A blinding light wakes me the next morning. I feel bare skin against my cheek. I innocently look up at Matt who is smiling at me, adoration in his eyes. I smile as I try to move up to kiss him. Before I can reach him, he sits up, propping me against his chest.
"Good morning, love." He says as he kisses my forehead.
"Oh, a forehead kiss?" I ask jokingly. "That's all I get?" He laughs as he leans in and kisses my lips. His mouth begins planting kisses from my neck, to my collarbone, to my chest, to my stomach.
"Is that better?" He asks seductively.
"Oh, much better, Mr. Bellamy." I wink at him.
After throwing on underwear and a tee shirt, I walk down to the kitchen and turn on the stove. I search through a cabinet for a pan to make eggs for Matt and I. I find a pan big enough for eggs for both of us. Clumsily, I put it on the stove before shuffling to the refrigerator where I grab a carton of eggs and walk back over to the stove.
Just before I crack an egg, I feel strong arms wrap around my waist.
"Want help?" Matt asks. I put the egg down next to the bowl so I can turn to return his hug.
"You don't have to help me. I've got it." I tell him.
"I'm gonna help anyway." He grabs an egg. I pick up the egg I had before and crack it against the bowl. I look up at Matt who's smiling at me.
"What?" I ask. He shakes his head.
"Nothing… Would you like to come see us rehearse today?" He asks. "Then you can just stay for the show tonight, if you'd like."
"Are you kidding? I'd love to."
I get into the car after breakfast, shiftily looking around. If the paparazzi see Matt get into my car at 9:45 in the morning wearing the same clothes he wore the day before, we'd be the topic of every single gossip site or magazine the next day.
Matt sits down in the passenger seat, full of energy. I can't help but to smile at his liveliness. He takes my hand and squeezes it lightly.
"Hey guys!" Matt yells as we enter the arena, keeping our distance. Dom stops drumming to wave at us, a drumstick in hand.
"Oh, hey Mads!" Dom calls happily. He slides off the edge of the stage then runs over to give me a hug. "What are you doing here?"
"Matt said I could see you guys rehearse." I say, nodding my head over at Matt. Dom looks up and down at Matt.
"Are those the same clothes you wore yesterday?" He asks, pointing at Matt's shirt with a drumstick. Matt and I become completely silent as Dom raises an eyebrow. Matt shakes his head nervously. Dom shakes his drumstick at Matt again before returning back to the stage.
"Maddy!" I hear Chris yell as he enters from backstage. I follow Matt onto the stage and give Chris a hug.
"Hey Chris." I say happily. After I chat with the guys for a moment, I hop offstage. Matt calls something to someone backstage, pointing at me. A roadie comes out, carrying a chair. He walks down a set of stairs leading to me who's standing in the empty mosh pit. The roadie begins to open the chair.
"Oh, I've got it." I say, taking the chair from him. "Thank you so much." I smile sweetly. I open the chair in the middle of the pit, so I have a view of the whole stage. The strumming of a guitar fills the arena.
My foot begins tapping as Supermassive Black Hole starts up. I start singing along as the vocals start. I happen to notice Matt wink at me as he sings, "You set my soul alight." He gives me a sexy little smirk as he sings the rest of the song. Suddenly, Chris turns around to shout something at Dom. The drummer looks from Matt to me and smiles.
After the guys finish their last song, I follow them backstage. Dom and Chris enter their dressing room. Matt follows them, closing the door after I enter as well. The guys sprawl out on the couches, exhausted. Reluctantly, I take a seat next to Matt.
"So Matt, where were you last night?" Dom asks before taking a sip from a water bottle. "You never came back to the hotel last night." I feel my face grow hot as Chris gives me a smile.
"I was at Maddy's." Matt says casually. The room goes silent. "Oh, um, guys. Maddy and I are going out now." Matt announces.
"I knew it!" Dom shouts as he jumps up from the couch. I let out a nervous giggle.
"Good for you two! I knew you guys were made for each other." Chris says with a supportive smile. Matt thanks him as he puts his arm around me. Too overwhelmed to say anything, I remain silent, grinning from ear to ear, my face bright red.
"Oh, but guys!" Matt yells over Dom and Chris's chatter. "Mads and I wanna keep our relationship private. Like we don't really want paparazzi or anything finding out. So you kind of have to be careful who you tell. Okay?" The guys nod as the door bursts open revealing Tom.
"Madeline!" He shouts, charging toward me, plopping down on the arm of the couch next to me. He looks from Matt's arm to my shoulder, slowly putting things together. "Are you two…?" He asks, pointing at us. We nod. "Finally! It's about time!" Tom says giddily.
After the concert, I return backstage where a group of fans surrounds the band. I begin to walk over to greet them until I'm reminded of Matt and I's goal to keep us a secret. I figure no one will guess I'm Matt's girlfriend, so I stand at the back of the crowd smiling.
"Oh my god! We're almost there!" A girl in her early twenties squeals as we move up in line. She turns her head to me, waiting for me to answer.
"I know, right?" I laugh nervously, trying to sound excited. She gives me a warm smile then turns her attention back to the band, tightening the grip on her camera. I breathe a sigh of relief, glad she didn't ask if I knew the band or something.
The best thing, in my opinion, about being a fashion designer, is no one has to see you. I feel as though I present myself with my clothes. Sure, people know my name, but if someone saw me on the street, they wouldn't know that I was the head of a successful clothing line. Unfortunately, this is the reason I have to be so careful now when I'm with Matt. Once the paparazzi sees Matt with "A New Mystery Girl," they'll realize this girl isn't as mysterious as they thought. Soon enough, people will start to recognize me everywhere, and the life I loved will be taken from me in a blink of an eye. I love Matt enough that if anything did happen, I'd be willing to live a life in the eye of the public, just so I could be with him.
"Hi, nice to meet you." Dom winks at me. "Would you like me to sign anything?" I realize I've shifted up to the guys and that the fans from earlier have disappeared. After adapting to my changed surroundings, I say,
"Oh my god, Dom Howard! Can you sign my forehead?" The guys laugh in response. "You guys were fantastic, as usual." I tell them enthusiastically.
"Thanks, babe." Matt says, wrapping an arm around my waist. I instinctively search the room only to find Tom and some of the band's roadies and personal guards. Deciding we're safe, I lightly kiss Matt's cheek. Smiling, he wraps his other arm around me, pulling me against him.
"You going to the party tonight, mate?" Dom asks before he leaves the room. Matt looks at me for a moment, then glances at Dom.
"Nah." He smirks. "I have other plans tonight."
For the second morning in a row, I wake up in Matt's arms. I stare lovingly at him as he sleeps before kissing his forehead lightly. Clumsily, I roll out of bed and put on shorts and a cami. I make my way downstairs, then begin making a pot of coffee for Matt and I.
"Good morning." I say sweetly as Matt trudges into the kitchen, his hair sticking up in random places. He returns my greeting quietly before pulling me into a hug.
"I just got a text from Dom." He tells me. "We're leaving this afternoon." I pull myself away from him.
"This afternoon?" I stammer. "I thought you were staying longer." He sighs as he brushes a strand of hair out of my eyes.
"I know. I thought we were too."
"Where are you guys going next?" I ask. He looks down at his feet, disappointed.
"South America. We're gonna be there for a month and a half." I shake my head, unsure what to say. The only thing I know at the moment is that I don't want Matt to leave. My eyes begin to water as he looks down at me, his blue eyes filled with sadness.
"When are you coming back to England? Or New York?" I ask quietly. He takes a deep breath before saying,
"Not for a while. It'll be months." I wrap my arms around his neck as a tear rolls down my cheek. I desperately try to ignore the thought that I won't be able to see Matt for months. If I was an actress or something, it would be so much easier to travel with the band. My job is just so demanding that I can't take more than a week off.
That gives me a brilliant idea.
"Where are you going after South America?" I ask, full of excitement. Matt thinks for a moment, mumbling something to himself.
"Australia, I think."
"Maybe I could take a week off and stay with you guys!" I suggest desperately. He gives me a small smile. He thinks for a moment, then his smile widens.
"That's perfect! Would it be okay, you taking a week off?" He asks, jumping up and down like a little kid. He's so adorable. How the hell did I get so lucky?
"Yeah! It'll be fine!" I reassure him. Smiling, he pulls me back into an embrace and lightly kisses me on the neck.
"I was afraid I wouldn't be able to see you." He mutters against my neck. Aroused by the sweetness and sadness in his voice, I press my lips to his, running my fingers through his hair. He pushes me against the kitchen counter, our kisses becoming more and more passionate. A hand moves up the back of my camisole as I pull Matt closer to me.
A knock at the door interrupts our moment of intimacy. "I'll get it." I scoff, annoyed that I have to leave Matt's arms. I open the door to find a smiling Dom. His expression changes once as he sees me, barely dressed, and Matt standing a few feet away.
"Did I come at a wrong time?" Dom asks, embarrassed. Matt walks up closer to me and places his hand on the small of my back.
"Can we stay a few more days?" Matt pleads. Dom shakes his head. Frustrated and upset, Matt sighs. His friend puts a hand on his shoulder.
"I know, man. I'm sorry." I look down at my feet with a sigh. "We have to go now, mate." Dom tells Matt gently.
"Now?" Matt asks.
"Unfortunately." Dom sighs. Matt slowly nods before pulling me against him. I glance up at his face, tears forming in his eyes.
"I'll miss you." He whispers. "I love you." Caressing his cheek with my thumb, I give him a long, tender kiss.
"I love you too." I coo quietly. He squeezes my hand as he makes his way out the door. Dom gives me a hug and bids his farewell, full of guilt. After the door closes, I sit down on the floor, hugging my knees to my chest. All of a sudden, I begin to cry uncontrollable sobs. I know I'll see Matt again, but I just can't stop crying.
A few hours later, I wake up to find myself lying on my doormat. I stand up and feel the side of my face to find I have the pattern of the carpet imprinted on my cheek. Yawning, I walk back into the kitchen and pick up my glowing phone from the counter.
I miss you… Matt xxxxxx
