Broken Strings (Prodigy: 2)

Warnings Signs

"Zane's going somewhere."

"Where?"

"No, I mean, he's going somewhere, in life. He's going to go somewhere big, far bigger then what we believed possible when we were just kids in London."

"I know that, what of it?" Locke asked.

"Don't fuck it up for him."

Locke's fingers paused on the buttons. His head lifted as he looked towards the window. Jessica's reflection was looking at him and he looked right back at her.

"He is going into the sports world, I have no doubt he'll be as famous as you are one day and he'll go through a lot to get there. But he cannot afford any scandals."

"And what are you suggesting exactly?" Locke said slowly, turning towards her, folding his arms and leaning back against the glass.

"Don't do anything that can spread rumours about his sexuality," Jessica said bluntly.

Locke's jaw locked. He pushed away from the window and walked into the living room to find his socks.

He looked around at the scattered clothing across the floor before kicking the discarding jeans aside and going back into the bedroom to get fresh socks.

"Madi is a good partner for him," Jessica said, watching him as he walked passed. "She makes sense in his up-and-coming lifestyle. Fans like it when they can watch a happy couple. A large majority of his fans are going to be male, American males. Don't freak them out and screw things up for him."

Locke turned towards her, looking down at her. He opened his mouth, the comment on his tongue the type that world send people reeling, that would make men feel cold and make women cry.

Jessica's eyes flicked to the side and he looked at what she was looking at. His hand was around the deodorant can. He hadn't even realised he'd picked up something to throw. His knuckles were white around the can and it took him a moment to force his muscles to unwind and drop it.

He released a breath. It came out in a shudder.

He looked back at Jessica again and she met his gaze without a flinch.

It was why he liked her. She would face him and his violence head on without fear and always came away without a scratch because her lack of fear always pushed through his temper and reminded him that she was special.

She was Zane's oldest friend.

She was the girl Zane saw as a sister.

She was the girl he had to like because she was special to Zane.

But he still wanted to hit something. Not her, never her, but he wanted to hit something.

Someone.

Anyone.

Zane.

Not Zane.

Never Zane.

... Always Zane.

~~~~

"And so then he turns around and tries to sue me for slander, can you believe the stupidity? The act of a drowning man right there."

Everyone laughed as Richard worked his way through his anecdote and they worked their way through their meal.

"So I had one of my girls call him out for sexual harassment and that was his career done and dusted."

"You'd think people would learn now to not mess with you," Jessica said as she cut into her chicken.

"Small fish like to think they're bigger then they are," Rich said lightly.