A/N: Hey, all. Just wanted to clear up a few things before we continue. Some of your reviews were hilarious, and I totally understand your concern as far as my stories go. Yes, this will be a HEA for B and E. No need to fear in this story. As far as cheating, there may be allusions to possible situations of cheating, but nothing blatant. It's not the prominent reason for them breaking up. I've really appreciated seeing all the support and love. Thank you for all the congratulations you've sent my way. Also, my stories are not beta'd or pre-read. Don't come for me. xx orionsnights

Chapter 2 - Memories at Barclays Center

BPOV

Please don't be long, 'cause I want your all

I don't have fun without your love

Life is too short, but I will live for you

You're mucking off, but I will live for you, my selfless love

Selfless, The Strokes

Arriving at Barclays, I'm overwhelmed with nerves. I was able to run home before the interview to shower and change, so I luckily wasn't seeing Edward while greasy and stale from a long flight. I had spent even more time getting ready than normal, darkening my eyes with makeup and adding subtle waves to my hair, making sure my bangs fall just right. I try not to think about why I care, but the petty part of me really wants him to see me looking good, not like the insecure mess that I still am. I threw on my favorite t-shirt, a vintage Fleetwood Mac t-shirt, black and oversized, so worn that it was paper thin, as well as black jeans that looked painted on, a leather jacket and heeled ankle boots. My armor for the evening.

It's still a few hours out from the show, but the arena is bustling with activity as people set up and prepare for the night. I used to be a part of that hustle - sitting in on sound check, hanging with roadies backstage when Edward was busy with other things, drinking in fitting rooms with the band. It was actually in an arena similar to Barclays that Edward and I had a major fight. I had come back from the photographers section after the show to find him doing coke in the bathroom of his fitting room with a groupie after he swore to me he was done using. Honestly, the fact that he was back there with that girl didn't matter to me. Him using again was my worst nightmare. Him using again meant the return of a man that I despised, a man that I was beginning to hate.

I shake off the memory and make my way backstage, fishing out my phone to call the writer who's currently with the band, starting the interview before I show up for photos. Because I'm apparently having a great streak of bad luck today, Mike turned out to be the one working on the article, and he seemed excited that I was calling until he realized it was work related. He agrees to come find me and bring me to the room he's meeting with the band in.

I almost laugh when I see him coming down the hall, noticing how his outfit has changed since I last saw him. Gone was the button down and khakis, only to be replaced with ripped jeans and a grungy looking knit sweater. The ensemble was paired with a gold chain, a beanie, gold-rimmed circle glasses and vans.

"Oh my God, Mike, it's like Gen Z threw up on you!" I laugh, unable to stop the words from spilling out. I start to feel bad when his cheeks flame red, but then I remember the way he cornered me earlier today and the feeling leaves me.

"Hey Bella. I didn't realize they were sending you," his voice is quiet, unsure, and he scratches the back of his neck. I smile wryly.

"I'm pinch hitting today."

"Great!" He enthuses, clapping his hands together, his mood shifting back to a more positive disposition. "The band is back here."

He starts to lead the way back, but I grab his arm and pull him to me. I realized on the drive over that I would have to tell Mike I knew the band before anyone saw me. I didn't know what to expect from this reunion, but I knew it wouldn't be all hugs and 'how have you been?'. I had been close with the band, and when I cut Edward out of my life, that meant any reminders of him too. Unfortunately, the band fell into that category, with the exception of Jake. I'd known Jake since I was a kid, and there was no way I could cut him out of my life completely. Talking to him though, knowing that he saw Edward and knew what was going on in his life, was tough at times, but we managed to work through it.

Just as I'm about to open my mouth, someone walks by, and they do a double take as they glance at me.

"Bella?" They gasp, abandoning whatever they were doing on their phone and staring at me with wide eyes.

I smile wryly. "Hey, Caius."

Caius is the band's manager, and had been since they started to become more popular and needed more than a group chat to manage what was going on. He was aggressive and determined, which was necessary to deal with those men. Especially Edward. I hadn't thought of Caius in a while, but we had always been friendly.

"I wasn't expecting to see you," he says, still staring at me.

I smile wryly. "Hey, don't tell the guys I'm here yet. Okay? I need to have a chat with my colleague here first."

He nods in a circular motion, turning back to his phone.

"You've got it, boss."

Boss. I hadn't been called that in a long while. Caius had bestowed that name upon me the first time I traveled with the band, back when they were in a shitty tour bus that you had to push to give it a head start before it would turn on.

"I'm so glad you're here," Edward whispered in my ear, nuzzling my neck and making me smile.

"Me too," I whisper back, turning my head to gently kiss his lips. I'm traveling with them on a small string of European tour dates, and they had just played a show in Dublin. We were nearing the end of the small tour, and the guys were getting tired. Eating poorly, lack of sleep, and all the drinking and drugs was starting to affect them. Tensions were running high, and I was getting irritated watching the stupidity run rampant between all the boys on the bus. Last night, the guitarist James, crossfaded on beer and whatever drugs he had ingested, had gotten into a brawl at the pub as we were leaving. Luckily, the guy didn't press charges even though he was badly beaten, but I knew that luck wouldn't last.

Pushing my thoughts aside, I go to deepen the kiss, when suddenly there is yelling from the back of the bus. Edward and I pop up to look over the back where we are seated, finding Edward's brother, Emmett, and James in a heated discussion.

"Dude, you can't keep fucking off to do whatever the fuck you do before a gig, then disappear after and start a fucking fight. We're gonna get a bad rep if you do that shit. Plus, I'm sick of packing up your gear!"

James pushes Emmett hard, which isn't very far in the cramped quarters of the tour bus. I startle at the sudden violence, not that it's unexpected from James. I have never been around violence before and it shocks me, the animalistic nature of a physical fight.

Emmett doesn't take kindly to being touched, and whatever James starts to say is abruptly halted when Emmett throws a fist straight into James' jaw.

The van seems to erupt in action as Edward jumps over our seat to break up the fight, and Caius gets up from his spot to hold back Emmett. After several moments of failure to break up the fight, I stand up and shove my way past Jasper, and into the middle of the foray.

My presence startles the boys enough that they hold back their next fist or elbow, which then allows them to be restrained. Edward and Jasper grab Emmett while Caius and Jacob hold onto James.

"James, you're in charge of set up and take down tonight. Now go sleep off whatever shit is in your system in your bunk." I turn away from his protests. "And you, Emmett, go to the front of the bus and cool off. We all agree with you, but we don't need two hot heads going at it on this shitty little bus. Got it?"

I raise my eyebrows as reluctant grumbles come my way, but the boys head off to their directed sections. Soon, I'm left standing next to Edward and Caius, everyone else back to what they were doing before, and I catch Caius looking me up and down.

"What," I snap irritably, tired of the testosterone already. Caius shakes his head and holds his hands up in a gesture of surrender.

"Nothing, boss. Nothing at all." He turns to Edward with a smile. "She's got balls, kid. I like her."

Edward looks at me with a roguish smile, his eyes alight. I flush at his appraisal. His tone is low when he responds, "So do I."

I didn't know it then but Edward was also dabbling in the hard drugs on that tour, he was just better at hiding it than James was. That night, however, he had gotten piss drunk after the show and Jacob and I had to carry him back to the bus. It was the beginning of a vicious cycle that I was too naive to recognize at the time.

"Bella, how do you know Caius Afra?"

I reluctantly turn back to Mike, whose face is a mask of confusion. I decide to just dive right in with the truth.

"Um, so I used to be married to Edward Masen. I know the band already. Like, I grew up with Jacob Black, and I have gone on tour with these guys before. And I really didn't want this assignment, but I'm the only one available tonight so here I am. And this will probably be really fucking awkward, so I'm sorry you have to be here for that. I haven't seen most of them for six years now, and I really don't know what to expect."

My rant is met with an incredulous stare, oblivious to my obvious nerves. "You used to be married?" He asks me, as if that was the most important part of what I said.

"Yes."

"To Edward Masen."

"Yes."

"You're serious."

"I think I'm listed on his Wikipedia page if you want to check."

"Bella."

"Yeah."

"Edward Masen."

"Yeah."

"Well… shit," he sighs, "No wonder you didn't want to go out with me." He sounds a little heartbroken, and I feel the urge to comfort him suddenly.

"It's nothing like that, Mike. I just don't really date anymore. A failed marriage before you're even 23 will do that to you."

He scoffs, "Yeah, no kidding." After another few moments of awkward silence, Mike claps his hands together.

"Well, I'm here for you tonight. If you need to get out, just say the word and we will leave, no questions asked. I'll cover for you with Alice."

I smile, touched by his support, and give him an awkward side hug. "Thanks Mike."

He shakes his head, muttering, "Edward Masen."

Then he leads me down the hallway towards the room where my ex-husband was waiting, unaware that I was about to suddenly reappear in his life.