Strangers - a Brad Simpson fanfic (sequel to Be Alright)

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"Are you insane?" Brad screamed, stomping his foot on the floor in frustration and running his hand through his hair.

"No. You are. You can't get a girlfriend now, Brad. That's insane. It's completely the wrong time." shouted Graham. "Listen here. Either you let that girl go, or we find a new lead singer."

"Fine." Brad crossed his arms and walked out of the room aggressively. But he'd lied - he wasn't giving up that easily.

Once back in his hotel room, Brad slumped onto his bed and shoved his face into the pillow. He couldn't believe that management would do this to him. How could they make him choose between the two best things he's got? After thinking for a while, he picked up his phone and called Arianna.

"Hey, what's wrong?" she said as soon as he answered.

"How do you know something's wrong?" he questioned.

"Because you'd never ring me at 1am if something wasn't wrong."

"Oh."

"So..."

"Well, um... Basically, management found out about us and said we can't be together." he sighed, feeling like he was about to cry.

"And? Did you listen to them?" Brad could tell she was getting nervous from the tone of her voice.

"They said I'd be out of the band if I didn't."

"Oh."

"But that doesn't mean anything! Listen, I'm not saying goodbye again. Not after one freaking day. We can still be together. But they don't have to know, do they? Please, we can make it work." he begged.

"I don't know if I can do that."

"Why? Arianna, last time you told me you loved me more than anything. If that's true, we can do this."

Arianna hesitated for a few seconds, but she quickly made a decision. Brad was right.

"Fine. I'll do it."

"Yes. Oh my God. I love you so much."

They both paused as they realised that was the first time either of them had properly said I love you since they'd been reunited.

"I love you too. Wait! Make me a deal. If I do this, you have to show me the song you wrote about me." Arianna chuckled, knowing he'd have no choice but to say yes.

"Why did I have a feeling that would come into this somehow?" Brad sighed sarcastically. "Okay. I will. The next time I see you."

"And when will that be?"

"Umm... Tomorrow night. If you're still in NYC. We said we'd go out, but I can pretend to be ill and you can come to the hotel."

"Sounds good..." Arianna paused. "Is this how it's going to be from now on?" she sighed.

"Yeah. I guess. Until I can convince them to let us be together publicly. But it doesn't matter - because I won't love you any less."