Sorry this was a tad bit later than it should've gone up. But at least it's HERE!
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"You guys did great! That was totally wicked!" I heard myself screaming as I ran across the back stage and enveloped a very sweaty Tom in an excited hug. He wrapped his arms around my waist and spun me in a small, tight circle. The world twirled around in front of my eyes and I squealed, taken off guard by the blur of my surroundings.
"Thank you! That was definitely one of our best all tour! Did you hear that crowd? Epic!" Danny was saying as Tom gently placed me back on the floor and took my hand, leading the way out of the auditorium and to the dressing room. My heart was pounding sporadically like I had just been the one putting on the concert. If a band could have that kind of affect on person, it had to have been a good show.
"A gig that good deserves an after party! What do you guys say? Know any pubs near here?" Dougie piped up, looking at Danny for some sort of guidance. Danny knew of a bar in every town; he could have had a very good career in bar hopping.
"I don't know if I'm up for an all-nighter tonight guys. That show exhausted me. I think I'm just going to head back to the hotel," Tom spoke up, biting his lip regrettably. My heart tugged in my chest, not liking the idea of separating from him.
"Oh, I'll stay behind with you then," I quickly spoke up, relieving the discomfort.
"You don't have to do that, Em. Go out and have some fun – I'm just going to crash once I get in the room anyways," Tom chuckled, squeezing my fingers reassuringly.
"I don't mind at all – I'm exhausted too. We'll see you guys tomorrow, okay?" I turned to the rest of the group, finalizing my decision.
"All right... hey, you two, separate rooms, okay?" Danny called over his shoulder as Dougie and Harry tried to push him towards the exit.
"Yeah, yeah, sure whatever. See you!" I called, rolling my eyes as Tom laughed and swung his arm around my shoulders. The last glimpse I got of Danny before he was forcefully pushed through the door was his frustrated frown. I hoped Dougie and Harry would sort his resentment out with a nice beer or two.
Tom and I made our way to the hotel and checked ourselves in. Fletch had set it up so that everyone would have their own room. The young and beautiful receptionist handed us two silver room keys before directing us to the top floor.
"This is the life. How come I've never gone along with Danny on tour before or something? Sleeping in fancy hotels, eating whatever comes my way, going to concerts for free, and partying all night? How come you guys don't tour year round?" I laughed as we entered the elevator, stuffing my key in my pocket.
"Don't get too ahead of yourself. You have yet to actually party and you've got a butt-load of school work to do," Tom reminded me, successfully bringing my mood down.
"Wow. Thanks Mr. Buzzkill. How else would you like to rain on my parade tonight?"
Tom chuckled before slinging an arm around my shoulders again and rolling his eyes, "Fine. In all honesty, I would go on tour until the day I died if it was possible. It's fantastic – it's everything you so nicely pointed out, and more. I get to hear fans sing my lyrics, love my songs, it's mind blowing," Tom admitted as the lift reached out floor. "But I couldn't do it every day forever. I would miss out on so much."
"Miss out? On what? Not living in... freaking beautiful hotel rooms?" I asked as my jaw hit the floor. Tom had opened the door to his room to reveal a suit so perfect it could be on the travel channel. It was one of those hotel rooms that you see in ads or on TV and think 'Oh I could never afford that. But it looks so luscious...' before going back to finishing your crossword or something.
"Okay, the hotel rooms are a perk, that's true," Tom laughed as we shut the door behind us. He quickly made his way over to the king sized bed and flopped face-first onto it's neatly made covers.
"Careful. You're going to knock the complimentary chocolates on the floor," I warned him, going to the pillows and placing the small chocolates on the bedside table for later.
On second though, I could eat them now...
"Yeah, I don't know what you're talking about. This really is the life," I stated as the warm milk chocolate melted around my tongue. It was possibly the best morsel of chocolate I'd ever tasted.
Tom flipped over onto his stomach, reached around my hips and took the other chocolate off of the table. After he popped it into his mouth he reached over again and pulled me onto the bed with him, placing himself perfectly for me to curl up next to as he soothingly traced his hand across my back.
"When I'm on tour, I love it. But I'm constantly thinking about life at home – how my family's doing, how you're doing. Sometimes phone calls aren't enough. You know that," he explained, reminding me about the lonely nights I'd spent at home after we'd talk on the phone. I frowned as I recalled the emptiness I'd felt in my chest, growing larger and heavier with every day that had gone by.
"Tour can be fantastic, but it can get really lonely, too," Tom yawned, rolling onto his side and hugging me closer to him as his eyes started to close.
"I think I can help with that," I whispered, kissing him lightly as I curled closer into him. A small, pleased smile crept onto his face before we both drifted off into a pleasant and well deserved sleep.
I was awakened by a strong glare burning my eyelids. I squinted as my mind continued to whirl around in a dream-like state. The glare was pouring in through the windows that we forgot to pull the drapes over. The sun was slapping me in the face, way too happy and bright for my liking.
Tom was still sleeping, his back to the windows and his arms wrapped tightly around me. Every part of my being prayed that Danny hadn't checked in on me when he and the rest of the crew had returned from their nightly adventure. Him finding me in Tom's room would not be a pleasant start to the day.
The clock on the bedside table read just passed nine o'clock in the morning, making me wonder what time we all had to get back on the road. Where were we anyway? I'd never bothered to find out.
"What're you thinking about?" Tom mumbled from my side, his voice groggy and sounding like he'd just woken up.
"Hm?" His question caught me off guard.
"You've got that look on your face. The confused look." His eyes were still closed, so how on earth could he see my face?
"I was trying to figure out where we are. I met you guys in Reading... but I've got no idea where we went from there," I explained as I tried to mentally draw up a geological map of the UK behind my eyelids. It wasn't working out too well.
"Hm... I don't really know either. Ask Valerie or something. She usually knows where we are," Tom suggested, his eyes still shut.
My mind suddenly remembered my theory relating to the shy Valerie. I couldn't believe I forgot to share it with Tom. "Have you ever wondered if Valerie and Danny would make a cute couple?" I asked, curious.
That got his eyes to open.
"What? Valerie – the most introverted person in the world with Danny – the loudest, most outgoing person you'll ever meet? No, can't say the thought ever crossed my mind," Tom laughed, looking at me as if I was insane.
"Well remember yesterday when you had to come find Danny during the sound check and he was procrastinating with Valerie and me? I saw sparks; connections. I saw possibilities," I grinned, thinking about the match making.
"Did you really?" He seemed to be humoring me.
"Yes, in fact I did. To my highly trained eye it looks as though she might've had the hots for him for some time now, and you know Danny enough to know that if it's a girl, he's interested."
"So what are you proposing? You want to pull a match-maker?" Tom asked, quirking an eyebrow in curiosity.
"Well I could give it a shot. Do you think there's a possibility it could work?" I did want his opinion after all.
"I think with a lot, a lot of work, on both their ends, there could be something there," Tom agreed propping his head up on his arm as he watched my face while I started calculating in my head.
"That's exactly what I thought. Maybe if I sit down with Valerie and try to... I don't know... open her up a bit? Maybe show her that there's nothing to be scared of? We're all nice people here. And maybe if I drop a hint with Danny about her... well he's usually very good about adjusting himself for certain girls. He could be good for her," at this point I was just thinking aloud, not really talking to Tom at all.
"Sounds good. But first I think we should sneak you out of here so Danny doesn't find us and kill you before you can put your beautiful match-making skills to work," Tom chuckled, patting my hand before he sat up. I groaned like a child not wanting to leave the park.
"But I don't want to go..." I complained as I stood up, wrapping my arms around his shoulders. A true Tom smile broke out across his face as his arms encircled my waist and his forehead rested against my own. His eyes were so light and deep, like I could keep looking into them forever and never reach the end.
Right before he kissed me a knock sharply sounded on the door. We broke apart, startled.
"Who is it?" Tom called, glancing over at me with worry etched into his face.
"Valerie... Tom, you're um... Fletch needs you..." Valerie's small voice called back from the other side of the door, almost too quiet for us to hear. Tom sighed in relief as he opened the door and smiled politely down at her.
"Did he say what for?" Tom asked as Val stood on the threshold, her hands clasped in front of her as she looked at her feet.
"Um... not really... he was kind of vague... His room is number 248," she informed him, looking up to catch his gaze before her eyes fell onto me. She blushed harder.
"All right, I'll be right back. You can hang out here if you want to with Emily, or are you going back to your room to get ready?" Tom looked over at me as he voiced his question, though I was completely aware of the perfect opportunity he'd just set me up with to talk to Valerie. I knew I liked him for some reason.
"I was thinking I'd just hang out here for a bit. You're welcome to stay with me, if you want. I've heard that you're the only one who actually remembers what town we're in and I could definitely do with some reminding," I chuckled, glancing at Tom as he winked and exited the room, leaving Valerie and I on our own.
"Oh, yeah, right now we're in Oxford and we're heading to North Hampton today. We're supposed to leave around noon," she answered, sounding very formal and on top of things.
"How do you remember all that stuff? I need to learn your technique," I laughed lightheartedly trying to help her feel less tense.
"Well... it's a bit weird..." Val admitted, biting her lip as she blushed again. I frowned, unable to predict her answer. What could it be to make her this embarrassed?
"Go on, it can't be that bad," I smiled, sitting back down on the bed.
"Well... I memorized the tour dates back at the beginning of tour. I was just so excited to actually be going that I got ahead of myself. Part of me wanted to never forget a second of it so I made sure to remember everything-" she stopped herself as her eyes grew wide.
"That's not that weird," I tried to assure her, lying slightly. "I suppose everyone can get a little excited. It can't be bad to feel happy," I smiled and watched as she visibly became less tense. She pulled her head up and met my gaze as she took a seat on the couch that was facing the bed. Her movements were very precise, as though she was thinking out each step before she took it. It looked almost sterile.
"So, why were you so excited anyway? Were you happy to be working with your cousin?" I asked, trying to keep the ball rolling.
"Yeah, but I was also a fan of McFly before I started working for them. Being offered this job was almost like a dream come true..." she almost seemed ashamed to be admitting it.
"That's cool. I totally understand. If my favorite band offered me a job to go on tour with them, I'd probably freak out too," I tried to reassure her. "Did you go out with the guys last night? Or did you crash like us too?" I hoped that maybe changing the subject would get us closer to Danny-related things.
"I went with them, but more as a babysitter. They tend to become very disoriented once they get intoxicated."
"Ha ha, I know exactly what you mean," I laughed as memories of Danny's drunken acts of stupidity flooded my mind. "You've got a tough job. I hope they pay you really well."
"Believe me, just being able to work with them is pay enough," she smiled, her skin turning a deep red again as if she'd said too much.
"They're lucky to have such a devoted employee and friend. I know that Tom and Danny have both said that you're really helpful," I spoke lightly with a slight implication to my tone. Hopefully she would pick up on my subtle hint.
"... Really?" She asked, looking amazed. I smiled at her, trying to compel my honesty. It was obvious that my words were having some kind of an affect on her.
"Yeah. I mean, they've both said that you're quite shy, but you work very well and you never argue with the others. Did you think they didn't like you or something?" I joked, slightly pleased that she seemed to be a bit more outspoken. Maybe all she needed to hear was that people appreciated her.
"No... it's just... well, working so close to... them has been slightly, um, nerve-racking. I want to do everything right so I can... you know, impress them..." she was blushing again, but at least we were getting farther.
"Yeah, I get it. But they're already impressed with you. More than impressed with you really; you've got no reason to be nervous around them. I know Danny wouldn't mind getting to know you better-" before I could finish my sentence, another series of quick knocks sounded on the door, interrupting our conversation.
I got up from the bed and pull the door back from the frame, wondering if Tom had forgotten his key only to find my older brother standing there with a not-so-pleased, hungover look on his face.
"Morning, Dan. You look splendid," I tried to start off light hoping to win him over easily.
"You're in the wrong room and I've got a headache. Those two things together aren't very good. Where's Tom?" He asked, glowering at me slightly before he looked around my shoulder carefully.
"Fletch needed him for something. Val's here with me," I explained as Danny invited himself in and slumped down on the bed. He groaned as he covered his eyes with his hands, shielding his face from the intruding sunlight.
"I didn't know Fletch needed to talk to him... Ugh, how could you let me drink so much last night, Val? I swear I'm never getting drunk again," he continued to moan as he pulled a pillow over his face. I rolled my eyes as I sat down next to him, watching Valerie's reaction carefully.
"You say that every time you drink, Dan," I pointed out.
"Yeah, but I mean it this time," he argued back.
"So, would you like me to keep you sober after the concert tonight, then?" Valerie asked, her tone disbelieving. My heart swelled almost like a proud mother as she spoke. Danny sat up a little, letting the pillow fall from his face to his chest as he looked Valerie over.
"Well... maybe not sober. Let me have like... one or two," he grinned at her, probably liking the idea of someone else being responsible for his drinking.
"You need to learn some self-preservation instead of relying on someone else to hold your alcohol for you," I laughed, hitting his knee lightly before Tom's door swung open to reveal my boyfriend looking tired and confused. Once he noticed Danny on the bed next to me, his eyes widened in surprise.
"Um, hello everyone," he said monotonously, meeting my eye and mouthing 'are we in trouble?' I quickly shook my head and watched as he visibly relaxed.
"Hey, what did Fletch want?" I asked, scooting over on the bed to make room for him.
"Nothing at all. I knocked on his door for like a minute before he finally answered looking like he'd just woken up..." Tom looked over at Valerie, confused.
"Really? He'd sent me a text to get you... maybe I got it late or something..." Valerie blushed, making me frown. I had a lot of work ahead of me.
"It's no big deal. I need to get ready anyway, so don't worry about it. It was fun waking Fletch up for a change," Tom grinned, soothing her.
I smiled, knowing fully well that he'd probably just initiated her first calm welcome to the group. Valerie the Shy would be no more, and maybe my match-making skills would really come in handy after all.
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Enchantedx - Oh you're Mariam? You left one of the SWEETEST reviews that I've ever gotten! I was so upset that it was under an anonymous name and that I couldn't thank you properly haha. But seriously, I "AWWW"ed out loud when I read it! Very kind! But anyway, I'm glad you're so interested in the story - keep reading because I've got BIG plans for this one haha. And yes! I'll definitely message you if I get stuck or anything - I always love getting second opinions or working with someone to get ideas flowing. Thank you so much! Peace lovely =]
TisBeKiko – Hahah yeah I do remember our conversation about your Tom/Danny debate. And I kind of love that this story is influencing it haha. I'm more of a Tom/Dougie girl myself but I totally get the Danny thing. He was my favorite for quite some time XD anyway, thanks lovely!
Meg - Don't be sorry at all dear! I have no issue with reviews haha. I mean, I LOVE hearing from my readers but I love getting messages or tweets on twitter too, so don't feel bad about taking time to get here. And I'm extremely jealous that you were in Costa Rica - must've been wonderful! But anyway, the whole Danny-Amanda-Valerie thing will be VERY interesting as the story goes along. I have some fun plans put in place for them, and hopefully you'll enjoy it! Thanks love!
Ashh - Aw thank you lovely! That is so kind of you to say! I absolutely love writing and I absolutely love McFly so I thought combining them together would be a good idea haha. Sorry this took a little extra time to get up - hope you enjoy it dear! Peace =]
