NEVER TEAR US APART
Chapter 1
Don't ask me, what you know is true….
Killian Jones was having a long hard look at himself. And the view was certainly no better from the bottom of his third shot of rum.
He couldn't precisely pinpoint the moment when he became a sad romantic comedy cliché, and yet here he was. Drinking alone at the bar, feeling sorry for himself, he was quite sure he had seen this movie before.
It was the one where the guy was hopelessly in love with the girl...who was engaged to his old college mate and band manager. Starring him as the sad loser sighing about what was not to be. Destined to be the third wheel forever...
Perhaps that third shot had not been such a good idea. This was an impressive level of wallowing, even for him.
Shaking himself from his misery, he settled his tab and made to leave. It had been a long night. Their set had gone down well with the slightly older crowd in the bar and they played a few extra songs in appreciation, but as sleep had been eluding him quite often lately an early morning finish was not the ideal.
Not to mention being hard pressed to focus on anyone in the crowd but her.
She had spent the evening cuddled up close with Neal in a booth at the side of the stage, their fingers interlaced on the table. Her smile lit up her face as she listened to the set; a big fan of the retro rock he also loved, she sang along and swayed gently, mesmerising him to the point he had forgotten where he was and missed the intro to the next song.
He was going to have to sort himself out. Pining after the unavailable Emma Swan was getting him nowhere fast. He would go home, sleep it off and work out a new plan for self-preservation in the morning. Because nothing he had tried so far was bloody working.
As he picked up his leather jacket, he felt a hand on his arm. Without looking, he knew it would be her. He could not mistake that scent that was sunshine and flowers and…Emma
"Killian, were you leaving without saying goodbye?" She looked at him in mock consternation, then she broke into a smile. He felt his earlier resolve to get over her melting away as her green eyes met his. He was a lost cause, he thought to himself wryly. One smile and he would follow her anywhere.
"Wouldn't dream of it, lass," he replied quietly.
"Just as well," she laughed. "Great set tonight, by the way. I just love the new song you added...I haven't heard it before?"
He breathed deeply, knowing exactly which of their set list she meant. And exactly why he had wanted to sing it so badly. Every word was what he wanted to be able to say to her, but never could. Panicked that his face would reveal too much, he forced himself into defence mode. Cocky swagger hid all manner of true feelings and he prayed it wouldn't let him down now. He felt his face shift subtlety, hoping all signs of sentiment were hidden behind the confident grin.
"You'll have to do your research, love," he said with a wink, "Can't be telling you all my secrets. Man of mystery and all that."
With a fake pout, she squeezed his arm and reached up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. He felt his skin flush and fought desperately to keep his composure at such attention.
"Fair enough," she said, "I'll text you when I find it. Good night Killian."
"Good night, milady," he replied, with a fake bow. Playing it for laughs seemed the only option at this point – he could still feel her kiss on his cheek and it threatened to ruin him.
Still smiling, she walked away in search of Neal, leaving Killian to regroup and compose himself.
Putting on his jacket, he exhaled deeply and prepared for yet another sleepless night.
He had to stop doing this to himself. He needed to be done….with her.