Lost Without You

Chapter 13

Wednesday 2nd December 2015

{Diannes POV}
I woke up, the splitting pain in my head still very prominent. I reached for the painkillers Luba had left on the side and took them; I didn't need a two day migraine, not when I have a lot of travelling to do today. I heard a knock before a rush of air as the door opened.
"Oh you're awake. How are you feeling?" The Russian girl asked.
"Like crap. The pain hasn't gone but I've just taken some tablets so it should hopefully wear off."
"Our train leaves at 12 so you've got a couple hours before we need to leave, I'll pack your things away, don't worry."
"Luba, you are the best person ever."
"As much as I appreciate that, wait until you are ill around Joe. I can guarantee he'll be better."
"Well, I guess we will find out tonight. This throbbing doesn't seem to be going anywhere."

After the show in Bath

"She's in there" I heard Luba say through the door whilst I changed into my normal clothes, in the dark. My head was still splitting, I had been sick again in the interval and when I got off stage at the end, my whole body ached and every little noise made me shiver.
"She's had a migraine for two days so don't turn the light on." My heart ached, Luba had been so kind to me but all I wanted was a cuddle. The door was pushed open to reveal Joe thanking Luba as she walked away, leaving us alone.
"Hi Red, how you feeling?" He spoke, quiet and softly, as he came over and took me in his arms.
"Like absolute shit" I muttered against his chest, "You are gonna have makeup on your top."
"I don't care, it's only a cheap one. Luba said you've been sick?"
"Yeh, in the interval and around five minutes ago when we finished. It's the lights, they are too bright."
"Hear me out, I don't think you are well enough to travel back to London tonight so I've already messaged my dad to ask if we can stay there. He knows about us, and you, and he's okay with it. Is that alright?"
"Joe, you are literally the best" I mumbled into his chest. I suppose Luba was right.
"Come on then, it'll only take us about half an hour to get there" Joe said as he dropped his arms from around me, instead putting his hands on my shoulders and looking into my eyes. I smiled weakly at him and reached up to kiss his cheek gently.
"Is all your stuff packed away?" Joe glanced around the room as he asked. I nodded as I moved away from him to put my makeup bag into my suitcase.
"Done?" I nodded.
"Let's go see Graham then" Joe said, "Graham's my dad by the way" he added quickly.
"I guessed" I giggled.

"I'll grab your stuff." Joe reached over and patted my thigh gently as he parked the car in his dads drive. I got out of the car and, treading carefully across the stones, made my way up to the front door where I waited for Joe to catch up with me. With my suitcase in his hand, Joe opened the door and led me inside the warm and homely house.
"Hi Dad!" He called as he kicked off his shoes. I copied him, being very careful not to make a mess of anything; meeting Joes dad for the first time and staying over wasn't exactly what I was expecting and it made me nervous.
"Alright?" Joes dad appeared from the kitchen, his accent much stronger and more noticeable than Joes.
"Alright Father?" I giggled as I heard Joes voice, his accent had suddenly changed to mimic his dads.
"Di, come here" Joe whispered, reaching out to me and pulling me into a side hug next to him, his hand resting on the front of my hip.
"Dad, this is Dianne. Dianne, this is Graham, my farmer father."
"I'm not a farmer!"
"You look like one!" Joe retorted.
"Hmmm. Hi Dianne, it's nice to meet you." Graham took a step closer and held out his hand for me to shake. I smiled nervously and shook his hand.
"Hi" I mumbled. Sensing my nerves, Joe started to rub circles on my hip reassuringly.
"Can I get you anything? Tea? Food? Condoms?"
"Dad!" Joe hissed as he turned a light shade of pink, "do you want anything Di?"
"Could I have a cup of tea please?"
"Sure, Joe?"
"Same please father."
"Okay, I'll bring em up to you." Graham smiled at the pair of us and walked into the kitchen. Joe picked up my suitcase and, beckoning me to follow him, made his way across the hallway and up the stairs. He led me into a small room, just big enough for a double bed, a wardrobe and a chest of drawers. Laying my suitcase down on the floor, he unzipped it quickly and left it open for me. I pulled out my pyjamas and wash bag and went into the bathroom to get changed and ready for bed. When I came back in, Joe was sat on the bed, a tray with two cups of tea and a small packet of biscuits set down next to him. A small yet still happy smile spread across my face as I dropped my clothes from today on top of my case and sluggishly sat on the bed, taking the warm cup and holding it between my hands. I sipped it in silence, letting myself get lost in my thoughts.
"Di?" Joes voice shook me from my daydream. "Earth to Dianne Buswell."
"Mhm?"
"You didn't hear what I just said, did you?" Joe smirked slightly as he raised one eyebrow at me.
"No, what did you say?"
"Has your migraine gone yet? Dads left some tablets on the side for you. I told him you'd had it for two days so he wondered if you've trapped something in your neck."
"Maybe." I rolled my head around until a felt a slight pull, "Yep."
"Finish your tea and I'll have a go at it, see if I can't release the pressure slightly and get rid of the pain."
"Okay." I drank the remainder of my tea, taking the tablets with the last mouthful, as Joe moved the tray from the bed and onto the floor. Once I had finished my tea, I set the mug down on the windowsill on my side of the bed before I moved in front of Joe and let him push his fingers around my neck gently. After a couple of minutes, he hit a painful spot. I gasped a little as a pang shot through my neck.
"Are you okay?" He asked, the panic evident in his voice.
"Yep" I mumbled, "you've found whatever it is though."
After around five minutes of Joe working away on my neck, my headache was already starting to ease slightly. I yawned widely having given up with trying to cover up the fact that I was shattered. Getting the hint, Joe turned the small lamp off and shuffled down the bed, taking me with him. My head laid against his bare chest, I gradually grew sleepier to the lull of his heartbeat. I could feel his soft breaths on my head and the occasional kiss as I relaxed more and more, the throb weakening.
"Thank you Joe" I whispered after a little while, not sure if he was awake or not.
"What for?"
"Looking after me."
"Why wouldn't I?" I didn't have an answer.
"I'm falling in l..." he stopped himself.
"Say it." A smile tugged on my cheeks.
"I think I'm falling in love with you."