Ted's ears flattened as he growled. After no word from Vivian in almost a year, this is what greeted him this morning. Just who was this guy that she was singing with? Didn't take her long to move on from Ted to someone else. Was this why Vivian was so distant with him the last few months? Did she have someone else waiting for her?

"Why that…!" he stopped himself.

Even though he was angry, he couldn't bring himself to call Vivian anything bad. Ted growled and turned off the radio. He sat in the recording studio strumming his guitar as he tried to find the right notes. He was under contract with a new company and had to come up with songs, or risk going broke and losing everything he had.

Ted looked back at the radio, unable to get the thought of Vivian with someone else out of his head. Was she just playing him this whole time? How could he be sure she truly loved him if she moved on so fast? Ted shook his head as he tried to write, but all he could think about was Vivian.

One and one and one makes three
Baby, you know that

"Viv…" he sighed. "Why did you do this?"

It was obvious that she no longer loved him. Ted scribbled down more words trying to keep his temper in check, but instead of mad, he was upset with her.

And it ain't no big mystery
Just from where you're at

You never had these feelings to burn
You took my love and baby you turned

Ted sighed as he strummed his guitar, trying to write the music he wanted. He wasn't sure if this was going to work. He didn't even have a band to back him up. He never knew going solo would be so difficult. Back in the band, Vivian would always have his back…or did she? Is that why the band failed? Was she just playing him and caused commotion behind his back?

Is it all in my mind
Or is it a cruel game?
This love in flames

"Ted?"

He looked up to see the producer open the door to the recording studio. Ted put the paper down as he pulled off his tinted glasses.

"How long have I been in here?" he asked rubbing his eyes.

"Four hours", the producer said as he leaned against the door. "Ted, I'm at the end of my rope. We signed you onto our label three months ago. In those three months, you've turned up nothing. I hate to disrespect a member of the Country Bears, but I have no choice. You have to give us something, or we're going to have to let you go."

"I'm coming up with something", Ted sighed.

"Call it a night then. You look like you need some rest."

Ted got up and carried his guitar as he walked out of the studio. He was starting to get very worried about his solo career. So far, this was the only record label willing to sign him on. Now, it looked like he stood to lose it all. How did he go from a complete superstar in the music business to a broke bum?

I was up so high
Where eagles fly
I just never looked down

He looked down as he walked to his apartment. He had to sell his Harley in order to earn money to pay for the rent. Even that was quickly going away. He just had to come up with a song if he was going to live out there in the city. He could not risk going broke and becoming another homeless bear in society.

Oh, but you were down there
With the wind in your hair
And your feet on the ground

We might have had the stars in the sky
You never had the courage to try

Ted looked up with a sigh. That was one of the few things he hated about the city. Back in the country, there were dozens and dozens of stars that could be seen in the night sky. Here in the city, there were none. He looked around as he saw not a lot of people on the street. Well, at least he would be able to walk home with peace and quiet for once.

Is it all in my mind
Or is it a cruel game?
This love in flames

Ted walked up the stairs of the shabby apartment building. He hated it, and it looked so unsanitary, but it was all he could afford with the little money he had. He opened the door, sighing as he looked around. Only a studio apartment, big enough for one person, barely a bear in his case. He sat down on the bed, turning on the radio sitting beside him, trying to get some inspiration for a song, only to be greeted by Vivian and John's voices singing.

Love in flames
Is it the same
As passion flooding in the name of love?
Or is it fear of pain
When love comes crashing down from above?

He turned off the radio, almost breaking the switch in his anger. Ted pulled off his glasses, setting them on the nightstand. He turned his gaze to the framed picture that sat beside the radio and couldn't help but look away. Vivian's song was everywhere. She was torturing him. How was it she had success and he didn't?

Tonight I lay me down to sleep
On your side of the bed

What was her secret? Was Vivian really that talented? Or was she riding the success of her new boyfriend? Maybe that was it. That was what Ted thought she did the whole time they were together. Vivian had no talent at all.

I pray so hard for somebody to keep
Keep you out of my head

But it's no use the sheets take your form
Into the dawn, the ashes still warm

As Ted laid back on the bed, he looked beside him with a sigh. He could remember those nights he and Vivian laid side by side.

"Not again…" he muttered to himself.

It was over between the two of them. There was nothing left of their relationship that was worth salvaging. He had to let her no he was not going to go back to her or take her back. Not that she would care anyway, now that she had someone else.

Is it all in my mind
Or is it a cruel game?
This love in flame

Love in flames


Song used: Love in Flames by John Hiatt