5.

‘And what makes you think I do?’

‘Because I know you, I can see it in your eyes.’

‘You hurt me.’

‘We both hurt each other.’

‘It wasn’t me who left.’

‘It was time. I couldn’t go on the way things were, the touring, the interviews, the whole media circus that our lives seemed to have degenerated into. I’m a musician not a celebrity, you’ve always known that. Besides it was time for you to spread those wings of yours and fly away. You didn’t need me anymore. My job was done.’

‘Of course I needed you,’ Darren fought hard against raising his voice, shouting wouldn’t solve anything. It hadn’t solved anything then and it wouldn’t solve anything now. ‘I’ve always needed you.’

Daniel shook his head sadly. ‘Not anymore.’

‘I need you Dan,’ his voice softened, ‘I need you now more than ever. I’m scared, I can’t do this without you.’ Darren rose from the bed and went over to kneel in front of Daniel, taking his hands in his. ‘I have missed you so much.’ Against his better judgement a tear started to fall.

‘Those things you said in all those interviews, did you mean them?’

‘I was angry, hurting, you know me, speak first, think later.’

Daniel smiled. ‘Still the same old impetuous Darren.’

‘The one and only.’ Darren grinned through his tears.

Out of habit Daniel freed a hand from Darren’s and leant forward to brush them away. ‘So howabout it, give it another try?’

‘Ok, but let’s take it slow yeah, one step at a time.’

‘Fine by me. Want to start by coming out with me and Lee tonight. I hear the party up in the park is going to be one kick ass affair.’

‘I don’t know, perhaps we shouldn’t be seen together and anyway since when did you like parties.’

‘You’re not the only one who’s changed Darren and there is no such thing as bad publicity right?’

Darren was undecided, part of him was suddenly very up for a night out on the tiles but another just wanted to curl up and talk with Daniel, catch up on all the bits of their lives that hadn’t made national headlines over the past five months.

‘Can’t we just stay here, I want to hear everything you’ve been up to. How’s Kathleen? I gather it’s pretty serious.’

Daniel smiled at the thought. ‘I love her. What about you?’

‘Nope still single and loving it.’

‘No regrets though?’

‘No, never.’ Darren raised himself up and looked at Daniel. ‘Now howabout you say hello to me properly?’ He opened his arms and welcomed Daniel into a huge bear hug.

‘You have no idea how I’ve missed you.’ Daniel murmured into Darren’s neck.

Darren stroked his hair and drawing them back slightly dropped a light kiss on Daniel’s forehead. ‘It’s been too long Dan.’

‘Uh-huh.’ Daniel’s fingers went to the nape of Darren’s neck, gently caressing the soft skin there.

‘Will you stay here tonight?’

‘You know I will, just let me call Lee and let him know.’

‘Oh shit Lee, I had forgotten, will he mind?’

‘No, he’ll be cool, a whole group of us came down together, he’s got plenty of company to go out with.’

‘Ok. Wow, Daniel with a whole group of friends and prepared to go out hitting the town. You have changed.’

Daniel chuckled. ‘It’s all a wicked rumour.’ Reaching for his cell phone he hit an autodial and called Lee.

‘Yeah, I’m still with Darren…yeah it’s fine…he’s fine, we’re fine…no I’m going to stay here for a while…no, you go…yes I’m sure…have fun…have one for me…yeah laters…see ya.’

‘So…’ Daniel said setting the phone down on the side table.

‘So…’

‘It’s just me and you then.’

‘Wanna issue a press release?’

‘Erm, I’ll pass on that if you don’t mind.’

‘Settle for some supper from room service? I’m starving, haven’t eaten since breakfast, been too nervous.’

‘Sure, room service sounds fine.’ Daniel moved away over towards the balcony doors.

‘You don’t have to.’

‘I know but I want to, kinda a bit of a give away if I fill the whole room with smoke.’

‘True,’ Darren agreed coming up and embracing Daniel from behind, resting his head on his shoulder, feeling his chest rise as Daniel lit up and inhaled deeply, ‘so for now…’

‘For now let’s just keep this between ourselves yeah?’

‘Whatever you say.’

‘Darren I’m not ready for it to all start up again. I’ve had enough of the press to last me a lifetime.’

‘No such thing as bad publicity you said.’

‘I know, I’ve changed my mind.’

‘It’ll be our little secret I promise you.’

‘Don’t go making promises you know you cannot keep.’

‘Tosser, you know I hate that song.’

‘Not one of our better ones I grant you.’ Daniel chuckled.

‘We did have some good times didn’t we, I mean in between all the fighting, back when we started out?’

‘Yes we did, it’s just that somewhere along the line…’

‘We lost something.’ Darren whispered sadly.

‘We lost us.’ Daniel said, exhaling with a sigh and sending a cloud of nicotine laced smoke up into the night air.