A Rock & Roll Romance

Chapter Nineteen

Johnny managed to feel his way back into his bedroom to the dresser and rummage in the drawers, he finally located some candles and used the lighter out his cigarette tin to light them. He handed one to Meghan, the glow of the flame lit her face and Johnny could now see the fear that he heard in her voice moments prior was now etched on her face. "Doll?" He asked. "I'm ok, I just hate the dark." She said quietly. He guided her to the end of his bed and sat her down. "Are you ok to stay here whilst I go look for a flashlight and check the electrics? It might have just flipped?" Meghan nodded "Is there anything I can do?" "Yeah give me your phone the torch might be easier to use." Meghan nodded and they swapped, she sat with two candles in her hand as Johnny disappeared through the bedroom door with her phone, he called back "If you want, I can keep talking so you can hear me?" She smiled sweetly. "Ok.. that sounds good." "What do you want to talk about?" His voice was growing further away as she heard him plod down the stairs. "I don't know." She giggled nervously. "Ok... umm tell me what's the last dream you remember?" "What sort of question is that?" "An intriguing one that should keep your mind occupied." He now shouted. He sounded as if he was downstairs now so Meghan stood and wandered to the bannisters leaning over even though she couldn't see him. "Umm I don't really dream much..." as soon as the words came out her mouth her mind rushed back to the passionate dream she had on the tour bus a few months back about kissing Johnny. She felt heat in her cheeks, what had made her think of that? It was a memorable dream but it certainly wouldn't ever be spoken about. "Doll... I could get electrocuted down here and I would never know about your dream." He said chuckling making her giggle. "Oh it was a bit romantic like a movie. I think because of a book I was reading." "Oh?" Johnny questioned. In the silent night she could hear him playing with the switches of the fuse board. "Yeah.. you know I love romantic literature." "Nothing wrong with that doll, it's a nice escape." "Yeah.." she could hear him fiddling with the fuses as she got lost reminiscing about the dream she had of Johnny. Within a few moments she heard "So?" It made her jump, the voice was close, he was probably back on the stairs. "Tell me what happened." "Oh just a boy and a girl having a moment, that's all." She said embarrassed. He slowly approached she could sense it but couldn't see him. He gently went to take one of the candles and it made her jump again. "Darling, are you ok?" He said sincerely handing her phone back to her. "Yes. No, it's just the dark it makes me feel uneasy." Inside she was terrified, but she didn't want to voice that. She didn't want to appear weak. He grabbed the bag he had carried up and entered the bedroom once more lighting a number of different shaped candles and placing them on the dresser and bedside table. "Looks like all the power is out, unfortunately we just wait now." He span around to see her holding one of the candles but her other arm wrapped round herself tightly. "How about we stick together until it's back on?" Johnny asked seeing how frightened she was. "Yeah.. that sounds good." She practically whispered. "Well get comfy, it might be a while." Johnny said gesturing to the bed. The lighting was low but she could see, it felt so wrong to be in his personal space like this but there was no way she was heading off on her own in the dark so she walked round to the side that was made and sat on top of the bedding. "Can I join you?" He asked chivalrously. "Of course it's your bed." Meghan smiled. The first smile he had seen from her since their encounter that night. Johnny laid up against his headboard. "Has your phone got charge?" He asked "Not much I've been playing on it because I couldn't sleep" "me neither I'm down to 9%." "Ooopps, good thing we have no where to be tomorrow, well today." Meghan said.

They laid on the bed sat against the headboard listening to the rain when Johnny turned and said "Doll, can I ask you something?" "Sure." Meghan said turning to face him. "Why are you so scared of the dark? I never realised and it never bothered you on tour?" Meghan visibly swallowed and closed her eyes before Johnny added "You don't have to tell me." "No it's ok.. so just before I went off to college, my step brother moved in with us, and he was odd to say the least, he used to really make me feel uncomfortable in general, well on more than one occasion he tried to sneak into my bedroom at night and a few times I woke up to find him stood in the corner of my room." "What??" Johnny said angrily. "Yep..." "what did he do?" Johnny said concerned. "He would just stand and stare at me. He was so odd and I used to start sleeping with the lamp on because initially he tried to cover his tracks he would say he was waking me up for some reason like the dog or he heard a noise, after a while it became obvious they were all lies, so I tried to lock my door but my mum hated that and wouldn't allow it so then I did whatever I could to not be in the dark so that I would be prepared if he ever did try and do something." Meghan said with wide eyes. She hadn't admitted that to anyone and here she was sitting on Johnny Depp's bed telling him. "Oh doll." He reached out and touched her hand that was resting between them. "I promise not all men are fucking fruit loops." "It's ok. It could have been worse, I'm just sorry I'm such a wimp." "Don't be. Meghan, you have every right to be scared. That wasn't right or normal. Are you ok like this?" He gestured between them, She nodded smiling, almost welling up at his concern. "This is great, thank you." "So you always sleep with a light?" "Not always, natural light works. I just hate it being blackout, it makes me go on guard and wonder what could happen to me. You know?" "I get that. You can stay here as long as you need." "Thank you." Meghan said sweetly.

After about an hour both their phones died and they were left just with one another to entertain themselves. Meghan had wasted a lot of her battery showing Johnny photos of her many times with Alice and Sheryl as well as other random snippets from her life, they had sparked interesting debates and conversations, both of them relishing in one another's company. "You look tired doll." Johnny said. "Is that you saying I look crap?" She smirked, playing with the hem of her silk robe. "No not at all, just tired, like you could do with some relaxing." "Well I suppose I haven't really stopped, the tour, the move, then working on this film, I am grateful though I guess it's just taken it's toll." "I know what that feels like darling." Meghan smiled "I know, I'm sorry." "Why are you apologising?" "Because you've been through so much." "So have you by the sounds of it," "yes but you.." "No we are all different and fight different battles don't ever compare yourself to anyone." Meghan smiled once more before readjusting on the bed. She shivered slightly and Johnny noticed, he had since donned a sweatshirt since they resided on his bed and he instantly felt guilty. "Doll, are you cold?" "A little." She said after he stared at her waiting for an answer. He pulled at the bed sheets, and kicked them down the bed before he gestured for her to climb in. "Not in a weird way but I'm clumsy as fuck and I'll only end up injuring myself finding you something to wear. I swear I'll stay on top of the duvet." He said sweetly making her smile. "Johnny it's your bed.." she said hesitating "exactly and I'm offering it to you. Get cosy and warm babe." She climbed in and snuggled up resting her head on the pillow.

A few hours later, Meghan awoke to daylight streaming in through the window. The rain was coming down heavily still. She slowly sat up and looked around before realising she had just been sleeping on Johnny's chest. His arm was wrapped round her tight and she secretly loved the feel of it. His soft snores made her smile, it seemed their bodies had both given in and finally rested after their adventurous night, he provided a lot of comfort to her when she needed it and she was extremely grateful.