So someone has a birthday coming up." Adam smiled at her. "And I got you something a little early." He handed her an envelope. She eyed him carefully.
"Adam, you really shouldn't have." she said but she tore into the envelope none the less. Her eyes went huge as she stared at two tickets to the upcoming Taylor Swift concert. "You have got to be kidding me!" she exclaimed standing up and throwing her arms around his neck. She did not care that they were at work and in plain sight of everyone. "This has got to be the best birthday present ever. You really shouldn't have but I am so glad you did." She placed her hands on either side of his face and brought her lips down upon his.
"I expect to be paid back greatly for this one." He laughed. His chocolate colored eyes sparkled with mischief.
"For what the tickets?" she asked raising a brow.
"No, the tickets were a gift. I was talking about me going with you. I expect something really special in return for that." Adam was not the type of guy who listened to Taylor Swift willingly. But it warmed her heart that he would be willing to travel to Gillette Stadium, a forty-five minute drive, from their homes and sit through a two hour concert for her.
"I definitely think something can be arranged." she smirked before kissing him again. He pulled her into his lap. Neither caring that their boss could walk in at any minute and they both would get into trouble.
"Good."
Girl, aint no kindness in the face of strangers
Aint gonna find no miracles here
Well you can wait on your blesses my darling
I got a deal for you right here
–
"So are you planning to talk to her again before her and Adam get married?" Randy asked Phil. They were driving to the arena together.
"What? He proposed already?" Phil asked astonished.
"Of course not." Randy stated. "they have only been dating of a little over two months. That would be absurd. But you know what I mean. If you miss her as much as I believe you do then you need to reach out to her now rather than later."
"Why do you even care?" Phil asked Randy as he stole a glance at him before returning his eyes to the road.
"Because you are both my friends." Randy remarked. "And I want you both to be happy."
"Has she said she is not happy?" Phil asked. Although he tried to avoid talking about Lex at all costs Randy and Beth did not make it easy on him.
"No, but I can tell she misses you. Like when I am talking to her and I mention your name she changes the subject really quickly because she does not want to feel the pain. She may not say it out loud but I know that is why."
"If I crack first then she will think she has power over me." Phil admitted. "I am not one to let any female walk all over me."
"Lex isn't like that Phil and you know it." Randy defended his friend. Lex was not that kind of person at all. She would never be the one to exploit anyone's weakness. Lord knows she had enough of her own. Lex's biggest fear was losing any more people that she loved.
"Can you really be that sure?" Phil asked. "I mean how can a couple of phone conversations really tell you about a person?"
"More like a couple million phone conversations." Randy pointed out. "Look I know you are all Mr. Macho I don't take shit from anyone. But you and Lex, you made each other happy. The both of you just had this like instant click that worked for you both. You are like the yin to her yang. But now both of you are unbalanced. Never to be truly happy until you are both together again."
"You need to stop reading the messages off of the herbal tea packages." Phil warned his friend. "It's becoming annoying."
I aint looking for praise or pity
I aint coming round searching for a crutch
I just want someone to talk to
And a little of that human touch
Just a little of that human touch
–
"Lex come on Raw is on." Nicholas barged into her room. He looked at her expectantly. At almost five years old he had become accustomed to their Monday night ritual.
Lex bit her lower lip. She was having an internal debate with herself whether she would watch Raw that night or stay on the phone with Adam. "Sounds like you are being paged. Do you want me to let you go?"
"No." she said making up her mind. "Nick I am not going to watch it tonight but don't worry Vanessa will watch it with you."
Aint no mercy on the streets of this town
Aint no bread from heavenly skies
Aint nobody drawing wine from this blood
Its just you and me tonight
–
It was after the show and Phil was icing his shoulder. He had taken a bump wrong and now his shoulder was killing him. Usually at times like this when he was hurt he would call Lex and talking to her would make him sort of forget about his aches and pains.
But there was nobody to take his mind off his pains tonight. So he sat alone in the back. He thought about getting dressed but he did not feel like moving just yet. He sighed and ran his good hand through his hair. When had his life gotten so complicated. He knew when, the moment that foolish girl rolled up to him in her wheelchair.
"Fuck it." He muttered and began rummaging through his bag for his cell phone. He was not going to sit around feeling sorry for himself anymore. Against his better judgement he punched in her number.
Oh girl that feeling of safety that you prize
Well it comes at a hard hard price
You can't shut off the risk and the pain
Without losing the love that remains
Were all riders on this train
–
"Ugh someone is calling me on the other line." she frowned. She really did not feel like flashing over and taking the call.
"You can answer it if you want." Adam said.
"No I don't wanna besides we are listening to Taylor Swift together." She laughed. She was making him listening to the whole Fearless album to get him ready for a concert that was still three months away. "Whoever it is will leave a voice mail."
"If you are sure then ok."
So you've been broken and you've been hurt
Show me somebody who ain't
Yeah, I know I ain't nobody's bargain
But, hell, a little touch up and a little paint...
You might need something to hold on to
–
"Hey it's me. I know surprise right. Listen I am sorry about being such a jerk. I dunno where my head was at. I miss you. Please call me back. It sucks having to criticize people by myself." he sighed. "Well ya know call me when you get this or whatever."
Do you think what I'm asking is too much
I just want to feel you in my arms
Share a little of that human touch
Feel a little of that human touch
Give me a little of that human touch