Not Just A Fan

Chapter 24

Silence held in the car all the way there, Ester knew her friends were right, and it might be time to leave the record shop for good. She plans to announce her resignation on her next shift. She thanks her friends for helping her and drops her off right outside the studio, she walks through forgetting everything that has happened not long ago.

The door opens as she places the fake happy smile that she wants him to see, the uncertainty between them got harder each time, the closer they got, the harder it becomes to be something, but it could be complicated too. Since the room was empty, Drew walks up to her and kisses her forehead, the way he made her feel safe almost got her worked up again. He wants to look at those eyes all day and stroke her hair, as everything about her is becoming beautiful each day he sees her.

Working hard with each track they practice on, it all started to sound perfect, ready for Drew to claim this is going to be a tour to remember. The next track they practice is, "Into Heaven", as this track has the most participated backing vocals from the band and for Ester to get her chance on the stage would be amazing. Her emotions take her to a dark place as she sings, as her soul falls in the cracks. It messes with her mind.

Escape the dark, the hurt in your eyes

Battle the scars, fight away the dark,

It hurts to cry,

It hurts to fight.

Oh, project the burning fire,

Oh, see the light in her eyes,

Oh, the fallen has said goodbye,

Bizarrely today, this is song is hitting her hard and felt drained from it, in the end, Drew decides to take a break as he watched Ester leave quickly, his instinct is to follow her.

As she pushes the fire exit door open, her world crashed harder than she anticipated, the tears fell from her eyes and had no way of stopping them. Without caring about her surroundings, a warm body gripped onto her, and she could smell the strong cologne of the cotton shirt as she buries her head into their chest. Ester felt secure and the love in their embrace.

'Shh, it's ok. Take deep breathes, everything will pass. It's another hurdle that you're facing right now, it'll all clear soon.' Drew tells her, as he uses the therapy he has been using for years for his reasons. Even if he will never know why Ester is upset, but it is hurting him too.

He remembers the last women he held in his arms cried like that with the devastating news they both did not want to hear. The voice she hears became warm and comforting, as it started to make her feel better and looks into his deep grey eyes. For a second of feeling in their world, the temptation to kiss each other again was almost close insight. She breaks free and wipes the access tears off her face.

'I'm so sorry, I don't know what came over me.'

'You have nothing to be sorry for, sometimes it's good to cry. I understand.' He sees the hurt in her eyes and wished he could ask her, but he knew if he did, she would want him to open up in return.

'I feel silly.'

'No, you're human. There are many things that we bottle up without realising, and something like a song or a movie can just trigger it. It's not silly.' She finally clears her eyes and finds it bearable to look up at him, 'You're still beautiful when you cry.'

A smile with a small laugh surfaces on her face, 'Thanks, I'm starting to feel better. '

'Do you need more time out here? You can go home.'

'No, I want to continue. I feel better now, I've let it all out.' Drew presents a small smile and wishes for her not to feel that burden again. He opens the door to let her in first, and she accepts it.

Practice for the rest of the night went well and was looking forward to the final bit of the night where he takes her home. Ester stands by his car, waiting for him come out, and she checks her phone to see missed calls and messages from Brad saying he is sorry. She had no interest to listen to them, and one from Katie checking everything is ok.

The lights flash on the car indicating it became unlocked made her look over to see Drew with his leather jacket and baseball cap on hiding his eyes away. Until he looks up at her, curious to know what made her feel down today, whatever happened, it does not seem to bother her anymore from what he can see.

She sits in the car, remembering his warmth and how much she wants it again, his calm words and the spark that tingles all over her body when they touch. If this what it feels like now, she wonders what happens if it moves onto the next step, something tells her she needs to ask to get a clear picture of what they are before she falls for him too quickly and will find it hard to let go.

Drew's therapist said to him, "It's ok to move on, guilt shouldn't be part of the reason or being unfaithful. You are not doing those things to hurt Lucy's feelings but to move on." He would ignore it from time to time as it is adamant in his mind, he will never let go of Lucy, no matter how hard he tries. Ever since Ester entered his life, it finally made sense. The first few times when he kissed her and held her hand, Lucy would be there in his head, suffocating and sucking the potential happiness away, but not anymore. He starts to remember Lucy with the good times they had together and not the last few terrible years they had.

Since they were in their minds, the journey came to an end all of a sudden.

'I can't wait to start on your song this weekend.' Drew perks up and she can see the excitement in his eyes,

'Me too.' It makes her smile when he looks at her like that, Drew looks at her hand and hold onto it.

'Whatever you were thinking about today that got you upset about, don't bottle it, it only makes things worse. Just make sure you tell someone, it makes it easier.' He lifts her hand and kisses the back of her hand, 'Goodnight.'

Ester was quiet, but the smile on her face painted positive emotions, those type of words again made her breathless.