the Presleys

chapter 28 - 1956

CECE MARTIN

June 1956

I was sitting in front of the vanity when I heard a knock on my hotel door. My brows furrowed in confusion and my eyes shot a quick glance at the clock, wondering who would be disturbing so late.

I stood up and rapidly grasped my robe, wrapping it around my body. I opened the door and found a rather distressed Bill clad in his pajamas.

"Uh, Bill? Everything alright?"

He stifled a yawn. "It's EP. He's sleepwalking again.", he said tiredly.

My eyes widened and I immediately looked around for him.

"He ain't here. He's on the balcony.", Bill's finger loosely pointed at the balcony on our floor.

I immediately grabbed my key and slipped in my slippers, shutting the door behind me. "How could you leave him alone, Bill?", I wasn't annoyed at the disruption of my routine, no. But the fact that Elvis was alone in such a vulnerable moment made my heart rate speed up.

"Well, I wanted to let ya know first. Since you guys were—"

"Yeah, yeah, okay, thanks.", I cut him off,  knowing where he was heading. "I, uh... You can go if you want. I've got this from here.", I caught a glimpse of a smirk on his face, my words only proving his point.

"Alright, well good night Cece.", I nodded and wished him good night as well. With my heart in my throat, I made my way to the balcony and hoped that Elvis was sat there and he hadn't wandered off elsewhere.

I pushed the doors open and breathed in relief as I caught him leaning against the railing. I walked up to him and before I could get too close, I stopped in trance. Things weren't the same anymore. How could I comfort him in a way that wouldn't hurt me afterwards?

I sighed and took a deep breath, carefully approaching him. But before I could take a step further, his voice broke the silence.

"I ain't sleepwalking.", at the sound of his voice, I found myself being more aware of my surroundings — there was smoke fluttering over his shoulder, indicating that he was most probably smoking.

I huffed and touched the area above my heart. "I was worried, Elvis.", my tired tone made his shoulders twitch. "How could you send him to me with a lie? You know we have an important show tomorrow."

Elvis turned around and threw the cigarette on the ground, stepping on it. "I needed to talk to you.", his piercing blue eyes tried to stay on mine, but I couldn't let them read my soul, no.

"It couldn't wait until tomorrow morning?", I asked and slowly moved to stand beside him, my forearms making contact with the cold railing. Despite my movement, I could still feel his eyes on me. His gaze was magnetic.

"No, it couldn't.", Elvis replied without hesitation. My brows furrowed in confusion.

"Well?", I said, my tone sounding distant.

"I won't say until you look at me, Cece.", his feet shuffled in discomfort. I rolled my eyes and shifted my gaze on him.

"Hi.", he said with a small smile gracing his lips.

I raised an eyebrow. "Elvis."

Elvis sighed and adjusted his body against the railing. "I, uh, there's things I've been meaning to say... And I don't want ya to interrupt me— if that's okay with ya.", his blue eyes met mine again, pulling me in like a magnet. I wordlessly nodded at his words and shifted my gaze on his hands, unable to hold eye contact with him in this position.