Destiny Rules

Part 4

"I- I'm sorry." Lindsey put down his guitar case. "That was stupid, I- just that you were the last person I thought I'd see here tonight." Stevie remained standing in the same spot, wanting to move forward and hug him, but she refrained. "So-" Lindsey cleared his throat, scratching the back of his head. "How you've been?"

"How you've been?" Stevie repeated his question back. "I haven't seen you in years."

"You don't have to throw that in my face." Lindsey shrugged weakly, sticking his hands in his jeans pockets.

"I-" Stevie shook her head, her eyes grew wider. "I didn't mean it like that." She gulped then parted her lips, but nothing came out.

There were a lot of comebacks Lindsey had on the tip of his tongues, but he kept them to himself. "I'm alright. As you already know, this is what I do nowadays." He felt embarrassed to admit it, to say it out loud and to Stevie out of all people.

They started out together. They were young and in love, they shared a dream and they fought hard to achieve it. They were a package deal - Buckingham Nicks. Their paths were never supposed to separate. They were meant to make it together.

"You were really good out there." Stevie smiled shyly. "I- I've missed you a lot. I've missed your voice a lot." She added as if to correct herself. 

"Yeah, well-" Lindsey shrugged. "Nobody else seems to care." He said and cast his eyes down to the floor.

"Don't say that." Stevie stepped closer, but stopped herself, leaving a large gap to separate them still. "Lindsey, you're incr-"

"Listen." Lindsey held up a hand. "I really don't wanna hear it. I don't need you to bullshit me just because you pity me. Clearly, you've always been the star. I'm just a guy, who plays guitar. It's fine. I'm fine with it." He was absolutely not fine with it.

"You hate me." Stevie said quietly and he immediately regretted the way he'd just responded to her.

Lindsey sighed heavily. "I don't hate you." Again, lots he had to say, but didn't. "Is there anything else you wanted from me? It's getting late and I have work in the morning."

Stevie was quiet for a moment. Work. What did he do? Did he have an office job? Did he give guitar lessons? Was music just a hobby now?

As if he could read her mind, Lindsey elaborated. "I stand behind the counter at a music shop. The very same one that I bought this at." He added, pointing at his guitar case by his feet.

Stevie made a mental note of it. She opened her mouth to say something else, when-

"Stevie! Stevie, where the hell are you?" The sound of Jimmy's voice was coming closer. "Ah, here you are!" He grinned at the sight of her and immediately went to stand by her side, his arm wrapped firmly around her. "This place is dead. Let's get outta here and find where the party's really at!"

"Uh, Jimmy-" Stevie began. "This is Lindsey. Lindsey-"

"Yeah, I know who he is." Lindsey interrupted. 

"Nice set." Jimmy complimented, though, he barely listened to any of it. 

"Thanks." Lindsey replied through gritted teeth. "Anyway-" He picked up his guitar. "I'm going to go. Have fun at your party, wherever that might be." He didn't know. He was no longer a part of that exclusive club.

"It was good to see you." Stevie rushed to say, but Lindsey disappeared and she didn't hear if he responded. Unlikely, she thought.