We emerge from the bathroom taking a minute to smooth our clothes, become presentable once more. My body is weary but my heart feels intact again. Only Ryan could manage to fuck me back to myself.
"Are you going to tell me what this is all about?" Ryan speaks cautiously, the warmth paired with genuine curiosity.
I consider telling him that it was nothing. That I had a moment and now it's passed. But the way he looks at me, so open, I decide to put it out there. "Yesterday, before I surprised you, I was standing outside the venue. There was a group of kids talking about you being gay."
"What?" His voice barely a whisper.
"They know. Or think they do." I bite at my nail again, "They also think you're with Josh."
Ryan takes it in but says nothing, shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot.
I place my hand on his arm and offer supportively, "But Therese, she was so accepting. Fell in love with the girl right there."
"You fell in love. Yesterday. With a girl." He says, trying to make sense of my words. Sounding a little hurt.
"Not 'fell in love' " I use air quotes to drive my point home "fell in love. More like, I don't know, I want to hear why it doesn't matter to her. Why who you sleep with doesn't make her less a fan."
"The fans know I'm..." he chokes on the words.
"Gay." I supply, "You can say it."
"I can say it!" He returns, volume increasing.
"I'm not fighting with you." I say, surrendering completely, "I was just trying to help."
"I know." He sighs, defeated.
"Listen, I'm going to go out there and see what's what. Figure all of this out. Okay?" I reach out, hugging him to me.
"Yeah." He doesn't sound convinced.
"Baby..." I hold him as tight to me as I can. Kissing his cheek. "I will protect you. Protect Us. I promise."
He relaxes against me, loosening his grip around my waist, capturing my lips in a soft kiss. "I trust you."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Therese is sitting at a table near the back all by herself. She appears out of her element. Shifting nervously in her chair, tapping her fingers on the tabletop. She looks like she needs a save and I'm definitely the man for the job.
I glide over, pulling a chair out to join her, "Therese! Thanks for coming back. I really appreciate it." Confidence pouring off me.
She's staring at me like I'm an apparition. I wait patiently for her to respond. She stays silent. I lower my head to meet her gaze curiously, "Therese? You okay, kid?"
"I have a backstage pass." She says more to remind herself. Her eyes wide.
"I know." I chuckle, "I'm the one that got it for you."
"Why?" She squeaks out.
"Wanted to talk to you. Hang out. You seem cool."
"I left my friend?" Her voice turning up at the end, dumbfounded that this is reality.
"You did?" I feel like a dick. Of course she came here with someone. Should have thought of that. Too wrapped up in what I wanted to consider her at all. But, I can make this better, "Well, let's get 'em back here!" I ring out.
I motion for the same roadie from earlier to come closer. "Hey, what's your name?"
"Dan." He coughs, "Dan Keyes." Seeming a little shocked that I bother to notice him at all. Not that he isn't worth noticing, he's much better looking in the bright lights of the green room. He's not a kid, probably my age, maybe a few years younger. His blonde hair a little too long. He pushes his hair away from his eyes revealing the ocean blue.
