Sleeping With The Enemy

In The Beginning

You wake up to the sound of your alarm drilling into your head, and as your eyes adjust to the light of the sun filtering through the blinds, you suddenly realise something isn't quite right.

Shit, you think, as you see the time is 11am. You've forgotten once again to set your clock forward, meaning you're going to be late for band practice, as you had been the past few weeks, which had started at 10:30. If it wasn't for the fact that you were the lead singer and principle songwriter, you're sure the band would have kicked you out by now.

Your mother shouts something you don't quite pick up as you rush from the house, still doing up your shirt. Whatever it was, it was far too late to go back and check.
"Bye mum, be back later," you shout, unsure as to whether she had heard you or not.
With a quick movement, you unlock your car and jump into the front seat, an unfinished biscuit from the night before held tentatively between your teeth is your breakfast for the journey. A swift kick of the side of your car soon gets it started, despite the load groan from the engine, and you set off down the road.

"Good afternoon," says your bassist, as you run into the garage, sweat erupting from almost every part of your body.
Although there is a hint of a grin on her face, you can tell she is not pleased.

"Very funny Erin," you say between breaths, "but it is still the morning, even for your standards."
A general shake of the head from each of your band members shows that no one is happy with you. You loudly clap your hands together and rub them, indicating you are ready to begin. From what you can see, nothing has happened in your absence.

"We were just talking," your drummer, Connie, pipes up, "and we might enter for the Battle of the Bands."
Your brow furrows in confusion.
"The what of the what?"
Eyes roll around you.
"Haven't you seen the posters around town? They're everywhere!" Connie chuckles.
To be perfectly honest, you haven't been in town for a long time, not since you were fired from the crappy little music store you used to work in.

"Uh, no," you sheepishly admit.
Ellie, the guitarist, passes you over a poster to read, that she has clearly ripped from a shop somewhere.
"A chance to be signed?!" You read, in disbelief.
Your band watch as your eyes widen with excitement. This could be your big break, the moment the band had been waiting years for.

Your band, Taking Back Friday, have been together for almost 3 years, but you've all known each other since you were very young. Despite building up a small but dedicated following, you have yet to be signed by a label. As you hold the poster you realise this could really be it.

After practice, you all head to the post office to send off your entry form, before going into town to celebrate, stopping at the first pub you see. There's a group of guys at the bar, one of which catches your eye in particular. He notices you staring, and looks you up and down before giving you a reassuring smile. He has almost auburn hair, paired with blue eyes that are covered by eyeliner, which only enhances his enduring features. As you approach the bar he walks over to you, trying to hide that he is clearly quite nervous.

"Mind if I buy you a drink?" he asks, in a noticeably Welsh accent.
You nod your head, "A vodka and coke would be great," you reply, as the sides of your mouth go up.
He orders your drink and you sit together, and out of the corner of your eye you can see your band watching you with delight. It's not often you flirt with strangers like this, but this guy had something different.
"What's your name?" you ask.
"It's Nicky, and you?"
He looked like a Nicky, you thought. You tell him your name and he smiles again, your heart melts slightly.
"That's a beautiful name."

During the night you get through more drinks than you have had any other time, and laugh throughout the night. As more and more people leave the pub, including the rest of your band who were equally drunk and with some other eyeliner clad men, you realise how much you like Nicky.
"Do you want to get out of here?" he asks you, earnestly.
You nod and finish your drink, then leave the pub and call down a taxi.
"Where to?" the driver asks. Nicky turns to look straight into your eyes.
"Fancy coming back to mine?" he asks.
"Sure, that would be nice," you say in response, and Nicky gives the driver his address.

You arrive at his house and Nicky unlocks the door, kissing you passionately at the same time. You slowly make your way to his room, intertwined the entire time. He kisses your neck whilst unbuttoning your shirt, and you bite down on to your bottom lip. He pulls your shirt off, and in turn you take his off too, before you both sink into the bed together.

That next morning you begin to wake up, at first confused about the lack of beeping from your alarm clock, until you suddenly realise where you are. This makes you bolt upright, your eyes still squinting from the light. On the bed beside you is an empty space, meaning your companion is already up. Your head is thumping, a consequence of the drinks you consumed the night before. To your left is a bedside desk, with a clock that tells you the time is 1pm, so you're incredibly late for practice. Next to the clock is a note from Nicky, telling you to steal a t-shirt from his drawer to wear. You do so, noticing how big it is on you, and quietly walk down the corridor towards where you think the kitchen might be.

"Good morning," Nicky says cheerfully, without turning round, as you try to sneak into the kitchen.
"Good morning to you too," you say, trying to replicate his happy tone.
He slides two plates on to the table in front of you and indicates for you to sit down. You do so, and gratefully eat the English breakfast he has made.

After trying to leave several times, and being pulling back into the house for a repeat of last night, you eventually leave Nicky's house with his number. You catch a taxi to the pub, and then drive home in your car. As you pull into the driveway, you see Erin leaning against the tree outside your home, her arms crossed.

"Where the hell have you been? I've been calling you all day!" she yells as you get out of your car.
"I was... out," you mumble.
Erin's eyebrow rises at your vague response.
"Luckily for you we cancelled practice this morning, funnily enough everyone had a headache. Now answer my question."
You shuffle your feet slightly, trying to piece together all the thoughts buzzing around your head.
"I was with a guy, at his place..." you say, your voice trailing off.
Erin gives you the knowing look you recognise so well, before telling you that she has told your mother you were staying with her, to avoid any awkward questions.
"Do you fancy getting a coffee?" she asks, "Looks like we have a lot to talk about."

You explain to her the story, and Erin listens with fascination.
"He sounds amazing," she says, "and I met someone too..."
Now you could find out about the guys you saw your band leave with.
"He's called Richey," she gushes after you push her, "he had this gorgeous Welsh accent."
She tells you about how Connie had met a guy called Sean, and Ellie a guy called James, both of whom were also Welsh.
"They were in a group or something, maybe they play sports together." Erin explains.
You remember that Nicky was also Welsh, and wonder whether they were his friends.
"We didn't go to their place like you did, though we did get their numbers." she tells you.

As you walk into band practice the next day, you notice the stern look on the others faces. You feel confused, as you were sure you were on time today.
"That guy you were with before," Erin begins, "was he called Nicky by any chance?"
Still confused, you look around to Connie and Ellie before turning back to Erin.
"Yes, how did you-" before you could finish, Ellie interrupts you.
"Those guys we met last night, they're from a rival band in the competition." she says.
"And by rival, we mean they're good." Connie chips in.
You begin to realise where this is heading.
"That Nicky guy is also in the band. We've all decided that we won't date any of our rivals in the competition," Erin says firmly, "and nor will you."
You gulp slightly, knowing full well you would be seeing Nicky again.

Behind your friends' backs, you would be sleeping with the enemy.