Torn

Part 24

"Wh-what are you doing here?" Stevie managed to ask at last as her hand slipped out of Dave's. "Why are you here?"

Dave's mind was racing, trying to come up with the best possible answer to her questions. He did have a lot he wanted to say, yet the very first thing that came to him was, kiss her, you might not get a chance later. Stevie felt the warmth of his palms as they cradled her face, she saw him leaning in and realizing that Stevie Nicks and Dave Grohl sharing a kiss for everyone to see wasn't the best idea, she still didn't stop him. Her eyes closed as their lips touched softly at first, but then he deepened the kiss by placing his hand on the small of her back and pushing her against him. She was weak in the knees as she melted into his arms, hers went up and around him. The only sounds that could be heard were the last members of the audience leaving the venue as well as the band's instruments being carried off the stage. Otherwise, nothing. The two had no idea how many sets of eyes were on them, but they were too lost in each other to care. Until Stevie snapped back to reality. 

"We- I-" Stevie shook her head, laying her hands on Dave's chest as she pushed him away. "Oh, God... what-"

"Stevie-" Dave opened his mouth to beg her not to freak out.

"Not here." Stevie said, grabbing his hand as she led the way to her dressing room, only vaguely remembering each turn, pretending that no one was staring at them. "Out." Stevie ordered, pointing to the door, ignoring the shocked faces of her friends, who'd been waiting in there for her. Except Karen. Karen didn't seem surprised, but she definitely looked terrified. 

"Hear me out." Dave tried again, his hands put together.

"Why did you do that?" Stevie yelled out. "Why did I give in?" She questioned herself, putting as much distance between them as the room allowed. "Do you have any idea how many people saw that?"

"Fuck people!" Dave exclaimed. "Stevie, I didn't come here for anyone else but you. I don't want to hide, I don't want you to be my dirty secret." He shook his head, approaching her. "I never expected any of this to happen, but it did and-"

"And now it's over!" Stevie interrupted, hands on her hips. "Dave, this is insane. I told you everything in-"

"In that goddamn letter." He scoffed, finishing the sentence for her. "Before I even heard you say that you love me to my face, you broke up with me." The intensity subsided a little, a painful expression crossed his face. "We could have talked, you could have told me that-"

"No, I couldn't." Stevie swallowed uneasily as she looked away. "I wouldn't have been able to say that in person."

"So, you chose the easy way out instead."

"I had to find some way, Dave." Stevie felt her throat closing up, her bottom lip quivered, she turned her back to him. "We never had a future."

"Why?" Such a simply yet incredibly difficult question. "You made that decision for the both of us because you think that's what I wanted."

"I made that decision because it was the right thing to do." She shrugged weakly. She felt his presence behind her then his arms around her and she closed her eyes, a tear slipped out. "Since we haven't spoken to each other in over a month, I thought, you understood."

"We haven't talked because I was a mess. I didn't understand." Dave emphasized and added. "I don't. Maybe you're just so damaged by your past relationships, I don't know, but Stevie, don't choose for me."

"You have a family." She said, a fact both of them were well aware off. She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and let him turn her around so they were face to face. "It's just..." She trailed off, shaking her head slightly.

"I told Jordyn." 

Stevie's mouth hung open as she stared up at him wide-eyed. "Y-you did what?"

"Whichever way this ends, I couldn't keep it a secret." Dave was now a little choked up, too, as he recalled the painful conversation he had with his wife. "And it was fucking terrible, I can tell you that, but that was the right thing to do."

Stevie didn't know what to say. She saw the hurt in his eyes, yet she didn't know how to comfort him. That had never happened before.

"Well-" Stevie cleared her throat after a moment and pulled away. "You have to fix it. You have to let her know how big of a mistake you've made and that you'll never ever repeat it again."

Dave breathed out heavily, frustration slowly taking over any other emotion. "You're not listening to me."

"No, I heard you loud and clear." Stevie said, using all her strength not to break down. "I'm not special, I don't have anything else to give you that your wife hasn't given you already. You're just infatuated, it'll pass."

Dave was silent for a minute. Stevie was possibly the most romantic person he'd ever met in his life, yet she didn't allow herself to have the fairytale ending. She was so adamant about pushing him away, he had no idea how to prove to her that he wanted to stay.

"I'm sorry that you came all this way, but..." Stevie shrugged, shaking her head. "Trust me, it's for the better." She smiled weakly in hope of convincing him. "Go, please." She could only whisper.