Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Author's Note: Hey everyone. Thanks for the reviews. I know you had to wait a little while for this chapter, but it's extra long and has some awesome parts, lol. Enjoy!

As the movie started, Alex couldn't let his eyes leave her face. She looked absolutely terrified and he wished he could know what happened to her. He didn't even know her though and he was lucky she was still sitting there, considering how he treated her when he first met her. He realized she wasn't watching the movie either and was staring at her hands. With a sad sigh, he turned it off and pushed off the bed.

"Look, if you don't want to stay, I understand. I don't want to force you into staying here if you want to leave."

Claire looked up and wiped her mascara covered face. "I'm sorry. I can see why you called me crazy now. I'm such a fuck up. I never do anything right and when a person actually wants me to stay around for a while, I fuck up. You probably don't fuck up ever. You're a wrestler; you have a great job. Shit, ignore me. Please."

"You think I'm perfect?" Alex laughed and sat down on the bed, looking at her. "I've fucked up more than you can imagine. I spent my early twenties in bed with a new girl every week and drank more than my body should have ever seen. I had a girl who liked me and I told her I didn't want her because she wanted a relationship. My job as a wrestler is the only thing I've ever done that I didn't screw up."

He cringed as he thought about his last relationship. Did he fuck that up too? Or was it all Michelle. He didn't know, but he found some blame in himself, considering she had left. If he didn't keep her happy, it was his fault. Wasn't it? Michelle should have told him though, let him know.

Claire sighed. "I wish I could just erase the last few months."

"I wish I could erase the last few days."

"Do you hate me that much?" she asked.

Alex frowned, wondering why she would ask that until he realized she thought he was talking about her. "Not you," he insisted. "I left my home state for a reason. I'm ignoring my best friend, and I probably will use my job. Actually, see. I am a fuck up."

"Why did you leave your state?"

He didn't want to explain it her but wondered if she trusted him. "What accident were you talking about?"

When she looked away, he knew he didn't want to tell her. "I don't want to talk about it."

"I don't want to talk about it either, then."

"Look, thanks for spending the night with me, and I really enjoyed your performance earlier. I hope if your wrestling dreams are all filled someday, you look into music full time. You have a serious gift, Alex."

Alex laughed a little. He didn't know if he had a 'serious gift' but it was nice that the High Crusade's music was appreciated from someone. "I don't know, most people don't seem to care about my music."

"Well, don't consider me most people, then. Just consider me the fuck up who thinks you're interesting and all."

Alex smiled while her eyes danced. "Okay. Will I see you again?"

Claire shrugged as she walked toward the door. "Look for me around the bars. I'm sure my friends will drag me around. Thanks, Alex."

He nodded as she left and wondered what just happened. For the first time in days, he didn't feel like complete shit. Actually, he almost felt okay. While he was still hurt and he missed his life in Detroit, he didn't mind where he was and hoped she would be in one of the bars the next day.

A few days passed, and unlike what Claire said, she wasn't at any of the bars. Alex was sure because he looked for her in every one. He also played a few more songs at some of them, hoping his voice would make her find him. As he searched for her, he wondered where she could have gone. While the city was big, it wasn't that large and he knew she was around.

It was a little depressing, especially when that night he spent with her made him feel decent for the first time in days. Now, sitting alone at another sticky bar, he wished she was there with her teasing smile and strange attitude. He pushed around his drink, sick of the taste of beer and annoyed with the stench in the air. If it wasn't for the music and the search for Claire, he wouldn't spend time in these bars anymore. It reminded him of when he was younger, spending all his time with friends after wrestling in shitty bars.

"Hey, gorgeous," a voice said, unfamiliar and definitely drunk.

He looked up, seeing a blonde woman with a smile on her face. "Hi."

"Why are you sitting alone?" she purred, sliding next to him. He tried pushing her away before she could sit, but she was faster.

"I'm waiting for someone," he said.

Whoever she was forced herself even closer, her lack of attractiveness in his face. She was pushing her body as close as she could to his and it was annoying him. "Waiting for someone?" she asked in a little voice. "Who would make you wait?"

He didn't answer.

"Come on," she purred. "Let me show you a good time. I have a hotel room up the road."

"No thanks."

"Why not?" she asked, obviously annoyed.

"I don't date whores."

His answer seemed to surprise her. "Excuse me!" she yelled. "Who the fuck do you think you are?"

"Me?" he laughed. "Why don't you stop pushing your flat chest against me and go drown in another beer?"

She scoffed and just about stalked off, leaving a few people staring at him. With a shrug, he laughed. "Idiot," he muttered.

"I agree," another voice said.

A smile was on his face seconds later and he flipped around, seeing Claire standing there. She was dressed in fitted jeans and a loose black shirt that was ripped in several spots and tied with a belt around her tiny waist. Her hair was pinned in a few places and it still fell into her face. She looked more like she described herself and he couldn't help but think he wanted her.

"Where have you been?" he asked.

Claire sat down in the chair next to him and smiled. "Sorry, I just had some stuff to do." She looked at the stage where someone was singing a song loudly, shaking the entire room. "So, did you get up there today?"

"Actually, I did. I started another High Crusade song. I think everyone liked the song, at least, some did."

"Can I hear it?"

Alex was a little surprised. "You want me to sing right now?"

"Yeah." Claire leaned forward, giving him a shy smile. "Please."

"What do I get for singing?" he asked with a teasing smile.

"I'll buy you a drink."

"No, thanks."

She rolled her eyes. "How about dinner?"

"Is that a date?" he teased.

Immediately, her expression faltered. "No, it isn't."

He didn't know why that upset her so much, but he didn't say anything else. "Okay, I'll sing it for you. Don't worry, you won't owe me anything, Claire. Consider it your only free trial. Next time, it'll cost you."

"I'm scared," she teased. "Come on, it's time for you to sing now."

Alex looked around first and then slowly started to sing, making sure only Claire would hear. She listened with an intent look on her face, as if she was making sure she heard every word in the song. It really made him feel appreciated as a musician and when he finished singing the song 'Fall in Line' a huge smile was on her face.

"I wish I could hear all of your songs," she muttered.

"We have an album coming soon."

"You do?"

Alex smiled. "Yeah. And I'll even autograph one for you."

"Is your autograph even worth anything?" she teased.

"It's worth a free CD and an obviously sexy man named Alex Shelley."

Claire laughed and rolled her eyes.

An hour later, Alex and Claire were still talking in the same table, discussing music and laughing at people who thought they really knew how to sing when they were either drunk or just weren't talented at all.

"So, where are your friends tonight?"

"I wanted some time alone and away from them," she muttered. "At least, when I'm here right now, I'm actually enjoying myself."

"I'm enjoying myself as well," he added with a smile. "Do you want to get out of here? My hotel room is just as empty as it was the other night, you know."

She shrugged, looking toward the stage. "Why not? It's not like we're missing anything here. At least, I don't think we are."

"We're not," he muttered. "I've heard a few good songs since I got here, but most of it is people who wish they knew how to perform." After leaving a tip, Alex walked Claire back to his hotel, laughing as he explained what the blonde whore said to him earlier. "Beer does funny things to people, doesn't it?"

With a distant look on her face, she nodded. "It does."

In his room, Claire took a seat on his bed as if it were her own and started to look for something on the TV. She stopped when she saw the words 'TNA Impact' on the screen.

Alex watched with a smile.

"What company do you work for?"

He leaned forward and took the remote. "TNA. You're watching my show."

"When do you come on?"

He didn't know, but he knew it was one of the best of five matches with Beer Money, match two, street fight. Suddenly, the "Motorcity" theme filled the room. He cringed, hoping she didn't know what "Motorcity" was. Alex actually liked that she knew nothing of his life back in Detroit and wanted to keep it that way, at least for a while.

"Is that Chris?"

He nodded.

"He's cute." A smile spread across her face and her eyes wouldn't leave the screen. "I didn't know you were the champions, Alex!"

"I'm not cute?" he whined.

"You're okay," she teased, shoving him. He pouted and pretended he was mad.

"I'm cute!"

"Okay, Alex."

"I'm very cute!"

"You're not cute."

"Screw you!" Alex muttered.

Claire looked at him, shaking her head. "Chris is cute; you have more of a sexy, bad ass look than he does. See, I could take Chris home to my parents and wouldn't have to worry. Now, if I brought you home to my parents, my mother might think I'm a little insane."

"You think I'm sexy?"

She shrugged and nodded while his face lit up. "Yeah. Don't get an ego now!"

"You think I'm sexy! I'm just a sexy boy, oh, oh, oh. I'm not your boy toy, oh, oh, oh. I'm just a sexy boy!" Alex stood up and started dancing around the room.

"What?" she asked as she dissolved into laughter.

"Oh, I forgot. You're not a wrestling fan," he muttered. "It's a wrestler's theme."

Claire nodded. "He's a sexy boy?"

"He's not your boy toy."

"Alex!"

He smiled. "Sorry."

Claire leaned forward. "Why do your opponents look so pissed off?"

"They're heels. Heels are meant to be mean usually, as they're the bad guys. Robert Roode and James Storm are far from assholes though even though they're our biggest rivals in the company and this match is one of a series we're taping for the show. It's a match series where there are five matches and whoever wins the most gets the titles."

"Do you win?"

Alex sighed. He actually didn't know. He was a little afraid that Dixie wouldn't give it to them after letting them have a taste of the gold. Still, he knew they deserved them. "I won't actually know until we finish the fourth match. It's being decided that seconds before we wrestle the last match, they'll tell us. It's not really fair, but it makes for some really shoot like matches, at least, for me it does. I feel like I really have to work for this."

Claire's eyes were on the screen, watching intently as Alex wrestled in the ring. Meanwhile, he looked away. He never watched himself wrestle, as he always thought it was worse than what everyone else said. Even though Alex improved over the years, it still wasn't what he wanted in the ring and sometimes, he wished he never went for a move set that put so much danger on his body.

"Holy shit!" Claire suddenly yelled. "He hit you with a beer bottle! Oh my God!"

Alex laughed a little.

"Wait, no, it's not fair! He just cheated! He can't do that, can he?"

"As heels, usually they use illegal tactics to win. Last week, James Storm hit Sabin with the bottle and the referee didn't see."

"I don't like him."

"Storm? He's a decent guy."

Claire pouted. "He hit you."

As TNA went to its next segment, Alex turned off the TV and looked at Claire. She seemed as if she was thinking and wasn't even aware that he was staring at her. Finally, she looked at him with a slightly concerned expression. "You know, I can't believe you were ever a fuck up when I see you now. I watched your wrestling match, I've seen you perform live, and you're a nice guy once you stop being a dick," she explained. "Most fuck ups never have any of that. At least, I don't. I wish my life mirrored yours."

"No, you don't," Alex insisted firmly. "All you've seen so far is my public life."

"So, what's your private life like?"

"It's a mess."

Claire nodded. "So is mine."

"Explain."

"What?"

Alex took a deep breath and hoped she wouldn't leave after he said this. "Look, when I first saw you on the street a week ago, you were crying and scared. When I saw you again, you were smiling and much friendlier. I feel as if I don't know you, even though we've spent the last few days together. You also seem to disappear and you falter into a strange trance at times. I just want to know more about you."

Claire's expression seemed a little guarded, but she nodded. "Okay, so what did you want to know?"

He was a little surprised she didn't yell at him. "Well, you mentioned an accident."

"I don't want to talk about that."

"Claire, that's exactly what I mean."

"Look, Alex. I do like you but there are some things I just don't want to talk about and that's one of them. I've never asked you why you're here and I'm sure if I did, you wouldn't tell me. So, stop." She stared at him, as if she was daring him to ask something else. When he didn't, she sighed in defeat. "Okay, look. I like you. I find you incredibly attractive and funny, but we'll never go anywhere."

Alex was interested now. "Why not?"

"It's not you, don't worry. I have my problems which make it impossible for me to be in a relationship, at least right now." He saw a few tears in her eyes but she blinked them away and forced a smile. "Just know you're really special, Alex. I don't know if you know that you are."

Claire thought he was special. For some reason, that made him smile. "I feel as if you're saying goodbye," he whispered.

Claire nodded. "I am. I know you don't belong here; you belong with Chris, working for those titles because here, you'll never accomplish anything. It's a city of broken dreams and you don't deserve to be here. Alex, there is nothing in those bars waiting for you other than a few hundred dollars here and there. Your dreams are in that ring and they're waiting for you. Don't waste your time here."

"Claire…"

With a sad smile, Claire stood up and walked over to the door. "I left my number in your phone. You can call me, but if I don't answer, don't be surprised."

"Wait…"

"No, I'm sorry. I thought I'd keep you here as long as I could, mainly because I saw pain in your eyes. I thought if you were here, I could at least have someone as a friend, but you deserve more. Remember that, Alex."

With another smile, she left and all he could do was stare at the door.

So, Claire left. Alex could leave, lol. REVIEW.