Down All Your Darkest Roads

Chapter Three

Stevie didn't show up for the rest of the week.

Word was sent via Stevie's manager that she was 'going to her doctor to change her medication' but 'will be back in a few days' and in the meantime 'she was writing at home'. None of these assurances meant anything to the rest of the band, so they continued on without her.

Christine threw herself into her work; slowly discovering she quite enjoyed her new role as lead singer and it fit well with the direction the album was going. She moulded her anger towards Stevie and her instability into a song called Little Lies that was well received by the boys. If they suspected it was about Stevie, they didn't comment, instead adding their own bits and pieces to create a number that was sure to be a hit with their fans.

She was making herself a cup of tea after a long day recording when the phone rang.

"Hello?" She answered.

"Hey Chris, its me."

Christine tensed at the sound of Stevie's unsure voice. She couldn't even remember the last time they spoke over the phone and frankly, she was surprised Stevie still had her number.

"Hi, Stevie." She replied; there was a distinct frostiness in her tone.

"Are you busy?"

Christine stirred her tea and placed the spoon in the sink with a loud clatter. "I was just making myself a cup of tea and planning to go to bed, actually. Can this wait?"

"Oh," Stevie said meekly. "I suppose it can."

But neither of them made a move to hang up. Christine couldn't bear the awkward silence and gave in.

"What's the matter, Stevie?"

"I called to apologise for the way I acted at Lindsey's," Stevie's voice was still hesitant. "And for what I said to you. It was cruel and unnecessary and untrue. I'm sorry."

"It was cruel." Christine replied stoutly.

"I know," Stevie sighed. "I've just been feeling so much anxiety lately and it causes me to act like a total crazy person. I know it's not an excuse but when I feel ganged up on, I just lose it."

"We weren't ganging up on you, we were trying to get through to you that you can't lay down decent vocals if you're out of your mind drunk. Come on, Stevie, you know this."

"God how I know it. I was getting flashbacks of our Rumours days the entire time I was in that booth." She took a deep breath breath. "Anyway, what I'm trying to say is I'm sorry for wasting everyone's time and I'm trying to do better."

Christine slowly hopped up on the kitchen counter and took a sip of her tea, processing Stevie's words. Stevie was a stubborn girl who rarely apologised for anything, Christine remembered all the shouting matches she'd have with the band and management over things that were clearly her fault. For her to be so earnest and genuine signified a real change, so Christine was having a hard time staying angry.

"I'm glad to hear that, Stevie." She said carefully. "But I'm not the only one you should be saying sorry to."

"I'll apologise to the guys tomorrow," Stevie agreed. "I just really needed to talk to you first. I can't stand it when you're angry at me."

"I was hurt more than anything, but I accept your apology. We've all said horrible things to each other. " Christine conceded. "So you're coming back tomorrow? That's good."

"Yeah, I'm feeling a lot better."

"You sound better." It was true; Stevie's voice was clear and measured unlike the cigarette-and-brandy husk she had been sporting lately.

"Oh, thanks, the doctor I'm seeing increased my medication dosage and so far it's working."

"What are you taking?"

"Just an anti-anxiety pill and something else to curb the coke cravings, nothing interesting." Stevie said airily. "Hey, Chris, I'm gonna let you go. I'll see you tomorrow, 'night."

"Alright, Stevie. Goodnight." Christine hung up the phone.

She took her tea and made her way upstairs, deep in thought. The vague way Stevie described her medication didn't sit right with her and she had a nagging feeling she was hiding something. But sadly, Christine didn't know whether it was her place anymore to get to the bottom of it.

----

Stevie did stay true to her word and came to work the next day, looking substantially better and switched on. Christine was pleased to see she had brushed her hair and was neatly dressed in a pair of jeans and a beaded jumper. She flashed Christine a sweet smile and said hello to the boys except Lindsey, whom she pointedly ignored. Clearly, her newfound graciousness didn't extend to her ex boyfriend.

They were taking a break in the RV and Stevie was sitting on the couch, frantically writing in her journal and humming to herself occasionally. Curious, Christine pulled up a chair in front of her and sat on it backwards.

"What are you writing?"

Stevie smiled shyly and passed her journal to her. Christine took it and read the title 'Welcome to the Room...Sara' written in Stevie's dreamy handwriting; clouds and crescent moons were etched around it and the paper smelled of pressed gardenia.

"It's a song about my stay in rehab," Stevie explained. "Sara was the name I used while I was in there-Sara Anderson."

Christine read what she had written so far, it was typical Stevie, cryptic and poetic and hard to make sense of. But as always, the raw vulnerability was electric and Christine smiled softly to herself as her eyes scanned the heartfelt words.

"Its good, Stevie," Christine said, handing the book back to her. "I don't understand what you're saying as per usual, but its good."

"I want this to be my song, I want to sing it on my own and have no backing vocals. Just me." She looked up at Christine hopefully.

"Of course." Christine smiled, though she didn't think Lindsey would be too keen on the idea.

Stevie went back to her song. Christine sat beside her and rested her head on the armchair of the couch, falling asleep to the sound of Stevie's pen scratching delicately across the paper. The silence was peaceful, until someone interrupted it by roughly opening the RV door. When Lindsey's face peered inside Christine felt like throwing something at him.

"We need you both upstairs."

"I'm in the middle of writing." Stevie said, not bothering to hide her annoyance.

"You can write upstairs, let's go." He turned to leave, with the expectation that they'd follow.

Christine sat up and rubbed her eyes. "I need a bloody coffee or I'll kill him."

Stevie laughed and got up from the couch. "I'll make you one. They can wait."

As Stevie pottered around the kitchenette making coffee, Christine felt an intense surge of fondness towards her. The scene almost felt like old times and she held on to it tightly, fearful of the surprises that lurked around the corner, but mildly hopeful at the same time.

---

A/N: The girls clearly can't stay mad at each other for long, I hope you liked this update. The story will start gaining momentum now and I look forward to writing the next few chapters. Cheers – A