Of course, the very first thing that came to mind was Lindsey. To run after him, and to comfort him. Her heart longed for it. But Stevie stood in the middle of her apartment amidst a mixture of candles, pillows and broken glass, attempting to compose herself a little.
Alrighty Stephanie. First things first. Jared.
Her eyes fell onto the limp body, searching for a solution. Thinking...Karen. She was out, and would never ever let this event go as long as she worked for Stevie. Of course, Karen could keep secrets, and Stevie loved her, but this was not a good idea whatsoever. Who else was in the hotel? The band? John and Mick would never understand. Anything that included Lindsey and Stevie in some dilemma, those two avoided like the plague. Which made sense, now that she really thought about it, but she could use the help...
Chris.
Christine was the most non-judgemental person (towards her) that Stevie could possibly think of, and she really was desperate.
Although she felt bad dragging her back into childish antics only after just rejoining the band, she opened her hotel door once more and moved swiftly down the hall until she reached her room number. Knocking twice, her stomach turning at the thought of the reaction she may get.
Christine opened the door and her expression softened when her eyes fell upon the disheveled Stevie. Her hair was smoothed back and wet from a shower, curly slightly near the ends. She wore grey silk pajamas and the circles underneath her eyes nearly matched.
"I know it's very late Chris, but if you can't help me then I don't know where else to go." She really was pleading now.
"Where is he?"
The truth was, nothing really got past Christine, and although Stevie hadn't really let anyone (even the media) know much about Jared Simmons, Christine knew about Jared Simmons.
"You..what-"
"Oh yes, call it a woman's intuition." She smirked tiredly and leaned against the door frame.
Stevie took that as an invitation and on her way back to her room she told Chris everything, not entirely sure how much she knew. She didn't seem too alarmed, claiming she did hear his drunken outbursts more than once on this tour. Stevie didn't know whether to be amused by that or ashamed. She had kept this man near her for so long, yet no one had once offered a hint of advice, yet everyone had known?
(Except Lindsey of course) Maybe it was her constant need for attention that Jared had provided, and maybe after so much less tension, the band had concluded the idea of someone other than Lindsey in Stevie's life was a good one, whoever that may be.
Oh, poor Lindsey. She would get to that problem later.
Once they reached her room, Chris immediately began to help tidy things up, carefully removing shards of glass from a beer bottle Jared had carried in with him. Stevie had blown out the candles, and once the furniture had been rearranged, the two older women managed to pick up Jared's unconscious body (Stevie near his head, and Christine by his feet) and travelled out slowly/painfully into the hallway. Chris then called the hotel's front desk to issue a complaint.
"Yes, I believe someone has had a little too much to drink, and has been making quite the scene outside our rooms for the past thirty minutes, and we would all like to get some sleep. Yes, alright thank you very much. I appreciate it."
"Chris I-"
"No need love, you're welcome." She smiled gently, bringing Stevie in for an embrace as she yawned. She stepped back and placed both hands on Stevie's tiny shoulders. "Go after him."
She knew he wouldn't be asleep, so when she reached his door she knocked a little too anxiously. Her heart pounding in her chest as she heard the lock turn, and when she saw him she immediately flew into Lindsey's arms. Stretching as far as she could (still only in a black robe and her nightie) she reached to wrap her arms around his neck, and he bent slightly, giving her more access to place kisses along there.
She sighed happily, thankful to have him back in her grasp, until he moved away completely. His deep blue eyes showing an expression of hurt Stevie had wished she would never see again.
"It's all my fault, I should have never gone near you like that."
"We both know that's not true, Lindsey."
"You're in a relationship, I just..seeing you with someone else..Steph I can't. Do you know how that makes me feel?" Guilt spread across his face as he continued "To know that someone else gets to have you all to themselves, and to hold you...to touch you...to love you.." He brought his hands back to her hips, bringing them closer, never breaking eye contact. "And to receive all your beautiful attention Steph, and still treat you like that..I-"
"Nobody has ever made me feel as good as you do, Linds. I promise you." She continued, taking his face in her hands "And no one has ever loved me as much as you have."
He leant down, bringing their lips mere centimetres apart before Stevie stepped back. "But you have Kristen, and three wonderful children. I could never give you that," She smiled sadly, "do you know how that makes me feel?"
Tears began to brim her brown eyes, and finally tired of the tension smacking them much like an elastic band, Lindsey closed the space between them and kissed her abruptly. Needing. Within moments they began losing coherent thoughts as well as articles of clothing.
"I came to make things right."
"I know."
"We can't do this..."
"I know."
She gave in, and later on, tangled in his bed, head on his chest while his fingers played with her blonde hair, she knew she had Lindsey back, for the first time in years.
