Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Author's Note: Hey everyone. Thanks for the reviews! MOTORCITY! Alex and Chris had a great match last night, even though the ending scared me. I don't know about anyone else, but seeing Alex in pain, whether it was storyline or not, makes me sad. :( Lol. Enjoy!

He wandered around the city until he saw a sign that made him stop. He picked it off a wall and smiled, wondering if this was a chance for him to have some fun when he was feeling shitty and alone. With a shrug, he put the paper into his pocket and continued exploring the city. It was very easy to get lost here; it was small and many people didn't spend much time walking around like he did. It was almost perfect to forget about Michelle. If only.

A little after nine that night, he walked carefully into a packed bar, seeing someone trying to sing on stage, far off key and considerably drunk. A sigh escaped his lips, wondering if this was what the entire show was about. He didn't want to sing if everyone was drunk. He wanted someone to listen. Someone to hear how awesome his band was, even if he was without the band.

"Can I help you?"

Alex looked up and noticed a guy standing there with a clip board in his hands. "Yeah," he finally answered. "Yeah, I wanted to sign up."

"What's your name?"

"Alex Shelley."

As the man started writing down his name, Alex noticed the girl on stage was being pulled off and mocked from several audience members. Maybe deciding he would sing wasn't a bad idea after all. "Okay, Alex. You can sit and when they call your name, come onto the stage."

"Thanks."

Alex sat after getting a drink and looked around him. For a place that had dim lighting, it looked considerably well staffed and decently made. Sure, it had the sticky floors and stench of cheap beer in the air, but it wasn't as bad as half of the places he knew in Detroit. As he remembered his home state, his heart ached a little. He didn't know if his band mates would be angry for him singing alone, but he figured it would only give the band some recognition. Once he was ready to return home, more people would know about the High Crusade.

Someone started a high pitched note on the stage and he cringed. Would someone actually sing decently tonight? On the paper he saw earlier, it said if you were looking to show some talent, earn some money, and listen to some music, come this place. Considering he had talent, wanted some money, and would like to listen to some music, he didn't know why it was so horrible already. It didn't say good music, then again.

He downed some more of his beer and forced his eyes open. As the music continued, he couldn't understand why some people thought they should come here. Yeah, some were drunk, but the girl on stage now clearly wasn't. Maybe she wanted someone for bed that night or maybe, she just really thought she was talented.

"Thank you!" whoever was running this suddenly yelled. "Let's give it up for this girl! She gave it her all. Now, we'll continue. Our next entry is for an Alex Shelley. Alex, are you here?"

Alex stood on shaky feet as the crowd cheered politely for him. It wasn't like an Impact crowd. People didn't know him, they didn't realize he was used to cheers. It felt incredibly strange.

"Alex, what are you going to sing?"

Alex shrugged. "A song I wrote a few months ago with some friends."

"Okay!" the perky person answered. "Let's hear some music!"

Alex gripped his mic and stared into the crowd of unfamiliar faces. He was used to crowds of unfamiliar faces but when they didn't know him, it wasn't the same. He was singing with a clean impression, one he wasn't sure would be fair. Punk music wasn't always appreciated, but if these people thought good music was the last few singers, he might actually have a chance.

He didn't even say who he was, he didn't try to humor the crowd. He simply looked at the mic and started to sing, relying on his feelings to drive the song he remembered writing one night at his place so many months earlier. It started a little shaky, he was used to people playing along with him.

Alone, he focused on the anger he felt inside of him. He sang as hard as he could, determined to prove he was talented, more so to prove he was more than just an idiot at times. He didn't remember singing and he didn't remember any reaction. As far as he saw, it was just him, his thoughts, and a microphone. It felt perfect. All the anger over the last few days, all the panic, all the remorse, and all the nerves were fading easily.

And he realized the only other time he felt like this was when he wrestled.

As the song ended, he finally opened his eyes to see a crowd that looked stunned. Finally, a single person started to clap and in the matter of seconds, everyone joined in. A smile spread on his face and he finally let go of the microphone he didn't realize he was clutching so hard. His hand was red as he shook it, trying to remember the moment, but he couldn't. It didn't matter though.

Suddenly, he saw a face in the crowd, surrounded by girls who were dressed with little clothing on their bodies. He didn't even look away, he forced himself to stare at her and absorb the smile on her face. Her friends didn't notice them, they didn't even seem to care. Except, Claire was smiling at him. She seemed a little shocked, a little awed. It was just the reaction he wanted and it made him want to talk to her, and actually treat her as a person.

He stepped off stage slowly and walked through the crowd, thanking people as they told him he was talented. When he made it to where she was standing, he noticed she was alone.

"Hi," Claire said in a timid voice.

"Hey."

She couldn't even hide her smile. "You were amazing, Alex. I didn't know you could sing, or even wrote a song before."

"You don't know me," Alex explained.

Claire leaned against a wall, rolling her eyes at a drunken man as he pushed past her. She seemed as if she realized his words were true and shook her head. "You haven't let me know you."

"I know." In a second, he forced air into his lungs and gave her a small smile. "Do you want to?"

"Do I want to what?"

"Do you want to know me?" Alex asked.

An hour later, he was sitting on his hotel bed, Claire sitting across from him. After picking up a six pack of beer, they made their way back to his room. It was a little awkward, as Alex didn't know what to say. Seeing her watching him earlier, he realized he didn't give her a chance. Maybe she just wanted to be friends, maybe she just wanted someone to lean on.

"When did you start to sing?"

"Chris and I realized we loved music a few years ago and added on a few people."

"You're in a band?"

"The High Crusade," he added.

She nodded. "Okay. So, who is Chris? I know he's a friend of yours and all, but you've never mentioned more."

"He's a friend." She narrowed her eyes playfully and shoved him in the knee. He cringed a little, as he had fallen awkwardly on it a few weeks earlier and it was still bothering him. If she noticed, she didn't say anything to him. "We wrestle."

"You wrestle?"

A small laugh escaped his throat. "Yeah. Pro wrestlers. TNA Wrestling is where I work."

As they continued talking, he slowly explained his wrestling life to her. Never once did he mention his personal life, and neither did she. It was as if there was a huge sign that said "DO NOT DISCUSS PERSONAL LIFE" in the room or something. Other than Chris, nothing was mentioned.

"You do seem to party a lot for a girl who doesn't like it."

Claire rolled her eyes as she took a sip of her beer. "My friends. I told you, they're evil."

"Why are you friends with them?"

"I don't mean they're really evil," she explained. "I just mean they think whatever they know is best for me. I'm not a party girl, I'm a girl who would rather stay home and cook something and wait for her boyfriend to come home. At least, I used to be that girl. I haven't since the accident."

As she said this, her entire body froze. In the matter of seconds, the room changed. Suddenly, she was the guarded girl he saw on the sidewalk and her eyes were filled with pain. He didn't know what to say. Obviously, there was some kind of accident. She didn't look hurt though, so it probably didn't involve her.

"Claire?"

Slowly, tears had welled in her eyes and she was forcing her hands under them to stop the tears. "I'm sorry," she apologized over and over again. "I'm sorry, I need to leave. I can't stay right now."

In his mind, he wanted to believe she was a hypocrite, but he saw pain; familiar pain. A pain she wasn't ready to mention to him, same as the pain he felt because of Michelle. "Hey, you don't have to leave," he said softly. "Let's just watch a movie or something, okay?"

A look of fear still danced in her eyes. "I shouldn't," she muttered weakly.

"Come on," he said in a pleading voice. "Please."

So, I figured considering the High Crusade's album is here tomorrow, I'd include Alex singing since he's awesome, lol. REVIEW.