When I See You Again

Part 13

"Do you know, what this meeting is all about?" Christine asked, handing Stevie a cup of tea, which she had asked for. 

"Not really. My guess is we're going to start discussing the tour." Stevie shrugged.

"I found it strange, when Lindsey asked if we could meet up here. Everything to do with the album has happened over at his so far." Christine had poured some wine for herself instead. 

"It probably has something to do with my and Cheri's mutual dislike for each other." Stevie wondered aloud, which likely was the truth. "Lindsey's been acting weird lately. He came over to see me about two weeks ago and we had an emotional conversation. He wanted to make sure that I know, he loves me." Stevie sipped her tea. "I think, he was holding something back. Then he called me a couple of times just to talk. He keeps saying that he's missing me, but we haven't seen each other again once."

"Who knows with him." Christine rolled her eyes. "He couldn't make up his mind if his life depended on it. Honestly, I don't understand, how you've not grown tired of this push and pull situation."

"I-" Stevie paused, when the doorbell announced the arrival of at least one of the three men in Fleetwood Mac.

A moment later, Christine returned with Mick and John. After greeting each other, the four settled down, only for Christine to get back up a few minutes later to answer the door for Lindsey. 

"This feels nice." Mick grinned, having missed seeing the whole band together in one room. He leaned in his seat, his attention on Lindsey. "So, how do we sound?"

"Uh..." Lindsey scratched the back of his head, he was nervous to even begin talking. "We sound good. I've been spending a lot of time in the studio."

"That's why we pay you, mate." Mick joked. "I can't wait to hear it. Your ability to pull all these different pieces together is unmatched."

Lindsey felt uncomfortable. It was nice to finally get praised for his work, but that wasn't why he'd asked everyone to gather. And Stevie noticed. She could read him like an open book.

"Come on then." Christine joined in. "Tell us, why we're here then? A discussion regarding the tour perhaps?"

"You could say that." Lindsey shrugged. So far, he'd locked eyes with everyone except for Stevie. "I won't be a part of it."

Silence followed. Everyone else in the room exchanged confused looks, before Mick was the first one to speak up. "What do you mean, Lindsey? Is this some sort of a joke?"

"It's not a joke." Lindsey shook his head. "I've thought about it for a long time. I'll be forever grateful for what being in Fleetwood Mac has given me. It has helped me with my career tremendously and I know that I wouldn't be, where I am today, if not for this band. Bot also, along the way, I've lost myself. Everything's been about making things better for Fleetwood Mac, but never about what's better for me. For years, I've put it first, always. It has ruined my relationships, it made me an addict and I've lost complete control of myself. It makes me angry more often than it makes me happy. I keep giving to it, but I rarely ever get anything back from it. I'm tired. I want to fix the mess that my life has become. I honestly believe that the only way for me to do it is to... to quit."

"You can't be serious." Mick shook his head. "Lindsey, you can't quit right now! We've got a new record on our hands, we've got an upcoming  tour! You can't just decide that you're done."

"I can and I have." Lindsey doubted this was going to go well.

"Can't you two just grow up and sort your shit out?" Mick showed between Lindsey and Stevie. "Clearly, that's the issue here."

"I didn't say that, did I?" Lindsey gritted his teeth, he the turned towards Stevie.

"But that's what you meant." She said. "You're just too big of a coward to say it."

"I don't want us all to get into an argument." Lindsey held up his hands in defense. "I just thought sitting down together first, before any rumors started spreading, was the right thing to do. I owe that much to you."

"You owe as a tour, Lindsey." Mick gave him a look. "Do you even realize the position you're putting us in? We've got commitments that you have also signed off on."

"I understand that, but I truly feel that this is the right thing for me right now." Lindsey argued. "I've got a couple suggestions, who could replace me-"

"No one can replace you." Christine cut him off. "I'm not just stroking your ego here, but Lindsey, there is no one else like you. You have personally created a completely new sound for this band. It's yours. There's no replacement."

Mick faced John, sitting on his right, who hadn't said a word yet. "John?"

"I think, it's extremely selfish and unprofessional to just quit over several disagreements with your ex girlfriend." John said his piece and returned to his drink.

"This is not about Stevie, Christ!" Lindsey yelled, throwing his hands up in the air out of frustration. "You know, I'm really tired of everything being about her! Even me, leaving the band, has somehow turned to be about Stevie!"

"I knew, you weren't telling me something." Stevie spoke up, sounding surprisingly calm. "When you came to see me that last time, you knew, didn't you? You came to say goodbye."

"I- I was thinking about it, yes." Lindsey nodded. "I hadn't completely made up my mind then yet."

"Yes, you had." 

"I knew this was going to happen! I knew, you were all going to gang up on me!" Lindsey folded his arms over his chest and leaned back in his seat. "Fine! You want me to be honest? I'll be honest. No, I can't stand being in the same band with Stevie. I've tried to change, I've tried to accept the person she's become, but I can't. I can't go on like this, with her loving me one day and hating me the next. It's literally driving me insane!"

"I'm loving you one day and hating you the next?" Stevie was done being calm. "How aren't you the one messing with me? You come to see me, you tell me you love me and then you go back to your girlfriend! You've never once asked me, how it makes me feel! You've never once stopped to think that maybe you're hurting me! You don't see me in tears, when you walk out of my house, Lindsey. No, you go to your girlfriend, who's always there to comfort you, no matter what you've done!"

"Stevie, come on. You can't get yourself so worked up." Christine reached for her hand, but Stevie rose to her feet instead.

"That night, when you came to me wasted. You were so sure that I don't want you. I've tried showing you that I do. I've tried showing you that I love you. You're the one, who's telling everyone that I'm just using you whenever I feel like it. But that's not true, is it? Lindsey, it's you, who wants to have it all. You're in a relationship, you could have easily pushed me away, but did you? No, no you didn't. Be honest with yourself for once. Stop blaming me for everything and take a long good look in the mirror. Maybe you're the problem." Her breathing heavy, Stevie stared at Lindsey, who didn't really know, how to respond. "Grow up, Lindsey. You hate me, fine. I'll learn to live with that, but don't ruin this for everybody else. They've done nothing wrong." Stevie showed at the other members of Fleetwood Mac. "You're making a terrible mistake."

After a long pause, what came out of Lindsey's mouth, was not something any of them had expected. "I should have called instead."

"Oh my God, are you serious?" Stevie emphasized, following after him, when he got up to leave. "Lindsey, stop!"

"I said all I've wanted to say." He glanced over his shoulder. "I'm done."

"Don't be a fucking child!" Stevie grabbed his hand. "You can't leave!"

"And you can't stop me!" Lindsey shouted in her face. "Now let me go." He pulled his hand away, but Stevie placed hers on his shoulders. "Stevie, let go!"

"I'm not going to let you ruin this band, Lindsey! I'm telling you, you can't do this to the others!"

"Christ, let go of me, you crazy bitch!" The forced he'd put it, when he pushed her was too great, causing her to stumble backwards and fall.

"Buckingham, you bloody idiot!" Christine had come out just in time to witness what he did. "She's pregnant, for God's sake!"