Darren got out of the car handing the driver the money. He reached into the back of the car and picked up Hannah placing her in the foyer of the hotel. After going back to the car to get the luggage, and placing it inside the hotel, he went to the desk and asked for a room for two. It was Thursday night, Darren only had three nights left in New York, if you counted tonight, and he was sure he could convince Hannah to come with him back to LA.
The woman behind the desk handed Darren the key, and he took the steps two at a time, luggage in hand up to the small room. There were two single beds and two small desks, with a separate bathroom behind a closed door. Darren left the luggage behind the door and ran back down the stairs to get Hannah.
She was still asleep in the place that he'd left her, looking as angelic as ever. He couldn't tell her yet though, she was broken because of his STUPID brother. But he would have her soon.
Darren lifted her lightly, thanking the woman behind the desk as he walked up the stairs slowly, watching that her head didn't hit the wall. Darren got to the room faster than expected, and pushed the door open with his foot, pressing his back against it to keep it open as he walked inside. Hannah stirred lightly in his arms, and he laid her gently on the bed closest to the door, pulling the cover from underneath her and wrapping it around her shoulders. He wouldn't change her. Maybe Hannah would get the wrong idea.
He pressed his lips lightly to her forehead and whispered good night softly.
Darren took one last glance at Hannah before stripping down into his underwear and climbing into bed. He flicked the light off and settled into it. He may have lost his brother today, but he'd gained the love of his life again.
Hannah woke up to the blinding light of the sun shining through her window. She shot up glancing around at her surroundings trying to decipher where she was. She recognized the bedside table and the small electrical clock that red 11:51. She was back in her hotel room.
Hannah sat up confused. Was that whole thing a dream, had she been to see Darren in 'How to Succeed' at all?
Hannah glanced around her and as her eyes becoming more focused she could make out a small not pinned to the door. The bed next to hers was un-made. Things clicked into perspective. Last night. Chuck and... Kayley, was that her name? Darren saying he'd come to stay at the hotel with her.
Hannah sprang out of the bed and bounded toward the door. She pulled it down, opening it and began reading it quietly to herself.
'Hannah,
Hey, sorry I wasn't there when you woke up, must have been a bit of a scare for you'
Hannah laughed to herself.
'I had to leave early, and I didn't want to wake you. I know it's a tall order, but if you feel like it, come up and meet me backstage, it'll give you a different experience of the show.
Lots of love, Darren x
P.s be there by 12:30, curtain's up at at 1:00'
Hannah closed the letter and folded it back into the jeans of her pocket. She glanced at her watch. SHIT. She had half an hour. Knowing that she didn't have time to change she grabbed some spray from the bag behind the door, covered herself in it. Brushed her teeth and grabbed her handbag. Darren had packed everything, she'd thank him later. She stopped to think about what she was doing. Was it really wise to go out after what had happened yesterday, what if she bumped into Chuck. He knew where she was staying after all...
She brushed the thoughts aside. No. She needed a distraction, and that distraction came in the form of Darren.
She rushed out of the room, grabbing the key that Darren had left inside the lock and placing it inside her pocket.
As she reached the bottom floor she glanced at the clock behind the desk. 12:03. CRAP! Hannah rushed out of the front door calling down a taxi. She checked her pocket. There was $20 sitting in it. Thanks Darren she thought, laughing to herself.
She jumped into the back of the car. She was a bit of a professional with taxies now. 'Al Hirschfeld theatre please'. The driver pulled away and Hannah settled into the seat. She thought about Darren, and about Chuck. Clearly fate had decided that she needed to be with Darren. Hannah was fine with that, now she just had to make him fall in love with her again.
She rummaged through her bag looking for her phone. It wasn't there. Crap. She must have left it in her coat! She'd left it on the stand when she came in last night. She wasn't going back to that apartment. Never. She'd just have to get a new phone. Start again.
The taxi pulled up outside the theatre and Hannah jumped out, thanking the driver. She checked her watch again 12:20. That was a close call. She made her way around the block to the back of the theatre and found Darren waiting for her at the stage door. His eyes lit up when he saw her an he signalled that the guard should let her in. The door swung open and Hannah walked in, throwing her arms around Darren.
'Cutting it close again Hannah' Darren winked pulling away from her. Hannah giggled in response. Darren took her hand and led her to the dressing room. The door swung open and Darren had opened up his little piece of paradise for Hannah. Hannah walked over to his desk looking through the books and letters on it. His fans were so supportive of him. It made her feel so proud.
'Look, I have to go, but feel free to make yourself at home. As soon as the curtain up call is made come up to the wings, someone'll show you the way, you can watch from there.' Darren gave her another hug, and walked out of the door, leaving Hannah on her own.
She sat in the small chair opposite the mirror, staring at her reflection. 'Alone again' She said to herself, and she started looking through the book on his desk. He wouldn't mind, he's left her with them after all.
She flicked through the pages carefully, reading through the messages and photos from his UK fans. It made her feel closer to home, although reality struck. She's been here for 3 weeks. She had work to go to, she had things to do at home. She really couldn't let herself fall for someone again. It was like their first meeting all over again. If she fell too hard for him, she wouldn't be able to leave. And she had to leave.
Half an hour later Hannah heard the tannoy call for all opening number cast members to head backstage. Hannah put the book down, grabbed her bag and headed to the side of the stage. Darren was waiting for her. He placed her in the corner of the wings, far enough out of the way so that she wouldn't bother anyone, but close enough to see everything that was going on on-stage.
He punched her lightly in the arm and ran down a small flight of stairs that led under the stage, presumably to get fixed into the swing.
Hannah watched him leave and settled herself into the small stool that Darren had placed there for her. The cast were all in their places in the wings, and a few came up and introduced themselves whilst waiting for the curtain to rise.
'You must be Hannah, Darren's told us all about you' One of the dancers said to her. She was flattered Darren had talked about her. 'No Chuck today then?' She continued. Obviously he hadn't told her everything.
'No, it's just me and Darren today' The bell rang and the introduction began playing. Immediately the cast members took their places and switched into theatre mode. A few winked at her before they made their way onstage.
The curtain finally rose and Hannah saw once again Darren hanging in mid air on his small swing. She kept her eyes focused on him. He was right, it was completely different watching the show from here.
As he began to sing he looked off the stage toward her, winked and carried on. Hannah felt her heart flutter, and she once again fell under his trance.
The curtain fell for the interval and Darren rushed off stage toward Hannah.
'Well...' Darren asked, raising his impossibly triangular eyebrows in a questioning glare.
'Hm... you seemed a little distracted.' Hannah glared back at him. Placing her hand on his arm.
'That's because I was' Hannah felt his eyes burning into hers. 'By that girl in the audience who kept screaming all the time. It's not on.' Darren pulled away from her. Not yet. She still wasn't properly over Chuck. 'Are you feeling any better?' Darren asked pulling away so that Hannah's arms fell limp back beside her.
'Very much so. Thank you. It's just what I needed. You were right by the way, I got a little scared when I woke up this morning. I thought the past 3 weeks had been a dream.'
'Sorry about that.' Darren laughed 'But I had to be here at 9, and you looked so peaceful, I didn't want to wake you.'
Hannah shrugged 'No! You were right to leave me sleep. I needed it. There is one thing though' Darren raised his eyebrows again. 'I left my coat in the apartment. It has my phone in it, and I kind of need it. Would you mind driving me over there later?'
Darren shook his head. 'No way. You're not going back there. I'll go get it for you later I promise.' Hannah grabbed Darren's waist and hugged his torso. Darren placed his hand on her head.
'Umm... Hannah... as lovely as this is, I do need to get changed for the second half...' Darren added, prying himself away from Hannah. Hannah put her hand up her mouth stifling a laugh.
'Oh my gosh! Yes! Go! I'll see you later!' Hannah pushed him back toward his dressing room. She smiled to herself, watching him skip away. Chuck who? She thought slyly to herself.
Darren snuck off stage after every number, going to check Hannah was okay. She returned this gesture by pushing him back toward his dressing room. She didn't want to be responsible for late entry.
When the last curtain fell, Hannah ran back to Darren's dressing room during the bows because the wings got crazy during that scene. Darren joined her quickly hopping into the shower.
'Hannah!' Darren shouted. It was nearly overpowered by the water, but she could just make it out.
'Yeah?' She replied pressing her head against the door.
'Go to the car. I'll be outside in 10. Then we'll go to the apartment. You can stay in the car.' Hannah grabbed her bag, and did as he said. The stage door was packed, and there was many a whisper as she hopped into Darren's car.
She waited in there watching Darren signing several objects. One woman had a life-size poster of him to sign. Naturally it was tiny.
Eventually Darren joined her, waving to his fans as the car pulled away. He was breathless. 'You're adorable' Hannah heard herself saying even though she didn't remember saying it.
'Thank you' He said back blushing red. The driver smiled to himself and as Darren saw him do so in the mirror he told him to go to Chuck's apartment. Hearing his name on Darren's lips made her hate him even more. So that was why Darren had got so defensive yesterday. Because he knew about Chuck cheating.
Ten minutes later the car was stopping outside the apartment. Darren jumped out. 'Stay here, I'll be 10 minutes at the most.' Hannah watched him leave, with an uncomfortable smile on her face.
Darren waited for the lift to appear at the bottom floor again. It did soon enough. Darren stepped inside, balling his fists as to relieve his anger. He was so angry with Chuck, but he wouldn't hurt him. He was his brother after all, even if he didn't act like it sometimes.
The doors opened as he reached his floor. The door was locked but he took the key from his pocket and opened it. The apartment seemed empty, but soon enough Chuck stepped out into the lounge. Darren took Hannah's coat from the hanger, and was just about to turn and leave when Chuck started talking. 'Thank God you're here!'
Darren turned to face Chuck, his mouth open in disgust.
'I need you to make things right between Hannah and me! It was a mistake! I've realised it's Hannah I love. I'm so over Kayley'
Darren stared at him. His eyes cold. 'It's not good enough Chuck, I gave you one chance too many as it was. I'm not going to give you any more. Hannah deserves better.'
Darren turned to walk out the door, his anger burning inside of him.
'So that's it? You expect just to live happily ever after. Well you're not. You are from two different worlds. She doesn't want you. She never will.'
Darren didn't give Chuck the pleasure of letting him see his face. He just walked straight back out of the door and down the elevator, back into the foyer. He would be happy if he never saw his brother again, and he didn't plan to.