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✩✩✩

The concert was amazing. Every band that played killed and the friends watching it all had the best time doing so. The only one who couldn't fully enjoy herself was Alex; try as she might, she wasn't able to forget what she'd found out, and she couldn't stop thinking about Charlie.

It's time, she thought to herself at some point during the show. I'm just gonna apologize. I'm doing being childish and stupid. I miss Charlie and I know this whole thing with Layne has to be killing her...I need to make sure she's okay.

As soon as the concert was over, Alex ran backstage in search of the AIC guys. Unfortunately, it seemed she was out of luck.

"They had to go pack up. They're gone, sweetheart," the security guy explained.

"What? But Jerry said...but I...you mean they're not coming back?"

"That's right. Sorry, but the schedule's tight; they got a show in another city tomorrow. Someone else's already packin' up for the other bands."

"Oh." Alex didn't even try to hide her disappointment. "I understand. Rockstar life, am I right?"

"Yeah, y'are. It's tough. Wouldn't recommend it to anyone who wants to live a peaceful life."

Alex nodded. "Well, thank you. Good night, sir."

"And to you."

Well, if she couldn't see the guys again, she should find Charlie. She knew her well enough to know that she wouldn't stick around, and if she dug just a little deeper into her mind's file on Charlie, she would find that she had a pretty good idea of where to look. Hoping she wasn't wrong, she took off running.

Her first guess had been exact--she found Charlie leaning against the outer wall of a slightly crowded little restaurant close to their childhood homes. Cars cruised up the road at an unrushed speed and little groups of people made their way up and down the street, along with the occasional couple and rare loner. As Alex drew nearer, she could hear Ritchie Valens's Donna drifting out of the restaurant's open doors.

"Charlie! Hey, Charlie!"

Charlie lifted her head and Alex noticed she had a cigarette in her mouth and tears running down her cheeks.

"Charlie..." Alex finally reached her and stopped, putting her hands on her knees as she caught her breath. "Listen, I'm--"

"I'm not in the mood to talk," Charlie said in a soft voice. "Please just leave me alone."

"Wait, I'm just here to say I'm--"

"I'm serious. Go away, Alex. I want to be by myself."

"You're standing outside a restaurant. That's not exactly the place to be when you don't want to be around other people."

"Don't tell me what I know," Charlie snapped. "I have my reasons for being here."

"Yeah, so do I. Will you let me talk? I'm trying to tell you that I'm s--"

"I don't care! What part of 'leave me alone' don't you understand?"