Gravity

Chapter Eighteen

After his talk with Will, a big load had been lifted off Chris’ shoulders, still the most important part, telling Jonny had yet to be carried out. It actually terrified him. Singing and dancing like a clown every other night in front of thousands of people was nothing in comparison to exposing your most intimate feelings to the person you adored most in the world with the posibility of losing them forever. He could perform at an arena such as this anytime, not that he did not feel the regular nerves, but in just a few hours, the place he was actually sitting on would be probably occupied by one of their fans or a casual concert goer and he would be up there on the stage, playing every song for them , however he did not feel he had the strenght yet to tell Jonny what he really wanted to tell him, what he needed to tell him. “Time for sound check, mate,” his guitar tech told him.

As he approached the stage, he spotted his band mates getting ready with their instruments. His eyes met Jonny’s and Chris gave him the biggest smile, earning an equally large and brilliant one in return. His heart beat accelerated and he blushed. Such was the effect the other man had upon him. From the corner of his eye, he caught Will smirking and he turned to face him. He was not alone now with these feelings. The drummer shook his head in amusement. Chris being madly in love with Jonny was also something new for him.

“Ready, Chris?” he asked from behind the drum kit.

“Ready.”

“Ready fellas? One, two, three…,” the drum bit for In My Place started and soon Jonny followed with his guitar.

Chris got closer to him, as he usually did during this song and leaned his head on the other man’s shoulder. It was Jonny playing and him singing. A mystical moment for him. “Come on, Jonny Boy,” he encouraged him, dancing away from him, receiving an adorable smile from the guitarist that turned his insides into mush.

When the technicians had set up all their instruments to the band’s liking and everything was ready and proofed, the four friends remained on the stage playing new songs and just having a good time. One of the perks of being in this band was that he got to hang out with his best friends all the time, doing what they all loved. It was fantastic.

When the show ended they all sprinted backstage to collect their belongings, they had only a few minutes to get in the vehicles already waiting for them at the back of the arena. Chris walked into their dressing room where his mates were already changing and he quickly replaced his stage clothes for a clean t-shirt and trousers. Their staff was hurrying him up and even though he did his best, they asked him if he could be quick three times. Once he had finished and looked around the room, very few people were left. Jonny was nowhere to be seen. “Where’s Jonny, Guy?” he blurted out without thinking.

“He just left with Will and Vicki, ready mate?”

“Yeah,” he said disappointment settling in. He wished Jonny had waited for him. “Let’s go,” he told the bassist and they were both ushered through the corridors by security until they reached their van. He climbed in after Guy and sat on the nearest available seat, right in front of Will. Jonny was seated behind Guy, his head rested on the window, a pensive look in his eyes. Will and Guy did not seem to have noticed, they were busy checking their mobiles for messages from their girlfriends, but he had. He had and his heart constricted at the sight.

“Jon,” he softly called out.

The guitarist slowly turned his head, “yeah?”

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah, just tired, that’s all,” he said with a small smile that never reached his eyes.

He obviously was not in the mood for talking about it, so Chris did not press on, but he could not help the worry that invaded him.