Can't Sleep... Love? (Mavi)

Morning Seventy

"Turn it off, Daddy" I whine. Only seconds ago I was harshly woken up by the shrill sound of Avi's travel alarm clock.

"Working on it." Avi turns around and effectively silences the device. "Wow, we've slept for more than ten hours straight."

"Mmhm, we did" I return. "After all we were tired as hell. And I personally needed a good nights sleep." I yawn and stretch my still tired limbs.

"Sounds like you could still use more sleep" Avi jokes.

"Actually... yes. Or something else that would keep us from going out today" I return.

Avi looks at me, probably to find out how to take my statement. As he sees my weak smile he sighs. "I know what you mean, Babe. But we have to face the music. It will be alright, I promise." He leans over to me and kisses my cheek.

My smile is now a little bit brighter. "We still have to agree on what we're going to do about it" I then remind him.

"I know." Avi sighs once more. "Let's talk about it with the others. You and I are way too emotionally involved. We need someone who can think a little bit clearer."

"You're probably right. Anyway, we should probably get ready. When are we departing?" I get up from the bed and start putting together an outfit to wear for soundcheck and meet and greets.

"An hour from now. I want to hit the buffet before we leave. I'm hungry and you know how much I need my breakfast" he explains when he sees my shocked face.

I usually get up like twenty minutes before I have to leave and annoy the hell of everyone because I want to get Starbucks for breakfast. "Okay, okay. I think I need some good breakfast to get through this day, too."

We get ready in silence and then head out. Checkout is done quickly and efficiently, as always since we're already used to it and then we're off to the restaurant.

"Look, there's Scott and Alex" I say as we're standing at the buffet. Since I'm gluten free, my choices of breakfast are limited to yoghurt, fruits and muesli-stuff. Of course I could eat something like bacon and eggs, too, but I'm feeling like having a healthy one today. I fill a huge bowl with greek yoghurt, different fruits and just a little bit of oatmeal. and get myself a huge coffee to go with it.

"Mmhm, saw them, too. Shall we sit with them? Maybe they can help us?" Avi returns, balancing two plates, one with bread and cheese and one with bacon and eggs.

"It's worth trying" I say and approach them. "Hey, are we interrupting something or may we eat with you?"

"No, you aren't interrupting. We're just having breakfast." Alex smiles at me warmly and points to the two chairs opposite of them. "A little bit of company would be great, wouldn't it, Scott?"

"Definitely! Especially if it's the two of you" Scott agrees and smiles at me brightly, before he continues to put Nutella on his toast.

We sit down and start eating in comfortable silence. I'm a little bit confused because neither Scott nor Alex say something about all the pictures that are currently spreading around all through our fanbase.

"We actually wanted to ask you something" I therefore begin after taking a sip of my still hot coffee.

"Shoot. What's up?" Alex wants to know. They really seem to be oblivious to everything.

I take a deep breath. "Someone took my old phone and is publishing photos on twitter. Especially those of Avi and me."

"What?" Scott immediately takes out his phone and types away. "Damn, you're right." He shows the screen to his boyfriend who just nods.

"That's a... tricky situation" Alex points out after quickly looking at the phone. "First things first: are there any pictures that show more than just your plain affection for each other? I mean like nudes or stuff?"

I don't have to think about this question at all, I quickly shake my head. "Not at all. There are some that show us topless, like from when we were at the beach or even... Damn there is a picture of us in your bed, Avi."

Avi nods. "I remember" he softly says. "It's my favourite, because it shows your plain beauty after a good night's sleep."

"Thanks Babe. But it also shows that we're a couple. There's just no denying it once this picture is online" I return and take another shop of my coffee. "What are we going to do about that?" I look at Scott and Alex for help.

"Actually, I don't know what to say or how to help you" Scott begins. "As Alex said before, it's a tricky situation and there really is no right or wrong. You have to do what you feel like doing. You could deny everything, you could just ignore it and still try to keep your relationship secret, you could announce it and be all open about it or you just do it like we do, keep the details to ourselves but live or relationship or openly while neither denying nor announcing it."

I look at Avi. "What do you think?"

Avi shrugs his shoulders. "I don't want to deny it, because that would feel as if I'm denying you. Which I would never ever do. But I also don't want to announce it as being a big thing. You know how I value privacy about everything" he explains thoughtfully.

"I know, Daddy. But I don't want to hide, either. People will talk, because they're interested in us and with the pictures out, we just can't deny it. So why don't we just live our relationship out in public without making a big deal out of it? Starting right now?" I look at Avi, who's still looking at me with a thoughtful expression on his face.

"What do you think?" He asks, turning to the couple sitting opposite from us.

"As Scott said, there really is no right or wrong, but listening to both of your opinions, I think you should neither deny it nor confirm your relationship officially. Maybe you could try to continue just like you're doing now but without worrying too much about hiding" Alex concludes. "That way you'll still have the item of privacy, but can be more free?"

"Yeah, I thought about that, too. Maybe not being open about your relationship in a way that you'd be making out everyway you go or take it to the stage, but rather the small gestures like a peck when you feel like it, or just holding hands or hugging? Do whatever makes both of you feel comfortable, because that's what matters. It might seem like a huge thing right now, but in the end it's not" Scott chimes in.

I listen to their words closely and come to the conclusion that they're both right. Avi and I need to find a way to deal with this in a way that would make both of us feel confident.

Avi looks at me for a long moment with an unreadable expression on his face, before he takes my hand and presses a kiss on my cheek. "I don't want to hide anymore" he says.

"Then don't" I return with a small smile on my face. "It's way too stressful anyway."

We stay like that, our fingers intertwined while we finish our breakfast and chat with Scott and Alex about random things. I like the feeling of this and I can only imagine how good it would feel to have that all the time. Being able to get a good-luck kiss right before hitting the stage and not having to worry about who may see us. And while watching Kelly's set, we could actually dance together without remorse.

Life's looking a whole lot brighter right now, which I thought was impossible. I'm still not happy that all of our private moments are leaked and there for everyone to see, but it happened and we have to deal with it.

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