Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Author's Note: Wow, again, sorry for not updating in so long, lol. I think my chapter makes up for it, as Alex finally mentions Claire to Chris and we all see why Chris is an awesome friend. And he's cute, lol. Enjoy!

He was in his hotel room a few days later, knowing he couldn't return to his old apartment. Chris insisted he could stay with him as long as he needed, but Alex didn't want to do that. He wasn't a person who would let everyone else help him. He'd be fine. He was fine. He also knew Chris knew he wasn't fine. His friend was a good person and knew Alex needed help.

"You can't stay in Florida." Chris stood in front of him. He'd tried everything in the last few hours to get Alex off the bed. He hadn't moved. He didn't plan to. "Come on, man."

"No." He swallowed. "I'm not leaving here."

"Why not?"

He didn't answer. Alex stood and looked around. Alex knew Chris was annoyed. "Chris. Stop pretending you are my hero. You're not my damn hero. I am a man and I can take care of myself. I'm fine." If he pissed him off, maybe he'd leave.

Chris didn't move. "Alex…"

"Fuck off."

Chris walked over and put a hand on Alex's shoulder. "I won't leave."

Alex shoved him off. "Leave me alone, Chris!"

"What is your fucking problem, Alex?"

Anger. Alex smiled. "You."

Chris didn't answer. He looked as if he was hurt. Alex's expression softened. Chris picked up his stuff and went to leave. I won't leave. He didn't say a word as he opened the door and left Alex alone. At first, Alex smiled. When he realized Chris wasn't coming back, he looked around him. He was alone. Completely alone. He didn't expect him to leave. Did Chris just leave him, did he finally give up? Was that possible? Alex didn't know if he could ever remember his best friend giving up on anything at all.

"I'm sorry, Chris."

Use Me Up

Chris stalked around. He was really mad at his friend, and he wished he didn't care about him. He did care about Alex though and he was worried. Alex was always an intensely stubborn person, but this was an all new level of ass for Alex. He sat down on the floor in front of the hotel parking lot and sighed. He didn't know what to do. He really just wanted to leave him there, but the person inside of him told him he couldn't leave his friend. He was angry. He was hurt. Chris was always, always there for him. He was always able to make him listen when he was mad. He was always a good friend. A person everyone wanted around. It was really exhausting and he didn't know if he could survive Alex this time, he didn't know if Alex would even care anymore.

Chris was emotionally exhausted. Seeing his friend at that bar, completely alone and scared was scary for him. While Alex put up a wall, Chris knew what was behind that wall, and he also knew that Alex loved Michelle. Really, really did love her. He closed his eyes. It was her fault. He could kill her.

He looked around for his phone and when he did find it, he scrolled down to her number and send a text saying, you are a fucking bitch and I hope you feel the pain you've put on Alex someday.

He couldn't stay mad at Alex. He was worried. He knew his friend had a way of pissing people off to make them leave him alone, and Alex thought he didn't know Chris knew Alex. He was a piece of shit at times, but he was a good person somewhere in that mess of an ass and perv. He knew Alex would never let Chris do this to himself, and he wouldn't let Alex.

Use Me Up

"Alex!" Alex ran after her, following a laughing voice. It sounded so familiar, so real. He continued running, wondering how she managed a plane ride to Florida. It was raining and it was cold. Was he still in Florida? Or was he in Michigan? He looked around for a second. Definitely Michigan. "Alex!"

"Where are you?" he asked.

A giggle answered him. He sighed and continued to run. His knee was annoying him; it hurt from the best of five matches. Apparently, the apron really was the most painful part of the ring, all the announcers were right, he knew. It continued raining as he looked around. "Alex!"

Just know you're really special, Alex. I don't know if you know that you are.

"Claire!"

"Over here!"

He ran and stopped when he saw someone waiting a few feet away. "Claire."

Claire smiled as she turned around, and Alex jumped back. She was covered in blood. Mascara stained eyes. Very torn shirt. Her smile faded. "Alex."

"What happened?" he whispered. "Claire."

She started walking away.

"Claire! Are you okay? What happened?"

Alex felt dizzy.

"Claire!"

He woke up in the hotel bed and saw Chris staring at him. At first, Alex didn't know why he was there. And then, he remembered. Chris wouldn't leave him. He never would. Alex managed one of the best friends around. He didn't know why he deserved him as a friend. Just as Alex went to sit up, he felt dizzy, and sat down. "She was all… all… bloody," Alex whispered.

"Claire?" Chris asked.

"She's here?" Alex sat up, and nearly fell.

"Whoa! Whoa, Alex!"

"Claire, is she okay?"

"I don't know who Claire is."

"She's bloody, Chris. She kept calling for me and then she wasn't there! Is she okay?"

Chris sighed and looked at Alex. "Alex, who is Claire?"

Alex looked away.

"You were saying her name when you were sleeping earlier."

"Sleeping?"

Chris nodded. "Sleeping, Alex."

Alex sighed. Claire was okay. "I need my phone, Chris. I need my phone."

"You're worrying me, man." Chris stood up and walked over to where Alex's phone was, and picked it up. He didn't let Alex have it, and instead sat down on the bed.

"My phone," Alex insisted.

Chris shook his head and put the phone on the bed. Alex reached for it, and Chris pushed him back easily, he was very weak from his dream. "Alex, no."

"No?"

"No," Chris said.

"Why not?"

"I'm worried about you." Chris stared at his friend. "I can only say that Michelle didn't deserve you so many times until it's pointless. I don't know what to say anymore, Alex. I don't know what to say that will make Michelle pay for what she did. Maybe nothing ever will. All I can say is I'm your friend, and you're better than her, and you make millions smile each week. You are kid's hero and you're the guy so many girls lust over, it's ridiculous."

"People lust over you, Chris…"

"Please." Chris snorted. "You have fans, Alex. People love you. It's my point. You're not some asshole who deserved what happened to you. Yes, you are an asshole, but you're not an asshole."

"Michelle…"

"Is a whore."

"Chris…"

"Alex, I really want to know who Claire is."

"Claire…"

"Alex, come on!" Chris stared at him.

"Claire." Alex focused a little and sat up. "Claire."

"Who is she?"

"A friend."

"I know all of your friends. She's not a friend of ours."

"My friend."

"Did you meet Claire in a bar?"

Alex frowned. "On the street."

"Oh, Alex…"

He shook his head at his friend's look. "She's not a whore. She was crying on the street near my hotel and I was worried. I usually would've kept walking, but you were all 'angel on my shoulder' and made me stop and ask if she was okay. At first, Claire didn't talk to me. And then, she found me. We talked. A lot and she liked my music. Cool and didn't care I was a wrestler." He frowned. "And thought you were cute."

"I can't say I blame her." Chris grinned.

"Left me and said I should return here. I did. Left her phone and didn't reply. Must talk with her. Miss her." He stopped himself. Miss her. He did. Claire made him feel special, wanted. Funny… strange. He still felt exhausted. As if he was running after her, like in his dream. Claire was real in his dream. She was definitely bloody. Something was wrong, he knew. "Phone."

"Where is Claire?"

"I don't know. Phone."

Chris handed Alex's phone to him.

Alex really, really wants to see Claire, lol. REVIEW.