"The shadows somehow frozen,

Like a moment sealed in time,

The air you breathe inside of me,

A taste of the sublime." - Bach's Revenge debut album, track 10

FOUR MONTHS LATER  

"Lane," the photographer waved his hand, "closer to Sawyer please."

Sebastian glanced at his friend, who was both as stiff as a two-by-four and as red as a tomato. Lane reluctantly shuffled next to Sawyer, who was oblivious to his discomfort. They were doing their very last promotional photo shoot before their summer tour. Thank God. Sebastian's picture had been taken an endless amount in recent times. In fact, he was certain there were enough out there that they could wallpaper every building in the city with images of the band.

The last four months had been a whirlwind, a tornado: its vortex swirling with intensity. Bach's Revenge first single, Falling, had already gone platinum. Their album released a week prior and was also climbing the charts fast. Their tour was slated to begin the following day.

Things were going well, save for the fact that McKenzie was still tenacious in her relentless pursuit of him. He tried in desperation to balance them both. He needed to be the boyfriend Charlie deserved more than anything but he wanted to repair the damage he'd done with McKenzie, if such a thing were possible. The girl never made Sebastian's list of favorite people but what he'd done was pretty much unforgivable so he attempted to remain civil with her mostly as a penance for his indiscretion. Charlie didn't necessarily like it much but she didn't try to stop him either.

The photographer snapped his fingers, "Earth to Sebastian, the camera is over here."

Seb shook his head. "Sorry."

The photographer quickly finished with the group photos and had moved on to individual shots, starting with Lane.

Sawyer sat and began to flip his Rubik's cube around as if he was bored out of his mind while the other two sat down.

Robbie nodded toward the cube. "How fast can you put that thing together?"

"I dunno. A little over a minute, I guess," Sawyer said. "Why?"

"Just wondering," Robbie said. "It could be your claim to fame."

Sawyer smirked. "My claim to fame is going to be playing lead guitar for a kick ass band. Oh, wait, that already happened."

Sebastian was about to respond when his phone vibrated. He retrieved it from his pocket and looked at the screen. McKenzie.

Hey, a bunch of us are going bowling tonight at Kingpin. Thought you guys might want to come.

Sebastian's face must've been something because Sawyer arched an eyebrow. "Two handfuls," he said. "Told you."

"That girl needs to read, He's just not into you," Robbie offered, shaking his head.

"When did you start reading chick lit?" Sawyer asked in disgust.

Robbie shrugged. "What? My aunt has it, I read the back."

"Who cares?" Sebastian interrupted their banter, waving his phone in frustration. "How do I get rid of her?"

"A restraining order."

"I can't get a restraining order, she doesn't make threats."

Sawyer finished his cube, so the colors were matched perfectly on each side. "Yet."

"I've tried telling her to back off nicely. It doesn't seem to be working."

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again," Lane's voice joined the conversation. "Robbie, you're up next."

Robbie stood and fixed an imaginary bowtie, "It's been a slice boys but duty calls. I must fulfill my obligation of hottest drummer alive for all the little girlies out there."

Sebastian shook his head, Sawyer didn't say a word and Lane was too busy chugging a bottle of water to respond. He finished it, twisted the cap and shot it overhead into the recycling bin before sitting down.

"McKenzie still on you?" he asked.

Sebastian nodded. "She wants us to go bowling at Kingpin later."

"That's gay," Sawyer said. "I'm not celebrating our album release with a game where I have to wear pansy shoes."

Lane was all different shades of red when he mumbled, "I thought we could go have a few drinks."

"Better," Sawyer said.

Sebastian waved his phone. "Can we get back to the problem at hand, please?"

"We're going on tour soon," Lane said. "Then she'll be gone for at least a while."

Sebastian hadn't really thought about that. "Suppose you're right."

"Or, you could just stop being so nice to her," Sawyer said. "You're like a walking fucking mixed signal."

Lane's eyes narrowed. "He's not like you, Sawyer. He's not an ass."

"I can't just be a total jerk," Sebastian said. "Lane's right."

"Which is exactly why you're in this little predicament," Sawyer said. "Trust me. Be a prick. She won't be so eager to chase you then."

Sebastian knew he was probably right but couldn't help but think that he owed McKenzie something. A comfortable acquaintanceship was the only thing he was willing to offer. He replied no thank you to her text and rubbed his temples. Why was it still so hard?

Devin stood in the doorway, arms folded over her chest with a scowl on her face. "God Charlie, you don't need to be such a bitch, I'm only asking for his autograph."

"Yeah Devin, but not before he gave you a hundred autographs already, he's signed your shoes, every notebook you have, your iPod, like a million posters, your backpack and not to mention all the other stuff you've asked him for." Charlie said, clocking in her head the various and repeated requests Devin had of Sebastian in the last few months. "Let's see there was his shirt, which he gave you, his guitar pick, which he gave you, the thousands of pictures you've forced him to take with you, I think he's done enough, don't you?" She turned away, resuming the task of folding clothes and stuffing them into the luggage.

"But it isn't for me," Devin whined. "It's for Ashlee Leblanc."

"Ashlee Leblanc?" Charlie's eyebrows rose. "Really Devin? 'Cause last time I checked, Ashlee Leblanc was the Barbie pop princess of your school and she wanted absolutely nothing to do with you, because you didn't fit in with her clique. Not only that, and feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't she spend the last seven years or so tormenting you?" As soon as the words left her mouth, she was remorseful. She didn't need to be harsh.

Devin's lower lip began to shake. "Well, she doesn't now. So, please Charlie, I swear, I'll never ask again."

Charlie put the t-shirt she was folding down on the bed and sighed. "Dev, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that, but honestly, the girl is awful to you and now she knows you know a celebrity and she is all over being your friend. I know you may not see it now, but trust me, you don't need friends like that."

A tear cascaded down Devin's cheek. "You don't understand and just because you're eighteen and graduated, doesn't mean you know everything."

Charlie opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, Sebastian appeared, standing behind her grinning. "She knows a lot more than you think, Dev."

Devin startled at his arrival and turned to face him. As soon as Sebastian noticed she was crying, a concerned look masked the playful one he'd had just moments before. "Hey, what's wrong?" He pulled Devin into his arms for a hug.

"I just wanted one more autograph from you!" Devin sobbed.

Charlie narrowed her eyes at her sisters back. She knew Sebastian was a hopeless sucker, especially if tears were involved. Devin, it seemed, knew it too.

His mouth twisted at the corner into a lopsided smile. "And thinking about my autograph makes you cry? Well in that case, I should be obliged. Pen?"

Devin smirked at Charlie before retrieving a sharpie which she now kept tucked securely in the high tops she wore just for moments like these. Sebastian quickly scribbled his name across a picture of himself, which Devin magically produced, probably from her shirt. When he was done, he placed the lid back on the sharpie, wrapped her up again and kissed her forehead. "Better? No more tears okay?"

"Much better," she said smiling.

"And?" Sebastian asked expectantly.

"And no more tears." She stuck her tongue out at Charlie before she left the room.

When her sister was out of sight, Charlie rolled her eyes. "You shouldn't have done that."

Sebastian shrugged. "She was crying."

"Only because I basically told her you wouldn't autograph something just to make her social status move up a notch or two, courtesy of one Ashlee LeBlanc." Charlie picked up the shirt she'd dropped earlier and placed it in her suitcase.

"Ashlee. Why is that name familiar?"

"Because Seb, she's basically done nothing but make Devin's life a living hell, and now that words out that you're like Devin's new bff, Ashlee will do anything to get your autograph. Probably hoping she can sneak her way into Devin's life enough to maybe, just maybe have the chance to meet you. And because Devin is clearly obsessed with becoming popular on your coat-tails she's willing to let it all happen, doesn't care that she's being used."

"Wow," Sebastian breathed. "You've been thinking about this haven't you?"

"She's my sister. And yeah, I think a lot about this kind of stuff ever since your single hit number one."

Moody's YouTube idea had the band viral before anyone could even blink. Falling, or as Charlie preferred to think of it, her song, had made a very rapid climb up the top 40. It'd been number one for nine weeks straight. No matter how hard she tried it was still strange to hear Bach's Revenge on the radio.

Sebastian came from behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He put his mouth next to her ear. "Ooh, I like it when you talk like that."

"Talk like what?" she smiled.

"The words your song, and number one. What can I say? It does it for me."

She wriggled herself around enough in his arms enough to face him. Like he had moments ago, she put her mouth next to his ear. "You are number one," she whispered.

He grinned and pulled her hair off her shoulders, placing it gently on her back. "Are you trying to flirt with me Charlie?"

"That depends," she said. "Is it working?"

He put his lips on her neck and kissed it, making her toes curl. "Doesn't it always work?"

"Am I always a flirt?"

"You're a painful tease," he said, pulling away and slapping the side of her hip gently. "Are you almost packed? I want to go out."

She eyed her half packed suitcase. It didn't take nearly as much coaxing as she'd thought to convince her parents to allow her to join the boys of Bach's Revenge on the first part of their debut tour. Granted, she was a legal adult she didn't necessarily need their blessing but it was nice to have it anyway. She'd also had four months to get used to the idea of girls throwing themselves at Sebastian. They were at it already and each time she'd watch Seb politely deny their continued advances. Any insecurities she'd had about their relationship had pretty much faded into nothing.

One remained though. They hadn't slept together. Sebastian was constantly doing something. Recording. Making YouTube videos of him recording, videos of him eating, walking, talking, promoting. Photo shoots. Endless meetings about mundane stuff she'd never considered before. The artwork for the album, the possible acoustic versions of songs, meet and greets promotions. His schedule had not left much time for her. For them. She was sure that she was the only eighteen year old virgin around for miles. Her relationship with Mitch lasted over a year, but it that time, it never felt right. Mitch, never felt quite right. The fact that McKenzie still laid claim to something she wanted to badly for herself was perhaps worst of all.

She shook herself from her daydream. "I can finish the rest later," she said, "Where do you want to go?"

"Anywhere with you."

"Well, I'm legal too now," Charlie pointed out. "Want to go to a club?"

His stomach growled. Apparently that was his reply. "Can we eat first?"

"Sure," she shrugged and grabbed the black hoodie off the back of her desk chair.

They went outside and she smiled. She still wasn't used to Sebastian's new wheels. With the royalty advance he got from Moody Records, he had purchased only two things, a limited edition 'Master Salute Stratocaster' guitar, and a used black Land Rover. Used or not, it was a far cry from his previous vehicle, an old Pontiac Grand Am that was continually having problems. He banked the rest of the money, not wanting to count on record sales which hadn't already happened.

Sebastian vowed not to go overboard, spending like crazy, until he had enough in the bank to buy Rosa a house. Rosa was adamant that it wasn't necessary, but her plea fell on deaf ears. Charlie wasn't sure there was anyone he loved more than his mother. All of Sebastian's frugal ways resulted in few changes in their lives, with the noticeable exception of the vehicle and hoards of groupie girls flocking toward Sebastian. McKenzie was one of them, but Sebastian was only as polite to her as he felt was required and that dark moment of his past that he'd shared with her was a topic Charlie and him did not discuss. Charlie had accepted the fact that if she wanted to be with Sebastian, McKenzie's paparazzi-like pursuit was something she'd have to live with. If it became too much, she'd say something. For the time being, whenever he wasn't recording, he was with Charlie and that was fine by her. Besides, sometimes things were better left unsaid.

Seb drove the thing like he'd had it his whole life. Charlie realized it was almost like watching him play the guitar. He did it effortlessly and without any thought at all. "You okay, bella? You're pretty quiet over there."

She nodded. "Just thinking."

They pulled up to Chop's Steakhouse and Sebastian parked and turned. "What are you thinking about?"

She smiled. "Same thing I always think about. You."

His lip curved up in a small smile as he removed the key from the ignition. He exited and walked around the front, opening the door for her, offering his hand.

She took his hand graciously and let him lead her into the restaurant. It had been so long that they'd done something alone, she felt like it was their first date. "I hope it's okay, I texted the guys and told them to meet us at the pub after dinner. They wanted to hang out before we leave."

"Don't worry about the guys," she said. "It'll be fun."

All this time later and she still credited Sawyer, Robbie and Lane with helping to push her and Sebastian together. The best choice she'd ever made.

"You may not think they're so fun after spending the next two months on the road with them."

"Oh, I'm sure it will be fine."

"I hope you're right. You're going to be pretty much living with me for the next two months. What if you can't stand me after all?" He extended his arm across the door, letting Charlie by.

She chuckled. "Seb, we've practically lived together since we were kids. I think I can handle it."

He raised an eyebrow. "Ah yes, but can I?"

She gave him a playful punch in the arm. "Better hope so, huh?"