(Don't) Leave Me Behind

Part 2

Stevie struggled to slide the key into the lock. When she did, she found the door to be already unlocked. She wasn't worried they could get robed, because they barely had anything, but still - it was their apartment and to think some stranger could wander in unsettled her.

With a heavy sigh, Stevie placed the bag from the diner on the kitchen table and sat down for a minute. The one good thing about her job was that she could take any leftovers at the end of the day, which meant she could save some money and they could still eat.

Hearing footsteps, Stevie looked over her shoulder to find Lindsey approaching her. "Hey."

"Hey." She echoed. "I'll heat up dinner in a moment."

"Steph..." He walked around her and knelt down, placing his hands on her knees. "I'm sorry about the morning. We both overreacted."

"I'm sorry, too." She placed her hands over his. "I'm just so stressed, Lindsey. I'm exhausted."

"I understand and it's all my fault. I dragged you out here with my promises. We should have done this differently. You should have first of all finished college, at least if our music career didn't work out, you wouldn't have to be working at that diner."

"Well, it's a bit too late to change things now, isn't it." 

Lindsey hated seeing her like this. "Maybe I should get a job."

Stevie couldn't help her dry laughter. "Doing what, honey?" Sighing, she shook her head and patted the back of his hand. "I'm hungry, aren't you?" She moved away, letting him know the conversation was over.

Not twenty minutes later, they were sitting opposite each other at their small kitchen table, eating in silence. Lindsey kept glancing at Stevie and he knew her well enough to know there was something on her mind.

"Did something happen while you were out?"

"What makes you ask me that?"

"Just... you." Lindsey shrugged, nearly finished with his plate. 

"Actually-" Stevie stopped, unsure if she should even bring it up. Lifting her eyes up, she stared at Lindsey for a moment; he was the closest person to her besides her family and away from home, he was the only one she had to confide in and rely on. "I don't know if I can believe him, but I met this man today. He claims he's a musician in a band and that he's heard of Buckingham Nicks. They're British, but they want to try their luck in the States, so he reckons they need someone new to attract the crowd." She might have appeared like she didn't listen to Mick much, but she heard every word he said.

"And?" Lindsey showed with his hand for her to go on.

"He thinks I'd fit it, that I should join them for a practice." Stevie shrugged, sounding nonchalant. "I said no."

"Stevie, what the hell?! Why not!" 

"Because they don't need two new members, Lindsey. They just need, well, me." She finished, diverting her eyes from his. 

His jaw clenched, Lindsey took in a deep breath. "Just you?"

"Yes. Mick said, I don't think we need another male in the band."

Lindsey was going to get very angry, but then... "Hold on, Mick? Any chance he was Mick Fleetwood?"

Frowning, Stevie then nodded her head. "Yeah, that one. How'd you know?"

"Very tall, skinny?" Lindsey asked to make sure they were talking about the same person.

"Yes." Stevie confirmed. "Have you heard of his band?"

"Have I heard?" Lindsey was taken aback. "They had possibly the greatest blues guitarist, Steph. I don't care much for their music now, but when they had Peter Green in the band, man..." Lindsey whistled. Leaning over the table, he gently closed his fingers around hers. "Stevie, Fleetwood Mac want you. This... this could possibly change our lives so much for the better. You could become the musical superstar I've always known you to be, babe."

Letting his words sink in, Stevie pulled her hand away and shook her head. "I don't want to do it without you, Linds. This was our plan, it has always meant to be our music that got us famous if it ever did. What if I don't even like what they sound like? I'm supposed to join just because we need money?"

"I get it." And he did. "But why don't you try? What if it's exactly what you need? It could be a lot easier later on for the both of us, with Buckingham Nicks, if people already recognized your name. You should give it a chance, Steph."

Biting on her lower lip, Stevie shrugged her shoulders. "I'm really not sure, Lindsey..."

"Why, baby?" He asked softly, sensing there was something she wasn't telling him.

"You know how I am with my songs. What if... what if they think the music I want to create is stupid? What if they think my love songs are silly? I..." She was getting emotional. 

"That's silly." He gave her a smile, walking over to her chair, Lindsey pulled her up to her feet and embraced her. "You're so young, Steph, but you write such mature poems if that makes any sense."

She chuckled tearfully. "I guess it does."

"You have an incredible way with words." He pressed a kiss to her hair. "It could be very different from Buckingham Nicks, possibly it will be. There'll be someone else working on your songs, but..."

"What if they ruin them?"

"What if they don't? Again, I think you should really try it and see how it goes. I believe in you." Lindsey said, cradling her face in his hands. 

She grew quiet for a minute. "I think I better sleep on it." Stevie smiled weakly and pressed a small kiss on Lindsey's palm. "I'm going to bed."

"Okay. I'll wash the dishes and join you." Lindsey nodded and kissed her goodnight in case she was already asleep once he got in bed next to her.

Early the next morning Lindsey was woken up by the phone ringing. Since it was Stevie's day off, he quickly jumped out of bed and rushed to answer the call, while also wondering who could be calling at such hour.

"Hello?" Lindsey spoke, his voice still groggy.

"Good morning!" Lindsey winced at the enthusiastic greeting on the other end. "I hope I dialed the right number, I'd like to speak to Stevie Nicks."

"Couldn't you have called a bit later?"

"Sorry. So, is Stevie around?"

"She is, she's asleep. I'm sorry, who's calling?"

"Oh! Mick Fleetwood, she and I spoke yesterday. I promised I'd find her. Are you the boyfriend?"

"Mhm, yeah. Lindsey."

"Well, Lindsey, could you wake your lovely girlfriend for me?"

"Hell no. She's got a day off, I'm letting her sleep." He heard an exasperated sigh. "But, uh... well, Stevie told me all about meeting you. I don't think you need to speak to her about what I can tell you for her." Lindsey realized he was making a mistake, he shouldn't do it, but he was afraid Stevie wouldn't do it either. His voice got noticeably lower. "She agrees. She'll join your band."