The Love of a Stranger

The Home I'd Lost in the Fire

Dan and I waited half an hour before the full band were together. They each greeted me with a hug.

We sat around the coffee table, chatting to each other and getting to know one another. I knew in my head that Cathy would do anything to be here right now.

"So, Laura I heard you like the album? What's your favourite song?" asked Kyle raising his eyebrow.

"Oh no, don't make me choose, well...I like Laughter Lines, Skulls and Icarus."

They all nodded their head in agreement of my song choice.

"But I also like Bad Blood as well and Pompeii...I don't know I love the whole album".

"Wise answer" added Woody. After many cups of tea and stories being exchanged, my phone rang but it was a number I didn't recognise. I walked into the kitchen to get some silence then answered the call.

"Hello?" I could feel them staring at me.

"Hi, am I speaking to miss Laura Anderson?"

"That's me"

"I'm sorry to tell you that a fire has broken out in your apartment and the damage is extreme."

I gasped and placed my hand over my mouth. Dan noticed and came in to the kitchen with a worried and confused look, he furrowed his brows.

"Oh no, is everyone okay? Is anyone hurt?"

"No, everyone made it out in time, but I'm afraid some of your possession have been burned in the fire. I'm sorry."

"It's okay as long as no-one got hurt, thank you for informing me." I hung up and the moment I did Dan was eager to find out what happened.

"There's been a fire." I simply said. Tears were filling up my eyes questions started filling my head.

'What am I going to do?'

'Where am I going to stay?'

'When will I get a new house?'

"Oh my god, I am so sorry, if there's anything you need don't hesitate to ask me. Do you need somewhere to stay? You can stay here if you want, I won't mind at all."

I considered his option but I couldn't possibly.

"No, no, it's alright I don't want to be a bother to you. You've done so much for me anyway."

"No please, I insist."

I may as well there's no other option.

"Okay, but I'm not going to stay here forever, only a few days until I can get back on my feet."

He ruffled my hair and smiled. I still couldn't get over how beautiful he was.

I headed towards his bathroom when I passed Kyle on the way, he stopped to talk to me.

"By the way? Dan hasn't stopped talking about you since he met you. He was saying how beautiful you were and I must say that you've lived up to your expectations."

"Oh wow thanks, he never told me that." I bashfully said.

"Dan's a keeper by the way, stick with him!" He whispered and gave me a thumbs as he walked back into the living room. I laughed to myself as I walked into the bathroom.

Hours passed and it was finally time for everyone to go leaving me and Dan alone in his apartment.

"So how bad is the fire?" He said going back to the subject.

"It's burned everything, I don't even think I have any clothes." I shrugged staring at the floor. He smiled to himself.

"What?" I asked confused, why was this funny to him?

"I heard you in the phone, even though your home was burnt to the crisp you still worried about everyone living there. You're so sweet."

"Well I have lived there for almost 10 years and you get to know some people." I explained. Doesn't he know anyone that lives around him? I changed the subject again, I didn't want to think about the fire.

"I take it I'm sleeping the couch tonight?" I asked, I didn't want to be rude and just take dibs on his own bed. His answer surprised me though.

"No no no no no I'm sleeping there tonight, you're sleeping in my bed."

"Are you sure? Because I can sleep wherever, it's no problem."

He came closer to me, held my arms with a tight grasp and looked me dead in the eye.

"I'm sleeping on the couch tonight whether you like it or not, and I don't want to hear any more about how you're being a bother."

He'd won me over, I couldn't refuse the offer.

"Alright then, thanks Dan, for everything. One day you're going to have to let me return the favour."

"Hey do you wanna order some food? I'm pretty hungry." I agreed with him and we phoned the Chinese.

We munched away at our food while we watched TV. There wasn't much on so we watched a film. A horror film. I hate horror films. Dan didn't seem to mind them, he would comfortably sit on his couch and watch them all day. I ended hiding beneath the blanket or burying my face into Dan shoulder. It was the scariest part and I couldn't bare to watch.

"Oh God Dan tell me when it's over." I muffled from underneath his shoulder. He chuckled to himself. I felt his arm wrap around my body and it was comforting, I felt safe around him. Long after the movie finished, we were both asleep on the couch as our bodies hung on to each other. We slept peacefully through the night.

I awoke as the bright sun ray hit my face and I opened my eyes to see that I was still facing the TV. I felt Dans chin resting upon my head and his arms still wrapped around my body. He was still sleeping. I tried to wriggle myself out without waking him up but that turned out to be impossible. I had managed to free my body from his grasp but as suddenly pulled back down and held me even tighter.

"Don't go, I'm comfy." He mumbled with his eyes still shut. I giggled.

"Dan I need to get up, I have pins and needles all over my body." I complained.

"Awww well you're just gonna have to wait until I get up." He smirked.

"When's that gonna happen?"

"Never." He whispered.

I was getting annoyed and I needed to stretch or I was going to become paralysed. I eventually got out his arms and headed to kitchen to make breakfast, I heard him moan behind me. I heard his feet slowly shuffle along the kitchen tiles behind me getting closer and closer until I felt his arms wrap around my waist and his chin rest upon my shoulder.

"Ugh you're such a spoiled sport." He complained.

"And you're really not a morning person. Turns out we both slept on the couch last night."

"And it was the best nights sleep I ever had." He turned his head and kissed my cheek. I couldn't help but blush...again.

"You're cute when you blush." He whispered in my ear.

"It's well embarrassing. I wish it I didn't do so easily."

"But then I won't be able to tell if you like me or not."

I turned to face him, stared him dead in the eye and said;

"Dan, how could I not like you, you helped me when I was in a sticky situation, showed me to your band, and gave me a home and it's the best thing anyone has ever done for me so, if you want any indication that I like you, then this is i-" his lips cut me off. He held me like he never wanted to let go. I knew at this very moment in time, I had fallen for Dan. The passionate kiss seemed to last what felt like forever but he gently parted and placed his forehead on mine.

"I'm in love with you Laura Anderson."