Lonely and Tired

Almost Easy

Chris had spent the best part of the drive up to the house in gobsmacked silence. Every once in a while he'd take a look in the rear view mirror and his eyes would go wide before he'd refocus on the road.

Brian had been right. Where was the fun in offering a warning? Chris had been pre-occupied in watching for traffic when we'd thrown our bags in to the back of the SUV before Angie had jumped into the front passenger seat and Brian and I had scooted into the back seat.

I was strangely self-conscious. I don't know if it was because of the crowded airport but it was the first time that I'd actually ever been conscious of the fact that Brian was quite famous. It was more than the girls hitting him up for autographs, I'd noticed more than one person with a camera phone stealthily taking a photo of him, of us really because by that stage I'd been beside him and he'd made it quite clear he had no intention of letting me go. I'd hung out with Brian and the other guys in the band in Huntington Beach on more than one occasion in public and although a couple of people had approached them for photographs and autographs, on the whole people had let them be. I could only assume that in their home town people were familiar enough with them to not want to hassle them.

"Hey Chris," I'd said as I slid into the back seat and watched Angie lean over and press a kiss to his lips. It was one of the things I loved about them, the way they weren't afraid of public displays of affection. It was one of the things I liked about Brian as well if I'm being honest.

"How's it going Steph? Did your friend get off his flight okay?" Chris asked without taking his eyes off the road.

"A-okay thanks very much Chris," Brian had said leaning between the seats to greet Chris, "it's good to meet you, I'm Brian. Thanks for letting me tag along this weekend."

Chris had tilted his head slightly to the right to acknowledge Brian, "No worries man. Any friend of Steph's is a friend of mine." His eyes flicked up to glance at Brian. "Holy fuck!" he exclaimed and the car swerved.

"Chris!" Angie and I screeched in unison.

"Great idea Brian. Surprise certainly is the essence of attack," I grumbled as Brian flopped back onto the seat beside me.

"Didn't know we were attacking Ace," he wrapped an arm around me and I snuggled in closer because although it wasn't cold in the car it looked cold outside and cold weather snuggles were one of those life moments in life that you'd be stupid to let pass you by.

"Neither did I," I retorted, "but I'm pretty sure you just gave Chris a heart attack."

Chris had looked dazed as he'd glanced over his shoulder at Brian. "I can't fucking believe I have Synyster Gates in the back of my Tesla."

"Believe it dude," Brian smirked. Oh that ego.

Angie had taken it upon herself to grill Brian on the hour long drive to the house they'd rented at Squaw Valley. She'd hung over her seat facing us laughing and slapping our faces when she heard the story of how Brian and I had literally run into each other at the cemetery. Ange had never been one to express her enthusiasm with subtlety.

"Oh my god Chris! Can you imagine it?" she tilted her head up from her upside down position hanging over her seat to look at him, "Steph backed into his car. In a graveyard!"

I made eye contact with Chris through the rear view mirror and he looked faintly sick. "I can't even begin to imagine backing into Synyster Gates's car." It didn't take a genius to see that Chris could imagine all too clearly backing into Brian's car.

"Fuck Angie, call Brad and Adam," Chris had burst out in a panic as we pulled into the driveway of a timber A-frame.

"Huh?" Angie looked confused as she flipped back into her seat red curls flying around her head.