SECRETS | D.S

ten

Dan found himself unable to sleep for the rest of the night.

He knew he'd messed things up, whatever friendship they'd been forming, and he'd probably never see her again.

"Was I so wrong to assume there was something happening between us?"

"It's difficult, especially when I don't have more context..." Ralph told him, his voice clipping in and out on the other end of the line.

He sounded distracted; probably was, and as much as Dan felt like he was intruding as it was rather early, he hadn't been able to sit in silence much longer.

He always turned to Ralph, especially with things like this - matters of the heart you could say - as Ralph had more experience with these things, at least able to offer advice.

But it seemed this time, they were both lost for answers...

"Usually I would say go after her, but... yeah you don't wanna look desperate. Especially not seeing as things are still pretty new... including your friendship."

"She's leaving, Ralph," Dan mumbled, unable to stop pacing the length of his small living room over and over like a stuck record. "She's going back to Switzerland, I feel like I've gone and sent her back faster."

"Yeah," he was probably nodding, "look..." - a long sigh - "tell her you saw the fireworks and just thought the moment was right, tell her you'd like to be a friend, it's the least you can do."

"Worth a shot... what if I fuck that up too?"

"Stop worrying," Ralph assured him, "then you're going to fuck it up..."

"Way to boost my confidence, thanks."

"Let me know how it works out."

"If it all..."

Dan sighed when the call ended, his feet finally coming to a stop. He hadn't meant to kiss her, right? Well, he had, it had been New Years after all, that was sort of tradition...

Just not with a girl you practically just met... you scared her off.

Maybe she wasn't interested in him in that way... he didn't blame her, he wasn't exactly what anyone might consider 'boyfriend material' - not in the slightest.

He'd only ever had one relationship and that had ended badly, had gone down in flames before either of them could sit back and talk things over. He supposed it was because he was never around - always on the road, always touring, "always meeting other women" she'd said.

Of course he'd never have thought about cheating - he wasn't an arsehole, at least not in his books.

But that hadn't been enough for her.

Would it ever be enough for anyone?

Who was he kidding? He was awkward and a walking disaster waiting to happen - no sane girl would ever bring herself the misfortune of getting involved with him.

Sure, lots of girls wanted him, Kyle had said. Anyone who didn't see the rows of screaming fangirls yelling at him excitedly at every gig was probably blind.

But he didn't want fangirls. He wanted Katie.

Pathetic. You've gone and fallen for someone you'll never have. But that's life.

With a sigh, he turned to make tea.

And his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, glancing at the new message that flicked across the screen.

Katie.