Just for Tonight

25.

Suddenly, she felt someone hug her.

"He'll get better soon," Linde told her.

"Oh Linde... It's over, he doesn't want me anymore", she replied, hurt.

"He told me to explain to you... That he's ashamed. He doesn't want you to see him like this."

"I want to see him. It doesn't matter what condition he's in. I'm not mad at him. Tell him please. It's driving me crazy...", she sobbed.

"Shhh, Shhh, sweetheart. The bus remains here in front of the hospital, so the best thing to do is rest and tomorrow we'll normally pick him up.", Linde softly said.

"Maybe you're right", she sighed.

He got back on the bus with her and made sure she was all right, before joining Ville and the others.

"Dude, you're hurting her," Linde said.

"I know... I don't deserve her," Ville said weakly.

"Grow up, Ville. She's convinced it's over between you," Linde continued.

"But did you explain to her...?", Ville asked.

"Not sure she sees things the way you do. You told her that... You've had enough of her. Why?", Linde snapped.

"Because...", Ville started. "I wanted to propose to her. Just before we left... I didn't dare. I'm the only one to blame, she had nothing to do with it and doesn't suspect a thing. And I'm obsessed...with her. I love her so much that it hurts". Ville looked paler and paler.

"We're going to her," Migé decided. "Take some rest, tomorrow is another day".

"Don't tell her about...", Ville sighed before falling asleep.

---

Chloe hesitated, standing in front of Ville's bedroom door. He wanted to see her, alone, before being discharged from the hospital. She knocked lightly to signal her presence, and entered. He was lying in bed, so pale, large dark circles under his eyes.

"Hi, Beautiful", she softly said but she stayed away from his bed.

"Hi, honey", he shyly replied.

"How do you feel this morning ?", she asked.

"Better. I want you to know... I'm so sorry, Chlo", he said as he opened his arms.

She moved slowly towards the bed, without hugging him.

"You hurt my feelings," she murmured.

"I know, honey . I didn't mean what I said. I especially didn't want you to see me in my darkest moments. You didn't know me then... But I can tell you that you would never have fallen in love with me back then", he tried to explain. " And even if... I didn't take anything of my own free will... I knew that with Bam, this could happen. I have no excuse."

"Are you going to press charges?" she asked.

"No, I don't have to. We'll leave and I'll never see him again. I promise," he assured her.

"Good. I'll wait for you on the bus," she replied.

"If you'd like to help me get dressed and get my things... Then we'll leave," he asked.

She helped him stand up and get dressed. She couldn't take her eyes off his frail body. She wanted to hug him, but she was angry. Angry at Bam, angry at the situation, disappointed with the feeling of having been rejected by the one she loved.

He sensed that and leaned against her, facing her.

"My love, forgive me", he begged her.

"I do, but I'm hurt. You said... Anyway, forget it. We've got a long way to go and a concert tonight. The journalists are cancelled, so we'll just have time for a sound check before you take the stage".

She rested her forehead on his chest.
"I love you," she whispered. He hold her tight against him, breathing in her scent. "You are my world, honey."

---

Chloe was relieved to leave Pitsburg. She was leaving behind the bad memories and, above all, she wanted to forget that part of their story.

But there were murmurs among the boys. Voices that fell silent as she approached them. At first, she paid no attention. But one day, Migé's recognizable voice uttered these words: "If you don't tell her and something similar happens, you're signing the end of your relationship. It's up to you, Ville."

"Am I concerned?" she asked, her voice higher than usual.

"Honey!", Ville gasped. "Nothing important, sweetheart," he retreated at her preoccupied look.

"It's up to you", Migé said once again as he left them alone.

"Would you still have secrets, Valo ?", she asked, clearly annoyed. " I have had enough with Bam, you know".

Ville became frightened. He knew that the story with Bam had planted doubts in her mind. She was more distant with him.

"All right, it's fair", he replied. " I want you...to trust me. I'll ask you one thing. In Los Angeles, next week... Don't leave my side. Under no circumstances. I... still have a ghost living there and I don't know what could be going through her mind."

" Her ? Oh my ! Seems you have your heart full of ghosts", she smirked. "Tell me more about the one living there", she asked.

"I don't want to talk about it, Chloe, least of all to you," he firmly said.

"All right, Ville. It's up to you, as Migé told you", she replied as she turned her heels.

"Remember, never leave my side in L.A.", he reminded her, but he let her go.

"If all I have to do is trust you, then everything's fine, isn't it, Ville?" she replied wryly.

He reached her in an instant and forced her to face him.

"No, Chloe, all is not fine. Talk to me, yell at me, but get it out of you," he begged her. "You run away from me, you avoid me, you don't join me anymore in my bunk at nights.... Go ahead, let it all go"

" "I... I'm mad at you. If I'd known about Bam before, we wouldn't be in this mess. And now you don't want to talk to me about a girl who, apparently, meant a lot to you, but I can't let you out of my sight in her town... Damn it, Ville, what are you looking for? For us to break up for good?" she said, desperate.

He kept silent. He didn't feel like talking... About her, because deep down, he didn't know what to say. He was just afraid of what she might do.

" Did you love her so much that you can't tell me ? " She was crying.

"It's not like that, Chloe. Believe me...", he softly said, trying to hold her against his chest.

"How do you want me to trust you ?", she sadly noticed. "But you win, Ville. I won't leave your side and I'll be on your feet in L.A.". And she let herself go with his etreinte.