Author: Priscilla
Chapter 5
In the weeks that followed Gavin and Angel had become really good friends. Gwen made some calls and contacted some of her friends to get Angel a job writing for Spin Magazine. Now Angel sat down in front of Jack's desk. He was the editor for Spin. He was a good looking guy Angel noted absently, with piercing black eyes to match jet black hair. His square jaw accented his slightly exotic look perfectly. Right now, he was looking through all of the feature articles he'd been submitted trying to figure out which would grace the cover of next moth's issue. Jack looked up at Angel from the small stack with an exasperated look on his face.
"What do you think?" He asked eyeing the articles and Angel's face excitedly. Angel shrugged her shoulders and leaned forward a little to get a better look at the articles spread out on the desk.
"How about you take the Pearl Jam feature and put in the KoRn one? Talk about the new album and what the guys have been up to all this time you know?" Jack looked down at the articles, to Angel, and back. A slow smile creeping up on his chiseled face as he nodded approvingly.
"That might just work. But that's not the only reason I asked you here." Turning to a cabinet next to his desk and pulling out an old issue of Spin, Jack flips a few pages. He stopped and pointed to an article that reads: "A Day In The Life: Crazy Town." The issue was a few months old. Angel remembered liking the article.
"I've been thinking that we haven't done one of these in a while. I think it would be a really great way to start you off." Jack said looking up to smile at her. Angel nodded her head and smiled back at him. Let's see, taking on this article would mean that she was being offered a chance to spend about a week or more with one of the world's most awesome bands and write about it.
"Do you have anyone in mind?" Angel asked excitedly. She was already psyched about this. Jack nodded his head and said, "Yeah, how about Bush? They just got off tour and Gwen tells me that they're planning on taking their time off here." The smiled instantly faded from her face. It was beginning to get harder and harder to keep her feelings for Gavin hidden and now she was going to have to spend every waking moment with him and his band.
"They've got really nothing but promotion gigs to do for a couple of days and with all the mail I've been getting it seems the fans want a feature." Jack continued, oblivious to Angel's distress. Angel nodded her head mutely. What was she going to do? Say no to her boss on her first assignment? No way. Jack proceeded to blab on and on about what questions she should concentrate on asking and so forth. Angel's mind was racing. Would she be able to handle being around Gavin for so long? No way in hell. All it took was one look from him and she was a goner. It was final: She was completely screwed.
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After jotting down a few notes from Jack and talking about the basic layout for the article, Angel had lunch at a small diner across the street from the huge building where Spin was housed, and then drove home. She expected the house to be either deserted or to find Gwen bumming on the couch. Walking into the living room, she surprised to see the whole gang there talking amongst themselves. Shit. She plastered a smile on her face and said "Hey guys." Everyone replies with their greetings. Gavin stays silent. his gaze intent on Angel. He stands up slowly.
"Hello love."
"Hey, Gavin how are you?" Angel asks nervously as he lightly kisses her jaw. The room seemed to tilt suddenly. Out of the corner of her eye she catches the rest of the group giving each other mischevious glances and wicked grins. She'd been kind of distant lately.
"So how'd it go?" Gwen asked sitting up in her chair. A beaming white smile radiating from her face. Angel shrugged her shoulders in response.
"Ok, I guess." Gwen's eyebrows knitted in confusion. "Ok? You guess? You were so excited about it earlier, what happened?"
"I'm supposed to follow Bush around." Angel stated flatly and suddenly Gwen knew exactly why she was stressing the assignment. Nigel, Robin, and Dave looked down at the floor, their shoes seemed very interesting suddenly. Nigel was the first to clear his throat and speak, shaking his head apologetically.
"I'm sorry love, but I can't. I promised the family that I would spend as much time at home as possible. It's very rare that we get time off like this."
"Yeah and I'm going on tour with Dragon Fly for a couple of weeks. Their drummer has a broken arm. Sorry." Robin chimed in. Angel listened to their excuses with a smile. Ok, so maybe she wouldn't hang out with all of Bush, but two out of four isn't bad right?
"It's ok guys, I understand." She looked at Dave who hadn't said a peep throughout the entire conversation and asked, "How about you Dave? You cool with all of this?" Dave looked up with a sheepish grin hinting on his handsome features and shook his head.
"I don't think it's a good idea, at least not now. I would of loved to do it when we're on tour but I need some time to relax while I have it you know?" Angel shook her head in complete understanding. After all, if she'd just gotten off a tour and was as tired as they all looked she wouldn't want some reporter hounding with questions either.
"Alright, I'll call Jack and see what else he can get for me." She said pulling out her cell phone.
"I wouldn't mind Angel." Gavin spoke up shrugging his shoulders. "I've all this time off and nothing to do with it. You could write about boring old Gavin. What do you think?" Angel forced her shock not to show.
"That would be really great. All of Gavin's fans could get a better insight into how he really is." Tony added. Guess he liked the idea.
"Yeah, I can see it now. 'Gavin Rossdale: Is He a Morning Person?'. Adrian said jokingly and everyone cracked up.
"OK, I guess it's just you and me then." Angel said sitting back down to watch the movie playing on the TV. After it was over, the guys left for their hotel rooms, leaving Angel and Gwen alone.
"God, what am I going to do Gwen?" Angel whined from her seat on the terrace. Gwen turned her head slightly to look at her friend.
"Don't DO anything Ang." She offered with a smile.
"Just let things happen with Gavin?"
"Let things happen with anyone, specially Gavin. Take the bull by the horns girl. Things like this don't happen everyday." Angel nodded her head and smiled.
"Ok, just remember you said that."
Title: Anything But Zen
Author: Priscilla
Chapter 6
The next morning Angel was woken up by someone ripping her blanket off her body and the bed completely. Her eyes shot open at the sudden cold air hitting her skin to gaze upon Gavin holding her sheets in his hands and smiling down at her. He wore a navy blue t-shirt and black cargo pants.
"Rise and shine love, we've got quite a day ahead of us." He said smilingly as he handed Angel her robe. She was completely dumbfounded, was she still reading? It wouldn't be surprising of she were, it's not the first time she's dreamt of Gavin coming into her room in the middle of the night and ripping her clothes off....Angel shook her head and blinked back the sleep trying to make sense of all this. She finally got her wits about her and gave Gavin a confused look.
"Gavin I don't mean to be rude, but what are you doing here?" She asked, climbing out of bed and taking the robe he was still offering. Gavin took a couple of seconds longer to answer than he should have, she was so beautiful and she didn't even know it. Treated it like something she didn't deserve, hid it even. He snapped back to reality to see Angel giving him another one of her 'what's going on?' looks.
"Ahh...helping you get ready for out trip." He managed quickly.
"Trip? What trip?"
"I decided to visit home, London, a couple of weeks prior to this break but since you're writing a story I thought you could come along and we could work on it there." Angel smiled to herself. It would be kind of nice to see where he grew up.
"Ok, when do we leave?" She asked excitedly making Gavin smile. He lifted one of his eyebrows up comically. "Just like that? No hour-long argument? I'm impressed." Angel laughed and swatted his arm playfully.
"Oh shut up. Listen, if you want me to get ready you're going to have to leave so I can take a shower and get my stuff packed."
"Fine, I'll be downstairs then."
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About 45 minutes later, Angel had packed whatever she thought she'd need on their trip. She didn't know how long Gavin planned on staying so she brought a couple of credit cards in case of anything. She dragged her bag downstairs and she and Gwen said their goodbyes, each promising to call if the other one didn't first. Gavin rolled his eyes before clearing his throat to get their attention. He helped put their baggage in the trunk of the taxi and soon they were on their way. The ride to the airport was a quiet one and so was the plane ride, but Gavin did mention that his family was very excited about meeting her. Specially his sister Soraya. Great.
The plane touched down around noon. After getting their bags and renting a car, they drove to their hotel. Angel peered out at the dreary London weather. It looked like if it had just rained, the countryside held a washed out quality, but it was still very beautiful.
"It doesn't look like much now, but once we get to the city it'll be much more exciting." Gavin said, breaking the silence. Angel smiled and nodded. They arrived at the hotel and checked in to their rooms. Angel barely had time to open her bags when someone knocked on the door. It was Gavin of course.
"Nice room." He said looking around.
"Yeah thanks. So what's up?"
"Well, I just called my mum to let her know that we're here and she invited us to dinner with the family. Want to come?" Angel nodded her head and smiled.
"Sure. I'd love to. Just let me take a quick shower ok?"
An hour later both we're walking up the stone path leading to Gavin's parents house. Angel had decided to wear a long black spaghetti strap dress and black heels. Her hair was up in a clip with curly strands coming down the back. She looked absolutely stunning. Gavin seemed drawn to her suddenly. He wrapped his left arm around her shoulders and rung the doorbell. His sister opened the door and let out a squeal of delight as she saw who it was and jumped into her brother's arms. Angel watched the exchange of affection with a smile. Gavin let go of his sister and smiled while sticking loose strands of hair behind her ears.
"Well aren't you going to let us in?"
"Oh yes, sorry about that. Come in." As Angel stepped into the house, the smell of good food cooking made her stomach grumble in anticipation.
"Where is everyone anyway?" Gavin asked looking around the practically empty living room.
"Well mum and Soraya are in the kitchen and dad is out getting the wine. I'll get the girls." Angel was a little surprised that the girl hadn't asked who she was.
"Are you alright? You seem---distracted." Gavin said nudging her.
"No I--"
"Gavin!" They both turned in the direction of the younger version of Soraya and Gavin's mom.
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"Everyone I'd like you to meet a very good friend of mine Ms. Angelica Wallace, better known as Angel, who was gracious enough to accompany me here tonight." Gavin said with a huge smile plastered on his face. Angel smiled back and greeted everyone with a "nice to meet you." After dinner, Angel decided to help Mrs. Rossdale take the dishes to the washer. Gavin had decided to stay speaking with his father, it seemed to two weren't very close. His parents divorced when he was small and Gavin had stayed with his mother. The only reason his father was present was because Soraya had insisted. Mrs. Rossdale watched Angel load dishes into the machine and smiled when Angel noticed.
"I'm sorry love, for staring, it's only that you weren't what I expected."
"What did you expect?" Angel asked somewhat lost.
"Gavin's girlfriends are either extremely annoying or extreme difficult to get along with. I haven't liked one that he's brought home yet." She said with a smile.
"Gavin and I aren't together Mrs. Rossdale." Angel wanted that cleared up right now.
"No. Not yet." Mrs. Rossdale said, chuckling at Angel's surprised yet confused expression.
"I know my son darling, and he may not have acknowledged it yet but it's there. I can see it in the way he moves around you, looks at you, touches in subtle ways. Do you like him?" Angel smiled and nodded her head yes. What would be the point of lying anyway?
"Then do something about it. Gavin's always been slow to action, he just sometimes needs a push in the right direction." Angel smiled and hugged the older woman, finally finding comfort in the idea that a relationship with the man of her dreams could happen, if she played her cards right. She excused herself and went out the nearest door she found. The door must of led to the back yard because there was an area thick with trees and bushes and there was a lake. Off to the side were small wooden benches. Angel made her way to them and sat down enjoying the cool breeze drifting through the trees.
"So this is where you've been hiding?" Angel looked to her left and there of course, stood Gavin. The moonlight shone of his face giving his fine features an even more angelic look. She smiled and nodded her head.
"Yeah, I guess I lost track of time. It's beautiful out here." Gavin sat down next to her on the bench and looked around.
"This was my sanctuary growing up. Aside from my room and the tree house of course. I would come out here and just play. Like something calling me you know?"
"Yeah, I know."
"You do?" He asked, face suddenly inches away from hers. The smile that had garnished his face moments before was replaced by a look of pure lust. His honey brown eyes darted between her eyes and luscious lips. Angel's heart was racing, pounding in her chest with such ferocity she thought it might burst. She watched almost in slow motion as his mouth descended upon hers in a mind-blowing kiss. His hands came up to burry themselves in her silky hair as he scooted closer, deepening the kiss. Their tongues danced as they explored each other's mouth.
A rumbling of some leaves and the calling of their names made them break apart from each other and start straightening their clothes.
"Oh there you are." It was Soraya. "Dessert's ready." She informed them before making her way back to the house. Angel made a move to follow her, but Gavin caught her wrist.
"Later." He promised before brushing her lips with his and grabbing her hand to lead her back inside. After a couple of hours of chatting and listening to old family stories, Gavin and Angel decided to call it a night. The car ride to the hotel was a silent one, each of the car's occupants lost in their own thoughts.
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"Goodnight Gavin." Angel said after he'd walked her up to her room. It was so awkward. A few hours ago she had been ready to let him take her right on that bench. She couldn't face him. Gavin stepped to her side grabbing hold of her chin gently to make her look at him.
"I don't want to rush things. But you know the way I feel. It's going to make it really hard for us to stay friends."
"What if that's all I'm willing to give?"
"Well this may sound a little selfish, but that's not all I want."
"You're right, that does sound selfish." Angel chuckled and then brought her eyes to meet his almost timidly. Such beautiful brown orbs, so full of life. Pathways to his soul it seemed.
"What do you want Gavin?"
"You." He said before bending down and kissing her. They stumbled through the open door and into her room. Angel was helping Gavin undress in between passion filled kisses. When they were both naked and Angel was below him, Gavin traced butterfly kisses all the way down her body. He slowly kissed, licked, and sucked on scalding hot skin until he reached her navel. He moved backwards a little and bent Angel's knees upward. Gavin slowly spread her legs, fully exposing her to his gaze.
"You're so beautiful." He whispered before bending his head and making love to her with his mouth. Angel's orgasm came hard and in long hot waves, each bringing mind blowing pleasure. Their eyes locked for a minute as they kissed before Gavin entered her hot wet center. For hours their bodies moved to a rhythm as old as time. Before his orgasm over took him, Gavin had a brief thought, that maybe his pain might finally be over and that maybe, just maybe, he was falling in love.