Hello! I've been wanting to share this for awhile but hadn't gotten around to it! I listed the songs that have helped inspire me to write Bex and Junior's adventure. Instead of simply telling you the songs I also listed the lyrics that spoke to me!

The first song is what I consider to be the anthem of this story! I truly love this song and it fits Bex and Junior so well!

This Side of Paradise
Coyote Theory

*The first half of the song I consider to be Bex's part*
"Ask me why my heart's inside my throat
I've never been in love, I've been alone
Feel like I've been living life asleep
Love so strong it makes me feel so weak
Are you lonely? (Are you lonely?)
Our fingers dancing when they meet
You seem so lonely (are you lonely?)
I'll be the only dream you seek
So if you're lonely, no need to show me
If you're lonely, come be lonely with me
Lonely (are you lonely?)
Passion is crashing as we speak
You seem so lonely (are you lonely?)
You're the ground my feet won't reach (*Definetly a crack at her height*)
So if you're lonely, darling you're glowing
If you're lonely, come be lonely with me

*The second part would be Junior's- let's face it he would be more willing to admit he's lonely, Bex can't even figure out what lonely means*
Underneath the pale moonlight
Dreaming of a circus life (*His hyperactivity*)
Carousels and Ferris heights (*Chapter 12*)
I'll be yours if you'll be mine
'Cause I'm lonely, I'm so lonely
If you hold me, I'll be your only
Are you lonely? (Are you lonely?)
Our fingers dancing when they meet
You seem so lonely (are you lonely?)
I'll be the only dream you seek
So if you're lonely, no need to show me
If you're lonely, come be lonely with me

Sugar, We're Going Down
Fall Out Boy
"Am I more than you bargained for yet?"
*This line is just so Bex in the early chapters*

The Taste of Ink
The Used

*This one is mostly Bex inspired*

It's four o'clock in the fucking morning
Each day gets more and more like the last day
Still I can see it coming
While I'm standing in the river drowning
This could be my chance to break out
This could be my chance to say goodbye
At last it's finally over
Couldn't take this town much longer
Being half dead wasn't what I planned to be
Now I'm ready to be free
So here I am, it's in my hands
And I'll savor every moment of this
So here I am, alive at last
And I'll savor every moment of this
And won't you think I'm pretty
When I'm standing top the bright lit city
And I'll take your hand and pick you up
And keep you there so you can see
As long as you're alive and care
I promise I will take you there

I Ain't Worried
OneRepublic

I don't know what you've been told
But time is running out, no need to take it slow
I'm stepping to you toe-to-toe
I should be scared, honey, maybe so
But I ain't worried 'bout it right now (right now)
Keeping dreams alive (hey!), 1999, heroes
I ain't worried 'bout it right now (right now)
Swimmin' in the floods (hey!), dancing on the clouds below
...
Got no regrets, even when I'm broke, yeah
I'm at my best when I got something I'm wanting to steal
Way too busy for them problems and problems to feel (yeah-yeah)
No stressing, just obsessin' with sealin' the deal
I'll take it in and let it go
But I ain't worried 'bout it right now (right now)

Euphoria
Robert Grace

Tears in my eyes, outta my mind
Bury my pain deeper inside
If the devil comes along to get a hold of you
Hurry up and hide in Euphoria
I'll meet you there to keep you company
But don't take no advice if it comes from me
...
Livin' life like a cheap James Dean
Watching myself through a movie screen, yeah
Where did all the time go?
Wasted every minute tryna balance on a tightrope
...
'Cause I pushed away everything I really should hold onto
And I wonder how I'm lonely now

To Build a Home
Cinematic Orchestra

*This one is also heavily Bex inspired- the beginning being her apartment, the end representating Junior*

There is a house built out of stone
Wooden floors, walls and window sills
Tables and chairs worn by all of the dust
This is a place where I don't feel alone
This is a place where I feel at home
...
By the cracks of the skin I climbed to the top
I climbed the tree to see the world
When the gusts came around to blow me down
I held on as tightly as you held onto me

Beautiful Things
Benson Boone

For a while there, it was rough
But lately, I've been doin' better
Than the last four cold Decembers
I recall
And I see my family every month
...
And I hold you every night
And that's a feeling I wanna get used to
But there's no man as terrified
As the man who stands to lose you
Oh, I hope I don't lose you
Mm
Please stay
I want you, I need you, oh God
Don't take
These beautiful things that I've got
...
I found my mind, I'm feelin' sane
It's been a while, but I'm finding my faith
If everything's good and it's great
Why do I sit and wait 'til it's gone?
Oh, I'll tell ya, I know I've got enough
I've got peace and I've got love
But I'm up at night thinkin'
I just might lose it all
Please stay
I want you, I need you, oh God
Don't take
These beautiful things that I've got

You are Enough
Citizen Soldier

*This one kind of feels like things Junior would tell Bex*

You see that glass half empty
Each time you look in the mirror
It's like the more you're trying
Your flaws start showing up clearer
You bleed emotion, so devoted to what people say
So sick of hoping, so you focus on all your mistakes
Stop changing, there's nothing to fix when life's a war for you
That's when your pulse becomes the proof
When you're a little messed up, when you're a little unwell
And nobody understands that you are going through hell
Right here, like this, right now
You are enough
When you've been broken and bruised because the past has been tough
Being human is what makes you something worthy of love
Right here, this sick, right now
You are enough
So don't give up
With every passing stranger
You find something that you're missing
So kind, except to yourself
You're anything but forgiving
You bleed emotion, so devoted to what people say
Give second chances left and right, and only take the blame
Don't change a single thing 'cause there is nothing wrong with you
What you feel now, don't make it truth
....
Stop chasing something that you're never gonna find
Already perfect, but your past has left you blind
So when the voices in your head ain't being kind
Here is something to remind you
When you're a little messed up, when you're a little unwell
And nobody understands that you are going through hell
Right here, like this, right now
You are enough

It is What It is
Abe Parker

*This one is another Bex inspiration*

Talking to the wall 'cause, at least, I hear an echo
...
Gave up finding one good reason
I'll stop trying to stop this breathin', no-oh
Runnin' out of all these alibis
(Do they ask me how I'm holding on?)
I can feel me cavin' in
And now all that I can say
It is, it is, it is what it is
All the things I couldn't change
I lay with someone else's sins
Let my soul just fly away
All the way up to Heaven's light
I pound those gates with no reply
Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
I feel everything and nothin' at the same time
(Oh, don't slow down)
Oh, the pain is so exquisite I don't even ask why
(Oh, but here's your call)
You're walking on the water that I'm drowning in
Thought I heard a whisper, was it just the wind again
Or the trail of blood I'm following?
(Following, following, following) mm-hm
And if I'm the one to blame
I guess all that I could say
It is, it is, it is what it is (ooh)
...
Oh, when I grow numb, but I can't weep
Wake up, but I don't sleep
And I didn't choose this hell
Oh, when I'm the wolf from all the sheep
Wake up, but I don't sleep
Father, save me from myself (ooh)
...
And my throats gone down
My words go dry
But you alone keep me alive
It is, it is, it is what it is

*The ending would be Junior entering her life, especially the last two lines*

Iris
GooGoo Dolls

*This one reminds me a little more of Junior and that he doesn't want to be a criminal or a bad person to Bex*

And I'd give up forever to touch you
'Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't wanna go home right now
And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
And sooner or later, it's over
I just don't wanna miss you tonight
And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything feels like the movies
Yeah, you bleed just to know, you're alive

Give Me Love
Ed Sheeran

...
'Cause lately I've been waking up alone
Paint splattered teardrops on my shirt
...
No, I just wanna hold ya
Give a little time to me or burn this out
We'll play hide and seek to turn this around
All I want is the taste that your lips allow
My, my, my, my, oh give me love
...
Give me love like never before
'Cause lately I've been craving more
And it's been a while but I still feel the same
Maybe I should let you go
...

Honeybee
The Head and the Heart

...
Could you imagine where our lives would lead?
That silly ring, it wasn't meant to be (*I'm gonna pretend they are talking about the Partner and Crime rings they won in Chapter 10*)
Luckily you saw in me
Something I couldn't see
...
I can't imagine how my life would be
If all your gravity did not hit me
Oh, don't you see?
Darling, my honeybee
But here we are
After all the misses and confessions
To the stars
That we never really owned as ours
And if our world comes tumbling down
I never could forgive myself for leaving out
You're the one, you are the only one
Such a fool
I took your love and I bent all the rules
You took the blow and didn't let it show
Stuck around to let me know
Built a family of our own
Look around
We made a garden of the love we found
So many reasons I would fight to stay
You're the courage when I fade
Take a look at what we've made
But here we are
...
You're the one, you are the only one
Won't you decide?
...
(I hope you can hear me, I needed you near me)
I want you to soar (you save my life)
Don't doubt anymore (let's keep this between you and I)
...

Strong for Somebody Else
Citizen Soldier

*Bex Inspired*

I've played out the scene so much in my head
I have to wake up but I'd rather be dead
Haunted by thoughts of the ones I love most
I picture them living alone with my ghost
Kill the pain and kill the family
Choke the dark down, just be happy
Talk myself off of this ledge I know all too well
My personal hell, I'll bury it, bury it
Weight of the world, I'll carry it, carry it
Pile it all on, I've gotta be strong
For somebody, for somebody
Put my pain in a pill, I'll swallow it, swallow it
Too numb to feel, I'm hollow, I'm hollow
...
This voice in my head, it wants me to choose
Die selfish or live with my head in a noose
Does it ever get better, is this worth the fight?
Everyone has a breaking point, guess we'll find mine
Kill the body, not the memory
Wouldn't blame 'em, they'd resent me
Kind of scares me what it takes to just save myself
...

Little Bit Better
Caleb Hearn & Rosie

*This is absolutely the second anthem*

I met somebody, selfless and kind
...
She can be hurting, but she's got enough love to fill up Tennessee
I met somebody, stays up at night
I see her worry and she sees all of mine
I met somebody, she really loves me, says I'm all she needs
And I
Grew up thinking I would have to
Fight all of this alone
But now you hold me in the darkness
Hold me 'til it hurts less, you
Tell me that I'm alright
Show me where the light shines through
Please, stay, love me through the weather
Please, say this will be forever
Hold me in the darkness
Even when it's hard with you
It's a little bit, little bit better

I met somebody, gentle and smart
He underestimates the size of his heart
He can be laughing, but he's got enough pain to fill up New York City
I met somebody so full of scars
The world's on his shoulders, but he won't fall apart
I met somebody, he really loves me, says I'm all he needs
And I
Grew up thinking I would have to
Fight all of this alone
But now you hold me in the darkness
Hold me 'til it hurts less, you
Tell me that I'm alright
Show me where the light shines through
Please, stay, love me through the weather
Please, say this will be forever
Hold me in the darkness
Even when it's hard with you
It's a little bit, little bit better
...

I hope you enjoy! <3