one for the road

4

the guest started slowing arriving. nick and jamie with their girls, breana, and a few other close friends. finally the time had come.

"hey miles!" matt said. "nice to see you again jack!" he said, shaking his hand. alex ran across the flat as soon as he heard miles' name.

"miles!" alex shouted. "alex!" miles shouted back. they hugged as jack looked over and scoffed.

alex and miles instantly starting chatting and joking like little kids. alex led miles into his room, where they could be away from the noise for a while and catch up properly.

jack found himself talking to jamie about miles. "i hate how he is with alex, you know?" jamie just frowned, knowing he wanted alex and miles together. "yeah, i see where you're coming from. they're just old friends though, let em live" he finally responded.

—

alex and miles were going through al's massive crate of records when miles picked one out. he held it up so alex could see. "can we listen to a track off of this one? for old times sake?" he asked, putting the disk on the turntable without even waiting for a response.

i'm going back to 505
if it's a 7 hour flight or a 45 minute drive

alex was instantly consumed by another memory.

—

"miles!" he shouted, bursting through the door of their 505 flat. "the demo for the track is here!" he said, holding up a cd. alex ran into the living room, sliding gracefully across the wood floor, stopping in front of the stereo.

the track started playing and the boys heard the beautiful mixing of their masterpiece.

in my imagination you're waiting, laying on your side
with your hands between your thighs

the boys were both so happy. the song sounded fantastic. their first of many breathtaking songs had came together perfectly.

"have you decided what you're gonna name it?" miles asked.

alex thought for a second. miles had no idea this song was written about him, and all the times they had in that old sheffield flat. he wanted to name it Miles Away, but it didn't have the right ring to it. "i think i like 505" miles grinned. "me too, al"

—

"alex?" miles asked, bringing him back to reality. "you alright?" "yeah sorry. this song always really gets me. i missed you, mi" miles grinned.

—

"where are they anyways?" jack complained, taking another sip of his beer. "hey, calm down jack, they're probably listening to music in al's room". jack angrily stood up. "yeah. or maybe they're shagging in there!" he responded.

nick was already drunk beyond belief and he wasn't having any of this from jack. "hey bud, maybe they are. and who knows. maybe miles doesn't love you. he sure doesn't bloody act like it! so either suck it up or tell him how you really feel!" he yelled at jack.

—

"hey al, should we go get a drink?" miles suggested. they walked out of the room together to find an angry jack.

"where've you been, miles?" he asked, practically screaming in miles' face. "alex and i were listening to an old record of ours" miles responded, his voice cracking. he always got so scared when jack was angry.

the boys tried to push past jack but he wouldn't move. "you know what miles? i've had enough of this shit. do you even love me? or do you love your stupid little band mate? call me when alex is out of your life. i hate you!" jack said. "i'm going back home tonight, i'll have your mum bring your shit back here. if i see you for one more second i think i'll vomit!" he screamed, slamming the door of the flat. miles wanted to cry but he didn't wanna cause any more of a scene.

"wow, he's fired up. don't worry guys, he'll be alright in the morning" he finally said, not knowing if he was even being truthful. alex and miles got their drinks and decided to go back in the bedroom.

miles sighed as he threw himself into the bed, the same spot he used to sleep two years ago. alex sat down next to him.

"you alright, miles? that was really bad." alex asked, playing with miles' hair. "yeah, i've been trying to get away from him for months. i love him, i really do, but i don't think he loved me back". miles said. "what makes you think that?" alex asked.

miles, change the station. i'm tired of hearing this faggot all over the radio

do we have to go to another festival with him? i hate when you're near him.

this time, try to keep your hands off of alex?

you're gonna write another album with him? miles your better than that

"i don't know" miles finally said. he sat up and looked alex in the eyes for what seemed like forever. those perfect brown eyes. "cmon al, let's go join everyone else outside. i could use another drink"

alex stood up and miles helplessly wrapped his arms around al, like he was the security blanket he was missing his whole life.

—

"15 minutes!" matt shouted. everyone was so excited for the new year.

miles lost alex in the small yet overwhelming crowd of people all gathered around the settee watching some performance from the new year's eve show on tv. miles couldn't recognise who it was as his head was pounding from what happened earlier.

he found a quiet spot. he knew it wouldn't last long but he took that time to think very intensely about what was going on. truthfully, miles knew all along he only booked a hotel room in sheffield to piss jack off. he wanted jack to leave him and he wanted to be with alex, but it's only after his plan worked that he remembered his love was straight.

there was 2 minutes until the new year. everyone was gathered around the tv with their lovers, excited for midnight to hit. miles joined back up with alex as they watched the count down.

suddenly everyone started shouted. 10! 9! 8!" miles' heart started pounding. "7! 6! 5!" alex was still clinging to miles. "4! 3! 2!"

next thing he knew, miles was kissing alex.