Something Better

I'm Not Looking For Sweet Talk

Brandon had been back home in Las Vegas for a fortnight. The 'Sam's Town' tour was over, but he was already thinking about the next step for his band, The Killers. It was always ticking away in back of his mind, how they could get better, what they could work on next. Although The Killers were having a break, Brandon always had songs floating around.

Brandon looked out his large living room window and surveyed the desert landscape. He was definitely more relaxed at home, but he had been restless since he and Sophie had broken up. It was better when he was busy, but now he had a holiday, his days stretched out before him and he felt empty. Sophie had hurt him and he still wasn't over her, maybe that's why he hadn't given that girl Martha his number, or asked for hers, he was afraid it would end up the same, a heartbroken Brandon. His mind lingered on Martha. She had caught his eye like no other girl had since Sophie and he had enjoyed talking to her, maybe he should look her up, he had said he would. He wondered if she thought he would contact her or if she thought she would never see him again. The thought of her had crept into his brain every now and then when he was on tour and none of the other girls held his attention like she had. The way she smiled and how she blushed when they spoke.

He knew she worked at Cirque du Soleil, but they had a few shows around Vegas and he didn't feel like going round all the Vegas hotels asking for a girl he only met once. He decided to leave it to the gods of fate, as Ronnie would say. He smiled at the memory of Ronnie being overly dramatic about Martha's boots.

Thinking about Ronnie, he decided to text him to see what the big drummer was up to, but when he looked at the screen he saw a message from his sister, inviting him to Utah for a few days.

Brandon thought maybe it would be a good idea to spend time with his family, somewhere he could be himself and try to relax his mind for while.
He called his sister and organised to drive to Utah that day and spend a few nights with her and her family.

As he was packing his bag his mind kept drifting back to thoughts of Martha and how he had asked her to design something for him. He started to feel guilty that he hadn't tried to contact her and she resolved to try and look her up when he returned.

He climbed into his truck and shifted his body into the driver's seat. It was November, but the sun was still shining in Nevada. He pulled out of his driveway, looking forward to the drive ahead, which he hoped would clear some of the cobwebs of heartache that clung on to him.

Martha had decided to stay in bed for a little longer. She felt tired and her alarm was not a welcome sound. She switched off the buzzing and turned into her warm sheets. She lay there as the late morning sunshine shone through her bedroom curtains. Her mind, however was awake and already thinking about work. It had been so busy at The Beatles 'Love' show at The Mirage hotel. Although the costumes were all designed and made, repairs were required everyday and she had started to take on more of an assistant role to one of the shows producers and she was loving it, but it was busy work.

Martha got out of bed and went down to her kitchen. She had received money from the sale of her previous home, one she had shared with her ex husband Lee, and she had used it to make a down payment on a little house on the edge of Henderson, a suburb of Las Vegas. Everyone had advised her not to buy, just to rent, because her stay in America was not permanent. Martha felt it was, she could never go back to Scotland to live, although her last visit had been pretty amazing! And her mind drifted to thoughts of Brandon Flowers. She never expected him to come looking for her and she was ok about it, but man she had imagined it! How he would arrived at her work unannounced and sweep her off her feet. He would tell her she was beautiful and how he couldn't go another day without her and they would go straight to The Little White Chapel and get married. She laughed at herself as she made her breakfast, imagining what it would be like to have Brandon Flowers around in the morning, sleepy and sexy...

Her fantasy was broken by her phone buzzing up on her bedside table, she ran up the stairs two at time and managed to get the call in time.

"Why are you out of breath?" Charles demanded.

"Good morning to you too!" Martha laughed at his serious tone.

"I hoped you had been up to something," Charles giggled wickedly.

"Charles! If I had I certainly wouldn't be answering my phone that's for sure! I ran to answer your call, that's all." Martha said, lying back on her bed.

"Well, you could be up to something soon...!" Charles teased, "Apparently someone noticed you at that party last weekend and they have been asking about you! I don't know why, because you looked a mess!" Charles laughed.

"Oh, you're such a jealous bitch!" Martha laughed, "So, who was it? Do I know them? Did I talk to them? Was it Brandon Flowers?" Martha asked, feeling hopeful.

"Brandon fucking Flowers!" Charles sneered, "Is he all you think about?!" He accused her.

"Pretty much... Brandon Flowers and work" Martha laughed.

"Yeah, well all work and no real life play made Martha very boring!" Charles sang, " My Martin's fancy lawyer friend, Mitchell Blair, asked about you, he asked if you were single."
Charles said with excitement.

"Yeah I did speak to him, he was ok, a bit flash maybe, definitely not a patch on Brandon! What did Martin say?" Martha inquired, starting to worry about what was being said about her.

Charles hesitated, "Well, he told him, you know... your story," he almost whispered.

"Great, so now he thinks I need saving or something!" Martha spat, feeling vulnerable.

"He doesn't think that!" Charles said, "You don't need saving, you just need to have a little fun, that's all!" He continued, trying to encourage her.

"You know that's not my style, Charles!" Martha sang back.

"Yes, virginal Martha, I forgot," laughed Charles, feeling relieved Martha was back to being friendly, "He's coming to the little Christmas get together at 'Brandy's' in a couple of weeks, so you can talk to him there, just relaxed, no pressure."

"Oh Yeah, no pressure, on a Christmas night out, at a restaurant, with wine and mistletoe," Martha laughed, "If I even get the slightest sniff of a set up, I'm out of there!" Martha said seriously.

"Ok, ok! And you say I'm dramatic!" Charles said and Martha could almost hear his eyes rolling up to the ceiling.