Bella quickly retracted her arm and yanked her sleeve over it as fast as she could, catching a couple of the lacerations with how rough the material was. She gave a wary smile, a nervous laugh and looked around. Paige hadn't seen and neither had Rian, Jack and Zack. Paige was way too busy flirting with as many members as she could, as if it was a game.

"Little groupie whore." Bella chuckled to herself. But there was still one person, who may or may not have seen. She didn't know if he had or not, and she wasn't that sure whether she wanted to find out. But she turned her head slowly, shame engulfing any expression that was previously there. She gave Alex a wry grin but Alex had his head down, writing.

"Are you writing a novel or something? Maybe you should use Mibba, haha!" Bella bucked up the courage to say.

Alex just smirked at the comment, head still down, carrying on his writing. Eventually, after what felt like a lifetime, Alex dragged his head back up and looked Bella in the eyes. And for a moment, it felt as if they were the only two people in the room. In the country. In the.. world. He looked at her with such compassion, she could feel her heart practically melting and working its way up her throat. If he wanted her heart, he certainly had it now. Bella felt the heat as Alex burnt a way through to her soul with just his eyes. They stood there, eyes interlocked. Alex had the most serious look on his face that Bella had never seen before. Albeit she only had the chance to see it on the television and in pictures, but nevertheless. There it was.

Alex pulled away from the stare and cleared his throat. He beckoned Bella to lean closer to him, as he leant forward over the table.

- - - - - o - - - - -

"What the fuck is that?! Why?! How?! What the hell has happened to such a beautiful young soul, to make her do this?!" Alex thought to himself. He tried not to stare at them, knowing it would be rude. But he couldn't even begin to count the cuts. Her arm looked as if she had just taken a knife to it and cut out the biggest chunk of skin and flesh that she could allow. He had no words. He was speechless, for once.

He just looked at her, took the album and poster that she had handed over and fiddled with the pen while she composed herself. By the time she was done, his head was already down and he was scribbling away. He finished writing and looked up at this beautiful, young woman standing in front of him. Alex wondered what could have possibly happened to her in her life to make her think that those cuts on her arm were her only escape. Handing back the album and the poster, he looked at her. Took a few minutes to just stare. He felt like he could see right into her soul, as all the sadness she had ever felt, took him over.

There was something about this girl.

He signalled for her to come closer as he too leant forward.

- - - - - o - - - - -

"What?" Bella asked, shyly.

"You're beautiful. You don't need to do this. Please, stop." Alex stroked Bella's arm; the arm with the fresh cuts, that she could feel opening due to pressure.

Bella looked away with a whimper in her throat. The pain in her arm was agonising but she knew that Alex meant it.

Bella and Paige exited the store. Bella looked back at her favourite band, especially focusing on Alex, who seemed to be not-so-into signing things anymore. She caught him looking at her and quickly turned her head around. Paige was already at the car but was standing on the outside, leaning against it, smoking a cigarette. She offered one to Bella, who accepted with gratitude.

"I can't even begin to tell you how much I've needed one of these." Bella said as she sparked up.

"Looked it too. What happened there? You were ages."

"Alex.. h-h-he.. told me not.. not to do it anymore."

"Do what?"

Bella held her arm up as she took a drag from her cigarette. At that moment, Paige understood and said no more, as she knew that she would only cause another scene.

"Come on, let's go." Paige threw her cigarette to the floor and stomped it out, as Bella put her album and poster on the back seat of the car. Bella then stomped out her cigarette and off they headed back home.