You always miss the chance to fall for someone else,

'Cause your heart only knows me

They try to win your love, but there was nothing left,

They just made you feel lonely

-The Weeknd

M A R N I E

The club was lively, the people had doubled in number. Val had spotted the guy she was supposed to meet and had parted ways with us. Some people even shook Arthur's hand as she walked in.

"Do you know all these people?" I whisper as she smiles at some people.

"Fuck no." She says, quietly a large smile on her face as she waved at someone awkwardly.

"Let's get to the lounge I'm going to have a heart attack." Her hand is firm on my back as she guides me up the stairs. People continue to watch her.

"Holy shit Arthur, did you see that?" Ronan yelled as we entered the lounge.

His head was obviously shaved but it was now dyed a psychedelic pattern made with bubblegum pink, light green, lavender, and baby blue. It truly looked beautiful.

His outfit on the other hand was the total opposite. Leather. That's all I can say to describe it. A compression shirt that showed off his muscles and leather pants.

Elias looked majestically beautiful. Again, dressed in leather. Dain was wearing a full-body leather suit and doc martens.

"Who the hell are these people?" Art asks although a huge grin is plastered on her face as she goes around giving everyone hugs.

"I asked the manager and they said these people are here specifically for our fucking show. How crazy is that?" Art's hands ran over her face.

"No fucking way." Art's reaction was priceless. My eyes widened as I stood next to them with my hand on their shoulders shaking them.

"Holy shit," I whispered. This is insane.

This is huge, there are over 300 people here, and most of them are here to watch the badlands.

The motherfucking Badlands.

I grabbed Dad's film camera that I had decided to borrow right before I left. I stepped away as they hugged and snapped multiple photos of them.

Currently, they don't have a personal photographer and this would be good for their portfolio.

"Your dream Arthur. It's coming true." Ronan whispers grabbing her shoulders and shaking her violently.

Art laughs a loud laugh and I take a photo, her dream is truly coming true.

"Thank you, Ro." I hear her whisper as they hug.

"This is fucking bizarre." Art's hands are rubbing her face as she approaches me. I take the last couple of photos before she pulls me into a born-crushing hug.

"Mer, we're gonna make it." She whispers in my ear, her arm secured around my waist as she pulls me close. I look around and everyone has an ear-to-ear grin on their faces. The corners of their eyes crinkling.

They deserved it, all the years of struggle that they had spent. They deserved good.

"This is wild," I whisper in her ear.

I go around hugging everyone and do the boys' makeup. Thick eyeliner and blush with glitter. That's the classic Badlands.

"Sole," Ro called out as I was doing Dain's makeup. Compared to Ronan and Elias, Dain was the best one.

Dain was holding my palette and wipes in his hand as well as my drink, he even gave me the glass once every few minutes so that I could take a sip.

"Yes, Ro?" I called out, my eyes never wavering from Dain's face.

"You should keep a knife on you and by the way the pictures are amazing." He says as he overlooks the film, holding it near light.

The contrast between the two parts of his sentence was wild.

"I don't think a knife is a good idea and thank you, I'm going to get them developed tomorrow." I grinned as I started adding the glitter.

"Yes, yes you do." Art mutters just as she bends down to my thigh level and pulls up my dress just by a bit.

I tense up with wide eyes, she taps on my thigh and I divert my gaze to her. With a tilt of her chin, she gestures to Dain who was still sitting in front of me with a small smile on his face. I gulp before going back to his makeup.

"The show is in 5 minutes guys," Seren calls out and everyone fixes their makeup and clothes as I finish the last of Dain's makeup. Art pulls the harness tight and gives it a couple of tugs as Dain gets up from his seat.

"Thank you, sole." He replies and I grin back at him.

"If anyone asks if we're together, tell them yes. Tell them you're my partner." She whispers in my ear and everything just stops.

"What? Why?" I furrow my brows and she smiles softly at me. Almost unnoticeable.

"So that people know not to fuck with you. I'll be falsely yours and you will be falsely mine." She whispers, the doors open and a couple of people peek in. Art's lips meet mine.

We pull away and I stare up at her before diverting my gaze. Smiling as we walk out, the knife strapped to my thigh was a heavy weight and it felt weird walking with it. The place was crowded and moment by moment more people were filling in.

I was to act as her girlfriend.

I could feel a body slide next to mine and I didn't even bother to see who it was. I recognized him, a chill ran up my spine but I composed myself.

"Dressed up as an angel huh?" His chuckle resonated in my spine and I rolled my eyes.

"Who's taking you home tonight?" He pushed and I grit my teeth.

"Of course, oh Lord Enzo, take me!" I faked desperation in my voice as I rolled my eyes.

"Fuck off." I scoffed, folding my arms together.

"You've got a bite in your tone, I don't appreciate that Marnie." He muttered in my ear and I simply shrugged.

"Well then, don't speak to me." I grinned my words lacking any emotion as I finally looking at him.

He looked like the devil in disguise.

He was dressed in his usual sheer shirt with little crystals on it, leather pants, and a leather jacket slung over his arm casually.

I diverted my eyes as the music started playing. People all around cheered. Lord.

"I live for the chase, they wanna know how I'm living my life on a regular day." Art sang, her voice was always so rough with a sweet edge to it. People all around were cheering, their voices were so loud but you could still hear the band singing over them.

"Wake up and pop me two or three pills, man I'm feeling great." Elias sang. From what I knew, tonight there were going to be a lot of The Weeknd's songs and a couple of originals.

"Pick up my phone I don't even scroll, just throw it away." Elias continued, Art played her electric guitar at the same time.

"Get that shit out of my face." I could feel Enzo lean down to say something as I cheered.

"Your girl plays very well." He whispered and I grinned.

"I know." I smiled.

The song progressed and I could feel myself letting loose.

"She said I'm too reckless, I said, 'baby, this is life' yeah." She winked at me and the blood rushed to my cheeks.

"I live for the chase, I live for the drugs, I live for the money, I live for the fame." They sang the crowd was going crazy

"I wanted to thank you, Marnie." He whispered and I furrowed my brows before looking at him. Arthur was staring at us. I know she was.

"You helped me solve the biggest mystery ever." He grinned sadistically, to say I was confused would be an understatement.

"What mystery?" This little bitch was making me miss my lover show. He chuckled before shaking his head and gesturing to the bartender to pour him his drink.

He leaned back staring at me.

"Go home and check your jackets love." He smiled, cold dread filled up the pit of my stomach even though I didn't understand what he meant by that. I just knew it would be something downright evil.

"What do you mean?" I pushed and he shrugged. I could feel my dinner rise.

"Arthur decided to be very secretive about her whereabouts, but you, you wore that jacket to her home." He explained and I could feel my head spin.

No.

"So, thank you, Marnie." He whispered again raising his glass before chugging its contents down.

Do your research we don't ever make mistakes, look death in the eyes like every day.

The music was pounding.

"You-" I pointed, my index finger jabbing at him as I step closer. Tons of people block my and Arthur's view. The bartender walks over before I can finish my sentence.

Almost as if it was planned.

"A lemon drop for the pretty lady here." Enzo points and I gape at him.

"If I were you, I'd run." He shrugs whispering the last word, just as the bartender nods and starts to make my drink, I want nothing more than to slap him across his face.

"Get the fuck away from me." I grit and he raises an eyebrow.

"Maybe you don't understand love, I own this place." He takes a step closer and I stand my ground.

Even though my knees feel like they would give out any second I stand.

"Get the fuck away from me." I grit again, this time, slower.

I want to tell Art about whatever he just told me but I can't. I can't ruin her last show.

There was a tracker in my jacket?

Arthur has been pretty secretive to me about her work life, I can only guess she's been secretive to them about her private life too.

I may have fucked Arthur Walker over.

I couldn't enjoy the rest of the show. Not when Enzo stood across the room with a grin on his face, enjoying his night. Arthur and the band are on the stage playing music. And me, in my turmoil. Wondering what the fuck was happening.

The night was young, the lights were a headache and the alcohol was flowing in like an IV drip.

The intro to their next song played ad cheers erupted. It was still wild considering how many people had shown up.

"Never need a bitch I'm what a bitch need." Her voice was so thick, her stance powerful.

The mic stand was placed between her legs, the cold metal touching one of her exposed thighs. One of her hands played with the hem of her dress, riding it up slowly.

Her eyes meet mine, a mischievous glint in those. She winks at me before leaning forth, her lips brushing against the mic and I stand in the crowd wishing it was brushing against mine.

"Tryna find the one that can fix me." She grinned as the blood rushed to my cheeks, I bit the inside of it to keep myself from smiling.

"I've been dodging death in the six-speed." She sang before retracting herself from the mic as Elias took over, she walked towards the back of the elevated stage grabbing a bottle of water and twisting the cap open.

Her eyes were always on mine, her head bopping to the beats. Her walk back to the mic is one full of sex appeal. Slow and steady, her hips swinging from side to side in a soft teasing manner.

She stood there before grabbing her mic, her eyes roaming my body and settling on my thighs. I simply trail my fingertips over my thighs as she sings, I can hear the desperation in her voice, for a couple of lines Elias has to take over as she forgets them.

I trail my finger up, riding my skirt just as she had done to hers. I spread my legs just a little bit as I sit on the barstool grinning at her.

Her eyes are filled with thirst as her grip on the mic and the cord tightens. She bends down toward the crowd, her eyes never leaving mine.

"Low life for life 'cause I'm heartless." She almost yells her voice sweet, and the whole room is thumping with the bass. People are all around screaming the lyrics.

"Said I'm heartless." Elias pulls through. His hair sticks to his face as his skin shines.

"So much pussy, it be fallin' out the pocket." Art leans her head back, her chest rising and falling so quickly. Her breaths are heavy.

"Metro Boomin turn this ho into a moshpit." She's on her knees now, as she grabs the lighter from her boots and lights a man's cigarette.

"Tesla pill got me flyin' like a cockpit

Yeah, I gotta watch it." She grabs the cigarette from his lips and takes a long drag. I grab my camera and take a photo, her head thrown back as she exhales the smoke.

"Call me up, turn that pussy to a faucet

Duffel bags full of drugs and a rocket." Her eyes are back on mine, the strap of her dress falling down her shoulder. I grab my camera again and take a photo.

"Stix drunk but he never miss a target

Photoshoots, I'm a star now." Art and Elias's voice blend.

"I'm talking Time, Rolling Stone and Bazaar now (Bazaar)." She gets back up, quick on her feet. Grabbing her bottle and taking a gulp.

"Sellin' dreams to these girls with they guard down." Something in me is yelling that it's not water.

I grab my camera and take photos of the band, the lights going crazy, people's hands in the air as the band stood above them. Heads thrown back, on their knees.

Towards the last song Dain was huffing the buttons to the top of his leather body suit was open. Sweat slid down his body.

They were exhausted but I knew that there was enough energy in them that they could play for millennia and some more.

Dain got up stumbling his eyes red, I knew he was high. Art grinned before joining his side.

"Who gon pray for me? Take my pain from me?" Dain was now helping with the backing vocals as Elias swapped places with him. His arms were probably sore because of the drums. His voice was darker, even raspier

"Save my soul from me?" Art grinned as Dain lowered himself to his knees, his hand wrapping around Arthurs's ankle. He leaned his head on her legs as she grinned and patted his head. I took photos of almost everything.

"Cause I'm alone you see." She said tapping his cheek as he grinned.

"Cause I'm alone you see." His voice was thick.

"If I'm gon' die for you." Her eyes met mine as she squinted just a little bit

"If I'm gon' kill for you." Her cheeks were flushed with a color I had never seen before. Crimson painted her lips as drops of sweat dripped down the side of her face.

"Then I spilled this blood for you, hey." she yelled the latter.

"Just in case my faith go, I'll live by my own law." Her and Dain's voices merged.

Dain slid to the side of the stage as the crowd cheered. He leaned down, his chains dangling, I could see that he was tired but he would rather have his vocal cords tear before he would stop being a musician. People put their hands up touching his face as he closed his eyes.

"I'll live by my own law, I'll live by my own law." Art gestured me forth, her fingers curling and my eyes widened as the crowd turned their heads towards me.

I gulped the rest of my drink down before walking towards her. It was almost like a movie, people parted, and I could feel everyone's eyes on mine as she got on her knees on the stage and leaned down.

"Just in case my faith go, I'll live by your law." she whispered into the mic. The lyric change was phenomenal. Art winked at me before kissing me. Her lips tangled into mine.

Everything just went silent, suddenly there was no one around. Maybe there was but we didn't care.

She was falsely mine.

Forever falsely mine.

"I'll live by your law." She whispered, her lips brushing mine and the screams erupted. Crimson painted my cheeks and matched hers and I took a step back.

As the song came to its end everyone got up from their positions, hands on each other's shoulders they bent down. Blew kisses into the large crowd. Art brought the mic to her lips.

"Thank you for spending the night with us, it's been a pleasure to have you." Art said, her cheers were so loud you could barely hear her. I think I will go deaf.

I have to tell her about the tracker.

In about 15 minutes we were in the lounge. Dain was passed out on the couch, Ro laying on top of him. Dain's hand was on Ro's head as they both slept as soundly as a baby.

Art and I were sitting next to each other, her head on my shoulder as they waited for Laila to come back. She had gone to chat with the 'bosses' as I was informed.

"What were you and Enzo talking about?" She asks raising her thick brow and I gulp trying not to show a single emotion on my face.

"Nothing really, he was talking about how good my girl plays." I grinned before adjusting the skirts of my dress and straddling her.

"Oh did he now?" Art whispered her lips hovering over mine as my fingers ran along the waistband of her pants. She had changed into a tank top and cargo.

"Yeah." I whisper leaning down and kissing her.

"But I need to get going." I laugh and she groans, her grip on my waist tightening.

"I'll drive you back home, I'm staying here for the night." Art replied.

"No it's okay, I need to speak to Val anyway, she won't tell me what's bothering her if you're there." I shrugged, Val was bidding goodbye to the guy she was meeting up with and had told me that she will meet me in a couple of minutes.

"You'll take a cab?" Art asks her tone indicating that it would be blasphemous if I take a cab.

"Yeah." I chuckle as I grab my purse.

"Here." She grabs my wrist and drops her car keys in my hand.

"What?" I gape.

"Take my car, I'm staying here for the night." She shrugged and I shook my head.

"You have work tomorrow and I have homework to do, so I can't drop your car back off," I answer and she shrugs.

"I have to help your dad with his car stuff anyway so I'll be there by lunch." Art shrugs and something in my heart warms. Dad has been working on his father's car for years, trying to restore it and Art was helping.

"Your car is too expensive for me to drive." I tried to reason with her.

"Shush. Take it." She mutters. I stare at her for a minute before sighing and enclosing my fingers around it.

"Ask Val to drive you." She mutters, and I nod. I was just tipsy but I had to get home.

Besides I need to go check my jacket and see if Enzo was bluffing or was he for real.

"Bye, darling," I mutter leaning down and kissing her.

We bid goodbye and I walk down the stairs with my purse and camera in my hand and try to find Val.

I end up spotting her, she grins and waves at me. I hand her the keys and we drive back home, with just one thought running through my mind.

The tracker.