It's Up To You

Part 5

"I expect you home no later than 10 pm."

Stevie frowned, facing Kim, placing her hands on her hips. "Excuse me? I have a curfew now?"

"I should have been a bit more strict with you from the start. Stevie, you have responsibilities. You're a wife and a mother, you can't leave and come back as you please. God knows what goes on behind closed doors with you musicians."

Stevie scoffed, not believing what she was hearing. "This is what I do, Kim. Thanks to me being a musician, you're living in this mansion. So, no, I'm not coming back at 10 if things are going well in the studio."

Raising an eyebrow, Kim crossed his arms over his chest. "If I were you, I'd think about some more."

"Are you seriously threatening me right now?"

Kim just shrugged to that, leaving Stevie, saying nothing else.

When Stevie arrived at the studio, she was met by Mick, John and Christine. She didn't know if she should really be surprised Lindsey wasn't there. Greeting her bandmates, Stevie sat down next to Chris, eyeing a few bottles of beer, a bottle of brandy and two rolled joints, with several already in the ashtray. She started fidgeting with her rings, until Christine covered Stevie's hand with her own.

"Are you doing alright?"

"Yeah..." Stevie replied with a nod of her head. "Just..." Shrugging her shoulders, she looked away from the inviting variety of choice. "It's hard."

"I told the guys to clean up before you got here, but you know."

"No, it's okay, Chris. It's me, who can't deal with my problems, not them. I don't expect everybody to stop doing this shit, just because I can't."

"So, you haven't touched anything?"

Shaking her head, she said... "No, not since that night."

"It's been what, like two weeks then? That's wonderful." Christine smiled, truly happy for her friend. "I'm sure you can do this, you're so strong." She added, hugging Stevie around her shoulders.

"Right." Stevie laughed lightly. "Where's... where's Lindsey?"

"Would be nice if we knew. Mick spoke to him yesterday, said he was coming, but..." Christine trailed off, shrugging. "Have you two talked at all since the fight here?"

"Lindsey was by my side at the hospital."

"Oh really?" Christine asked, genuinely surprised and feeling hopeful.

"I promised, I'd go to rehab, then basically ran away from him again. He came to see me, I told him that I'm fine as it is and he just..." Her eyes brimmed with tears, as she bit on her lower lip. "I think, I screwed up for good this time." 

"Oh, honey." Christine sighed, hugging Stevie closer, rubbing her back. 

Then everyone grew quiet, when the door opened and Lindsey entered the room. He paid no attention to Stevie, barely uttering a hello to the others. His voice was void of emotions, when he told Stevie the title of one of her songs they were going to record and they just got down to work.

Despite the obvious and thick tension in the room, things were going smoothly. Not a single argument yet. Then again, how can someone argue if they're not talking to each other. Stevie attempted to start up a conversation with Lindsey several times, but he was having none of it, usually saying he needed a break and leaving the room.

Just like Stevie suspected, nobody planned on leaving early. Even though she acted all tough in front of Kim, something had changed in him recently and most of the things he said to her, scared her. She had no way of knowing if his threats were real or he was just scaring her, so he had her on a short leash. 

"Stevie, concentrate." Lindsey snapped. He had started the track from the top and she missed her cue. 

"I'm sorry." She said, glancing at the clock on the wall - 9:24 pm. 

"What's the matter with you? I can't work like this!"

"I- I... Matthew isn't feeling very well, so I'm worried." She lied. She wasn't going to say it was Kim, who told her to be home at a certain time. 

"Yeah, well that's none of my problems, so..." 

"You don't have to be an ass about it." 

Clenching his jaw, Lindsey took in a deep breath in order to calm himself down. "Again." He referred to the current song they were working on.

They were finished for the day way past midnight. Everyone gathered their things in a matter of minutes, leaving Stevie and Lindsey alone. She tentatively approached him, clearing her throat before speaking. 

"I wanted to ask you if you could give me a ride?"

Lindsey scoffed. "I'm sure you'll find your way home on your own." Grabbing his guitar case, he opened the door to leave, feeling Stevie's palm on his back. 

"Please..." She asked again, hoping he'd face her and see the fear in her eyes.

He didn't. He shook his head instead and pulled away from her, leaving the building quickly. 

Stevie contemplated sleeping on the couch where she was at the moment, but she didn't want to make matters worse. Maybe Kim wasn't being serious. Maybe.