Almost Everything

Chapter 18

My hands gripped the steering wheel. My knuckles a glowing white as my nerves built.  I turned on the stereo to try and distract myself. I tapped my finger to the beat of the unknown song in the background.  I took the exit for London on the M1 as my thoughts resurfaced to my conscious. It wasn't the fact that we were about to perform to millions of people across the world that bothered to despair. It was the fact that I was seeing Olivia for the first time is 3 months. I haven't seen her since that night. I've tried calling and texting her but I have had no reply despite my countless attempts. The only time I have heard from her is via email to the whole band confirming dates and the schedule. This silence is destroying me piece by piece. Slowly pulling me apart.  These past 3 months, I have spent drinking the days away locked away in the studio or at home. Torturing myself over what happened with Liv.  But some would argue that this has led to some of my work.

I pulled up outside the hotel where we would be staying, I had left the night before the boys were due to as I thought the drive alone would help calm me down. But it was quite the contrary. Grabbing my brown leather duffle bag, I gave my keys to the valet and went inside to the lobby. I located the reception desk and made my way over to collect my key card for my room.

"Hiya, reservation under Turner please." I said to the young looking girl behind the desk.

"Sure, let me just check you room number," She began to tape away at the keyboard. I pulled my phone from my pocket to check if I had any notifications. I had a texted from Arielle which read "Safe drive <3 x" I stuffed my phone back in my pocket. I'll reply to her later.

"Ahh here we go, sorry for the delay. New systems has got me all confused on how to find things. It's room 598. Floor 11."

"No worries." I assured her.

"Ohh and this was left here for you." She handed me an envelope with my key card.

"Thanks." I took them both from here and made my way over to the elevator.

I pressed the button to call the elevator, the small ding was followed by the swooshing sound of the doors sliding open. I stepped inside the empty elevator, pressing the button number 9, the doors closed and it began to move.  I turned the envelope open and tore it open. I pulled out the piece of paper and unfolded it. It was a hand written note, and I'd recognise that hand writing anywhere.

"Call me........"I fold the note back up and shoved it back in the envelope, putting it in my inside pocket of my jacket. Being in this elevator reminded me of the first time me and Liv ever slept together. The time I told her that I had the deep, unknown, feelings for her. And how she told me that we didn't stand a chance being together. And from that moment on I knew that there was going to be this force pulling us together no matter how determined she and everybody else  was to pull us apart.

I dumped my bag down on the floor. I went and sat down on the edge of the bed, pulling my phone from my pocket. I stared at Arielle's text, still unopened. I let out a heavy sigh before, opening my contacts. My thumb hovering over Arielle's name. I scrolled down and pressed Olivia's name. I held the phone to my ear, it began to ring. The gaps between ringing getting longer and longer. 

"Hello." God I never thought I'd be so relieved hearing the sound of somebody's voice. It felt as if I hadn't hear her voice for a thousand years.  Relief washed over me when I heard her speak. It was as if nothing had happened between us and everything was plain and simple. 

"You wanted to speak to me?" I asked. My voice expressionless and blunt. I was going to just forget about all the pain she has caused me over the past 3 months.

"Alex? Please," but I cut her off before she had a chance to finish her sentence.

"What do you want Olivia?" I gulped in between my words trying to hold myself together. I had no idea it was going to be this difficult. "What could you possible want from me?" My voice slightly cracking at the end of my sentence.  My hard front quickly becoming undone.