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Anja POV

Wow. This place really turned itself around. I thought to myself.

All week Nick had been adamant that he would be taking me out to dinner Friday. Something about 'needing to tell me something'. He chose a nice Italian place in the city proper, my favorite in fact. I hadn't been there since my 16th birthday which was before they totally rebranded and their prices skyrocketed. Walking in, I noticed the new bar in the back and the massive chandelier in the middle of the main room. They put in a beautiful skydome that let the moonlight radiate through the chandelier onto the tables below. 

I walked up to the hostess stand. "Hi. I'm here for Armstrong." She typed into the computer, picked up a menu, and waved for me to follow. She showed me to a table in the corner of the restaurant where Nick was waiting for me. He was dressed in black slacks and a red button-down shirt. I hadn't seen him dress that nice since senior prom.

"A waiter should be over soon." She said.

"Thank you." I nodded, then sitting down across from Nick. "Hi." I waved.

"Hey." He looked nervous. It was worrying me.

A moment later a young waiter walked up to us, a big welcoming smile on their face with a name tag reading 'Ashton'. "What can I get you two lovebirds to drink tonight?" They asked.

"We're not a couple." Nick and I said in unison. Ew.

Nick giggled. "Coke please and calamari to start us off."

"Of course, and you miss?" They looked at me.

"Uh, Shirley temple would be good I think?"

"Of course. I'll be back with those soon and to get your order."

As soon as they left I turned to Nick, jokingly scowled at him. "So?" I wiggled in my seat to get his attention. "Why did you drag me here?"

"What?" He was definitely nervous. I could tell by him hiding behind his menu and the lack of eye contact. 

"Nick? You're kind of starting to worry me. This place is like... really... expensive now. What's wrong?" I questioned.

"I... uh... I wasn't expecting you to ask so early into dinner. I'm not quite sure how to tell you this but-."

"Are you proposing?" Immediately started gagging in a playful manner.

He slammed his menu down. "Ew. No. Shut up."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Then what's so serious?"

"Anja you know I love you, right?"

"Yes..." I drew out the 's' as my stomach dropped. What did he do? The dim light in our corner of the room seemed to fit his vibe. He was being serious now, it wasn't like him.

"It's just... I've been trying to figure out how to tell you this for a while and, damn it." He threw his head back and clenched his fists. "I'm moving out of the apartment to move to Orlando to live with Dream at the beginning of January." He spit out quickly.

My eyes widened. "Oh... That's it?"

"Wait. What? Are you not upset with me?"

"Not really Nick. I can understand why."

"Really? It's just... you were so excited when we moved in together last summer and we've always had the plan of living together after high school and everything and I just feel guilty I guess."

I put my hand on top of his making him finally look at me. "Nick it's okay. I understand. You don't have anything left for you in Texas and youtube would probably be better for you if you lived in Orlando with Dream. So I understand."

"That's not all though. There's more-" He was interrupted by the waiter.

"Here are your drinks and appetizer. So, what will you guys be ordering tonight?" Their smile was so sweet. I couldn't help but be happy that they interrupted. I didn't want to hear the 'more'. After we ordered, the waiter left us alone again in silence.

"Anja."

"Yeh." I slowly looked up at him. I felt like he was staring into my soul. I don't like this.

"I want you to come with me."

I just stared at him. I didn't know what to say or even how to feel about it. I set my elbows on the table, letting my face rest in my palms as I thought. The next several minutes at the table was pretty quiet, just awkward throat clearing and drink swings coming from Nick. 

"What are you thinking?" His tone was soft like he didn't want to push me.

"Just..." I looked up to face him. "I don't understand why you'd want me to come with you?"

"Cause I want you to come with me so we can still live together like we always talked about... you know."

"So you're asking me to just leave Texas with you?" He slowly nodded his head looking innocently at me. I continued, "You're asking me to leave my parents? To leave school. And my studio. My manager. The band. Oh and the contract that I just signed last month. All of it?"

"Well, when you say it like that-"

"To go live with... what? Some guy I've never even talked to before in a city I've never been to?" I didn't mean to sound upset and seeing him look guilty made me sad. Then he switched on that attitude of his.

"Ok, AJ. To be fair, Dream is a great guy. And honestly, you never talk to your mom unless she calls you first. You never see your dad. You failed half your classes last semester and you could do music in Florida. Actually, it would probably be better in Orlando for you." I could tell he was getting defensive. He straightened his back in his set, taking a handful of calamari and shoving it in his mouth.

Everything he said was true but it just made me angry and hurt. The dad comment was too far. "Fuck you, Nick." I said loud enough, people started turning their heads to us.

"I'm just being honest A."

"I'm not moving in with some guy." I rolled my eyes and folded my arms.

"You moved in with me?"

I let out a big sigh of frustration. "That's different. I've known you since I was a 7 year old. For 12 years. It's different."

"AJ, please just think about it at least. I really want you to come with me."

"No."

"Please!" He grabbed my hands and squeezed. "Just let it sit overnight? For me?"

I pulled my hands away and walked out of the restaurant, flopping onto the curb outside. I was pouting. A minute later he came running out after me, probably from paying for the food we didn't eat.

"I'm getting them to pack it so I can take it home. I'll meet you there okay? I wanna talk more. And I'm sorry for bringing up school and your dad."

I stood up not stopping to respond or even look at him. I walked to my car, got in, and went home. When I was back at the house I stormed to my room, slamming the door behind me like a child. I crashed on my bed leaving myself to think alone. I love you Nick but there is no way I'm going to move two time zones over to live with some random guy. I have a life here. At least that's what I thought at the time.

----

Monday morning I got a call from my manager telling me to come in early. As excited as I was to start recording, I was more relieved to have an excuse to avoid Nick for another day. We hadn't talked all weekend. He was busy editing and streaming while I was focused on writing. My band had finally started taken my lyrics seriously and some of my songs made it through development. The boys and our manager told me that really liked my lyrics.

After grabbing a quick breakfast I jumped in my car and drove to the studio. The parking lot was empty and I didn't see any of the boys' cars. I went inside with this feeling that something wasn't right.

"Jackson? Nate? Carlos? Is anyone in?"

"Hey AJ, I'm in my office."

Oh. Manager Dave is here. I popped my head into his doorway to him typing away on his keyboard. "Hi, Dave." I smiled.

He jumped out of his chair and came over to me, placing his hand uncomfortably low on my back to push me forward. "Sit. Sit." He pointed at the chair in front of us. He seems happier than usual today. I sat down as he pulled out some folders from his desk and sat down again.

"So what's going on today sir? I thought we were supposed to start recording, where are the boys?" I asked.

"That's actually why I called you in early today. You aren't going to be recording."

"Oh. Did something happen? I understand my vocals aren't the best but I've been practicing techn-"

"We're letting you go AJ." He clasped his hands and looked at me. It somehow felt like he was looking through me.

I froze. I was confused. "I don't..."

"The boys said you haven't up to standard for them and the company has decided we are going to bring in a new lead vocalist. Samantha is actually going to be the one taking the spot."

Of course, it's Samantha. "Oh. Okay."

"Great. Cause that's just how the industry works AJ. We're also scrapping your contract so..." He tossed a folder across his desk. "Here's all the stuff that you wrote for us. Carlos said we should give it back."

"Thanks." Why the fuck am I thanking him? I want to yell.

"Yeh. Well bye. You can leave now." He threw his hand up at the door and turned back to his monitor.

"Right." I slowly stood up and left the room waving bye with a weak fake smile. As soon as I was out of the door I bumped into someone. My folder slipped out of my hands and the music sheets spilled across the floor. "Sorry."

"Watch where you're going, Anja." She bit out.

I looked up and saw Samantha. She was a tall girl with the perfect figure. Had a new tan and platinum hair that went well with her deep blue eyes. She was everything the company wanted as a front for the band. I would have been into her if she wasn't such a bitch to me.

"Hey, Sam!" Dave yelled from his desk. "Please come on in beautiful. I've been waiting."

Sam toward over me in her 6'0 glory. She leaned down and whispered in my ear with a big smile "Bye Anja. I hope you know you won't be missed, but thanks for the promotion." It could have been hot if it wasn't filled with venom. Then she walked away closing the office door behind her. Ouch.

I swept up the papers and quickly walked out of the building to my car trying not to cry. I never cry. That's a lie. Music was the only thing I had ever wanted growing up. That was my chance to start a real career and I had just lost it.

I tossed the folder into my back seat. I shoved my key into the ignition and turned. Nothing. I tried again. Nothing. "Scheiße! (Piece of shit)" I yelled as I hit the steering wheel. Of course, it won't start. I knew this would happen soon. It was my moms' old car they gave to me when I moved out and the poor thing had been on its last life for a while. I just wished it hadn't been today it decided to die on me. I wanted to go home and curl up in my bed and feel safe. By now the hot tears were now pouring down my face as much as I was trying to stop them. I called Nick to come and get me then for a tow truck.

Knock Knock. I looked up to Nick's worried face outside my passenger window. When I called him I was crying and too frustrated to explain anything. I unlocked the door so he could get in with me. At that point, I had gotten the tears to stop but my makeup was ruined. My face was puffy and red and stretched into a seemingly permanent frown.

"What happened?"

"My contract fell through and they replaced me." I couldn't get myself to look at him.

"I'm sorry A."

"Yeh. Me too." We sat in silence for a moment. "Fine." I finally spit out.

"Fine, what?"

"Fine like... Fine I'll come with you."

"To Orlando?"

"Yes, idiot."

----

The next week was filled with me getting my shit together. Moving to Orlando was such a last-minute decision for me, something I never did. Nick and I paid a company to pack up all our stuff and ship it to Flordia. I officially dropped out of school which my mom didn't mind because she didn't need to pay for tuition anymore. I sold my car to a scrap yard and headed to Orlando with Nick.