You're Welcome

Chapter 12

Noel stares at his phone. Why was she doing this to him? Why now? Why, fucking why? Noel is cursing loudly in his head, his hands shaking holding the cigarette he's smoking, the half drank bottle of beer on the table in front of him.

His tour was almost finished, he would be home in just a week and Sara wanted to see him. She wants him to meet her while he's playing in Glasgow the following day.

Noel is confused and hurt. Why would she want to see him? She left him, she didn't love him anymore, she was out of his life. The divorce was finalized, signed, sealed and delivered. They'd been finished for almost 2 years. What more could she possibly want from him? The thought that maybe she wants to get back together creeps into his head and he forces it away. They didn't work, they finished for a reason didn't they?

Noel rubs a hand over his face as he realises he wasn't going to get any sleep that night.

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Sally lies back on her couch, twirling her phone over and over in her hands. She lights a cigarette and sips her tea, waiting for Noel to call like he did every night. His name finally comes up on her phone and a grin spreads across her face. Excitement bubbling in her chest.

"Hey fuckface,"

"Alright Sal," Sally stiffens at the tone of his voice. Noel sounds different, he was usually happy to talk to her not so... well depressed to talk to her.

"How are you?" She asks softly and he sighs.

"Tired,"

"Oh. Ok," Sally bites her lip. Something was wrong, really wrong. She can feel the tension coming through the phone in waves as Noel is silent for a few beats. Just as she's about to ask him if everythings ok, he speaks.

"Sara text me. She wants to see me in Glasgow... I'm gonna go," He says and Sally sucks in a breath, feeling winded. It was like someone had knocked all the air out of her lungs.

"Just thought you should know," Noel says and Sally swallows hard on the slab in the back of her throat.

"Sally?"

"Yeah course, do what you gotta do," She manages to force out, biting her lip to the tears stinging her eyes.

"Right. I'll... I'll call you tomorrow," Noel says and before Sally can reply he hangs up. She stares at the phone in disbelief and that song comes back to haunt her, all the same except the name.

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

I'm begging of you please don't take my man

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

Please don't take him just because you can

Your beauty is beyond compare

With flaming locks of auburn hair

With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green

Your smile is like a breath of spring

Your voice is soft like summer rain

And I cannot compete with you, Jolene

He talks about you in his sleep

There's nothing I can do to keep

From crying when he calls your name, Jolene

And I can easily understand

How you could easily take my man

But you don't know what he means to me, Jolene

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

I'm begging of you please don't take my man

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

Please don't take him just because you can

You could have your choice of men

But I could never love again

He's the only one for me, Jolene

I had to have this talk with you

My happiness depends on you

And whatever you decide to do, Jolene

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

I'm begging of you please don't take my man

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

Please don't take him even though you can

Sara, Sara, please don't take Noel away. Sally curls into a ball on the couch and cries herself to sleep.

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