One Hell Of A Life

chapter thirty nine: double agent.

Simon POV:

"Oi! Where's my kiss?" I elbowed Em slightly as she unbuckled her seatbelt.
"Well, if you'd have given me a chance to–" She sighed, but I cut her off with my lips against hers. "Okay, that's where it is."
"Fuck off." I chuckled, brushing a hand on the top of her head. "See you soon."
"I love you!" She yelled, rather obnoxiously, picking up her KFC bucket and drink to take inside.
"I love you, too, Emmy!" I replied, louder than she had shouted.

After that, I made my way to Cal's flat.

Em POV:

I pretty much flounced up to the Sidemen House, I was that happy. Grin upon my face, I took a sip from my Skittles Krushem, and then knocked on the door knowing I was locked out.

"I bear gifts!" I stuck my tongue out as my brother answered the door.
"Giz a piece–" He reached for the chicken.
"Oi, J! No chance, mate. You're supposed to be healthy now." I cocked an eyebrow.
"I'm bulking." He replied with a glazed expression, "Drumstick or you don't get to listen to Red Alert." He held his hand out. Gritting my teeth, I reluctantly slapped a fried chicken piece into JJ's hand.
"There." I huffed.
"Thanks." He smiled triumphantly.

"Take your shoes off and you can listen to it in my bedroom." JJ told me through a mouthful of chicken.
"Cool." I held the banister in order to balance myself whilst I slipped my Yeezy's off, when a wave of dizziness washed over me.

Immediately, I sat down with my head between my raised knees, and controlled my breathing the best that I could. The last thing I wanted was to be out cold - or even worse - panic because of it.

"Are you okay, Em?" JJ asked, both softly and with urgency as he crouched next to me, a supportive hand on my back.
"Y-Yeah," I gulped, "F-Fine, bro." I lifted my head, and all of a sudden, my lightheadedness was gone.

"God, you're boiling." He felt my forehead, "I'm going to get you some water, okay?"
"Yeah, alright." I sniffed, trying to get back to my feet.
"Yo, stay there until I come back." JJ pointed for me to stay on the floor whilst he went through to the kitchen.

While he was gone, I tried to piece together what had just happened. It wasn't a panic attack, because I always get the same symptoms when I have one. This was just pure dizziness.

I shrugged it off; maybe I just wasn't hydrated enough.

He returned soon enough, a glass of cool water in his hand.
"Here," Jide passed it to me, "have that."
"Cheers, bro." I took small sips, then after a while, got to my feet, holding onto my brother for support.
"Stable enough?"
"Sure."
"You want to go upstairs, or stay down here?"
"I'll go up and hear the song."
"Just take it slow, sis."

Simon POV:

"What's up, bro?" The familiar grin and face of Cal Airey met my eyes as I pulled him in for a quick hug.
"I'm not bad, man, what about you? Doing good?" I returned.
"I'm really well, my friend, thanks for asking." Cal replied, "Want a drink?"
"Just a cider, mate. I'm driving, you see." I nodded.
"Oh, right. Okie dokie." He turned into the kitchen, which I followed him into.

"What's going on with you, then, travel wise? Anything planned that I don't already know about?" I began a conversation.
"You know me; very spontaneous when it comes to holidays. There's only the annual skiing trip booked, and that's about it." Cal passed me a Kopperberg, "What about you?"
"Em and I are thinking about going somewhere together. Just the two of us, y'know. Preferably somewhere neither of us have been before and have like a week there."

"Got your eye on any places?" He sat down on his sofa, and I took a place next to him, turning to face him.
"She's adamant on going to Hawaii - has been for ridiculously long. I was thinking going to a European city... It's quite undecided." I recalled.
"So it's not booked yet, then?"
"Nope."
"Right." He nodded slowly.

Em POV:

"You've changed pretty much every line of the lyrics just a smidge, and I like that. Because all you needed was just a little point in the right direction." I sat back on the gamer chair in approval.
"What you thinking 'bout the beat?" Randolph quizzed me.
"I love it! It's super sharp, and how you've incorporated the soft bit at the start with the more trap music is really good." I told him, "So yeah - amazing job." JJ hugged me from behind.

"You're getting credit, weather you like it or not." He assured.
"Look, it's no big–"
"Even though we've tweaked parts, you still gave us masses of inspiration for the lyrics and flow." My brother said, "You're getting credit." He told me firmly enough that I knew not to argue back.

"Thank you." I warmly nodded at the two.
"Nah; thank you, Em. You've got us back on track." Randolph grinned.
"It's true." Jide agreed. "We couldn't have done it without you."

Cal POV:

"I'll see you round, then?" Simon asked as I showed him to the front door.
"Sure, mate." I smiled best I could, and nodded assuringly.
"In a bit, Freezer." He exited the flat.
"Bye." I bid him farewell, and then shut the door.

Breathing a sigh of something a little like relief, I tapped out my message to Talia about everything her ex and I had discussed.

Soon enough, a text from her popped up on my lock screen:

Great. The sooner we drop this bombshell the better it is for both of us. Do you want to show or send the messages to Simon tomorrow?

I replied:

That would be perfect, yeah. Let's do it.

a/n:

ooooooooh shit boys it's all kicking off now...

side note: the sidemen house will play a part in here for a little longer. i'm aware that josh and simon have now officially moved out and jj will be soon to follow, but i'd prefer for them to stay living there, for the time being.

thank you so so much for 7.5k!

thanks for reading,

lee x