ix. LOVE LIES.
January 7, 2018. | Third Person POV.
Los Angeles, California.

Later that afternoon, Sedona found herself in the studio with Marco. The room was dimly lit, with candles flickering in the corners and a faint hum from the soundboard filling the space. She sat on the plush leather couch, flipping through the lyrics Kendra had sent over. The words were good—great, even. But singing about love and vulnerability with Marco? It felt like stepping on thin ice.

Marco strummed his guitar across the room, his voice low as he hummed a melody. "You know," He said, breaking the silence. "I missed this. Us, working together."

She didn't look up from the lyrics. "We're here to make a song, Marco. Let's focus."

"Come on, Sedona," He said, setting the guitar aside and crossing the room to sit beside her. "It doesn't have to be this... tense. We had good times, didn't we?"

Sedona closed the lyric sheet, her eyes finally meeting his. "We're not here to talk about the past."

He studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. "Fair enough. Let's make magic, then."

They spent the next few hours building the track. Sedona's voice melted into the melody like honey, rich and emotive. Marco's harmonies complemented hers, and for a brief moment, she allowed herself to get lost in the music. The chemistry was undeniable, even if it was purely professional.

When the last note faded, Sedona leaned back in her chair, exhaling deeply. "That's it. That's the take."

"You sound amazing," Marco said, his voice softer now.

She nodded, packing up her notebook. "I know."

The studio lights cast long, golden streaks across the walls as Sedona leaned back in her chair, releasing a slow, controlled breath. The track was finally complete, and the weight of the hours she had spent in the studio bore down on her shoulders. She could feel the tension in her neck, but what gnawed at her more was Marco's presence. Working with him after everything they'd been through felt like an emotional obstacle course, but she had navigated it—barely.

Across the room, Marco was still perched on a stool. His eyes flicked toward her, soft with an expression she couldn't or didn't want to read.

"You're something else, Sedona," he said suddenly, his voice cutting through the lingering hum of the music.

She glanced at him briefly, then stood up to pack her bag. "Focus on the music, Marco," She said, her tone clipped but calm.

"I am," He replied, before crossing the room to her. His movements were slow, and deliberate, as if he were trying not to spook her. "But it's hard not to think about... everything else. About you."

Sedona paused, her fingers tightening on the strap of her bag. "Marco," she said, her tone steady but laced with warning. "I thought we agreed to leave the past in the past."

"I know," He said, stepping closer. "But being here with you, making music again... it feels like old times. And I can't help but wonder if—"

"Don't," she interrupted, finally turning to face him. Her eyes were sharp, but there was an unmistakable undercurrent of vulnerability in her expression. "Don't go there. We're here to work. That's it. Whatever we had is over. You need to accept that."

Marco sighed. "I hear you, Sedona. I do. But can you honestly tell me you don't feel anything when we're together? Not even a little?"

Sedona's jaw tightened. "What I feel," She said slowly, "Is determination to finish this song and move on with my life. That's it."

He studied her for a moment, his gaze searching hers as if he were trying to find a crack in her armor. When he reached for her hand, she took a quick step back, her heart thudding painfully in her chest.

"Marco, don't," She said firmly. "I mean it."

The sincerity in her voice seemed to finally break through his persistence. He stepped back, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Okay," He said quietly. "I'm sorry. I won't push."

"Good," She replied, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "Because I'm not interested in revisiting the past, especially not with you. This is strictly business, Marco. Don't forget that."

Without waiting for a response, Sedona turned on her heel and walked out of the studio. Her heels clicked against the tile floor with a satisfying finality, and when she stepped outside into the cool evening air, she inhaled deeply, letting the tension melt away.

The drive home was quiet, the city lights blurring as Sedona's thoughts raced. She replayed the events of the evening in her mind, her grip on the steering wheel tightening as she thought about Marco's audacity. She had known working with him would be challenging, but she hadn't expected him to dredge up old feelings so brazenly.

By the time she arrived at her apartment, her exhaustion had fully set in. She kicked off her heels the moment she stepped inside, leaving them by the door as she padded into the living room. The space was dimly lit, the faint glow of the city skyline filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows. It was quiet, save for the distant hum of traffic below.

She poured herself a generous glass of red wine and sank into the plush couch, curling her legs beneath her. The wine was smooth and warm as it slid down her throat, and she exhaled deeply, savoring the moment of solitude.

Her phone buzzed on the coffee table, and she picked it up to see Monica's name flashing across the screen.

"How'd it go?" Monica's warm, familiar voice filled the room.

Sedona let out a small laugh, swirling the wine in her glass. "The song's good. It'll probably be a hit. But Marco? He tried it."

Monica groaned loudly on the other end. "Of course, he did. That man is predictable as hell. What'd he say this time?"

"Same old stuff," Sedona replied, leaning her head back against the couch. "Talking about how he missed me, how he regrets letting me go... you know, the usual."

"Ugh," Monica said, her exasperation palpable. "I hope you shut him down."

"Of course I did," Sedona said with a smirk. "You know I don't let distractions get in the way."

"That's my girl," Monica said proudly. "Now, pour yourself another glass of wine and relax. You earned it."

Sedona chuckled. "You know me too well."

After hanging up, Sedona sat in silence for a while, her gaze fixed on the city lights outside. Despite the drama with Marco, she felt a sense of accomplishment. She had faced the ghosts of her past head-on and emerged stronger. The journey to her sophomore album wasn't going to be easy, but she was ready for whatever came next.

The next morning, Sedona woke up feeling refreshed and resolute. She spent the early hours going over her schedule for the week, jotting down notes and ideas for the album. When she glanced at the lyric sheet for "Love Lies," she couldn't help but feel a twinge of pride. The song was undeniably good, and she knew it had the potential to be a hit.

Later in the day, she received a text from none other than Marco.

𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 4:27 PM

Idiot.
Thanks for yesterday. I'm sorry if I crossed any lines. The song is fire, though. You killed it.

Sedona stared at the message for a moment before typing a curt response. She just had about enough of him and the mess he brought along with his presence and was contemplating blocking him again.

Sedona.
Thanks. Don't let it happen again.

As she hit send, she felt a sense of closure. Whatever lingering feelings Marco had were his to deal with, not hers. She was focused on her career, her future, and the life she was building for herself. Nothing and no one was going to distract her from that.

—

©kashdemi
Volume I- Redamancy.
Chapter Nine.
— １２／２６／２４
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Another filler chapter. Cheers to the upcoming new year!

Marco's on my hit-list. The audacity of him.

Thoughts on the chapter? And what do you expect for the next one?

Stay tuned for the next chapter, & til next time!
- shea