The Draw

7

The first few days after Dans departure were the toughest for Stacey. Her mind was in overdrive. They'd had such an amazing day together, but now he was gone and all she was left with with her thoughts. She couldn't even call or text him yet. The house was so empty without him there. He often spent a few days away and was away long hours, but just knowing he wouldn't be back for a month really affected her. She couldn't even face cleaning, because all his things were everywhere and she wanted it that way. Luckily for her she had her big exam to study for and a few extra shifts at the caffe. She'd also made plans to go out with some of her friends from work, so that would distract her for a few hours.

She kept replaying their last kiss over and over in her head. How he held her tightly, not wanting to let go. That had been a bit of shock for her. She'd assumed he wouldn't want to tell the other boys about them, with it only being early days. And she was worried about what they would think. Will had just turned away out of respect but Kyle and Woody had stared open mouthed. Dan had flipped them his middle finger. She was sure there would be a long conversation about her on the 12 hour plane ride.

Stacey walked back from work on day four, her iPhone headphones in, listening to a sample Dan had downloaded for her a few months ago that she'd never actually listened to. He really did have a unique voice, it was so deep and strong. So different to his speaking voice, which was quiet and soft. Suddenly the music stopped and instead her earphones played her ringtone. She stopped in the street and pulled her phone out of her pocket. A strange number flashed up.

'Hello?' She asked.

'Well, I was expecting a warmer welcome than that!'

'Oh my god, Dan, hello! Sorry, I didn't recognise the number. How are you, how's it going?'

'It's so much fun. I love it out here. And it's so warm. How's London? How are you?'

'I've just finished work, it's cold and I'm tired and I miss you.'

'I miss you too. I wish I could see you right now.'

'Where are you?'

'Just chilling in the motel. The guys have gone for some beers but I'm pretty tired.' She could just picture him now, laying on the bed in a darkened room full of crappy furniture and flowery decor.

'I can't wait to see you.'

'I'll be home soon. We've got a lot of time to make up.' She could feel him smiling. 'So, tell me what you've done today.'

'Work.'

'Come on. What time did you wake up? What did you have for breakfast? I got up at 1pm, I had fruit loops for breakfast, took a shower. What did you do?' He laughed. She could hear how tired he was.

'Dan, go to sleep, you sound knackered.'

'I need to hear your voice. That'll help me sleep.'

'You want me to bore you to sleep?'

'Exactly.' He laughed.

So she told him everything from the moment she woke. But by the time she got to her break at work, she could hear his snoring.

'Goodnight Dan.' She whispered and hung up.

Speaking to him had really made her feel so much better. Now she was too awake to go to sleep. She fired up her computer and opened up the pictures that were taken during a games night with the boys a few months ago. There were a couple of her and Dan together, pre-Stacey falling head over heals for him. They'd always been pretty close friends, almost from the start. She thought they complemented each other nicely. She was the serious one. He was the silly one. She kept the home clean. He messed it up. She could make him laugh and he could make her feel on top of the world. Now she looked back, it seemed they had been building up to this. They both spent all their free time together anyway. They did each have their own friends but why was it they were always together? She hung out with his friends and he had come to her nights out when he could too. In the various photos, he always had his arm around her. In a couple of them, he wasn't looking at the camera, but at her. And she'd never noticed. Actually, he did a lot of things she'd never noticed until now. Maybe she'd got it all wrong. What if he had liked her all this time? And it was only when she'd been acting weird that he'd thought he'd take a shot. She smiled to herself. If only she'd confessed to him earlier. They could've had so much more time together.