Found

A Talk

Tobin POV

It was 1 am. I was just getting back to the hotel. I quietly swiped my room key, careful not to wake Kelley, Ash or JJ up. The room was dark so I let out a breath and put my phone and wallet on the nightstand. I heard a click and looked up. The lamp was turned on and Kelley was sitting in a chair next to the tv.
"Why so late Tobs? Or as a matter of fact, early?" She asked with a sense that she knew the answer.
"No reason." I say getting a water bottle.
"No reason huh? Well there's gotta be a reason. I'm guessing, you were out with another fling? Not caring, didn't know her name, she doesn't know you're gone, and if she tells anyone, you'll deny the whole thing?" She asks.
"Man fuck off Kel." I say harshly, but the nickname showed I didn't really mean it.
"Why you doing this Tobs?" She said as I sat next to her on the floor.
"Doin what?" I say playing dumb.
"Sleeping with every girl that looks your way." She said with a laugh.
"What else am I supposed to do Kelley?" I ask.
"Settle down a bit?" She asked.
I laughed, "There's no girl I want to settle down with." I say taking a sip of water.
"Really?" She says, I know where she's going. "Not even...Alex?" She whispers the last part and I laugh again.
"Alex dumped me remember?" Kelley gave me a sad look. I thought back to when it happened.

I caught a cab back home and just pulled up. I saw Alex's car at my house and got excited. I walked up to the door after paying the driver. I dropped my bags in the porch looking for my house key. When I found it I burst through the door.
"Lex?" I called. "Babe? I'm here!" I smiled. I haven't been home in about two weeks but we got some time off and I figured I'd surprise Alex. I looked in the living room, bedroom, nothing. I walked back through the kitchen. Just beyond is was a small circular white table I used as a dining room. Alex sat with crossed legs on the chair. She wore a maroon hoodie I recognized as mine.
"Babe." I said. She didn't answer.
"Uhh, babe?" I more asked this time.
"Lex?" I said taking a step towards her.
"How was it." She said without turning around.
"Um it was fine. Just played a bit, you ok?" I asked. I tread lightly, afraid to strike a nerve.
"You sure you only played music?" She asked.
"What are you talking about?" I asked confused. She got up and pushed past me into our room. She came back a second later. She slammed three magazines down onto the table. I looked over at them. They had pictures of me walking with a girl. I remembered that. She had grabbed my arm because I started walking the wrong way and it made her laugh, I guess the picture was taken at the wrong time. The next one showed me walking down the side walk. I remembered this day too. The girl in the picture had come up because she recognized me, although the only picture is the one where she hugged me. The last one showed me at a party. I was there with my friends, but the picture showed me talking to some girl. I remember this one too. She was obviously drunk and had asked me out multiple times, but I turned every one down.
"What the fuck is this Tobin?" Alex asked.
"Lies, Alex. That's what they are, they're all lies." I said.
"I was afraid of this." She said bringing her hands to her forehead.
"Lex cmon they're all so fake, and this headline? 'Does this rising star have a new love interest?' That's bull and you know it."
"No. No Tobin I don't know it. But I know that these picture show three other girls touching MY girlfriend!" She said.
"And each one was nothing." I said.
"Are you fucking serious! These girls look at you the way I look at you!" She said.
"Yeah but I don't look at them Lex!" I said.
"Tobin, I can handle them yelling your name, and holding up signs. But this is where it's too much. Why can't you talk about our relationship in public?" She says.
"Because I'm protecting you. Trust me, you don't want any of that." I said.
"I think I'll tell you what I want!" She snapped.
"And I think...I want us to take a break." She said. My stomach dropped.
"A break? Lex you don't want that."
"No, no. I do." She said.
"Lex what's wrong with you? Two weeks ago we couldn't leave each other."
"Yeah but you did leave. And obviously you were ok." She said.
"Lex, I-"
"Don't." She cut me off. She walked up to me and locked out lips.
When she pulled away she said, "Maybe it's better this way." I started to protest, but she walked out of the house.

"Why don't you call her?" Kelley whispered.
"She doesn't wanna see me Kel, she's probably with someone else now." I said.
"Tobs you need her. Wether you like it or not." I sighed out.
"Yeah," I said, "but she doesn't need me."