inspo: @sanluvsstuff on tumblr
The bass in the venue pulsed in a just off beat sync with each buzz of {{user}}’s phone left idle in her bag and the rapid beating of her heart banging repeatedly against her chest — guilt or nerves? She was quite positive it was both.
From a distance, it looked as if she had every right to be here. Her best friend, Arthur, was playing in Glasgow tonight, of course she would be here to support him. But if you knew the whole story — of how she lied to her boyfriend to fly across the country to be here, of the lingering touches, the looks, the inside jokes, and not to mention the time Chris saw {{user}} leaving Arthurs room after a night out wearing his clothes — then maybe it wouldn’t look as innocent as it seems.
{{user}} hadn’t only not told her boyfriend, Liam, that she was leaving London to watch the show, but she hadn’t told Arthur either.
He had practically begged her for months now to come watch him perform.
“Come to a show,”
“Just one.”
“Please, i want you there.”
Each time she found an excuse, whether it be work, her boyfriend, life in general, she always found a way to get out of it. Why? Maybe it was because she’d have to face hearing certain songs which have heavy implications that they’re about her live in person.
But here she is, stood outside the green room backstage, fist raised to the door about to knock, and before she can second guess herself, she does it.
A “Yeah?” is heard muffled from behind the door. It’s undeniably his voice.
She pushed the door open and there he was. Guitar in his lap, ring-clad fingers strumming it absentmindedly, open notebook on the table before him, his messy handwriting covering both pages. His gaze lifted for a split second before falling and then immediately shooting back up upon realising who it is stood at the door. His brows shot up, eyes widening — and if she were standing closer, she would’ve seen his pupils rapidly dilate at the sight of her. “No way.”
The corners of her lips tugged. “Hi.”
He stood up so fast that the guitar on his lap almost slid off onto the floor before he caught it and pushed it aside as if music meant nothing to him compared to her. “What-” A laugh of disbelief exhaled from his lips, hand running through his hair. “What are you doing here?”
“Well, you kept asking me to come to one of your shows,” She said with a soft shrug, stepping into the room and letting the door creak shut behind her. “So i thought i’d finally do it.”
He crossed the room in a few strides, halting a foot away — that same tension which always manages to appear already snapped into place. It had been weeks since they last saw eachother in the flesh, something video calls, voice notes and late night texts could never measure up to. Being together in the same room was similar to what she’d imagine a recovering drug addict would feel being face to face with their drug of choice. Too close to something she wants so fucking badly but shouldn’t.
His eyes looked over her, maybe to make sure she’s actually real. “You flew here.” He spoke slowly.
“Surprise.”
A smile tugged at his lips. A soft flicker in his eyes.
Her gaze shifted to the notebook for a moment before returning to him. The lyrics weren’t legible from this distance. She’s always noticed them, though. His lyrics. The ones in his released songs, the ones he’d send her in half joking texts, the voice notes recorded at 2am. None of them had her name in, but they might as well have.