a/n I've gotten distracted by Harry Potter fanfiction. And homework. Well, procrastinating from homework. And I joined a role-play. Thanks for the (lack-of) reviews… They'd help with inspiration and quicker updates, I swear.

- July 24, 2010-

Los Angeles was lonely. It reminded me of my seven month absence. I didn't want to talk to anyone. Mike, Maryse, John, Melina… They all lived within walking distance but they were the last people I wanted to see. (Okay, so I wanted to see Mike…) Ted. No, I couldn't tell him that I'd kissed Alex. Even if I was drunk when I did it. (How is it that I remember it, anyway?) Did he even know Mike and I were no longer together? Everyone had to know. The internet knew. The internet knew.

"Fuck." Swearing was a serious problem and I'd done it so often that none of them sounded like words anymore. That time the swearing was due to the amount of messages and missed calls I'd received.

"Finally decide to check your phone?"

"I thought I should charge it in case Vince or Laurinaitis called." I told my best friend, "Why didn't you try me at home?"

"I don't know where you are, Claire."

"Ted, I'm in L.A. I don't want to be, but I am."

"Is Riley there with you?"

"Really? I should hate you."

"Everyone knows." The worst part about that statement is… It didn't even surprise me. The backstage gossip mill works faster than one at a high school.

"How? Alex and I are the only ones who know…" Obviously not.

"He told someone… I can't remember who, but now everyone knows."

"Mike too?" I asked quietly, though I knew what the answer was going to be.

"He threatened to drop Riley's ass and make him go through NXT by himself. What happened, Claire? Everything was perfect for you."

"I don't know… He just decided to not shut in Canada and he sent Alex instead… We fought about it and I told him that he was going nowhere in the company… I was angry at him… Oh, and my whole family likes Alex better than him. I messed up, Ted. I want him back. I need him back." My cheeks were growing wetter by the second as tears spilled from my eyes.

"He told me what you said to him." Ted was speaking quietly in softly in his Claire-is-fragile-voice-so-I-have-to-yell-at-her-without-actually-yelling voice. "Why would you speak to Mike like that? After everything?"

"I don't know." I squeaked, "I… I just got angry. I didn't mean any of it. What do I do, Teddy?"

"I can't help this time."

"But you always help me!" I pleaded with him, "I need you to help me, Ted!"

"God, Claire. Don't cry. Please stop. I don't know how I could help."

"Talk to him. Make him at least hear me out. I need him." Now that I think about it, that was pathetic. But it was what I felt like.

"I can't promise anything other than trying."

"I love you, Ted." I said before we said our goodbyes and hung up the phone.

I walked up the winding stairs in my Los Angeles home. The weather outside was perfect and had my pool not turned green due to lack of caring, I would have sat outside and worked on my story. The pool was green, though, so I opted to put on some shorts instead of my sweatpants and go for a stroll around LA.

If the temperature was five degrees lower it would have been perfect, but I had to take what I could get seeing as I spent so little time in the city. A quick walk around Rodeo Drive, the Staples Centre… Whatever I could do, really.

Quite often I contemplated ditching my newly bought house. Sure, Pointe-Claire was nice – and it had my name in it – but did I really need the house? I never spent any time up there and when I was there, I was usually at my parents' house or Benji's…

I decided to sell it. The price I'd get for it would be relatively close to the price I bought it for seeing as it had been less than twelve months. House prices don't fluctuate that much. I liked LA too much to consider selling that house. Besides, what if it was the closest I'd be to Mike ever again? I have to have something to hold onto.

"Claire!"

"Hi Melina. Hey John." I was called over to sit down with the couple. They were at a café. "It's great to see you guys."

"I didn't see you that long ago," John commented, "but it's good to have you in my life again."

"Yeah, I bet it is." I couldn't help but laugh. John was a naturally funny guy.

"Care to tell me what happened?" Melina asked rather quietly and I looked at her instantly, "I'm sorry to say but everyone knows, Claire."

"I spoke to Ted before I came out… I know." I answered solemnly, "I can't believe he told."

"He told me," John spoke up, "I swear I told no one but obviously someone heard him tell me and… You know the end result."

"Why would he tell you? You're Mike's best friend. That's dumb."

"I didn't tell him – Mike, that is – because I knew how he'd react. Did you hear about-?"

"Him threatening to quit as Alex's pro? Yeah, I did. Ted."

"He's cut, Claire." John revealed and I looked at the coffee I had been given, "He almost punched the guy out when he heard. I don't care what he says. The guy loves you."

"He doesn't. He hates me. I was a bitch to him." I told John and Melina my honest opinion, was else was I supposed to think? "He'll probably hate you two for talking to me."

"He's not a very reasonable guy sometimes, but he's not that unreasonable." Melina reassured me with a squeeze of my free hand, "I have tried to talk to him but he is being quite unreasonable and has holed himself up at home. You can hear the music down the street."

"How old is he? Seventeen?" I joked lamely but I knew that was Mike. "I've asked Ted to speak to him. To make him hear me out. I need him. I really do need him. I feel terrible."