Just for Tonight

30.

The next morning, they both sat in heavier silence. Lost in thought, neither knew what they were allowed to say or not say.

"I've got a rehearsal in the afternoon with the guys.... Would you like to come with me?" he began. "They'll be more than happy to see you again. Surprised, too."

"What exactly do they know?"

"That I've seen you again... That you went out with Perttu... That's about it."

"What do they think about all this?" she ventured to ask.

"Gas and Burton are against it. Not for my sake, but for your own. Migé is happy, you can imagine that. Linde hasn't said anything," he smiled.

"Ville... If you don't mind my asking... What happened... Why did you cut the tour short?". That question had been burning in her mind for over one month.

"I'm going to show you. You will understand", he replied, taking his phone.

After a while, he found what he was looking for. He put the phone down between them and started the video.

It was a recorded concert, obviously by a professional. You could clearly see the stage, the four musicians already in place, waiting for Ville.

As he stepped onto the stage, the spotlights lit up his face. He looked exhausted, tired and, above all, sad.

He sang the first songs of the setlist without conviction, as if he was reciting a lesson learned too often.

After Fortress of tears, it should have been the time for their duet.

Instead, Ville motioned for the musicians to stop.

Then he sat down at the front of the stage. He adjusted his microphone and began to speak to the audience.

"Normally, at this point in the concert, I'd be singing Just for Tonight with her. As you know, Chloe is no longer with HIM. I'm the one to blame. Please forgive me for my performance tonight... You deserve better. But my heart is in pieces right now. And you know what's funny? It's at times like this that I write the most beautiful songs. I can assure you that the next album will be exceptional. I'd like to dedicate... That we all dedicate the next song to Chloe, whom I know you also love very much. "

He rose to his feet and, at a sign from him, the first notes of The Sacramant filled the silence.

As he sang, Ville occasionally look backstage, as if by magic she were about to appear.

At the end of the concert, the recording showed that the last encore was no longer When love and death embrace, but Gone with the Sin.

Ville cut the video and finally dared to look at her. Her face was bathed in tears.

"It was one of the last concerts in the US. After that, one gig after another was canceled, because nobody wants a depressed singer, right?".

"I... I don't know what to say. So far I have always thought it was harder for me than for you. I'm sorry, Ville. I have pictured you so many times... You had found your soul mate, you were happy, in my imagination... Someone with Kat's confidence, or someone special and famous, with whom you could share your passion...".

"I had it all with you, Chlo", he sighed. What about you, how did it go once you got back to Helsinki?"

"I cried a lot," she said, lowering her head. "I felt empty, too. Getting back to a quiet job was salutary. Every evening, I allowed myself to think of you, and I sank. One day, I met Perttu by chance. We talked... A lot about you. He knew how much I was suffering, how much I missed you. It was hurting me physically. He listened to me for hours. Then he told me how he felt. His feelings for me. I felt so... lonely. So we kissed. But I just... It's terrible to say, I felt nothing. Nothing at all. And it had nothing to do with Perttu. He was so kind, so present... But you can't choose who you love deeply. My heart chose you months ago and it still does, each time, each day. ".

Ville looked at her. He imagined her crying her eyes out.

"Night after night, I looked for you in the audience, backstage. If you'd ever forgiven me, then maybe you'd have come to find me. Coming back to Helsinki was finally a relief. At least I knew I was close to you. A few blocks away, even. I felt reassured that, somehow, seeing you again was becoming a possibility. And then the music called... Writing down emotions is therapeutic."

She smiled.

"If I come to rehearsal, are you going to play what you've written recently?" she asked.

"Indeed I will. This album is my heart laid bare. Maybe you'll understand it even better."

"What are we going to tell the guys? About us? What are we now?". She looked away.

"Chloe... There's no need to define what binds us..."

"Not a journalist and a rock star. Simply Ville and Chloe," she continued his sentence, remembering one of their discussions.

"That's exactly what I mean. We have got things to sort out. We've changed and we need to rediscover each other. I don't want to promise you anything, Chloe. My only certainty is that I love you."

"And so do I", she sadly smiled.

"Why do you seem so sad ?", he asked.

"I'm afraid that... We've lost each other for good. Too much things had happened..."

"I've always told you that our love was demanding. The way we love each other isn't an easy one. But as long as there is love... You know, I'm scared too", he sighed. " So, let's go and see the guys".

Chloe put aside her fears. She was looking forward to seeing the gang again. They took a cab to the rehearsal hall.

"I'll go in first, wait five minutes and then you come in. They're going to be surprised. " he laughed and winked at her.

When she entered the place, Gas dropped his drumsticks, Burton struck a false note, Linde put down his guitar and Migé smiled broadly.

Ville had consciously turned his back. "Ville... Don't panic but... We've got company," Burton murmured.

He pretended not to have heard.

Gas tried to warn him in turn. "Dude, I think someone's coming to see you".

Migé added with a laugh: "She's rather small, long hair, converse on her feet... Really, doesn't that remember you anyone?"

Ville finally turned around and yelled at her with fake anger in his voice : "Chloe! What the hell are you doing here!".

"Well... Valo, we have things to fix", she replied in the same tone. But she couldn't hold back a burst of laughter. Ville laughed with her and joined her, taking her in his arms.

"I told you they'd be surprised," he teased gently.

"Bloody hell, you two! Chloe! Into my arms, darling!", Migé laughed in turn and hugged her tight.

Gas, Burton and Linde joined them and kissed her cheeks with emotion.

All six were back together.