The Swap // Denis Stoff

8

I sit by the bar for a good hour. I know for a fact AA finished playing at least 45 minutes ago and I have had no text, no phone call, no nothing from Denis. That's not like him. He texts me after every show, always excited to tell me about something that happened or something he was happy about. Not this time though. He has literally no excuse for this, but I refuse to text him. I want to see how long it takes before he realises I am gone. I doubt they'll go back to the bus, unless they're having a party.

Another hour passes and I am pretty gassed. So many guys have came up to me to try and talk to me but my chat is so poor just now they end up excusing themselves. Sadness washes over me and I end up just sitting scrolling through Facebook like a saddo. So many fans come up to me asking me for pictures and some ask where Denis is, and I just tell them I don't know. Because I don't.

I feel bad for snapping at Derek earlier on too. He didn't deserve that. I hope he just realises what I am like though and forgives me. I am pretty laid back and never get angry or snap but when I do it's very few and far between. He'll know I didn't mean it, really.

I eventually tear myself away from the bar, swaying about and trying to get my bearings. I venture back to the bus and open the door. Unlocked, that's weird? I didn't think anyone would be in at this time. It's only 9pm!

I stumble in to find a full house: there's so many people in here. Music is blaring and there's empty bottles everywhere. Trust this to be the fucking night they choose to have a bus party. I shut the door and weave through the people. Most say hello to me and I just wave or nod in reply; I'm too steaming to even speak and my only mission at this point is to find Denis.

I search the bus; upstairs and downstairs and eventually find a few people, including most of AA and Denis, sitting down with a few girls. I recognised some of them as being friends of friends but there's something different going on.

It's her. Ashley is here and she's sitting right next to Denis. initially they both don't notice I'm there so I watch a little. She has her hand placed on his thigh and he has his arm around her. They're both laughing at something James is saying and they're both drinking. They look at each other, laughing, a few times and they seem like they're having a good time. I catch him looking at her chest a good few times and I notice he's tracing circles on her shoulder. Her lipstick has faded and I notice there's red stains on hips lips and his neck. I almost vomit in anger. The final straw is when they look at each other and touch foreheads.

Oh no they did not.

'Hello strangers.' I say as I walk in. Denis instantly shifts and stands up to greet me, taking me in a hug. I don't hug him back and he pulls away, sitting away from Ashley now and offering me to sit next to him. 'No thanks.' I say, waving him off. 'Just here to grab some other shoes and a coat.'

'A coat? Where you going?' He asks, trying to stay positive. He knows I'm pissed off with him and so does Ashley. She has a shit eating grin on her face and she is loving this. Denis looks around the room for some help and Ben pipes up.

'Sit with us for a while princess, we're talking about how I farted in Denis' face on stage earlier.'

Everyone laughs but I just can't be fucking bothered. I force a laugh and shrug my shoulders, turning around. 'So you must be Ashley?'

The group falls silent and she pipes up, saying "yes" confidently. 'Me and Denis are so happy to finally see each other after being apart for so long!'

Denis just kind of eyes her and then looks back to me, shaking his head.

'Really! That's nice, Denis. I didn't realise you two were so close. The pictures on Facebook were so cute of you two.' I smile ridiculously sarcastic and look right at him, or I think to be right at him as I am half cut. He keeps shaking his head and it's blatantly obvious that Ashley can see, and she's loving it.

'Yeah we're just having a great laugh. I'm glad to be back.'

The other guys look at me with horror on their faces. I don't think they expected there to be an encounter between us but boy were they wrong.

'Great. Well clearly I'm getting in the way of all this fun, so I'm just gonna go and find somewhere less fucking awkward.'

I storm off and Denis shouts on me. I feel his presence behind me but I scoot through everyone and lock myself in the toilet. I think he thinks I went outside because I can hear him calling for me. He phones me instantly but I ignore it, turning my phone on silent. There's only one person I'm interested in speaking to just now, so I text him.

I'm coming to your bus. X

Okay honey x

And so I make my escape through the back door and make my way over to State Champs' bus.