Hard To Get Back On Track

- Eventually, at another party -

"Scott. Y/N. What's up?" Comeau greeted.

"Comeau, my man! Good to see a friendly face!" You replied with a chuckle, scanning the crowded party scene.

"Where have you both been, anyway? Last I heard, you two gave a show as Sex Bob-Omb at the Cameron House out of the blue." Comeau remarked, his curiosity piqued.

"Scott's been in his blues. And I don't mean it as in the music genre." You quipped, shooting Scott a knowing glance. "So, we figured we'd come to Sarah's party for a change of pace."

"Really? Didn't know you knew Sarah Jane like that." Comeau mused, a hint of surprise coloring his tone.

"Who the hell is Sarah Jane?" Scott interjected, his brow furrowing in confusion.

"This is her party, man. It's her birthday." Comeau clarified, pointing out the obvious.

"I thought I made that pretty clear before we came here." You deadpanned.

"...what am I doing here?" Scott pondered aloud, his gaze drifting around the room in bewilderment.

"You need to get back to socializing. Also, I was insisted to attend." You admitted, shrugging offhandedly.

"By who?" Scott asked.

"I don't know. An anonymous email was sent to me saying I had to come." You shrugged. "Said something about insider info on Gideon's Chaos Theatre scheme."

"And you didn't tell me?" Scott raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued.

"You had enough on your plate, buddy. Didn't want to add more stress to the mix." You explained, offering a reassuring pat on his shoulder.

- And so you waited... -

"I thought this was a Julie party." Scott grumbled, slouching further into the couch as if he could meld into the cushions.

"Julie moved to Montreal." Neil, who you also invited to come along but got here a bit earlier, informed him.

"What?!" Scott's eyes widened in disbelief, his voice reaching a crescendo of shock.

"Seems like everyone's going there lately." You quipped, your lips curling into a wry smile.

"I heard Envy Adams was here." Monique's voice cut through the air like a knife through butter. Her? Again?

"Envy Adams? No way!" Sandra exclaimed, her excitement palpable- Okay, how are these girls always nearby? Like, what the hell.

"Apparently she looks amazing." Monique added, her tone laden with awe.

"Oh man! I'm totally gay for her." Sandra gushed, her admiration bordering on obsession.

"What the hell, Y/N. What the hell, Young Neil. Is this true?" Scott turned to you, his expression a mix of disbelief and betrayal.

"Dude, I swear I had no idea!" You threw your hands up in defense, innocence written all over your face. "Cross my heart."

"She does look amazing. You should just, like, preemptively be a dick to her, man." Neil suggested, ever the voice of questionable wisdom.

"Really? That works?" Scott's eyebrows shot up, his interest piqued by the suggestion.

"Scott, no. Just... no." You interjected, shaking your head in exasperation.

And lo and behold, there she stood, Envy Adams. True to Monique's words, she was a vision to behold, her presence commanding the attention of everyone in the room.

Was it the passage of time that softened her edges, or perhaps the lingering effects of that fateful kiss she have you? Either way, she exuded an aura of irresistible allure that left you spellbound.

As Envy sauntered over to the makeshift bar, you couldn't help but marvel at the ubiquitousness of these house bars. Seriously, every party seemed to have one nowadays.

Approaching with caution, you and Scott braved the sea of onlookers, wary of both Envy's infamous reputation and the intense scrutiny of her adoring fans.

"Envy Adams? Partying with mere mortals?" Scott quipped, attempting to play it cool as he leaned against the bar.

Envy responded with a withering glare, causing Scott to visibly shrink under her icy gaze.

"I did warn you not to poke the lion." You muttered under your breath, massaging your temples in exasperation.

"Why don't you go back to... to... Montrealhalla?" Scott blurted out, his attempt at banter falling painfully flat.

The cringe-inducing secondhand embarrassment threatened to consume you as Scott's ill-advised remark earned him a barrage of furious glares from Envy's legion of fans, which, let's be real, comprised most of the room.

"Nice to see you again, Scott." Envy finally broke her silence, her voice dripping with a mix of amusement and condescension.

Whispers rippled through the crowd like a gust of wind, sending a flurry of butterflies swirling in your stomach.

Sure, you've been in the spotlight before, but usually with Sex Bob-Omb, not as the unwitting star of this type of encounter.

"Um... what are you drinking? Let me buy you a... jeez.... Um, I'm sorry, I..." Scott's attempt at smooth conversation faltered, his words stumbling over each other like a clumsy dancer.

"Y/N." Envy's gaze shifted to you, instantly drawing the attention of the entire room in your direction.

Your stomach plummeted as you found yourself thrust into the center of the spotlight. "Y-yeah?" you managed to squeak out, feeling like a deer caught in the headlights.

"You have something stuck to the back of your vest." Envy pointed out.

"Huh? Seriously?" You craned your neck to inspect your attire, oblivious to the impending disaster lurking just around the corner.

As you turned your head to investigate, a soft warmth brushed against your cheek, sending a jolt of familiarity coursing through your veins. Oh no, not again.

Your face flushed crimson as you realized Envy had planted another kiss on your cheek, prompting gasps and shrieks of shock from the onlookers.

You dared not turn around, but you could practically feel the weight of the stares, glares, and incredulous expressions bearing down on you from all sides.

Let's spare ourselves the agony of reliving the rest of this train wreck and fast-forward to the next day. Suffice it to say, no one in Toronto was about to let you live this down anytime soon.

Or ever.

- So that happened -

Anyway, the next day, around 2:30 pm, at Scott's house...

- RING RING -

"Y/N," Scott mumbled, roused from his nap by the insistent ringing.

"On it." You replied, snagging the phone before it could disturb Scott's sleep. "Hello?"

- Soonish -

"You can buy me a coffee." Envy declared with a mischievous glint in her eye, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"Envy?" Scott's voice rang out in surprise, his eyes widening as he took in the unexpected sight before him.

"How have you two been?" Envy inquired casually, as if last night's events were nothing more than a fleeting memory.

"Uh, pardon me for interrupting, but are we just gonna gloss over what went down last night? Like, no discussion whatsoever?" You interjected, raising a skeptical eyebrow.

"Oh, that? I'd say I did your band a solid favor by giving you a massive popularity boost." Envy dismissed with a wave of her hand, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"By planting a kiss on me?" You blurted out, feeling a flush creeping up your cheeks at the memory.

"You're welcome," Envy retorted with a self-satisfied smirk, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Now, about that anonymous email promising intel on the Chaos Theatre..."

"Wait, that was you?!" You exclaimed in disbelief, your mind reeling at the revelation. "You tricked me into showing up, only to use it as a publicity stunt?"

"Well, I did intend to share some insights with you, but when I saw the opportunity to give your band a little boost, I couldn't resist." Envy admitted with a nonchalant shrug, as if it were all perfectly justified.

"I suppose it's the thought that counts." You muttered, a hint of skepticism coloring your tone as you rubbed the back of your neck. "But let's shift gears. What's the big news?"

"Right. I'll be playing a show on the Chaos Theatre's opening night. But Y/N... I need you to have my back." Envy declared, her tone growing solemn.

"Huh? Me? Why?" You questioned, perplexed. "And what exactly for?"

"One, because you saved me that one time, and for that, I trust you. Two, I'm a rock star, and it'll be a cold day in hell before I ever get attacked. I've seen what you can do, and you've got power." Envy explained matter-of-factly.

"Hmm... Good point. Count me in." You agreed after a moment's consideration, nodding in affirmation.

"Good. Now, you'll need this." Envy said, slipping a mysterious bracelet onto your wrist.

"What's this for?" You inquired, examining the unfamiliar accessory.

"It's the ultimate backstage pass to the Chaos Theatre. With this, you can go anywhere, no questions asked. I need to ensure you're keeping an eye on me, and that's it." Envy clarified, her gaze unwavering.

"Fair enough. I'll do my best. You can trust me," you reassured her, a sense of determination creeping into your voice.

"Okay, what's the catch?" Scott finally chimed in, suspicion lacing his words. "A scheme to trap Y/N?"

"You're making me out to be some kind of villainess. We were practically kids when we dated, Scott, and it's not like you were some Paragon of Virtue." Envy retorted, a hint of irritation creeping into her voice.

"I was such a Paragon." Scott protested, his voice rising in defense.

"I was, too. For a few chapters, at least." You chimed in, injecting a note of levity into the conversation.

- And... -

"I was such a Paragon!" Scott declared emphatically as the three of you perused the aisles of a thrift store, the scent of musty bargains hanging heavy in the air.

The store, once bustling with activity, now resembled a ghost town, its shelves barren and its prices slashed to a mind-boggling 80% off.

"Over it." Wallace muttered under his breath, his eyes scanning the dwindling selection of goods with disinterest.

"What is the deal with her, man? I swear to God! She's got sinister motives or something! Gideon sent her to mess with my head!" Scott ranted, his frustration palpable.

"She's the Devil, Scott." Wallace deadpanned, his tone tinged with exasperation.

"Gideon's probably in town, too! They're in cahoots, man! What the hell do I do?" Scott's voice rose in agitation, his hands flailing in exasperation.

"Dude, is it really so hard to believe that she doesn't harbor any ill will towards you and simply wants your friend to keep an eye on her as a precaution?" you interjected, raising an eyebrow in skepticism.

"First of all, yes, Gideon's in town, too. Didn't you read the article I showed you?" Wallace countered. "And second, Y/N, what exactly do you mean by that?"

"Well, she approached me about watching over her during the preparations for her debut performance at the Chaos Theatre on May 1st. She's genuinely concerned about something going awry." You explained, attempting to offer some clarity amid the chaos.

"And you agreed?!" Wallace shot you a look of incredulity, as if you'd just confessed to believing in unicorns. "Clearly, that's a trap, Y/N."

"See, even Wallace gets it!" Scott chimed in, nodding fervently in agreement.

"Listen up, guys. I genuinely believe she's turned over a new leaf." You declared with a nonchalant shrug. "Try having a little faith, would ya? I'm all about second chances, so why can't you be?"

"Because she's screwing Gideon, duh. Hm... no, Ramona's screwing Gideon... Well, the three of them can screw, can't they?" Wallace mused aloud, his brow furrowed in contemplation.

"Not the point. You can't give people like her the benefit of the doubt, Y/N. They're bad news." Scott insisted, shaking his head in disapproval.

"Well, guess what? It's my decision, and I've already made up my mind. Deal with it." You retorted, crossing your arms in defiance.

"Is loading up on a cart full of discounted books also part of your master plan?" Wallace quirked an eyebrow in amusement.

"Do you have any idea how versatile books can be, aside from just reading them? This is an investment." You countered, defending your shopping spree with unwavering determination.

"How do you get this much money anyway?" Scott interjected skeptically. "I know No-Account Video can't possibly pay you that much."

"I'm an artist, Scott. You think I'm not out here monetizing my talents?" You quipped with a cheeky grin, a hint of mischief dancing in your eyes.

"Fair enough. Maybe Envy wants to get back together." Scott suddenly proposed, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "So like, me and Envy are like 24 now, right?"

"She's 25. Her birthday was in February." Wallace interjected with a touch of authority.

"What? How do you know?" Scott inquired, visibly impressed by Wallace's random knowledge.

"It was a big deal, guy. I read about it in Italian Vogue. I think David Bowie was there." Wallace explained, a hint of pride lacing his words.

"Ok, but we're growing up a bit, right? We're moving on!" Scott declared with newfound determination.

"Moving on to threesomes with Gideon and Ramona." Wallace quipped with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

"Oh, come on! Enough with the threesome jokes already." You groaned, rolling your eyes at Wallace's antics.

"Okay, okay, that was the last one, sorry. So, sushi for dinner?" Wallace suggested, swiftly changing the subject.

- And then Wallace bought you two sushi -

- That Night -

A blinking light on the house phone caught your attention, signaling an unheard message waiting to be discovered.

Naturally, Scott delegated the task of checking it to you while he occupied himself with who knows what. "One new message. 4:18 PM." The mechanical voice announced.

"Hey. It's Kim. I just saw a guy with a parka exactly like your stupid parka you've had since you were 12. That's literally the most interesting thing I've seen all week. It friggin' sucks. Can we go back to playing music and having fun? Get over your extremely boring depression and let's go do shows again sometime, ass-clown." Kim's voice crackled through the speaker.

"Well, isn't she just a ray of sunshine?" You remarked with an awkward chuckle, shaking your head at Kim's trademark bluntness.

"Oh my God!" Scott suddenly exclaimed, darting towards the window and flinging it open with a sense of urgency.

"Mow." Ramona's cat, Gideon, appeared on the windowsill, gracefully hopping inside and into Scott's waiting arms.

"K-kitty..." Scott stammered, reaching out tentatively to stroke Gideon's fur. Surprisingly, the feline seemed unperturbed by the sudden attention, purring contentedly in response.

"I knew he'd come back. I just knew it." You declared triumphantly, a smile spreading across your face. "But enough excitement for one night. It's bedtime if we want to tackle tomorrow with any semblance of energy."

"Yeah, yeah, right. We should probably go to bed." Scott agreed, a hint of weariness creeping into his voice.

"In that case, I'll take my leave." You announced, opening the portal to the Virtual World. "Night, Scotty. Sweet dreams."

- The Next Day -

"Hey, uh, happy birthday." Scott chimed in, breaking the sidewalk silence as you three strolled along.

"Hm? Oh, yeah, it was a few days ago... Gideon threw this party..." Envy recalled, her voice trailing off into the memories of the past celebration.

"Well, given the guest list, I'd say it's better late than never with the wishes." You remarked, shrugging nonchalantly. "Sometimes dodging those kinds of gatherings is a birthday gift in itself."

"Mhm. Scott, do you remember my 21st? Now that was a birthday." Envy reminisced with a wistful smile. "We went bowling at midnight. Julie and Stephen baked me a terrible cake. You got pretty drunk."

"I don't drink." Scott interjected matter-of-factly, his tone indicating a hint of pride.

"Dude, come on. Abstaining from alcohol doesn't automatically earn you a halo." You retorted, crossing your arms in mock annoyance.

"So do you think we're going to get back together?" Scott suddenly redirected the conversation towards Envy.

"Huh? What, me and you?" Envy's surprise was palpable.

"Or maybe just have casual sex?" Scott suggested, the desperate glint in his eye unmistakable.

"Scott..." You sighed, shooting him a disapproving glance, while Envy's expression suggested a mix of bewilderment and amusement. "Please tell me you're not seriously considering that."

"I see you finally got some sleep." Envy remarked, a faint blush creeping into her cheeks as she glanced at Scott.

"What, are you psychic?" Scott quipped, raising an eyebrow in feigned skepticism.

"Scott, we dated for two years. I can read you like a book." Envy countered with a knowing smile.

"Two years?" Scott's confusion was evident.

"You don't even remember me. You're, like, the only one who knew me before..." Envy trailed off, her tone tinged with a hint of disappointment.

"Before what?" Scott's curiosity piqued.

"Scott, do you remember anything? Like, ever?" Envy scoffed, her patience wearing thin.

"I remember... stuff. Lots, lots of stuff." Scott insisted defensively.

"He remembers absolutely nothing." You interjected, recognizing the telltale "I'm totally clueless" tone in Scott's voice.

"What about New Year's Eve? Do you remember that? We had a fight." Envy prodded, her tone carrying a hint of tension.

"A fight fight?" Scott queried, his brow furrowing in uncertainty.

"A fight that you started." Envy clarified, her gaze steady.

"Well, I remember you breaking my heart." Scott retorted, his voice tinged with a touch of bitterness.

"The feeling is somewhat mutual." Envy admitted with a nonchalant shrug. "I know I'm changing, we're all changing. And Y/N here is probably the biggest catalyst for that change. Maybe the reason why everyone's changing in the first place."

"Really? Why's that?" You arched an eyebrow, intrigued by Envy's perspective.

"Why? Just look at Ramona's formerly evil exes and what you did for them." Envy explained, her tone carrying a hint of admiration. "I've heard the stories, how you managed to redeem them, and all. You're like the personification of positive change."

"I wouldn't go that far. I didn't exactly wave a magic wand and transform them. They made their own choices, with a little guidance from yours truly." You replied modestly, scratching your cheek with a sheepish grin.

"Still, it's nice seeing how much you care for people. Even people like me, who have been complete jerks to you. You still give second chances." Envy remarked, her smile genuine.

"Well, everyone deserves a second chance. Everyone has good in them, even those who can't see it themselves." You replied with a warm smile, your eyes reflecting a belief in redemption.

"You're too good, Y/N," Envy chuckled softly before her expression shifted, a touch of seriousness creeping in. "As for you, Scott. Just... don't forget me. This is the only me he knows... You need to face reality. He's not even a bad guy."

In the distance, the figure of Gideon Gordon Graves approached, his presence casting a shadow over the conversation.

You and Scott both recognized his face, and the tension in the air became palpable. Gideon stood there, his smirk almost daring you, particularly Scott, to confront him.

The challenge was clear, the confrontation imminent. It was time for Scott to face his final battle against an evil ex- aaand he ran off.

"Scott!" You called out, disbelief mingling with exasperation as you took off after him.