True Love

Prelude: evenings

Avi was in the music room that Kevin and him had settled in their apartment, absently chiming out a few notes on his guitar. He was alone, as Kevin was outside this evening. After New Year's Eve in Anguilla, he needed to see his girlfriend of course!

Avi's thoughts were wandering, mostly about an answer he had given once more in a recent interview. "What is your biggest fear?" had asked the interviewer. Oh! That question again! And he couldn't answer anything else than the expected truth: "Not finding my true love," always followed by a non less expected chorus of "aww!" from his bandmates...

Not finding my true love. I'm already almost 26. I've met a lot of girls, some of them cute, even rather nice, but all of them fangirling more than really interested in who I really am. I haven't met anyone yet with whom I would like to share my life. Well... There would be someone. Someone I keep dreaming about, uselessly. No way! This will never happen.

Avi took a deep breath and shook his head. How will he be able to go on like this?

*****

Kirstie and Jeremy were cuddling on their couch and quietly talking. Kirstie started talking about Avi, telling how much she was worried about him. Actually she had been for a while now.

- He seems... sad? Distant at least. Definitely not happy. Only focussed on work.

- Has he been dating someone recently?

- Nothing serious for one year at least. He keeps saying in interviews and livestreams that his biggest fear is "not finding his true love." But he hasn't even really noticed any woman since last summer. He's randomly dating some girls from time to time. It doesn't look like him... The only one he's really "flirting" with seems to be Mitch, through their banter on Twitter!

- Well, the women are surely fangirling strongly around him since you've been getting more and more famous, and this shall not help.

She approved sadly.

- We never talk about this. We were rather close during the Sing-Off and the year after, but even if we remain very good friends, he doesn't confide to me, neither to Scott. I'm even not sure he talks to Kevin that much... The only one who seems to be able to make him smile sometimes is Mitch. He's so funny and random! And I'm almost sure Mitch doesn't realise what he does.

*****

Kevin and Soraya were having dinner at her apartment, as they often did when PTX was in L.A.

- Kevin, I don't want to bother you, but I need to know... When do you think we could move on together, as we've planned it a few weeks ago?

- Well... I'm worried about Avi you know. He's been acting weird all along the past year. He seemed so sad when we were recording Say Something, techy all spring long, then almost too focused on work during ACA and summer, and rather aloof since then. Was it a heartache? I don't think so, the girls he's dating sometimes don't mean much to him... But these days he seems even worse if possible! Even the Christmas Hollidays didn't seem to bring him as much peace as usual.

- I understand, and I know how much Avi has been important to you during these four past years, but I hope it won't last too much. Having you home only two or three evenings a week - when you're not travelling! - isn't enough any longer! We've met a year ago now, and I really need to share more with you...

Kevin took her hand in his, smiling, and told her he really needed this too. He promised that he would talk with Avi soon.

*****

Scott sat beside Mitch who was watching old episodes of Spongebob in his bedroom after dinner, while Alex and their other room mates were watching a movie on TV in the living room. He wanted to share how concerned he felt about Avi these days, if not for a year now...

- Don't you think he's acting weird sometimes?

Mitch raised his eyes and said:

- Maybe... He's been distant for a few months now, that's true. But he didn't tell me anything.

- We are going on Tour in about two months, it would be better if we could know what's going on. Last year's daily life on Tour wasn't always easy because of Avi's mood sometimes...

- You're right Scott. But I know nothing more than you...

- Well, I needed to be sure I wasn't the only one who was thinking this way. I'm going to try to talk with Kevin at first, and then maybe to Avi.

As he was about to leave the room, he saw the young man's pensive face and asked him:

- And what about you, Mitchie? You're not always as sassy as you used to be...

Mitch smiled and answered:

- Maybe I'm growing up ?

- Not too fast please! I still need my little queen!

- Don't worry for me babe. I'm fine. Oh! Would you come with me tomorrow afternoon? I would like to go shopping.

- I'm so sorry! I've promised Alex to go with him to the beach, as we only have a morning work session...

- Never mind, I'll ask Kirstie.

- Next time, promised!

And he left, blowing a kiss at Mitch.

But when Mitch texted Kirstie to ask her for shopping, she answered she couldn't because she had plans with Jeremy already.

Oh well!