Roadtrip

Jimmy's POV
A few months had passed since Izzie had left, we were all still shocked she would leave like that, but Mia tried to explain. A week or so after she left, Mia got a message that Izzie stayed at Tammy's, we didn't know where Tammy lived, and Izzie said it was better it stayed that way. Mia stayed in touch with Izzie on a regular basis, but I was the only one who was in on that secret. Mia and I had decided it was better that no one would know, it would come to Brian and we decided it was better if it didn't.

Brian had vanished for a month, he was at his house, that much we did know, but that was all. He didn't show up for meetings or other get togethers, didn't pick up his phone or opened his door. After that month we send him a message we booked the studio and much to our surprise, he showed up. He had written some killer riffs and he played them like he had never played before. I could see the hurt in his eyes, but a tormented musician made the best music and in Brian's case, it couldn't have been more true.

We were in the studio for 4 months now and the album was halfway done. We recorded 6 songs now and were planning on a few others. For a few other songs we had recorded some of the instrument-or Matt’s tracks, so it would be finished soon. It had to be, because we had our release party in a month, and it would be weird if we didn’t have the album finished by then. The release party would be amazing, I had a big surprise planned, so I couldn’t be more excited.

I looked around and saw Mia talking to Matt, she was the sunshine of my life, how tacky it might even sound. Mia and I living together had been amazing. She had made herself right at home from the first moment and my house had gone from bachelor pat to couples house in no time. The woman's touch was hard to miss, and I was very grateful for it. She was looking for a new job, but in the meantime she could hang out and stay with me every single moment of the day and that was what she did. If it is was my decision she would never go to work anymore and just stayed with me, but I knew she would want to do something for herself. Maybe if Izzie came back she could find the calm to go really look, I think for now she was just hoping Izzie would come through the door like she had never been away. I could feel she missed her best friend.

Luckily for Mia another girl had joined our group since the charity concert. While we had been looking for Izzie and taking care of Brian, Johnny had disappeared. He resurfaced 2 weeks later, with a woman on his arm who looked familiar to all us guys, but immediately got a name the minute Mia saw her. Johnny had send Nessa a ticket and she had taken the first flight over here, getting her to Huntington the moment we finished the race. They had locked themselves in Johnny's house and had been inseparable ever since. Matt was still in contact with Tammy, but I guess he was just to held back to see her again anytime soon and see if the long distance thing could work.

So yeah, this roadtrip had brought us all a lot of things, good and bad.

Matt’s POV
I looked around the studio everybody was working, or playing around with ideas, Jimmy was in the other room behind the piano playing this insanely catchy part for the ‘Heaven track’. We still didn’t have all the names sort through but we were on a good way.
Brian and Zacky were talking about some guitar parts for the songs that the guys had been working on and seemed lost in conversation, I was happy that Brian was into the music completely, but we all knew he had a hard time.
He didn’t want to show it, or admit it... typical Brian again after Izzie left.

I still couldn’t believe she was just gone, I mean... even if the thing with her and Brian wouldn’t work out we were still friends.
All of us, not just her and Brian, but what surprised me most was that Mia was left behind.
Both Brian and Mia came a little closer together since that, both missing Izzie, Jimmy was trying his best to cheer them up and at the moment it looked like they really found a way to come to terms with it, but I also noticed a few things about Mia that made me suspicious.
I haven’t talked to her about Izzie, yet. But I planned to do it...
Because I knew something, but didn’t know if she knew it as well and I had to ask her about it, this whole situation was getting to my nerves and I didn’t like it.
I always wanted to have everything working out, I wanted to take it to my hands, but in this case I couldn’t.
Izzie took the lead and went away, and I had no chance to fix it.
Mia’s phone rang and she told Jimmy that she would talk outside, that would also give me the chance to talk to her without Jimmy being close.

Jimmy’s POV
The studio was filled with trash, that was just what happened during this process. I saw Johnny and Zack discussing some bass lines, but I couldn't find Brian.
"Guys, did Brian leave?"
Zack looked up to me and shook his head "I don't think so, his keys are still here. Maybe in the other room?"
I walked out to the room where the piano was, the door was closed and I stood next to it to listen. I heard some notes on the piano and then some notes on an acoustic guitar and listened for a while. It wasn't a song yet, only some chords, but they were beautiful. I wanted to know more about this, maybe we could use it for the album, so I sneaked inside.
The moment I walked in Brian stopped. "Hey"
"What are you writing?"
I walked over to him to look at the notes and shatters of text he had written down, but he quickly grabbed everything together and turned it around, making them unreadable for me.
"It's not done yet"
"Since when did that become a problem, let me see, maybe I can help"
"I don't need your help Jimmy, let me do this alone" He said quietly
"Then at least show me what you've got, those few chords sounded amazing"
He shook his head, clenching on to the papers.
"Brian, talk to me. I'm your best friend, in all those months, you haven't said a thing about Izzie leaving"
"It's okay, I'm okay, I moved on. Izzie and I had fun during the trip, I loved her, she left, I'm over it now" He sounded as if he stated he was a man, his birthday was on the 7th of July and his name was Brian Haner Jr., just stating facts, no emotions.
“Brian...”
“Leave it Jimmy, it’s okay, I’m functioning, right... I’m here, I’m playing, I’m writing, that really must be enough”
I shrugged and we just sat in silence for a few minutes, hoping he would go on with me there... But I had no such luck. After 15 minutes I left him alone and heard the piano again, the minute I walked out of the door. I sighed, how I wish he would just open up.

Matt’s POV
I waited until Jimmy left to search for Brian and walked outside, I saw Mia sitting on the bench, her phone in hand just about to hang up.
She didn’t see me at first and I walked closer without her noticing, when I sat down beside her she looked up from her phone and looked a little caught.
That was exactly what made me suspicious.
“Hey... what are you doing here?” She asked and smiled a little and put her phone away.
I laid my arm at the back of the bench and looked at her, thinking about beating around the bush or asking directly.
“Getting some fresh air, you?” I asked her and she shook her head.
“Since when do you need to get fresh air? You need that stench of studio to live, don’t lie.” She remarked and I chuckled.
“Maybe... maybe I couldn’t let go of the habit to look out for you girls... and since it’s only you left, you need to be my little sister replacement.” I smirked and Mia shook her head.
“Don’t let Izzie hear that, you know how jealous she can get...” Mia said as joke but soon her smile wavered and turned into a sad face.
“Oh come here, Mia.” I held my arm open and she slide over to me and into my side. I laid my arm around her and put her head on my shoulder sighing deeply.
“How are things with you and Jimmy?” I tried to cheer her up, before I would kill the mood completely with my next questions.
“Amazing, can’t you see?” She asked and smiled up to me.
“Yeah, I can see the happiness from both of you, I am really glad that you found each other. It’s good to see Jimmy and you happy! But if he fucks up, you come to me, right? I will have a word with him then.” I told her and Mia laughed.
“Zacky told me that as well, but he said it a little different than you... thanks Matt. I am happy to have you as my friends... at least.” She said sadly and brought us back to the main topic.
“You miss her, right?” I asked quietly.
“She is my best friend, Matt. She never left me alone for that long... you know we did everything together, I know why she left.. I try to understand her but... I miss her so bad.” Mia said and it was my time to sigh.
“I know, sweetie. I miss her, too. We all do...” I said and we both stared across the empty parking lot of the studio.
Mia’s phone buzzed again but she didn’t make any move, nor did I, we sat there in comfortable silence.
“You have contact with her, right?” I asked after a few minutes and Mia didn’t move away nor answer.
“Mia?” I asked again and pulled away a little to look at her face.
“Yes, I have. But I don’t know where she is exactly, she wouldn’t let me know.” Mia said sadly.
“I wrote messages with her as well. I admitted finally and this time it was Mia pulling away looking at me.
“Did you tell Brian?” She asked and I shook my head. “I thought it was best not to tell him...”
“Me neither... but I couldn’t tell him much anyway.” Mia shrugged and I nodded.
“She didn’t tell me where she is either, I have no clue, she told me that she knew what I did with that kind information the last time she trusted me, I would just try to fix the things that were not fixable.” Mia chuckled.
“Sounds like Izzie... and sounds like you.” Mia said and I had to smile “Yeah.”
Mia pulled away and looked at her phone, she smiled a little, but also a tear slipped from her cheek, I whisked it away with my thumb and she turned her phone to me, to read the message.Babe, I miss you really bad. I got a surprise that will make you smile... Watch out, it should be there any second... might even be a surprise for two :P Love, Iz

I frowned and looked at Mia “What does she mean a surprise for two?” I asked and Mia’s eyes widened and she got up from the bench looking excited all of a sudden.
I followed her glance and saw a car coming towards us, I knew that car from somewhere...
“MY CAR!” Mia yelled happily and when the car stopped and the driver’s door opened. My heart skipped a beat, when I noticed the identity of the driver.

Notes

In case you haven´t noticed, we are doing things kinda of differently... We wouldn´t be us if we didn´t... So hold on, these last few chapters might be a bumpy ride!




It´s FRIDAY!!! Almost weekend!