'Moonlight'

2

And there she is, my gorgeous girl.

Her soft blonde hair falling in fluffy waves around her face, her deep brown eyes twinkling as she smiles. Her smile.. She's even prettier in person. She's wearing the usual black chiffon dress, and wrapped in a grey-ish brown shawl. Her hands are decorated with various rings and bracelets, and she has her special moon necklace on.

I glance beside me and notice that Sharon and Lori are wearing theirs, too.

"Just... uh," I stammer, awkwardly. Fuck, why am i being so awkward?

"Cause you've been locked up in your room all day," Sharon says for me, laughing. Stevie purses her lips as she sits down, across from me.

"Don't." she says, pointing her fork at Sharon. Sharon shakes her head furiously and chokes on her water, making me laugh.

Dinner is great, though i don't eat much. It's fish with potatoes and veg, one of my favourite meals, but i don't really have an appetite with how nervous i am. I stare at my knees, wondering if Stevie is looking at me. I can't stop myself from glancing up at her every so often. She's usually just staring at the air or chattering with Lori and Sharon.

She still hasn't spoken to me directly yet.

After dinner, we all sit in the living room. The room is not huge, but not small either. There's a magnificent fireplace, which is the first thing to catch my eye and takes up most space.

I'm the last person to come through, and as i had guessed was going to happen, the only place to sit is beside Stevie on the sofa. She glances up as Sharon says hi to me. I stand there awkwardly, looking anywhere except at Stevie. This is so weird. She's my favourite person, ever, but i'm fucking terrified. Probably just trauma, i guess.

"Ooh, i've got a song for us to go over tomorrow!" Sharon says, excitedly. Everyone gasps delightedly, except Stevie, who is watching me out the corner of her eye.

"I don't bite, yknow." she says grinning, as i sit down.

I shrug slightly, not even sure if it's my tics or i just don't know what else to say to that. Even her little grin doesn't calm my nerves, somehow.

"I'm just nervous, i guess," I say as Sharon gets up for the bathroom, glancing over at us on her way out of the room.

"Nervous? Why?" Stevie asks, tracing her finger around the rim of her glass as she watches the fire.

"Just.. uh, cause you're like- my favourite person, ever.." I mutter, staring at my knees.

Stevie smiles, still watching the fireplace intently.
"That's so sweet of you to say,"

"I mean it," I say, quickly. "really, you... saved my life. I wouldn't be here without you. You made my life so much better."

Stevie laughs a little, staring into her water.
"That's what I like to do," she murmurs. "make people better, help people with my music."

"I know," I mumble.

She looks up from her glass as Sharon comes back through. "It makes me happy, to make you happy."

"Same here." I say, a small smile creeping onto my face. Stevie nods, smiling too.

Lori stands up, yawning. "That's almost 11, so i'm gonna sleep. We've got a busy day tomorrow."

Sharon nods, throwing her arm around Lori's shoulders. "Me too,"

I get up, too. "Yeah. I'm pretty tired."

Sharon glances at Stevie, who is still immersed in her glass of water. "You're staying down here?"

Stevie nods. "Mhm. Sleep well, guys."

I follow Lori and Sharon upstairs as they chat about the project and whatever we're doing tomorrow.

"Night, Pierre." They say, in unison and I grin slightly at how much of a good duo they make.

"G'night."

I change into comfy shorts and one of my dad's t-shirts, flopping down onto my bed. I think about journalling, but i don't have the energy. I realise that Stevie still didn't look at me properly once tonight.

I'm about to go to sleep, miserable, but then i remember i have my journal with me. I rummage through my bag, extracting the black notebook and a pen, and being scribbling down the events from today.

After about 15 minutes or so, i hear the floor creak outside my door. I frown slightly, tempted to get up and check, but it must just be Lori or Sharon going to the bathroom. I spend another while writing before my hand starts cramping up. I put my journal and my glasses on my bedside table, and lie back on the pillows.

Somehow, i end up falling asleep quickly, on top of the duvet with the lights still on.