There was no better feeling than this.

Music drifted over the air. The harmonious symphony was incredible. Every note convinced even the most stoic audience member to dance. Lovers moved together, spinning in time to the rise and fall of the crescendo. The crowd listened intently. His name was shouted by adoring fans, swept into the air to join with the notes pouring from his fingertips as he played the piano. His wide, proud smile decorated his face.

Yes, there was nothing better.

"Yo, Drake! Can you play, 'Baby One More Time?'"

The rude voice shattered Drake's fantasy. His brown eyes opened, blinking furiously as he realized he was playing in a coffee shop, not in the venue he had been dreaming of. His hand slipped. The foul note rang out loudly, pulling a laugh from the little audience. Drake ignored them, finishing up the last bit of his song.

"Dude! I asked you a question." The ill-mannered interrupter, a football playing high school senior, as Drake could judge from his jersey. The kid stared at him with a demanding glare.

Drake repressed the urge to roll his eyes. "…Britney Spears?"

"It's my girl's favorite." Football jerked a thumb towards the blonde that hung on his arm. "She likes the throwbacks. There's a five dollar tip in it for you if you do it well. C'mon, don't be shy."

Drake sighed. There was nothing he'd rather not play. Not because he didn't like the song. He didn't. But, he often played covers he wasn't a big fan of. If the guy hadn't been such a jerk, he would be more willing to. Coffee shop gigs in and of themselves were usually very pleasant. There was good pay, tips, and free coffee. Most even recognized his celebrity, which was always very nice. It was the audience he couldn't stand.

An hour later, he collected his things. The job had gone a little better after Football and his girlfriend vacated, laughing at his expense. Drake had noticed the exit a few moments after the first bars, when Football had exclaimed, "Told you I could get him to do anything, Babe!"

He didn't care, though. He had another job to go to, a better one. His second job of the night was more suited to his style. His manager had miraculously pulled together a group of his fans, leftover from his glory days. He'd make another few hundred dollars, and make them happy at the same time. Regardless of the dim beginnings to the evening, Drake couldn't be more excited.

It was not as exhilarating as his concert fantasy, but it was close. A good show, at night, especially on the beach, was not easily forgotten.

The sea breeze and the sound of the waves kissing the shoreline brought a romantic touch into the night. Drake was warmly greeted by his audience, a pleasure he returned with a killer opening number. A new song he had penned just for the occasion, it was the delight of both the artist and the listener. His happiness grew when the crowd began to dance, flowing as divinely as if they were made of sand, salt water, and stars.

Drake's guitar carried to even the farthest bits of the crowd. Their voices entwined with his as he performed some of his hit singles. It was almost surreal, performing like this after such a long time of coffee shops and showcases, bars and restaurants. Of course, there was also his personal favorite- prom. There was nothing like going back to high school. Belleview High liked to take advantage of its celebrity alumni, a fact Drake had to suffer through every spring, with the occasional homecoming dance thrown in. How the kids had not gotten sick of him yet, he had no idea. He had certainly gotten sick of the school.

At first, it had been almost fun to do a favor for his high school, though he had barely attended in the days when he was a student, and spent most classes kissing girls, or cheating off of Josh when his brother wasn't looking. After the third or fourth year, it had become a chore. After the fifth, it had become a drag. After that, Drake had been determined not to let them guilt them into it again. But, then his celebrity came crashing down, (temporarily, as he kept reminding himself) and he had needed the money. Thankfully, it had been enough to tide him over for a while.

Pushing the remaining dark thoughts out of his mind, Drake relaxed. He was on a beach, with a crowd who adored him, playing his favorite selection of his songs. That alone, laced with the flirty smiles of the girl in the center of the front row, told him this night was going to be one of his best.

The stars winked at him, the ocean sang with him, and the moon gave better lighting than the stage hands ever could. It was a night that would not be forgotten by any in attendance, a good, free night of the greatest kind; the kind that seemed to last forever.

Yes, there was nothing better.

It wasn't until four in the morning that Drake's key clicked into the lock of his front door. With a yawn, he dumped his equipment on the couch, contemplating leaving himself there for the night as well. His bed was only a few steps away, though, and so he opted for his mattress and pillow as opposed to a slightly stained couch buried in guitars and set lists.

He fell asleep quickly. Waking about four in the evening, he opened the door of his refrigerator, cutting a slice of cake for breakfast. Leftover from his birthday the day before, it was the perfect way to stop his lazy hunger. "Happy birthday to me!" he murmured, with a mouth full of chocolate cake.

It was almost eerie how utterly quiet the house was without Jade. She had never been a particularly noisy roommate, but she had been around long enough that even the lack of the sound of her moving about was odd. She had been gone for three days, now. Drake was beginning to think she might truly not be returning.

Good. He could find another roommate.

But when?

The add had been in the paper over a month before he had gotten the first response. He had placed it under a fake name, just in case. Drake was a very lenient guy, but he wasn't going to live with a crazed fangirl. The first responder had been just that, fainting dead away when Drake opened the door. The second was a man in his seventies who thought Drake was running a retirement home. The third had been the very worst.

His eyes alone said he was trouble. The tattoo on the right side of his face defined it. The black lion spread to the neck of the muscled man, growling with exposed fangs. The tattoo was so lifelike, Drake nearly feared it would spring off and devour his head. Before he could politely lie about the position being filled, three police officers sprung into the doorway, tackling the possible tenant. With a roar, the tattooed man shook them off, but they came back at him, slapping silver cuffs on his wrists.

"Randolph Carter," the tallest officer stated, "You're under arrest for murder, rape, and human trafficking."

That had been a fantastic day with the police. It had not taken too long for Drake to prove his innocence, especially since he had the add in the paper as an alibi. Explaining why he had a fake name was another matter all together, seeing as the police had never heard of him before. His identity was proved, however, when another cop revealed he recognized him.

"You dated my daughter." The officer had shrugged. "I remember you picking her up for a movie, once or twice. He's good. Let him go."

Drake had taken the add out of the paper for a week or two after that.

Word of mouth had lead him to Jade. A friend of a friend of a friend, she had called asking if the room was still good, and he said it was- if she could meet his usual standards.

"Which are?" Jade had demanded.

"You have to be hot." Drake had supplied. After living with Josh for all of that time, he had decided it was time for a hot woman roommate. Jade had assured him she was, then called him a pig, then showed up and moved in.

Drake finished his last bite of cake. His eyes roamed over to the stack of bills piling up on the counter. He had a little saved. Unsure how long it would last, he sighed.

"There goes the new Les Paul."

He went out that night on a second date with the girl from the concert. He took her for Italian, then Italian Ice for dessert. She was smart, very funny, and a more beautiful girl he had yet to see. She hadn't heard of him before the show. A friend had brought her, and she was glad o it. Drake grinned at the revelation.

"I'm very glad, too." he had said.

Drake wondered how long she'd last in his life.

He was pushed up against the front door, her lips pressed to his in a long kiss. Her eyes sparked with mischief as a smirk pulled at the corners of her mouth. Drake kissed that smirk off of her face, a little yelp of laughter escaping from her smile as he ran his hand down her back. "C'mon, not until we get inside," she teased, pulling him by his tie as he opened the door. Drake laughed, kissing her through the threshold, their lips hardly parting as they made their way into the main room. He didn't bother to turn on the lights. They wouldn't need them. Tangled up in themselves, they noticed nothing other than each other. Their kisses grew in heat and intensity until Drake could feel the room begin to smolder.

"Couch," was all he managed to say as he continued to pepper kisses over her lips, jaw, and neck. She let out a little hum of pleasure, making Drake grin against her skin.

"I dare you."

The cold voice could belong to no other. The heat in the room became an icy chill. Drake felt a prick in his spine. He opened his eyes.

There she was, sitting smugly on the couch. Her black hair, streaked with violet, hung in curls around her shoulders. Her red lipstick shone against her pale skin, making her look like she was plotting a murder. Maybe she was. Her red plaid shirt hung loose on her thin frame, betraying the fact that it was obviously Beck's. Drake wondered if the mechanic was here as well.

"You're back?" he asked, shocked.

"Who's she?" Drake's date demanded.

"Oh, don't worry about me. I'm just the unfortunate roommate. I don't care what you do, just where you do it, and right now, the couch is in use. The Scissoring is on, and I don't intend to miss a moment of it." Jade turned back to the television, pointedly turning up the volume. Screams shook the room, cutting through the couple. Jade only smiled. "Don't you love it?"

"You're insane." Drake grabbed his date's hand. "Come on, Noel."

"You don't have your own place?" Noel scowled. "I thought you were a famous musician."

"A down-on-his-luck musician." Drake corrected her. "Coming back up. Promise."

"No, it's okay." Noel said, giving him a reassuring smile. "it's a little weird, but it's okay. I'm not dating you for your place." She laughed, easing the rest of his worries. "Want to get out of here?" she asked, kissing his lips.

"So much." he replied, returning the kiss with a deeper one.

"Do it before you ruin the rest of my movie." Jade warned, her anger rising. They were gone before she finished her sentence.

Jade curled up into the couch. Popcorn bowl in hand, she exhaled, her anger falling off of her. She let the movie lull her to sleep, the screams of the victims her lullaby. Her sleep was restless, though. She tossed and turned, missing Beck, and the Drake-free peace she had known for the past three days.

Beck had tried to change her mind, but Jade could find no forgiveness for the boy who had broken her cousin's heart.