SECRETS | D.S

sixteen

Dinner with one of the biggest bands in the world had crossed his mind, but it had never occurred to him that it would actually happen.

They'd left the studio and had strolled down to one of the quieter restaurants on the block, and Dan chose a chair near the window, looking out upon a dazed London, bathed in golden night lights.

Brie shuffled in beside him, her blonde hair loose over her shoulders tonight, and the rest of the band found their seats opposite, reaching for menus.

"Drinks are on us," Alex said confidently but Dan shook his head.

"Thanks but I'll pass."

"Oh come on," Brie elbowed him, "they've got the best wine in London I've heard. At least have a glass."

"It's a week night and..."

Usually it wouldn't be a question, but things had changed and Dan had found himself drinking less since the band breakup - it wasn't fun to drink alone.

He'd also promised himself that he needed to prioritize his nights out and to get healthier this year, as jumping around on stage wasn't as easy as it appeared.

But tonight was a celebration, a little nod to their upcoming collaboration, and Dan couldn't let this opportunity pass him by without having a drink to make it official.

"Fine, one glass," he told them and they cheered as if he'd never drank before.

Of course, as the evening progressed, one drink quickly became two, which evolved into more, and soon, Dan was on a buzz, laughing at jokes he'd normally never find amusing.

"You're a real hot mess," Seth was saying as Dan knocked over a glass of water, diving for serviettes to clean up the mess.

"Don't listen to him. You're cute," Brie giggled, her whisper hot in his ear, "let yourself unwind a little."

Dan smiled at the compliment, and, the moment forgotten, reached for his wine again.

"So, I was thinking, for the new song, we should probably have it relate to the album in some way..."

"Don't worry about work now," Alex chimed in, "that's tomorrow's business."

But that was all Dan could think about; getting something down on paper so that they could start working on it before the deadline date arrived.

"Just relax," Brie smiled, "we'll get to it."

He nodded; they were right. Tomorrow would take care of itself. He wanted to enjoy the night out with new friends, no big deal.

A familiar face caught his attention, however, and he turned to see Kyle at the bar. Every part of him told him not to walk over but his feet disobeyed his mind and he rose from his chair slowly.

"Be right back," he said, heading straight for the bar.

Kyle was with his new girlfriend, someone Dan had never met before, and he seemed oblivious to Dan's presence until he came to stop beside him.

"Dan?" the surprise was evident on his face but still, Dan smiled.

"How're you?"

"Uh, good, thanks," Kyle mumbled, "actually in the middle of something," he gestured to his drink and his girlfriend peered past him to smile at Dan, but Kyle made no effort to introduce her, clearly wanting this conversation to be done with.

"Hi, I'm Dan," he took it upon himself, reaching past Kyle to shake her hand.

"Lauren..."

"Good to meet you..."

"See you're doing fine without us," Kyle nodded to the band gathered at the table, "good... good for you."

"Yeah, I mean, no... I... we're working on something together, their idea really..."

"You don't have to hide your collaborations, Dan," Kyle's tone was clipped, buttered with jealousy, but he tried his best to hide it, "we've all moved on, right?"

"I... yeah..."

"Good seeing you, but if you'll excuse us, we'd best be heading home," Kyle left cash on the counter, taking Lauren by the hand and just like that, he brushed past Dan, heading out.

Kyle, wait... he wanted to say, but the couple was already gone.

"He'll get over it eventually," he told himself as he joined the band again.

"He looks pissed," Brie whispered as he sat down, and Dan shrugged.

"Guess I should leave things in the past where they belong."

"That's the spirit," Seth raised his beer glass, "new year, new you."

And as much as he wanted to believe that, because he knew it was better than feeling guilty about things he couldn't change, it didn't feel the way he'd thought it would.

He was beginning to miss the old Dan with each passing day.

And he wanted things to go back to the way they'd been.

He wanted Bastille back...