Matters of the Heart (Marianas Trench/Josh Ramsay)

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

He paced outside her building, the anxiety he was feeling building higher in his chest the longer he stayed. Get a fucking grip man! He scolded himself. You are just gonna go up there and thank her for the nice article. That’s it, that’s all you have to do. It’s not that hard. He grabbed his hair with his hands and sighed. “She’s just another employee, she’s just like everyone else at 604 records. She’s just…” He looked at the front door and his hands dropped to his side in defeat “it’s just her.”

He didn’t know why Becca got under his skin as much as she did. It’s true he hated her profession, what she did for a living, and didn’t appreciate her digging in to his and his friends’ private lives. But he didn’t hate her.

If anything, that’s what scared him the most.

He took a deep breath and finally pushed her doorbell.

“Who is it?” The intercom rang out.

Josh pushed the talk button. “It’s Josh, can I come up for a minute? I wanted to talk to you about something.”

He heard her pause. “Sure. I’ll let you in”

By the time he got to her door, she had already opened it and was waiting for him. “Everything ok?” she asked, a hint of worry in her tone.

“Yeah, ahem, yes, everything is fine.” He gave a small smile.

They stood there for a few minutes, neither one of them saying anything. “Can I- uh, can I come in?” He finally asked.

Her eyes widened, and for a minute Josh thought she was considering telling him no. “Um, sure.” She opened the door a little bit wider so he could walk through. “It’s not very much right now, I was just about to head out in search of some decorations.”

He took in the living space around him and let out a low whistle. Well, 604 records certainly knew how to treat their employees, he thought.

As if she was reading his mind, she answered him, “Your record company didn’t set this up for me. They are giving me a living stipend but I paid for the place.”

He looked at her, surprised. “You must be more successful as a writer than I initially thought.”

She smiled a little “I make it work.” She walked towards the window and sighed. “I’m also irrevocably in love with Stanley Park. Had anyone told me Vancouver was so beautiful, I would have moved here a lot sooner.” Her fingers touched the window screen, and he could hear the love of his city in her voice, and it warmed his heart.

He walked up behind her and looked out the window. Sure enough, she was high enough up in the complex to have a perfect, gorgeous view of Stanley Park and the Sea Wall that bordered it. He had to admit, he was a little jealous. Although he lived in the heart of downtown, nothing could compare to the view she had. “Vancouver is nothing short of amazing.”

They both looked at each other, but said nothing. After a few awkward minutes of silence, Josh swallowed hard and began to speak, “Thank you… for writing those things about me. After the way I’ve treated you since you’ve started, you certainly didn’t have to.”

“You read the blog?” she looked surprised

“Yes, after Matt pretty much made me do so.”

They both laughed a little, and she gave him a small smile. “Of course I had to Josh, everything I wrote was true.”

He had not expected that to be her response. “What do you mean?” he asked, confused.

She sighed, “I know we have started off on the wrong foot, and that beyond professional mannerisms you and I may never get along.” She walked over to the couch, closed the laptop that had been left open, and sat down, motioning for him to do the same. “But the Josh Ramsay that I wrote about on the band’s website, THAT Josh is the one I see singing his guts out on stage.” She smiled a little bigger. “Your passion pours out of you. Your entire face lights up when you talk to the crowd, the smile you have when you hear them singing back to you…” She motioned with her hands, as if trying to get the right word out. “Is just incredible. It is the most amazing, awe-inspring thing I’ve ever seen.  You have a very special connection to your fans Josh, the energy at your concerts” she shook her head. “just wow.”