AJ
I watched Kevin walk out of the room and looked at Nick. He didn't look too scared. But his eyes gave him away. His eyes also showed that he was planning something.
"Nick, whatever it is you're thinking, I think it'd be smart to forget it. I'm with Kevin on this one. You do anything to her, your ass is grass. I'm sure Brian and Howie would agree."
"Whatever," he muttered. "You're all pussywhipped."
"Nick, it's not like there's anything in it for the rest of us. We just don't want you doing anything to her."
"You guys are paranoid."
"Give me your word that you won't do anything to her tonight. Just leave her alone tonight. She's leaving tomorrow, cut us all a break."
"I don't have to give you my word on anything."
I sighed and stood up. "Whatever. It's your life. Possibly your death."

Me
Later that night, I was in my dressing room getting ready for my set. I had to go on in an hour. I sighed and took a sip of my soda. This was my last night with the guys. I'd actually had fun the past six months, all episodes with Nick aside. My smile vanished when the door opened and Nick came in.
"What do you want? Can't you leave me alone? It's my last night here, could you please not make it suck?"
"Oh, shut up, I don't plan on staying." He opened the mini fridge and pulled out a soda.
"Get out."
He narrowed his eyes at me. "And what if I don't want to?"
"I'll have my guard throw you out." I stood up and walked to the door, ready to open it and call Matt.
Nick grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the door.
"Damn, girl, you don't have to call him, I'm not gonna do anything."
I glared at him and pulled my arm from his grip.
"What do you want?" I snapped, walking back over to my chair. He popped open his soda and eyed me over the top of it.
"Can't I just talk to you?"
"You want to talk to me? Oh, you mean sexually harass, right?"
"Oh, c'mon, Mary-"
"Don't 'oh, c'mon, Mary' me. That shit you pulled this afternoon was disgusting."
"The shit I pulled? What about the shit you pulled?"
"The shit I pulled you fucking deserved."
"C'mon!"
"What are you trying to do, make just forget it and forgive you? Not in this lifetime."
"Get off your God damn high horse. You think are some tough shit because everyone feels so fucking sorry for you because your lousy best friend died. Get over it. The world isn't gonna stop for you; it hasn't yet and it never will."
"You don't understand at all, do you?"
"She should've died. And you should've died with her. She was probably a bitch just like you."
I felt tears filling my eyes, but made no attempt to wipe them away.
"How dare you pass judgement on her? You didn't even know her!"
"She must've been one shitty friend, to die because of a mistake you made."
"You don't even know how close we were. You wish you had a friendship like that."
"You think I'm jealous? Why should I be jealous? Tell me, Mary, why should I be jealous?"
"Because you know you can never get a friend as good as she was!" I finally screamed at him. "You're a bastard with a heart of stone who doesn't care for anyone but himself. You are so fucking lucky you've got these guys who can put up with your everyday shit and not kill you. You do not understand- you can't even comprehend the value of true friendship because you have your head so far up your ass! Pull it out, Nick. Pull it out before you lose yourself in your little idealistic universe and lose whatever real friends you do have."
I stared at him, tears streaming down my face. He stared back at me.
"Did she really have to die for you?"
"Shut up!" I screamed. "Stop talking about her! You don't fucking deserve to even know about her!" I pushed past him and flung the door open.

Kevin
Mary suddenly stormed out of her room and into the main backstage area.
"I am leaving this hellhole for good!" She was crying. AJ reached for her, but she stepped out of his reach.
"Don't touch me!"
He jumped, looking a little hurt, but backed off. Nick came out.
"You're not leaving."
She whirled around. "Can't you leave me alone? Don't you understand that I hate you? You have made the past six months a living hell for me! Just go away!" She didn't move from where she was standing. Instead, she put her hands over her face and sank to the floor, her shoulders shaking. I immediately dropped down beside her and put my arms around her.
"Shhh," I whispered, holding her tightly.
"I'm not going on tonight," she murmured.
I shook my head. "You don't have to."
I heard Brian arguing with the tour manager.
"She's not going on tonight."
"She has to."
"She can't! She's in no condition to perform."
"Well, what are we gonna tell the audience?"
"They can wait another hour, it's not gonna kill them."
I could also hear AJ yelling at Nick.
"I told you to leave her alone tonight!"
"And I told you I wasn't gonna listen to you."
I heard AJ groan and Nick cry out.
"Why'd you kick me, you asshole?!"
"You fucking deserved it!"
"No, I didn't!"
"Yes, you did! We told you to leave her alone and you just had to go and piss her off."
"You don't even know what I said to her."
"Yes, I do. All of us heard every word you said to her."
I shut out their voices. Nick's was grating and AJ's was just loud.

We both sat there on the floor for what felt like hours.
"Kev," Brian said softly, kneeling down beside us. "We've gotta go on in fifteen minutes."
"I don't want to," I muttered. Mary looked up.
"No, Kev, you gotta go on. Don't let me ruin you guys' show; it's your last one."
"You didn't ruin it," I murmured. "Nick ruined it." I pushed her hair back over her shoulders. "Are you sure?"
She nodded. "Yeah, go on."
"Promise me you won't leave, okay? I really wanna talk to you."
She nodded again. "Okay, I'll stay. I may get Matt to take me to the hotel though."
I nodded and helped her to her feet.
"I'll see you in a couple hours then." I softly kissed her forehead, then walked off with Brian.

Part 12
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