Gravity

Chapter Seventeen

During their lunch, their meeting, the two-hour drive to their next stop in their tour and the time spent in the venue all Chris could think about was what to do with his feelings for Jonny. He could not contain them anymore, he needed to tell him or at least he needed to tell someone. He needed to hear someone else’s view and ideas. He’d usually go to Jon for advice, but for obvious reasons that was not an option now. When Jonny was not available, the second best choice was not other than Mr. William Champion. Chris hesitated about discussing this with Will, he was well aware there was no going back from telling him. However, besides being band mates, they were primarily friends and he really needed to get this out from his chest. So, with a determined stride, Chris got up and went out of the dressing room to look for the drummer. After a quick search around the backstage area, he found him outside, smoking a cigarette and talking on the phone. Will saw him approaching but continued his conversation. The singer stood awkwardly near him trying to catch his attention.

“Give me a minute, love. Chris needs to tell me something,” Will told his fiancée and then looked at the anxious man in front of him. “What is it mate?” he asked him, a hand on his cell phone.

“Sorry to interrupt, I need to talk to you. Well, I need some advice really, so would you mind giving me a few minutes when you’re done?”

“Is something wrong?”

“No, well, no, not wrong, per se, just, I’ll better tell you everything, ok?”

“OK. I’ll finish talking with Marianne and I’ll be with you.”

“Thank you, Will. I’ll be in the family room!” Chris said darting off.

There were just a few people in the family room when he arrived, one of their PA’s, Guy and a friend and another person he had not been introduced to, it was still quite early and some of the guys’ guests had not arrived yet. He had not invited anyone today but was expecting some family for the next couple of weeks. With nothing else to do, he dropped down on the sofa, grabbed a science magazine and flicked through it while munching on some chocolate. Two minutes later Jonny walked in and, upon spotting him, headed straight to where he was chilling. 

“Hey, being productive?” he joked.

“As always Jonny Boy!” Chris said with a big smile. Jonny decided to sit next to him and Chris’ smile got impossibly bigger. His stomach made a cartwheel when Jonny lay back next to him, yawning. He was so adorable, he resisted the impulse of leaning over and kissing his handsome face.

“What were you reading?”

“Something about music healing the brain, it was quite interesting,”

“Cool, leave it here so I read it later,” he said letting out another yawn.

“You’re still sleepy? Didn’t you catch a few winks on the way here?” They had sat in different rows in the van and he had been, to his disappointement, away from him during the short journey.

“I wish! No, I was just thinking about things.”  

“Things?”              

“Yeah, just stuff. Some late twenties crisis I guess,” he chuckled but Chris could tell his friend was not entirely joking. There was something really bothering him, probably the same thing that he could see in his eyes every time Jonny didn’t know he was looking at him. 

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, just feeling a bit low,” Jonny said with a shrug.

“Is it about her?” he tentatively asked, dreading the response.