Some Things Never Change

Rehearsels

The week went by without any special occurrences.

Stevie and Sara enjoyed her daughter's summer holidays and Stevie worked on her voice daily to make sure she was ready for rehearsels.

It was great to walk back into the studio on Wednesday morning without feeling any tension between any of the five band members. Stevie couldn't remember the last time she felt so carefree and happy around them.

Singing those heartbreaker songs with all of them again after so many years got everybody remembering the time they were written.

It was hard to not come up with those memories but she knew for Lindsey and her it was way too early to laugh about what had happened back then. So she kept her thoughts to herself and tried to smile.
"I think we need to work on your vocals on Gypsy, again!", Lindsey said carefully and watched Stevie, as if he was afraid she was going to freak out because of his suggestion.

"Sure!", Stevie replied and smiled back at him. She was way too happy at that moment to come up with a fight. Not now, not yet, not for that.

Lindsey was relieved and they went back and forth on working on their songs.

The days of rehearsels went by quickly. It had been a long time since they had played together as a band, so it took some practise to get going but it felt good.

"Let's take a break, guys!", John said after three hours playing non-stop.

So, they came together in the middle of the room.

"You sound really good!", Lindsey said as he leaned over to grab a bottle of water.

Stevie turned around and saw that he had spoken to her since nobody else was in their close surrounding.

She smiled sweetly at him, it had been a long time since Lindsey said something nice to her.

"Thank you. You do, too, Linds! Your guitar playing got even better, if that was even possible..", she replied softly.

He nodded slowly and looked down on his feet as he slightly blushed. Stevie noticed it, anyway.

Wow, I can still do that to him, she thought surprisingly to herself.

"How's your week been?", he asked then to start some small talk.

"Oh, quite well.", she replied.

"Sara's got summer holidays from school, so we managed to spend some time together. We went to the beach a few times, shopping and on a horse ride down in the woods.."

"Sounds great. How's your daughter? I haven't seen her in.. let me think about it.. 10 years! Wow, that's a long time!"

"Really? It's been that long?", she looked at him in astonishment.

"Yeah. 1987, you remember?"

"Yes, I do... Well, she's great! She's a good girl. I love her very much!", Stevie said and her eyes began to sparkle as she talked about her daughter.

He smiled at her, "How does she look like? I mean.. What is she like?"

"She'll come here tomorrow to pick me up for lunch. You'll meet her, then."

"Oh, great. I'd love to meet her."

"I think you're going to like her. She's really sweet."

"I'm sure she is. You've raised her!", he winked at her.

They laughed and went on talking for a while until it was time to work again.

When they ended their work after hours of playing, everybody was happy to leave and get a few hours of rest and sleep.
Stevie saw Christine and John leaving when she remembered her glasses she left in the other room.
"Are you coming?", Mick asked her.

"I left my glasses, Mick. I'll go and pick them up. See you tomorrow!"

"Are you sure? Who's gonna drive you home?"

"I'll be fine. I'll just call a car."

"Okay then. See you, Stevie!"

Stevie went into the other room, found her glasses and was about to call a car as she bumbed into Lindsey!

"Oh my God!", she shrieked and made a jump, "You scared me to death, Lindsey! I thought I was the last one to leave!", she patted his arm.

"I thought you were already gone!",he replied in amusement, "Who's gonna drive you home?!"

"Why is everybody worried about me getting home?", she laughed.

"I don't know. You don't drive.", he said.

"I was about to order a car!", she replied and pointed at the telephone.

"I'll drive you home!", he insisted.

"No, that's not necessary!"

"It is. You can't walk home!"

"Lindsey, it's okay. I'll just call a driver!", she laughed.

"No, Steph, that's not necessary! I'll drive you home. Come, let's go!"

She knew resistance was pointless and so she followed him outside to his car.

They drove for a while silently. None of them had any idea what to say. Stevie looked outside the window and even though, she didn't really feel uncomfortable with him, she couldn't wait to get out of the car. The silence between them felt awkward.

All of a sudden, he tuned down the radio, the only sound in the car, Stevie sighed, and he cleared his throat.

"Steph?"

"Yeah?"

"I don't want us to feel uncomfortable with each other.."

"I'm not feeling.."

"Yes, you are! I see you cannot wait to get out of the car."

How does he know, she thought to herself, "It's just.. The silence is killing me, Lindsey!"

"Me, too."

They laughed.

"Why is it so hard?", she asked, looking up at him.

"I don't know, Steph. But I know that I don't want it to be that way any longer."

"So, what are we gonna do about it?", she asked him curiously.

He stopped the car, turned to her and looked into her eyes.

"I know we cannot forget what happened between us but I want us to start out new. I want my friend back! I want the Stevie back I had before we hooked up!", he joked and they laughed again, "I mean, do you remember how close we used to be, Steph? We could tell each other everything! I miss that. I've been missing that for a long time..."

"Me, too.", she sighed.

"Do you think you can do that?", he asked.

"Do what?"

"Be my friend Stevie, again?"

She paused for a moment and looked at him. Could she do that? Start out new? Be his friend again?

He saw that she was thinking about his offer. He had no idea, if they would ever be able to be friends again, and even if he knew, that they might never end up together again, a part of him, deep down inside his heart, would always hope, always care for her in a deeper way than friendship.

"I'll try!", she said softly and smiled at him.

He nodded and took her in his arms.

She could feel his body so close to her. His breath on her skin, his hands on her waist...

"And now, take me home!", she said and pulled back from his hug.

He looked at her. Did she feel it, too?!