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| DREAM by Miss Manics You didn't feel prepared for tonight and as a result, you felt very self conscious. You were wearing a low cut red dress which suited you. Tonight was , your best friend, Rachel’s engagement party. Craig kept asking you if you were ok because you looked very nervous, “yeah, i’m fine...” you would say to him, but he didn't look as if he believed you. When you arrived, you soon spotted your friend, Debbie and her boyfriend, James. “Wow, you look lovely in that dress!” Debbie commented, Craig smiled. “I told her that too”. He wrapped his arms around your waist. Even though you and Craig had been going out with each other for ages, you still almost felt uncomfortable around him. It was as if you had no feelings for him anymore... The night passed smoothly until the last few slow dances. You had been dancing with Craig but you saw James, alone at his table. Debbie was away chatting to one of her friends that she and Rachel knew. Gillian you thought her name was. “Um, hi.” you say, nervously. “Hey” he replies, “Why aren't you up dancing with Craig?” “I’ve got blisters, it’s the shoes” you lie, Why the hell did you tell him that? “Oh, well, you should wear sensible shoes!” he jokes. You chat away with him until the final slow dance is announced. “C’mon, one last dance, i haven't seen you dance all night”. You pull James up to his feet and lead him across the dance floor. As you near the end of the dance, you lean over to James, “You’re a good dancer.” “I’m terrible” he laughs. Your gaze meets his and you slowly lean forward to kiss. James suddenly pulls his head back and lets his hands drop from around your waist, “I’m sorry, I can’t. Debbie...” “I’m sorry, that was my fault...” you slur, “I think i’ll... go and see if i can find Craig...” You feel all hot and sweaty as you run around the hall, looking for Craig. You can’t find him anywhere. People are starting to stare at you. You panic.... then start to scream... “What's wrong?!” You can feel arms around you, slowly shaking you. You look up to find Craig looking at you, very concerned. “What happened??” It suddenly hits you that the last 20 minutes of your life was just a dream. “Um, nothing, just a nightmare” you lie. “You wanna tell me about it?” he asks. “No, not really, I just want to get back to sleep and forget about it.” *** What could have possibly made you go to work that morning? James was wandering around looking for something to do. “Sit down!! you’re making me nervous wandering around like that” you shout at him. “Sorry”, he sits down in the nearest chair and starts flicking his lighter. You look up from your desk and stare at him until he notices you. “Sorry” he says again, putting the lighter back in his pocket. “Thanks” you say patiently. You try and get back to your work. He stands up again, but before he gets a chance to take one step, you make him freeze, “JAMES! What the hell is up with you today?” He swiftly steps over to your desk and pulls up a chair. “I’m not sure,” he says. “Well, I’m not sure if I can tell you, I mean, it’s kinda hard to explain...” “James, if something is bugging you so much you should just get it off your chest. You can talk to me anytime, I hope you can trust me...” you reassure him. “Jesus, I can trust you, I just mean that I’m not sure about it... ”, you raise your eyebrows, “Sure about what?” James stands up from the chair, “Nothing, it doesn't matter, just forget I said anything.” But you can’t. All the way home you think about what James was about to tell you. You reach your flat, Craig is home because his car is sitting outside. You just want to avoid him at the moment after that dream you had, so you invent a headache... “Hey babe,” he says, attempting to wrap his arms around your waist. “I’ve got a really bad headache, I think I might go and lie down for a while” you lie. “Well, ok. I’ll make us something to eat,” he smiles. You head to your bedroom and lie across your bed, thinking. You’re brought back to reality by a beeping noise, your mobile. Somebody has sent you a text.... *Soz 4 acting so strange 2day, u were right, i would feel better if i tlkd 2 sum1. Can u meet at ____ about 6pm? let me know. James x* ‘Hmmmm’, you think. You text him back... *Yeah, sounds gd. i’m glad ur gonna tell me c u then xxx* You spring up from your bed and find some half decent clothes to wear and make your way to the kitchen. “Craig I’m going out tonight, meeting up with some of my friends. I’ll get something to eat when I’m out.” “What about your headache?” he asks, looking miffed. “Oh, it’s much better now, you were right.” You smile at him then run out the front door. *** James is sitting alone (if you don’t count the pint he has in front of him) at a small table in the corner. You walk over to his table and place your bag on a spare chair. He suddenly notices you, as if he had just been in deep thought. “Hey” he says, smiling as he stands up, “Do you want anything to drink?” “Um, bacardi and coke please.” He smiles and walks over to the bar as you sit down on the chair opposite to where James is sitting. You can’t help but think why you are here. “There you go,” James places your drink on the table. “Thanks” you say “Look, James, what’s wrong?” James sits and looks at the table, unable to look up at you. “I told you it was complicated and I wasn’t sure, but I don’t know if this will make sense to you and I understand that you might not want to ever talk to me again after this because...” “JAMES, skip the crap and tell me what's wrong!!!” you say, losing your patience. He takes a deep breath. “The last few weeks have been weird. Well, maybe months, in fact as long as I’ve known you. Anyway, I keep having these strange dreams. It’s like, I’m out with debbie and we meet up with you and Craig” he stops. “Keep going, it’s ok” you pat his hand. He manages to look up at you and stare deep into your eyes. One of his best features are his eyes, you’ve noticed this before and now he’s reminding you. “Well, somehow, you’re always sitting by yourself and I go across to speak to you” he stops again, you know what he’s going to say next... ”And well, we come so close to kissing, but you always pull away and say you can’t because of Craig.” You realise that you’re now sitting with your jaw hitting the floor. James stands up to put his coat on... ”I knew I should have kept it to myself, I’m sorry...” You grab his arm. “James, I’ve had that dream too” you announce, “Last night.” He stops and looks at you. “Seriously?” he asks. “Yeah, i couldn't look at Craig this morning...” you say. “What do you think it means? should we take it as a sign?” he asks, as he sits back down again. “I dunno, but I’ve always felt strange around you. Me and Craig, I don't feel right around him, with you I’m relaxed, I think that’s a sign.” He smiles. “You think so?” “Well, you can’t tell in dreams, how about we try a real life re-enactment...” You and James lean across the table. Your lips slowly meet. You have never experienced anything that felt so right in your whole life. His tongue probing your mouth. It was almost as if you had waited for this for the whole of your life. He pulls away. “This is the strangest thing I have ever done...” “But it felt right, well, for me anyway.” You look at your shoes, then you feel James’ hand on yours. “Me too.” he smiles. “What about Craig and Debbie?” you start to panic. James realises as well how this is going to affect them. “I’ve got an idea...” you look up at him. “What?” “Come with us on Wednesday.” You think about it for a while before you answer. “On tour?” “Yeah, Craig and Debbie won't be there and then we can get it sorted out when we get back.” He looks deep into your eyes again, you can’t possibly say no. “I dunno, well..... um, ok”. “Brilliant, I know this is gonna work, me and you...” ***”You’re going on tour with them?” “Yeah, its a sort of bonus from Martin, he says I’ve been working really hard and I deserve it” you lie. “Can’t I come with you?” you stop packing your suitcase and look up at him. “Craig, I dunno how to say this but, I think I need some time on my own, a break from us.” Craig looks as if he’s just been shot. “What have I done wrong? I’ll make it up, I’m sorry...” “Craig it isn't you... it's me, look, I’ll sort things out when I get back,” with that you zip up your suitcase and pull it off the bed. You kiss Craig on the cheek. “It’s gonna work out for the best, trust me.” *** You climb onto the bus and sit in the seat opposite James, not trying to draw attention to yourselves. Nicky grins at you like the cheshire cat. James leans over to you. “He knows, I told him everything” “Oh, um, ok” you manage to say back. James smiles at you with his eyes, this manages to reassure you enough that everything will be ok. The bus pulls up at the hotel in Manchester about 7pm. You didn't realise just how long you had been on the bus for until you went to step off the bus and almost broke your legs in the process. Luckily, James is there to catch you at the bottom of the steps. “Thanks” you smile. Nicky glances in James’ and your direction... ”14 days of this...” James playfully punches him on the shoulder. ***”Room 213, it’s on the second floor” the receptionist tells you, “Thanks” you turn round and James is there. He stares into your eyes for a while and asks you what room number you are. “213” “Oh well, there's a coincidence... I’m 214” You smile at James’ slyness. “And how did you manage that, Mr Bradfield?” “Ahhh, if only you knew!” he wraps his arms around your waist. It felt almost natural, not like how it was with Craig. Some of the crew looked slightly suprised to see you with James, and there was the odd wolf-whistle. “Just ignore them” he says, moving his face closer to yours until your lips slowly met. He was such a passionate kisser, it felt as if you and him were meant to be together. “Let me show you around my room...” he says, grinning at you, you can’t help but giggle. *** James’ arms were wrapped around you as you lay on his chest. He was sleeping but you were wide awake. You couldn’t help but feel guilty. Not about Craig, but Debbie. “James” you shake James until his eyes open. He smiles at you. “Yeah? What's up?" “I need to ask you something.” James picks up on your serious tone and leans on one elbow. “You and Debbie, how were you before, I mean, did you get on really well and stuff?” James’ smile seems to have disappeared, his eyes concentrating on the table on your side of the bed. “Well, when I first met her, I thought that she was the one” he sighs. Your heart sinks. “But now, it’s different. we’ve grown apart, we’ve changed too much” he smiles at you. You sit up. “How do you know it isn't the same with me?” you ask. He has no reply and you get out of bed, find your clothes that were scattered all over the room. “Where are you going?” James says, also getting out of bed. “I’m going back to my room, I knew this was a bad idea” you say, then close his door behind you. ***You got up early the next morning and made a quick escape from the hotel. You wandered around for a bit before finding yourself a nice coffee shop. You sat and read this months edition of Q. Nicky had been asked various questions by fans. You laughed out loudly as you read his quirky answers. You jumped out of your seat when you felt a hand on your shoulder. You turn round to see James behind you. You turn your attention back to your magazine. “We need to speak.” He says, as he sits down opposite. “No, we don’t. It’s all been some stupid spur of the moment thing, I have to go”. You get up and leave, James still sitting at the table. You were still debating weather to go to the gig or not when you realised the time... they started 10 minutes ago. You grabbed your coat, ran out the hotel and hailed a taxi to the arena. You were standing at the side of the stage watching them play, Nicky noticed you and gave you a big thumbs up. You smiled back at him. James must have noticed you as well because he kept trying to look over to Nicky’s side of the stage. James introduced the next song. “This is a song that looks to the future, I’m looking forward to the future.” He grins in your direction again. “This is for someone who is very special to me, they know who they are. All i want to say to them is, TRUST ME. This is called Forever delayed.” The crowd looked slightly confused but cheered all the same. There's was no doubt about it now, James was serious. He approached you with caution after the gig. “That was the nicest thing that anyone was has ever done for me” You hug him, then kiss him. “So, no doubts now?” he asks. “None” you say, then you kiss him. *** You couldn’t believe how quick the tour had passed, Tonight was the last night, Glasgow SECC. The more the tour went on, the closer you felt to James. He was right, you were made for each other. You didn’t know how you were going to tell Craig, you weren’t going to think about it until the moment came. You knew it was gonna be hard, telling him that you didn't love him anymore. 4 hours to go until you had to leave, with James, to get to the SECC. You heard the melody of There by the grace of god coming from somewhere.... your mobile. It was Craig. “Hello Craig.” “Sorry I just had to speak to you” “That's ok, anything in particular?” “Well, yeah. Debbie and me are on our way up to the Secc to see you. I’ve missed you too much, I thought you would want some company.” “Um, Craig, you didn’t need to do that” you can hear him laughing. “I just want to make sure you aren’t hiding anything from me, like a secret boyfriend or something” he laughs again. You start to laugh your fakest laugh. “Hahha, Craig, that's a good one... look, I’ve got to go now, I’ll see you tonight.” You hang up before he has the chance to say bye. “Everything ok babe?” James asks, “Yeah I’m fine, that was Craig.” “And?” he asks. “Debbie and him are on their way up, they want to see us before tomorrow” you say. “Shit!” James sits down on the bed. “Look, it’ll be ok, I’ve got it sorted.” He smiles. You can’t help but feel that this is going to be the worst night of your life. *** “There’s going to be one hell of a finale tonight” James tells you as he’s about to walk onstage, “In more than one way” He grins. They play their set with a few rare songs and a new one that James had been playing to you on the bus. “Thanks everyone for coming tonight, this has been the been the best tour I’ve ever done, easily.” You smile to yourself. “This is called a design for life.” He powers his way through the song and as he plays the last chord, an explosion of gold confetti is sent up in the air. You see him running across to you, he then tugs on your arm and pulls you on stage. He tells the crowd to “Shut up for a minute”. You’re desperately looking for Craig in the crowd, you scan the front row to find him standing next to Debbie. The confetti was still falling from the roof of the hall. “I don’t care what anyone says, I don’t care what the press says.” Nicky watches intently from his side of the stage. “But I love this woman, and I think she loves me just as much. Nobody is going to separate us, no matter what they do.” With that he turns and kisses you. You kiss him back, you can hear the cheers coming from the crowd. You break off and stare into James’ eyes, gold confetti falling all around you. Nicky is laughing and clapping madly. Sean just grins from behind his drum kit. Craig and Debbie have blank expressions on their faces. Craig just throws his arms up into the air and pushes his way out of the crowd. You think to yourself, ‘Dreams can come true...’ <<< Miscellaneous |