Beautiful Crazy

When She Drives Me Wild

Walt and Bryan exchanged looks but knew their friend had something to get off his chest.

Before speaking he uncomfortably laughed at how ridiculous this was considering he wasn't even sure if Maren still listened. He knew she had over the years but probably didn't anymore. "I usually don't talk about my personal life on here or anywhere for that matter. I like to keep my relationships and private life just that...private. However things have happened over the past few months that I need to address."

He took a deep breath before continuing. "I hurt someone very important to me. Someone that took a chance on me and I let her down. I'm sure many listeners are aware I started a relationship with The Tenderloins tour manager. Shortly after things from her past surfaced and I reacted like an asshole. I should have been there for her but instead said hurtful things and let my emotions get the better of me. I'm not gonna go into detail on what those things were but I just want to put a request out to all the Ants and IJ fans. We all make mistakes and unfortunately she was no exception but please I don't want to hear any bad things spoken about her. Anyone that knows me knows I hate the word 'fan' but I do pride myself on having great ones. So please everyone be respectful and understanding to a woman I very much care about. And to that woman if she is listening, I'm so deeply sorry and hope you find the happiness I selfishly took away from you."

"Wow." Walt said a little taken aback by how raw Q was being. "I'm sure she still cares for you a lot Q, I mean with her coming back to help with your tour and all." Brian simply responded with a shrug of his shoulders.

"Believe me the girl I saw down in Key West looked so lost." Bryan said not thinking. "Maybe after a little time you..."

"Hold on!" Brian said lifting his head. "What do you mean?! You saw Maren in Florida?!" His temper was now flaring as he stared right through one of his oldest friends.

"I knew she was down there, yes." Bryan answered.

"Cut the mics...NOW." He snapped.

Once Bryan flipped the switch to stop recording he looked at his friend who was rarely angry with him. "Like it or not, I made the right choice that night by not telling you."

"That wasn't for you to decide!" Q shouted.

"No?! Who should have decided?! You who was drunk off your ass and probably would have said something stupid making things even worse? Face it you fucked up and she ran!" Bryan said standing up from the table to walk away now aggravated.

"If I had seen her right then and there I could have talked to her. Too much time has passed. Too much time for her to think about how much she hates me. I know if I saw her months ago I could have smoothed things over you. You took that chance away from me!" Q shouted as he followed Bryan to the front of the store.

"Bullshit!" Johnson screamed whipping around, "You were so angry still. You really think you would have been able to have a rational conversation with her?! Months later and you still can't convince her to take you back." He finished with an eye roll. "I was protecting you from yourself."

Q rubbed his hands over his face as he came back down to earth. There were very few people he trusted 100 percent; few people were always straight with him and Johnson was one of the few. He took a deep breath to calm down. "I wish you would have told me. Things could be different right now if you had."

"I don't think in the way you're thinking." Johnson said. "Give it time bud, you never know what could happen."

Walt stepped forward after seeing the two friends cool down. They almost never fought, especially like this. "We can call it a night if you need to Q."

Brian shook his head, "No I'm fine, let's keep going. Just give me 5 minutes." He then went outside to get some air and collect himself.
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It was early afternoon and Maren took a break from Tenderloins stuff to make an appointment she had. "Hi there, I'm Maren Mulligan here to see Attorney Kelly.

"Of course!" The receptionist smiled. "He's expecting you." She said pointing to his office door.

Maren knocked and entered smiling with her head held high. She had spoken to this attorney a few times on the phone and now that she was in New York she was taking the chance to meet with him. There was no way she was letting Jason get away with this without a fight.

"Maren." He smiled brightly.

"Attorney Kelly!" Maren greeted sticking her hand out.

"Please it's Anthony." He insisted.

As they chatted, Maren couldn't help shake the feeling that he was flirting with her. He was handsome and extremely nice so Maren couldn't help but smile and flirt back just a tad. Her kiss with Brian a few days ago really shook her but getting attention from another man was a weird but welcoming feeling.

"Here's the thing..." Anthony started to say looking a little nervous, "I have an associate that is more familiar with these cases than me. He won a pretty big settlement last month on a case incredibly similar to this. If it's okay with you I would like to refer your case to him. I gave him a little information and he's excited to work with you."

"Oh?" Maren asked a little confused, "If that's what you think is best, I guess that's alright."

"I do, I feel he would be a perfect fit." He then handed Maren his friend's business card. "Give him a call, he's very nice and eager to get started."

Maren stared at the card and then placed it in her purse. "Well thank you and I appreciate the help."

As she went to leave she was stopped. "Umm Maren, I hope this isn't gonna come across as forward but..." He then started tripping over his words with nervousness, "With you not being my client anymore..I was hoping... maybe... would you like to get dinner sometime with me?"

Maren stood wide-eyed. Did she really just get asked on a date?