Love Can Drop Dead (Sequel to DBNO)

Chapter 8

"Fucking mental" Anna squealed to the boys when we entered their dressing room. They all laughed at her, because they hadn't asked us what we thought, but I could see the question forming on their faces.

"Liz?" Matt asked, looking at me carefully and I scowled, while crossing my arms.

"I'm never watching you guys again" I gasped, and they all looked surprised at the fact that I'd lost my voice, before they all burst out laughing. Max handed me a bottle of water and I smiled at him gratefully as I walked over and sat down on the arm next to Matt while I swigged from the bottle, wincing when each gulp hurt my throat.

"It's not funny, I use my voice when I work" I sighed, when my voice made a croaking sound. Chris winced at me before he tied his hair back.

"That sounds painful" he sighed and I nodded, before taking a drink.

"Well we're working on Monday Liz, you need to keep quiet for your voice to repair" Jay said and I snorted the water out through my nose.

"Jay, you've known me for over a month, surely you know that it will kill me to do that. I'd much rather ruin my voice than not talk at all for two days" I replied and Summer giggled from her place next to Matt. Jay sighed and shook his head at me.

"And here was me thinking we would've had some peace and quiet for two days" he said and I glared at him, but didn't do anything else. I sighed though, because I knew he was right since my job involved me interacting with people and having to talk.

"So it was good?" Matt asked, but he looked up at me. I bit the inside of my cheek and nodded.

"Of course. It was fucking brilliant, you guys didn't disappoint" I grinned at him and Matt breathed out before nodding.

"Oh and happy sixth anniversary" I added on as an afterthought, which made them all smile at me and Anna nodded when I said this.

Everyone started talking amongst themselves, except Matt and I, as we glanced around while I sipped from the water bottle. I was waiting for him to bring up the crowd's reaction to me when they played and The Dilemma, which weirdly enough was Anna's ringtone, and before long I felt him nudge my leg. I looked at him and he motioned me down.

"Are you okay?" he whispered in my ear and I nodded, sending him a smile which made him sigh and shake his head as he looked me in the eyes. I blinked and turned away as Matt twined his hand with mine, hiding our twined hands between him and the arm of the couch so that no one would see. He shook his head at me and fixed me with a pointed look, which made me shrug, but I didn't answer.

"Leave it Matt" Summer whispered on his other side since Dan was answering a question from Anna. Matt turned to look at Summer and I saw her eyebrows rise as his hand tightened around mine.

"I'm fine Matt. It can't be undone. What's happened between Josh and I has happened and I can't change it, as much as I would love to" I breathed into his ear, which didn't hurt as much as what talking normally did. He nodded, sending me a tiny smile.

"It would be better if he admitted what had happened" he growled in my ear in response and I jumped a little at the tone in his voice. The guys were all close, and I couldn't handle it if things became strained between them just because of me.

"Summer's right Matt, just leave it. I appreciate your concern but don't make things harder than they are. Josh chose not to set things straight and there's nothing any of us can do about that now. Just please don't fall out over something as stupid as this, you've all known each other for six years now." I sighed and Matt jumped a little before glaring at me.

"You are not something stupid Liz. You are my friend. You are Max, Dan's and Chris' friend to" was his reply and I bit my lip before removing my hand from his and wrapping my arm around his shoulders to give him an awkward half hug, as his arm went around my waist to do the same. We pulled back and Summer nodded at us just as the door opened and in walked Sean Smith from The Blackout, rocking red hair and a slightly strange haircut.