Haunted

Song Beneath the Song

"Oh, damn he's good," Eli sighed. Maddox had just walked into the room and found Eli in his usual position, curled up with his laptop. As soon as Maddox told Eli what had happened, Eli got on the next flight to New York to be with him.

"What?"

"Um," Eli looked at his computer screen then back at Maddox with a guilty look on his face. "Okay, don't get upset," he turned the laptop to face Maddox.

"Throwback Thursday," Maddox read. Brent had Instagrammed a picture of him and Maddox from a few years earlier. They both looked so much younger. "I thought I loved him then but it was nothing compared to now."

"Ugh," Eli sighed again. "It really fucking sucks not just getting to be a fan right now. I wish I had no idea what was really going on with you two."

"Whatever. Just copy that caption and post it on my account under a picture of some Oreos," Maddox shrugged and pushed the computer back to Eli.

"Maddox," Eli wailed. "He's obviously trying."

"Is he? Or is he trying to keep the fans from finding out the truth?"

"Well since you won't let me tell you anything," Eli gave Maddox a look. Maddox insisted that everyone he worked with keep quiet about anything Brent might be doing. He didn't want to see pictures or hear rumors or, in Eli's case, know anything Brent had said when he called to beg for Eli's help in getting through to Maddox.

"I don't want to hear it and stop telling me how many times he's called. Just turn the phone off."

"Okay, first of all, I'm only technically still your assistant because you've hated everyone I've tried to hire for no good reason so this is not really my job at all," Eli gave Maddox a stern look. "And second, I can't turn the phone off because you might get a call you actually want to take."

"Fine, okay. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Logan said to tell you he would burn all his Complexx posters if you want him to. He already took all their songs off his iPod."

"Oh my god, I seriously don't want to watch another fan war," Maddox groaned. "Quick, tweet something cute about Brent's hugs."

"That was pretty specific," Eli commented but started typing. Maddox looked over his shoulder.

"No, nevermind, let me do it," Maddox sighed and took over.

"You still love him," Eli said when Maddox had posted the tweet.

"It's been two days, of course I still love him. I was going to fucking propose to him," Maddox felt his lower lip start shaking and before he could pull himself together Eli had thrown his arms around Maddox.

"Sorry, sorry," Eli whispered, rubbing Maddox's back. "I wasn't thinking. I'm sorry."

"I need a shot," Maddox mumbled into Eli's shoulder.

"Should we talk about when you're going home? I need to reschedule some stuff if you want to hang out here for a while."

"Ugh," Maddox stood up and went for the bottle of whiskey that was still sitting on the counter. It was empty. "Fuck."

"Here," Eli reached for the bottle of vodka. "But first, when are we going home?"

"Never. I'm never going back. I'm going to quit my life and become a hermit."

"Next week?"

"No, we can go tonight," Maddox decided. "I don't want my parents to find out about this."