The Draw

41

They played the last song of the night to a packed out venue. Evie had fallen asleep in Stacey's arms as they watched and Sam had kindly taken her back to the bus before all the fans swarmed around it. Stacey and the boys were then helping the roadies to pack up the equipment and load it onto a truck. It got the job done faster so they were away sooner and it was only manners to help out. The best part for her was sitting on the flight cases as Dan pushed them down the ramp out the back of the building. She always enjoyed this part of the night. They were always on such a high from playing and up to mischief. There was banter and throwing of dirty towels and practical jokes. Kyle was the best at getting people. His favourite was hiding inside the flight cases and jumping out. One day, they joked, no one would find him and he'd die in one.

The venue was empty. A massive 5,000 capacity and just an hour ago it had been full to the brim. Stacey was sat on the empty stage drinking from a water bottle, gazing out into the darkness. There was one last box to be loaded and they could hit the road. All the roadies, sound technicians, staff and press had gone.

'Ready to go?' Dan asked from behind her. He sat down next to her. Their legs swang over the edge.

'Yeah. Just having a quiet moment.' She didn't look at him but she could sense his eyes on her. 'I'm so proud of you, you know. Look at this. All those people here to see you. It's so amazing.'

'It's mad.' His voice echoed around the empty room. Since the very start, when they'd first met, when he'd first moved his stuff into her house, he'd been a pessimist. He'd gotten better with it. He was so much more confident in himself and more believing now he had achieved everything he'd dreamt of. But there were still moments where she knew he must've felt like he was in a dream.

'I'm glad you didn't quit.'

'Me too. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you.' He put one arm around her shoulder. Her mind flashed back to the night of Woody and Wills house party. She'd sat outside having a cigarette and he'd come out with a blanket. That was their first night they'd slept in the same bed, all cuddled up. She rested her head on his shoulder.

'I'm glad I came.' She whispered.

'Me too.' He kissed the top of her head softly. She reciprocated by rubbing her cheek against his shoulder and putting her hand on his knee. A good couple of minutes passed. Neither spoke or moved. Frozen. Her mind wasn't so quiet. Kiss him. Kiss him, it screamed. Now. Do it now. This is the moment.

'Come on guys. Bus is going.' They heard Sam shout from the stage door.

But the moment passed and Dan stood up. He held out his hand to her. She took it and let him hoist her off the ground. He let go and led the way out. They climbed into the bus and it started off straight away.

'I think the guys are watching Batman tonight. Fancy it?'

'No, erm, I'm pretty tired. I'm gonna hit the hay. Goodnight Dan.' She went straight up the stairs.

'Goodnight Stacey.' Dan went into the downstairs living area. She checked on Evie. Fast asleep. Bum in the air. As always. Then she got into the bunk opposite hers, shut the curtains and buried her head into her pillow. That had been the moment. But she just couldn't pluck up the courage to say or do anything. What if he rejected her? That would make for a fun month together. Hell, that would make the rest of their lives uncomfortable. What if Kyle was wrong? He didn't like her. He would've said something by then. Jeeze, she thought. She was almost thirty years old yet still her brain and her heart acted like a teenagers.

She'd drifted off into a fretful sleep sometime later into the night as the bus gently rolled down the roads and the boys laughing voices carried up the stairs. And she didn't know what it was that woke her, but her eyes fluttered open and in front of her, was Dan, crouched down.

'I just wanted to say...' He began. He seemed nervous. And a bit drunk. 'Well. I didn't get a chance to tell you earlier...'

Stacey looked down at her phone.

'Its 3am, Dan.' She told him. Not to get rid of him or to tell him to shut up. But to gently tell him that whatever it was could wait a few hours.

'I know. I'm sorry.' He looked crestfallen. She hadn't meant to knock him. 'I'll tell you later.' He pulled her curtain shut and jumped into the bunk above hers. Stacey sighed and rubbed her eyes. She couldn't leave him like that. She got out of bed and stood up.

'Dan?' She whispered.

'Yeah?' Without hesitation, she opened his curtain and pulled herself up onto his bed. She shimmied herself down, pulled up the duvet and lay on her side, facing him. The little light above their heads was just enough for her to see right into his blue eyes.

'What did you want to tell me then?' She said with a little laugh. He seemed too shocked for words. 'Come on, must've been worth waking me up for, and you know how much I hate being woken up.'

'That I...I'm just glad you're here. Yeah.'

'Thats it?' She pushed. Come on Dan. Say it. Say what it is I hope you're going to say.

'Yeah.' He shrugged.

'Oh my God, Smith. You drive me mad.' She was laughing, but was slightly annoyed. What else could she do? She went to get back out the bed, but his hand gripped at her waist.

'Wait.' He whispered. She placed her hand over his, her thumb caressing his skin. He sat up as best he could with the low headroom and pressed his chest against her back, resting his chin on her shoulder. Every inch of her tingled. Her heart raced. Her breathing stopped. He slowly, painfully, kissed the side of her neck. She ran her other hand through his long messy hair, running it down into the shaved sides and back. She tried her best not to make a sound, but she had muttered out his name. His free hand was now touching the side of her face, softly bringing her to look at him. She didn't think she could. Her eyes were tightly closed. She was scared that if she looked at him, she would burst into tears.

'Stacey.' He said almost silently, right into her ear. 'Open your eyes.'

'No.' Instead, she did turn to him, but she kissed him. And it was just how she'd remembered it. So soft and sweet. So careful but full of passion. Suddenly she heard footsteps coming up the stairs. They both dived back into Dans bunk and shut the curtain. Stacey had her hand over his mouth and his over hers, trying not to laugh.

'Oi oi Dan! About time!' They heard Kyle say as he passed their bunks. She'd left her curtain open. He must've noticed that Stacey wasn't in hers.

'Shut it!' Stacey called back. Kyle was chuckling to himself. So were they. What a way to run the moment. 'Did he say something to you tonight?' She asked Dan. He nodded.

'And he might've got me a bit drunk.' She would kill him in the morning. Actually kill him. No more was said. They both lay back down, Stacey facing the wall and Daniel close up behind her, his arm round her waist and her hand interlocked with his. She fell back to sleep. And for once, with nothing on her mind other than how good this felt.