The Draw

14

She continued to love her job. She loved living in their own home. Whilst Dan was away, she'd spent her free evenings decorating. The house was already unrecognisable now the cleaner came four times a week. Stacey had been tipping her a lot. That poor woman had gone through months of dirty clothes and rubbish before she could even begin to hoover and clean. So when she had found the floor, Stacey had ripped up the carpets to reveal a lovely real wood floor underneath. She'd gotten rid of the crappy leather sofas and replaced them with a fabric corner suite. She'd been to Ikea and brought massive shelving units to put up with Dan when he got back from Ireland. Then the walls, doors and skirting boards had been painted. Pictures hung. Curtains and nets hung. Little tiny ornaments and vases scattered about the place.

And for the first time in two years it felt like a real home. Their home. She had friends round. She invited people for dinner. Anything to fill the massive gap Dan had left. Now she wasn't working long shifts or weekends, suddenly she felt very alone. At least before she quit the caffe, she'd either be out first thing in the morning or until very late at night, so she tended not to notice his absence as much. But now she left late and came home early, she found her self sitting, thinking, pondering. The cleaner did all the dishes and washing. She had no coursework to do. No exams to revise for. She'd read all her books and listened to all her music. She felt very much alone right then.

Bastille had really exploded now. She could barely watch tv without seeing Dan and the boys faces. She was so immensely proud of them all. One thing she had found to do in the evenings was visit fan sites and comment as if she were a teenage fan. That gave her a couple of hours of enjoyment. Though it had uncovered a few pictures of Dan with fans that, though totally innocent, were making her rather jealous. And she saw first hand some of the reactions to him. She'd seen girls come up and ask him for autographs and photos, but some of the things these girls were talking about doing to him!

She just had to ring him and tell him. He didn't answer. She checked her watch. He was due on stage at nine. He always rang her just before he went on. It was 8.30. Probably busy, she shrugged.

But nine came and went. She didn't really think much of it. She went to bed. Just before work the next morning, she tried him again. When he didn't answer or ring back she now started to get concerned. So she rang Sam.

'Is Dan there?'

'Yeah, hang on.' She heard him pass the phone.

'Hello?'

'Alright stranger?'

'Everything ok Stacey?' He sounded...she couldn't put her finger on it. He wasn't upset or angry. Just, different.

'Its fine. You didn't ring me yesterday?'

'Yeah I know sorry, really busy right now. Is it ok if I ring you back in a bit?'

'Yeah sure-'

'Alright bye.' He hung up. She was a little taken aback, but like he said. He was busy. Right?

Then he didn't ring back. She actually felt a bit discarded. She refused out of pride to ring him again. She wondered how long he would go without contact. That night came and went. She found it hard to get to sleep, her mind going into overdrive. Was he hiding something from her? Was he ill? Was he genuinely too busy to talk to his girlfriend for a minute? This was the longest they'd gone without talking.

Work the next day was brutal. She was attending a crime scene that was pretty horrific and ended up having to leave work early. Her line manager, Matthew, was totally understanding. It was normal for rookies to feel sick when attending their first blood bath. She'd quickly explained to him that she was just tired and he smiled, knowingly. She desperately wanted to talk to Dan. That's what boyfriends were for, talking to after a really hard day at work.

She drove home slowly. She didn't want to go back there. Instead she went to her mums house. It had been a while since she'd properly seen her family. She'd spoken to her mum on the phone at least once a week and had been over for dinner with Dan the week before. But she couldn't remember the last time she'd just nipped in for a cup of tea and a natter with her mum. She loved her parents. They'd always given her the space she needed and supported her with everything. Mainly bailing her out with money during the first year of uni. And they loved Dan.

'Hes busy, poppet. That's all.' They sat across the kitchen table with tea and biscuits inbetween them.

'Hes always busy. But it's been two days now. That's odd.'

'What do you think is going on?' Her mum was amazing with boy troubles. She'd always been brilliant when Stacey was going through her teenage angst stage. At the time it had seemed like her mum was useless and didn't know anything she was going through. But now as a full grown adult, she finally appreciated how much crap her mum must've taken from her for all those years.

'Honestly? What if he's cheating on me? Or what if he's changed his mind about us?' She felt ridiculous for saying it.

'I don't think he'd cheat on you. I've seen the way he looks at you.'

'But mum, some of the fans are really...well, throwing themselves at him. I wouldn't blame him. He's away a lot and it's been handed to him on a plate? What if he doesn't want to be tied down to me? He has to come home to me every month when he could be out there having fun?'

'Then you need to talk to him about this. But I don't think that's the case at all. He bought you a house remember.'

'I know. I can't help but think it, though.'

'Ring him.'

'No. He needs to ring me.'

'Stop being stubborn. It'll be your downfall.'

She felt a little better having got her fears off her chest. Her mum was probably right. But it didn't stop her mind making up stories in her mind. She drove back to the empty house, planning on going right to bed. As she put her key in the door, her phone rang. Daniels face flashed up on the screen. She ignored it. Two can play this game. She would ring him back in an hour.

He rang again as she walked up the stairs. Ok, so time to stop playing she thought. She wanted to hear his voice and his excuse. But she wouldn't let him off the hook that easily.

'I'm so sorry baby. We literally haven't stopped. Are you ok?'

'I'm fine.'

'Good. I'm having to stay up in Manchester for another couple of days, but I'm off at the weekend now. Did you want to do something? Go anywhere?'

'Oh, I've kind of made plans with work.' That was true. Saturday night she and the two female interns were going to the cinema.

'Can't you swap anything around?'

'No. I've made plans because you said you wouldn't be back. Sorry.' She was a little insulted that he'd ask that. She wasn't going to change her plans because he'd changed his. And especially after how these last two days had been for her.

'Ok. I might just stay here then.' He sounded deflated. She couldn't stay mad at him when he used his sad voice.

'Come with us. It's just the cinema and a few drinks.'

'Are you sure that's ok?'

'Of course.'

'Alright, then I'll see you Friday. I'll ring you tomorrow.'

'Promise?'

'Pinky promise. I love you.'

'Love you. Bye.'

And everything was back to normal. Or so Stacey thought.