Disclaimer: I do not own any of the members of this story, nor is it true to any real event.
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I sat down backstage, looking around the dressing room. Red Rocks, Colorado. This was one of my favourite places to play a show. The atmosphere is intense, and the surroundings are beautiful. I looked up from the laptop I was working on and noticed him standing there. I wondered if he was going to tell me off for being in the chat again, when I realised he looked sort of withdrawn...moreso than usual, at least.
"Hey, what's up?"
"Huh?" He looked at me, his eyebrows creased, "Nothing, just...admiring the place. It's big. Really quiet."
"Yeah, everyone else went out, went to get some food, or something." I gestured to the laptop, "I figured I'd check some e-mails, fuck around in the chatrooms, or something."
"Remember, we're supposed to be mysterious, Justin."
"Yeah, yeah, I know." I grinned, "I won't be making the same mistakes twice. You should know that."
I watched Trent sit on the couch next to me, an odd occurrence. He sat as far away from everyone else as he could, usually, "I've got a question for you, Justin."
I looked over at him, my turn to be confused, "Yeah?"
"Why'd you join the band? You had so many other projects you were working on...and you've got your little girl, and your wife....why'd you leave all that behind?"
I watched him, my mind going into overdrive, panic mode. He'd finally figured it all out, "I...I just...n-needed the...money."
Trent looked at me, his eyes boring through my own, "You're lying. Your eyes always do that funny little thing when you lie..."
My attention snapped back when he said that, "What? H-how would you know what I do when I lie?"
"I...I've watched you before..." he muttered haltingly.
I closed my laptop, and turned to him, "Why?"
"You're interesting to me. I can't figure you out, and you're probably one of the only people I can say that to. You signed up for this when you're working on more projects than even I am, and you left your life behind to go on tour. An experimental tour, things that have never been done before are happening on this tour. Why are you here?"
I looked down again, my lip caught in my teeth, "I just...you're...an enigma. I can't not be around you."
"I'm an unsociable wretch. I can't stand most people. How can you stand to be around someone like that?"
I shrugged, watching him talk, watching through go through his mind. I don't know anymore, why I chose to come on the road.
I thought when I signed those papers that deemed me a member of Nine Inch Nails, that I'd been handed the ticket to the world. Instead, it seemed like the world was getting smaller, and we were getting bigger. I closed my eyes, and spoke softly, "I can stand it because you're an amazing guy. You're good looking, innovative...talented..."
Trent looked at me, trying to size me up. He shifted slightly, the leather of the couch creaking as he leaned closer. I realised his intentions about two seconds before his lips made contact with my own. He closed his eyes, shifting even closer.
I shivered, kissing back, my own eyes closing. This was one of the most intense, mesmerizing kisses of my life.
Trent pulled away from me, smirking, "Remember, we're mysterious." He got up and walked out of the room.