Draw Me In

–|*|–

Ten – I Think I Was Blind Before I Met You

.

.

*~ I want so much to open your eyes

'Cause I need you to look into mine ~*

.

After finally finishing up, and feeling my blood rush quicker through my veins than it was while performing, I quickly grabbed one of the security. Quietly, and so Jasper and Emmett wouldn't hear, I'd located the row and seat number and asked if he would bring her backstage.

That done, I'd all but run there myself, yanking my fingers through my hair over and over again, but my thought process remained the same –

I have no idea what I'm doing.

I had never asked anyone to be "brought" here before, and it felt a little bit shady doing it now, to be honest. But I couldn't just let her go without . . .

Without what?

I had no idea.

Emmett and Jasper came in not long after, and I made a half-hearted attempt at making it seem like I was talking about whatever they were talking about, and not miles away.

"Mr. Masen?"

I jolted in my seat, turning quickly to the security guy who'd just entered the room. Only vaguely, I heard Emmett and Jasper quieten down.

"I've got your guest for you – and two of her friends, whom she wouldn't come without. They're waiting in the room down the corridor."

Heart in my mouth, I replied, "Thank you."

When he left, there was silence for a minute.

Emmett broke it with – "Well, you think you know a guy . . . "

–|*|–

It was pathetic, but I'd used the guise of getting pizza in order to stall.

In actual fact, I had ordered them in and had spent the half hour waiting for them to come in varying states of distress.

It was ridiculous. I could perform on stage in front of thousands, but I couldn't work up the nerve to go and talk to a girl?

"Stop being such a bloody wuss," I whispered, staring at myself in the mirror.

–|*|–

"Brought you something, anyway."

I catch the warm, wrapped up package Jasper tosses to me only barely, and he grins.

I eye the offering with a raised eyebrow. "This is not from downstairs."

"Nope," Jasper says, dropping down into the seat next to me. He unwraps his own burger and bites, letting out a sigh. "This is better."

I finish my cigarette and stub it out, and we sit in comfortable silence for a few minutes.

"So . . . " Jasper begins, and I glance at him out of the corner of my eye. "That girl Alice gave me her number . . . "

A smile crosses my face at he nervousness in his tone. "You fancy her, huh?"

He shrugs, and I turn my head to see him flicking imaginary lint from his jeans.

"You gonna give her a bell?"

"I don't know." He takes another bite of his burger, staring out into the night with furrowed brows. "Maybe I should wait a bit. I mean, that's what I'm supposed to do, right? I don't wanna seem over eager."

A little chuckle escapes me as I reach across and shove him lightly. "Stop being such a bloody wuss and give the girl a call."

–|*|–

I walked right into her.

Or she did me, but – semantics.

I had only just stepped out of the room. After fumbling with the door handle one handed – hot pizza boxes in the other – I had taken about three steps down the dimly lit corridor, only to feel a soft body collide with mine.

A little jolt went through me at the contact, but the apology that was on the tip of my tongue shrivelled up and died the moment the person looked up.

It was her – the girl from the audience.

Not only edges now.

But close.

I stared, and when she looked up, I was only afforded a brief glimpse of her close-up gaze before she looked down again.

"Sorry," she mumbled, trying to side-step past me.

But I mimicked her, stepping to the right and left as she did. Why was she out here? Was she leaving?

The thought sent an irrational – considering I'd only just met the bloody girl – surge of panic through me, making me feel suddenly cold despite the boiling pizzas in my hand.

"Excuse me," she said, and I could hear the thinly veiled frustration in her tone.

I was acutely aware of how much of an arse I was being, but that still didn't stop me from stepping in front of her again. Or from reaching out and grasping her arm. If she would only stand still for a second, I could . . .

Could what?

I still didn't bloody well know.

She jerked back at my touch, her mobile tumbling from her fingers and her words escaping her in a quiet gasp.

"Forgive me," I uttered quickly, reaching down to retrieve her phone. Moron, I mentally berated myself, letting my eyes fall shut for a second. Two minutes in and I'm already messing it up.

When I rose from my position in front of her, I kept my gaze careful, hesitant. I tried to take in her newly upturned face passively, but she was all lips and eyes, and despite her dark clothes that merged into the din, she didn't.

"Hello," I said around a dry throat, pressing her phone back into her hand. I should have let mine fall away, but I didn't. "Leaving already?"

I watched as her eyes grew round, a blush colouring her cheeks a dark pink as she took a step back. Her gaze fell to the floor as she stammered, and something inside of me seized.

Uncomfortable, curious, I asked – "Are you leaving?" I tipped my head down to try and catch her gaze, but she was having none of it. While she remained silent, my voice grew a little bit more desperate. "I never got a chance to talk to you."

I attempted to close the distance then, but she widened it.

Her voice was barely perceptible when she answered – only one syllable – and that something inside of me seized a little bit tighter. "I'm sorry I kept you waiting," I said earnestly, trying to get her to respond to something, anything. But she merely nodded, so I took a step towards her, again.

And she evaded, again.

"Would you consider staying a little while?" I tried, still attempting to catch her gaze. "I can take you home after, if you'd like."

In response, her shoulders seemed to droop, and the smallest tremble skirted along her soft edges, the strands of her hair. "No," she replied, voice small. "That's alright."

Completely at a loss as to how to make her stay, I resorted to my last measure.

I turned on what Emmett and Jasper have dubbed "my charm."

Christ.

I felt ridiculous as I lowered my tone, trying to inflect it with the raspy shades I drew on when I performed, and then I chose my next words very, very carefully.

"I can't tempt you?"

But my feelings of idiocy were all but washed away as I watched her swallow – hard – and her cheeks flush even redder. Something inside of me stirred – and I couldn't help but wonder what else I could do to make her blush.

My eyes widened as the thought flittered through my mind, uncensored. And I stared down at the top of her head in surprise, as if she'd planted it there herself.

So unprecedented.

Her friend came around the corner before she could reply, calling her name. I was only listening with half an ear as introductions were made, straining closer to the small figure in front of me in case she uttered a sound, or decided to peg it again.

I followed closely as they retreated back down the corridor, not understanding the relief I was feeling but not being able to stop it. When she stumbled, I caught her arm quickly to stop her from falling, feeling how soft she was even through all of her layers.

"You alright?"

Her nod was slow, and her gaze wasn't on me.

So I slowly withdrew my hand, watching her cheeks light up as I brushed my thumb across her palm. I watched her closely, willing her to glance up, but she never did.

It was like that for the rest of the night. After murmuring out a quiet hi to me – seeming to look up only out of a sense obligation rather than any actually want – she remained in the same spot for the rest of the evening. She never looked at me again.

I snuck inconspicuous glances at her throughout the night; though I had a feeling I wasn't as crafty as I thought I was being. But I watched as she seemed to retreat into herself – curling up like she was trying to make herself as small or invisible as possible – with that odd twisting in my chest.

I wanted to talk to her – to do anything that might make her respond to me, but I was held back by her shrinking figure. I didn't like it, and I had a sneaking feeling that I was the cause of it.

So I kept my gob firmly shut.

But I couldn't stop my gaze. So even though her eyes wouldn't find mine, apparently, mine couldn't stay away from her.

Christ, I thought again.

And then –

I'm in trouble.

–|*|–

She had fallen asleep.

Knowing that it couldn't make her uncomfortable now, I turned my gaze on her sleeping figure. Her head had fallen onto her friends – Tinker's – shoulder, and she was in the current process of easing her down onto the arm of the sofa, her body at an incline.

My eyes startled at the sight of her pale skin, contrasted so greatly with her dark brows and eyelashes, but for only a second. As if she could sense my stare in her sleep, her hair suddenly loosened from behind her ear and fell across her face in waves.

I clenched my jaw at being denied, again.

Forcing myself to look away, I dropped my head down and clasped my fingers across the back of my neck. She was throwing me through a loop and she'd barely said five words to me.

But I think that it was because of this that I was so thrown.

After being in the spotlight for so many years – and before then, if I'm honest – I was so used to being seen. Everything in my life had always seemed so simple, so achievable if I tried hard enough, and sometimes, even if I didn't. I was used to being sought out – by employers, women, people who wanted to sign me – us – and the like.

But her quiet indifference – her avoidance – was something new.

Her gaze that looked deeper, past all the surface-apparent things, was also new.

Picking up my head, my eyes were automatically drawn in her direction. And as I watched the gentle rise and fall of her body, I wondered if she realised how unprecedented she was – how enticing – and how she was completely and utterly –

Drawing me in.

–|*|–

"I'll be back in a sec."

Vague sounds of acknowledgment reached me as I practically sprinted from the room, not stopping until I was inside of mine.

Once there, I pulled out a card from a stack on the desk and almost yanked the small pen I always kept from behind my ear. For a moment I stared down at the blank space, and then I filled it with numbers.

I didn't even need to think about the words that followed.

–|*|–

"She's spark out."

"We should be heading off now, anyway."

"Here," I blurted, and they all turned to look at me. "Let me take her."

When they offered up no protest, I slowly walked over to the sleeping girl on the couch. I hesitated for a moment, then carefully slid my arms around her. When I had her, I held her close to my chest, both because I didn't want her to be chilly when we stepped outside, and because . . . because it felt nice to hold someone so soft again, after years of eschewing women altogether.

When she started to squirm, I hushed her and held her a little bit tighter.

"Shh," I whispered. "I've got you."

At my words, she ceased moving, her forehead and nose and lips falling onto my neck. I closed my eyes for split-second, swallowing as I felt her sigh – her breath hot on my skin.

"Edward?"

My eyes snapped open, an unexpected heat burning the back of my neck as I noticed Jasper watching me with a raised brow. I looked away from him, holding Bella to me tightly as I walked out of the door.

When we reached the car, I ducked down to place her inside. Under the guise of settling her, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the card. I didn't hesitate as I slipped it into her hoodie.

I hesitated a moment before leaving, hovering over her in the small space.

"I see you," I whispered, brushing away wayward strands from her face and letting the moon kiss her skin. "Please don't let it be the last time I do."

Then I stepped back and watched them drive away, my heart racing.

Because while I wasn't used to seeking –

I had the distinct feeling I was going to be really bloody persistent about it.

–|*|–

"So, when are we off again?"

I glance up at the moon, clear and bright and unobstructed by clouds. "A week," I breathe out, smoke falling from my lips.

"Jesus Christ," Jasper complains, fanning the air in front of him. "What is that? Your fifth one?"

I roll my eyes. "Maybe I'll stop when you learn our bloody schedule."

"Right," Jasper says dryly. "And Cameron isn't slowly privatising the NHS."

"Think fast."

I raise my hand just in time to catch the mobile Emmett tosses my way. Unfortunately, the fag slips from my fingers as a result and singes the inside of my arm.

"Fucking hell!" I hiss, knocking the burning stick away. I stand up and spin around to face Emmett, standing half on the balcony, half in the room. I glare at him, glancing down at the burn mark. "What the bloody hell's wrong with you?!"

"Oops," he says, smiling sheepishly, palms raised. "Sorry about that, Ed."

"Wanker," I spit.

He rolls his eyes. "Stop being such a pansy." Stepping over the threshold, he lifts my arm and brings it to his eye level, despite me trying to yank it away. "I think you'll live," he says, releasing me. "Just put some ice on it."

"Piss off."

His eyebrows lift. "Bit arsey tonight, aren't we?"

"Bollo – "

"You've got a text," he continues loudly, cutting me off. "I settled that, er, present issue with mum, by the way – thanks for asking. Though she's not best pleased with you."

"You're such a – "

"You're welcome!" Then he disappears back into the room.

I stare after him for a moment, torn between being pissed off and begrudging amusement.

"He came, he burnt, he ticked you off," Jasper drawls from beside me.

"Story of his life," I mumble, glancing down at the dark screen. I swipe my thumb across it and it glows to life.

"That mum?" he asks, and I can hear him grinning.

I frown. "I don't know, it's a – "

My eyes widen, and the sudden burn in my skin has nothing to do with the cigarette.

Inwardly, I finish –

Unknown number.

A/N: *pegs it*

fancy = feel a desire or liking for

give her a bell = give her a call

gob = mouth

peg it = meaning to "leg it" - to run away

Cameron = David Cameron (prime minister)

wanker = a contemptible person (used as a generalized term of abuse)

arsey = bad-tempered or uncooperative

So sorry for the wait! I went back to Uni on Monday and it's even more overwhelming than I remembered!

Thanks for reading. :) See you soon!