Ella laid in her bed and stared at her hotel ceiling. Her mind flashed back to Benji's heartbroken face and it sprung a fresh batch of tears to fall. Leaving Benji was the hardest thing she had to ever do. She wanted to hold him and tell him everything would be fine when he was crying, but she had to be strong. She had broken off the best thing she experienced.

Carmen had suggested it to be officially over. That it would be better for her and her career. But it wasn't better for her, she felt like a cold heartless bitch that only thought about herself.

And maybe because she was turning into a cold heartless bitch.

------

Carmen happily hummed as she strolled through her office. "Hello, Laura, any messages?"

Laura strangely looked at Carmen. "Yeah, Ella called and said that she would be a little late because she's stuck in traffic."

"Alright, tell me when she gets here." She said and walked into her office.

Laura nodded and wondered what was wrong with Carmen. Normally she was a snob and barked at everyone who came across her, but today she was unusually happy and nice.

20 minutes later, Ella solemnly walked to Laura's desk and greeted her. "Hey, Carmen inside?"

Laura frowned and stood from her seat and immediately hugged her. "You alright?"

"Yeah. Is she inside?"

"Yes, but she seems weirdly happy today."

"That's probably because she knows that Benji and I are over."

Laura gave a sympathetic smile. "She's inside."

Ella thanked her and knocked on Carmen's door.

"Come in."

Ella entered Carmen's office and sat in the chair that was across from her desk. Carmen looked up from her paperwork and stared at Ella. "Would you like me to give an official statement that you and your fling is over?"

"No, let me do that on mine own."

"Alright, but sooner the better."

"Are you happy that Benji and I are over?" Ella asked.

Carmen pressed her lips and slowly smiled. "Yes, because that bastard was going to ruin your career. So yes, I am really happy."

Ella sighed and shook her head. Something was unusually wrong.

------

Joel bit his bottom lip and readjusted his cap as he entered Benji's dim-lighted hotel room. He saw Benji's body sprawled on his back in bed, staring at the ceiling, clutching dearly onto something in his left hand.

"Do you think she hates me?"

Joel shook his head. "No, I think she's just hurt and doesn't know how to handle it."

Benji sighed and motioned for his brother to come closer. He heard feet shuffling then the bed dipped at the new weight. "What do you think she's thinking?"

"I don't know."

"I know. She's thinking how much she hates me and wishes that she never met me."

"No, she probably misses you."

"What makes you think that?" Benji asked with interest.

Joel pondered for a while; debating whether to tell his brother that he had talked to Ella a couple minutes before he had came into his room. She sounded miserable as Benji. She confessed that she missed him terribly, that she was losing her mind, but she wasn't willing to give him another chance. . .that was unless he could truly prove himself.

"Joel?"

"Yeah?"

"You blanked out on me."

"Sorry." Joel cleared his thoughts,

"What makes you think that?" Benji repeated.

"Just prove yourself."

"What?" Benji asked confused.

"Just prove yourself." Joel reaffirmed and patted his brother's thigh before he stood from the bed and walked out. Leaving Benji wondering what he had meant.

------

Ella softly laughed as she watched Paul on the television; make a lame attempt to tell a joke. The audience clearly didn't think it was funny, but laughed anyways. The camera panned over to Benji as the host asked him about the rumors that he and Ella had broke up.

Benji nervously sucked on his lip rings. "No, we're still together."

Ella choked. She hurriedly pressed the volume louder and listened.

"Yeah, you know, they're just rumors. We haven't seen each other for a while and people are just making rumors."

"What about those infamous pictures?" the host asked.

"Um. . .well, it's me, but nothing happened. It just sort of got out of a little hand, but nothing beyond on that."

"What did Ella have to say?"

"She. . .was hurt." Benji said carefully. "But we talked and stuff and we're okay. Ella, if you're watching, I just want to say hi and sorry and I love you." He quickly said and blushed as the audience 'awwed.' The show promptly cut to a commercial and left Ella stunned.

He did sort of tell the truth. They did talk and they weren't really okay, but okay. But were they still together? A break. Which meant they were together, but just not together together. He confessed his love to her on national TV. The emotions that he showed to the world must have taken a lot of courage and strength. Something that he normally never showed.

It made her fall for him.

------

Carmen growled as she angrily turned off the television. He was ruining her plan; it was almost done, but he had to confess everything. She picked up her phone and furiously pressed in the numbers. "Yea, plan B."

------

Benji anxiously jumped on the balls of his feet. The adrenaline pumped through his veins as the crowd roared for the band to get on stage. He softly sang as he plucked a riff from memory.

I don't know how to say this
The only think I know is awkward silence
Your eyelids close when you're around me to shut me out

"That's my favorite, you know."

He turned around to face the mysterious voice he knew so well. "Yeah, I know."

She nodded and smiled. "I like your hair." She ran her hands through his short jet-black gelled hair. "I see you never fired your make-up artist." She joked.

He self-consciously traced his black tears. "I like it."

"Me, too." She uneasily looked around the backstage. She saw familiar and unfamiliar faces, laughing and talking. It was times like this she missed everybody.

"So, why are you here in Vegas?" he asked, playing with his tab.

She shifted her eyes back to his. They held so many secrets. "We're filming here."

He nodded and cleared his throat. "So. . .Joel invited you?"

"Yeah, told me I should come and enjoy the show."

He nodded again. "So. . ."

Ella sighed. It was getting to awkward. "Did you really mean it?"

"About what?"

"What you said."

Benji blinked. She had saw. "I said what was in my heart."

"That's all I needed to hear." She said as she tiptoed to capture his lips. All the emotions were released in that one kiss.

Benji was stunned, but happy. He slowly pulled away. "Why? I thought you hated me."

"I never hated you, just hurt."

"You're willing to take me back? What changed your mind?"

"When you said what you said on TV. I knew that it took a lot for you to say that you love me in front of millions of people watching. That if you weren't telling the truth, you would be the one paying for it."

He smiled and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I love you."

"I love you too." She grinned, pulling him closer.

======
[Song and words: "Freakish" by Saves the Day.]