No Way Back (a Taylor Hawkins fan fiction)

Chapter 19 - One Cigarette

"Hey Serge! Look who I found!" Noel slurred proudly.

Gen stood still, her face blank, as Sergio stepped out into the courtyard, a small, vaguely sheepish smile spreading on his lips.

"Hey Vieve," he said softly.

"Did you know I was staying here?" she asked, her brows knit.

"I didn't."

"We were in that purple place!" Noel explained, gesturing behind him.

Gen nodded, shoving her hands in the pockets of the oversized sweatshirt draped around her. She was painfully aware of how disheveled she must look and she cursed herself for caring what he might think.

"Well," she began, forcing her voice into a cool submission. "It's late. You two have a good night. I was on my way up to bed."

She started past them, reaching for the handle of the large glass door that lead back inside when Serge grabbed her wrist. She snapped her head back toward him, her eyes burning as she pulled her hand away.

"Vieve, please. Just have a cigarette with me. One cigarette."

She stared at him without speaking for a moment, feeling the warmth on her wrist where his hand had been. Even after two years his touch still had it's effect. Noel had wandered off into the courtyard and was entertaining a table of delighted fans, leaving her and Serge awkwardly frozen in the doorway. Her brain circled through options as her heart cycled through emotions. Sergio cast his kohl smudged eyes downward, then back to her face, hopefully. She knew she wouldn't be able to sleep knowing he was in the building.

"One."

——————–

The London sky was overcast and yet it was anything but dreary to Gen as she pulled her suitcase behind her through Leicester Square. It was the heart of the city's theatre district; blinking bulbs surrounded aged marquees and weathered red awnings stretched out over grey sidewalks, ready to shield patrons from impending rain. Sergio was with the band at a rehearsal studio and had given her instruction to wait for him at a pub nearby on Charing Cross Road. She smiled as she approached the entrance. It looked just the way she imagined a London pub should look, it's dark green facade embellished with light wooden moldings, and golden letters above each of the two large street-facing windows declaring it the Garrick Arms. She spied an open table on the tiny sidewalk patio and quickened her pace, snagging it before anyone else had the chance. She settled in, ordering herself a pint of Guinness and pulling a compact from her purse, using her fingertips to re-blend the concealer she'd piled under her eyes on the plane. It had been a long flight.

She took in her surroundings as she sipped the rich dark stout, laughing to herself at the tiny restaurant across the street, it's massive red and white sign boasting AMERICAN FRIED CHICKEN.

"What's so funny then?"

Sergio's familiar voice interrupted her thoughts. She spun to her left and there he was– long limbs, sly grin, and fluffy jet black hair hanging in his eyes. She leapt up from her seat and flung her arms around his neck, nearly knocking them both over in the process.

"Hi Vieve," he said, grin widening.

"Hi!" she squealed, planting a kiss on his lips and relishing the feeling of his stubble against her chin. She'd missed it. "I'm in London!"

"I can see that!" he mocked her excited tone and pursed his lips for another kiss which she readily gave.

After downing a couple pints each at the Garrick Sergio hailed a black taxi, gallantly lifting Gen's luggage into the boot. Gen meant to take in the sights along the drive but her senses were otherwise occupied re-familiarizing themselves with her handsome english rock star.