HEARTBREAK HIGH; •Spencer White•

twenty six - awkward

DAISY COOPERS brought her drink closer to her lips, eyes scanning the pub as the noise built around her. Missy was meant to be here soon with Sasha, though Daisy had already learned that "soon" meant something very flexible when it came to Missy. Cash had opted out entirely, choosing the comfort of home over loud music and worse decisions.

Across the pub, she found Spider. He was standing near the stage, talking to Ant, barely hiding the excitement in his expression. Dusty had managed to get them a short set at the pub, half an hour, maybe less, but Spider had been talking about it all week like it was a sold out world tour. Even from here, Daisy could feel his energy shifting when he looked up.

His eyes scanned the crowd, searching until they landed on her. She was leaning against the bar now, dress short, ribbon in her hair, trying to look like she hadn't spent twenty minutes debating what to wear. Spider's mouth lifted slightly.

Okay? he mouthed. She nodded, lifting her drink in response. Before he could say anything else, Daisy was suddenly tackled from the side. "Missed me!" Missy declared, arms locked around her neck as she kissed her cheek repeatedly. "You had to have at least three times minimum."

"Missy—" Daisy laughed, barely getting a word out before Sasha appeared too, pulling Missy off her and squeezing Daisy just as tightly. "You're late," Daisy accused immediately, turning like it was a formal complaint. "I thought the pair of you were more organised than this."

"I am organised," Sasha defended, pointing vaguely. "Missy just needed to change outfits three times." Missy disappeared and returned from the bar with three drinks like she'd been born doing it, sliding one into Daisy's hand and ignoring the judgement entirely.

"Well obviously you picked the best one," Daisy flirted casually, looking over Missy.

Sasha rolled her eyes. "This is why Daisy is my favourite ex." Missy teased as the guitar tuning snapped all three of their attention forward. The band stepped onto stage.

"Hi, we're the Cate Blanchett's," Ant announced, far too confidently for a name they still hadn't agreed on. "And this is Let There Be Rock." Missy grabbed Daisy and Sasha by the arms, dragging them closer to the front as the crowd shifted.

Daisy wasn't sure when it happened exactly, but her eyes found Spider again almost instantly. She didn't even try to hide it. She loved music. But watching him like this, focused, alive, completely in his element, hit differently. Like everything else faded out around him. Then Ant leaned into the mic again.

"Alright, this next one's for a special girl our boy wants to bring up. Daisy Coopers? Daisy?" Her stomach dropped, for a second she didn't move.
Then Missy shoved her forward.

"Go on!" she hissed, far too excited about the chaos she'd just created. Daisy cursed under her breath as she weaved through the crowd, cheeks already burning as people turned to look. She could hear someone cheering before she even reached the stage.

Spider was waiting at the edge, grinning like he'd done this on purpose. "You're a fucking asshole," she muttered immediately, grabbing his shirt and pulling him down slightly so only he could hear her.

"You'll know this one, beautiful," he replied, completely unbothered. "Don't worry." He guided her onto the stage. The mic stood in front of her like it had no business being there. Ant gave her a small encouraging push.

"Why do stars fall at night." Spider took the mic looking only at Daisy, "Well, are you here?"

Daisy swallowed, then she gripped it. The opening chords started behind her. "I got your message last night," she began, voice shaky at first, then steadier as the music caught her. "You didn't get mine 'cause you've been calling me for days—"

A roar erupted from Missy somewhere in the crowd. "YES DAISY!" Daisy let out a breathy laugh, shaking her head slightly as she continued. The nerves didn't disappear completely, but they settled into something lighter, something easier.

By the time the pair finished, the pub was loud with cheers. Spider was already there when she stepped down. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pressed a quick kiss to the top of her head like it was instinct. Daisy barely had time to steady herself before Missy almost knocked her back off her feet.

"You are my hero," Missy declared, kissing her cheek at least three more times. "Like genuinely. Hero behaviour." Sasha pulled her back before Missy could fully launch herself at Daisy again.

"That was actually sick," Sasha added, smiling. "Didn't know you could sing."

Daisy shrugged, slightly breathless. "Neither did I." More songs passed in a blur after that. Daisy drifted between the girls, drinks appearing and disappearing too quickly to keep track of, until eventually she found herself back near Spider again, leaning against the bar as the night slowed.

"Oi," he called, appearing beside her. "I heard the drummer wants to see you after the show."

"Oh yeah?" Daisy turned toward him slowly, smirking. "Is he hot?"

"Extremely," Spider said without hesitation. He stepped closer, hands resting lightly at her waist.
Their lips met before she could respond properly.
A beat later, Ant's voice groaned from nearby.

"Oh my god, get a room, lovebirds."

Spider pulled back just enough to glance at him. "Jealous, Ant?"

"No," Ant replied immediately, downing a shot like it was personal. "Just disgusted." Daisy laughed, reaching over to pluck the next shot from his hand.

"Think you've had enough, Anthony."

"Yes mum," he muttered. The night blurred after that, somehow, at some point, Daisy ended up with her ankle sore, her balance gone, and Spider insisting they were leaving early. She protested all the way out of the pub, limping more dramatically than necessary.

"Put me down," she complained as he lifted her slightly off the ground anyway.

"Stop being dramatic," he muttered.

"I am injured."

"You're drunk."

"I am injured and drunk."

That earned a faint laugh from him as he finally got her into the car. She only fully registered being in his kitchen when she was dropped gently into a chair.

"Your mum home?" she asked, squinting slightly.

"No," Spider replied, already rummaging through the freezer. "Out."

"What... are you doing?" she mumbled, head resting on her hand as the room tilted slightly.

"Fixing your leg," he said simply, holding up a bag of frozen vegetables like it was obvious.

Daisy groaned. "That's disgusting."

"It's cold," he corrected, kneeling in front of her anyway. He pressed it gently to her ankle.

She hissed. "Spencer—fuck, that's freezing."

"Stop whinging," he replied flatly. She kicked weakly at him with her good leg, missing completely.

"Helpful," she muttered. Spider didn't respond. He just adjusted the bag slightly, more careful now, thumb brushing absentmindedly against her skin like he didn't realise he was doing it. A few minutes passed like that.

Daisy's head slowly dropped forward. Spider glanced up once, expecting more complaints, but she was already gone, breathing slower now, lashes resting against her cheeks. He stared at her for a second longer than he meant to.

Then he shifted slightly closer, careful not to move her too much. His hand rested lightly at her waist, steadying her without waking her. For once Spider felt his mind clear and there was silence. There was only him and her. Just her, asleep in his kitchen like she belonged there without even trying.

And Spider, sat there like he wasn't entirely sure how he'd gotten lucky enough for it to happen.