You're Welcome

Chapter 8

Sally steps off the platform with her dufflebag of clothes, looking around nervously. She bites her lip as anxiety tightens her chest, wondering with the crowd toward the exit of the London Underground. She struggles with the ticket barrier before someone tutting does it for her and she heads up the stairs slowly, still searching.

Noel spots her with a grin, pushing past people without a second thought for them, all he cares about is his Sally Cinnamon and she's right there. He smiles at the unsure look on her face and when he finally reaches her, he grabs her by the wrist and tugs her into his arms, planting a kiss on her lips as she smiles in recognition.

"I was starting to wonder where you were," She murmurs against his mouth and he grins pulling away and holding her hand tightly.

"As if I'd stand you up," He says and she sniffs, unable to stop the smile on her face.

"Damn right, you'd be crazy to actually," she says lightly and he pulls her against him again, kissing her hard.

"I know," Noel says softly and Sally smiles goofily before Noel leads her by the hand outside to the taxi rank. Noel has just got himself a new flat in London and he's taking Sally to see it and show off. Sally smiles at him as he opens the taxi door for her and she sits down, scooting over to the next seat so he can just get in. She plugs in her seatbelt and Noel does the same, a new habit he'd picked up from being with Sally for just over 3 months.

He grabs her hand and holds it in his, skimming his thumb back and forth over her skin as she smiles at him, wanting desperately to reach over and sit on his lap, wrap herself around him and get lost in Noel.

"I've missed you," Sally says softly and he kisses the top of her hand, beaming at the blush in her cheeks.

"I've missed you too," Noel says softly and Sally squeezes his hand gently. They hadn't seen eachother in 3 weeks and it had been hard for both of them. Noel was preparing to go on tour in a weeks time and Sally was going to look after his flat for him and find one for herself while he was gone.

"I know you might be tired from the train but d'you fancy comin' down the pub tonight?" Noel asks and she smirks at him.

"I leave the pensioner habits to you Mr 'I Gave Up Coke In '98 And Haven't Touched It Since,'," Sally snorts with heavy sarcasm and he grins wickedly, giving her a wink.

"What the media and fans dunno-"

"Won't hurt them, yeah yeah," Sally finishes for him and they share a conspiring smile. They also, so far, know nothing of Sally even though they have hidden nothing. Noel likes to think that maybe they're finally getting the point that he doesn't want to be bothered over trivial shit like this but he knows its just wishful thinking and that as soon as they're back in the limelight that'll be it, he'll have to answer all the questions under the sun and deny whatever bloody rumours and conspiracy theories come up about his divorce and relationship with Sally. It makes him scowl and Sally squeezes his hand reassuringly. She knows exactly what he's thinking about.

"Don't worry Tiger, we'll figure it out," She says softly and he smiles widely at his nickname. Noel leans over and kisses her softly. If Sally was being honest, she was terrified about when the press got wind of Noel's divorce and their relationship. She was bad tempered at the best of times with not a lot of patience and a prick shoving a recorder in his face made her temper flare at the thought. She inwardly cringes at the kind of intimate questions they might ask. Having nothing to reference to, she has no idea the kind of shit they ask.

"Anyways, who are we meeting at the pub exactly?" Sally asks with a raised eyebrow and Noel can't stop the smile on his face.

"No one I just thought you fancy a couple-"