chapter one
Realizing you're in love with your best friend isn't always a good thing. Especially when he lives in Canada, and you're British; double especially when he's in a world famous band and you're just some boring college kid; triple especially when he's 28, and you're only 23 - it's not a huge difference, per say, but growing up in a community when anything over a three-year age gap was frowned upon, is pretty harsh.I sighed as I stared at the tour dates on the bands' Myspace page. I had tickets to the gig in Glasgow - which was tonight. I hadn't talked to him in so long - hopefully he'd recognise me tonight: that was my aim. We'd never met face-to-face, but tonight would be just as good a time as ever, I hoped as I wriggled into a pair of black skinny jeans and changed my t-shirt into a pink DROP DEAD one. I shrugged on a bright purple hoody and left my apartment at a run, headed for the train station just around the corner from my flat. The final whistle was blowing just as I charged up the steps - the conductor saw me and motioned for me to hurry; I squeaked and ran for the door; he grasped my hand and pulled me in, the doors closing a split second after,
"Thank you," I breathed, "thank you..." I headed down the aisle, dropping into the first unoccupied seat I could find as I gasped for air.
I navigated my way to the venue with a practiced ease. I couldn't believe I was actually here - I'd actually be witnessing him sing, live, with his band. I had a couple of posters and all their CD's, but I'd never been to see them live. I swallowed my bubble of nervousness and joined the already lengthy line. I fished the ticket out of my pocket and smiled at it lightly, glancing at my watch - I had hours to wait.
Somehow, the anticipation welling in my stomach made those hours slide by, as though precariously perched on ice. I suddenly saw the line lurch forward, and I eagerly followed, getting my ticket ready with shaking hands. As soon as the guy at the doors okay-ed me, I bolted up the steps, around the corner, and up more flights of stairs before coming to a rest at the barrier in the huge hall.
The support band nearly made my ears bleed - and my eyes were sure as hell watering, they made me wonder why the hell they'd ended up touring with Simple Plan. Yes, Simple Plan was the band I was going to see - Pierre Bouvier was the man I'd been dying to meet since we were eighteen and found each other randomly through Myspace. The support band disappeared after a short spell, and the UV lights came back on, illuminating the diamond on my t-shirt so that it glowed bright green. I smiled and daydreamed the next hour away.
The lights dimmed, and the screams went high - I did nothing as I gazed at the stage, clinging to my position in the middle of the barrier.
They were explosive. I soon found myself screaming along, singing every word,
"I'm gonna dedicate this song to a certain girl - I've known her for about seven years, but we've still never met - I know this is her nearest venue, and I can only hope she's here tonight - this is for Halo. This song's called I Can Wait Forever." I bit my lip and threw my arms up as he scanned the crowd; his eyes found mine, and he smiled, leaning down to say something to one of the security guards by the stage. The security guy nodded, and Pierre dropped down from the stage, standing in front of me as he began to sing,
"You look so beautiful today..." He sang softly; I smiled at him, reaching out to him; he took my hand, "When you're sitting there its hard for me to look away - so I try to find the words that I could say, I know distance doesn't matter but you feel so far away... C'mon." He tucked the microphone under his arm and lifted me up; I hopped over the barrier and allowed him to pull me up onto the stage with him, where he resumed singing - David and Seb gestured for the crowd to wave their arms before continuing to play. Pierre kept our fingers intertwined throughout the song; I leaned up and kissed his cheek afterward, he grinned and wrapped an arm around my waist,
"Aww," David teased, "I'm David - Pierre's told me everything about you." He said in my ear, I laughed and nodded, grinning at him,
"This girl here's my best friend - other than these guys - and I'd like you all to scream for her." He held the mic up, and the place exploded; I smiled broadly and looked up at the singer, "I have to finish the show, unfortunately, just go wait in the wing - I can't believe you're here." He told me; I nodded and ran across the stage, high-fiving David as I passed.
The show drew to a close, and Pierre bounded across the stage, wrapping his arms around me and lifting me into the air, spinning me around,
"Halo!" He yelled ecstatically, hugging me tightly. I laughed and hugged him back, still feeling starstruck,
"Pierre," I replied, equally as happily, but slightly less loudly. Pierre stared at me for a moment, and I gazed back, not knowing quite what to say,
"Come meet the band," He smiled,
"I'm amazed you recognised me." I mumbled, he laughed,
"Of course I recognised you! It'd be pretty weird if I didn't, after knowing you for so long--"
"That, and he has about a million photographs of you," Jeff chimed in, smiling, "Hi, I'm Jeff."
"Hi, Jeff - I'm Halo," I smiled, shaking his hand.
"HALO!" David bounded out of nowhere. I squawked helplessly as he hugged me,
"Hello, David." I laughed, staggering backwards,
"David! No raping Pierre's crush!" Jeff scolded playfully,
"Shut up, Jeff." Pierre muttered, grinning, his cheeks colouring up a little bit.
I was introduced to the rest of the band, and accepted by all of them. Soon, they all retired to their tourbus,
"Hey, Halo?" Pierre asked; we were outside the tourbus,
"Hmm?" I questioned, squashing the bubble of giddiness his eyes meeting mine gave me,
"What's keeping you here?" He seemed to take a moment of consideration before asking this question, I frowned, thinking,
"Nothing. The fact that I have my own apartment, really." I shrugged,
"Come back to Canada with us." He took both of my hands, sincere eyes glittering as they held my gaze,
"But - I'd have to pack everything, and there's no way I'd be packed by the time you guys leave...I'd have to sell my flat, and stuff..."
"Halo," he spoke over my babbling, "Our tour's almost over. That was our next-to-final gig - our last one is in Aberdeen, and that's not for a few days - we're allowed to spend as long as we want in the UK before flying back home for the summer."
"I'd love to," I breathed, he smiled and pulled me up the bus steps,
"Guys - we have a new addition. We're gonna go help Halo pack her things, and she's coming back to Montreal with us." I caught sight of David barrelling toward me, and could do nothing to prevent the collision. I allowed him to tackle me to the floor,
"I like this one, Pierre. She's pretty - and she doesn't smell funny." He said, sitting up, crushing my kneecaps; I yelped and gazed helplessly up at Pierre, who was laughing, "You have my blessing." He bounced away and Pierre helped me to my feet,
"Go tell the driver where we're headed, and come join us for a drink, or whatever." He pressed his lips to my forehead and headed into the living area. I spun around and met the eyes of the driver. He smiled and closed the door as I told him my address - he entered it into the sat nav and we were away - I walked after Pierre, sinking down onto one of the couches beside him; he tucked an arm around me and I rested my head on his shoulder,
"Aw - aren't you two cute." Seb grinned mockingly, peeling his eyes away from the TV screen, which currently featured Burnout Paradise - Chuck was currently playing, and losing.
"You're jealous," I replied, laughing. Sebastien gave a fake pout, then seized a passing David around the waist and pulled him into his lap,
"Why would I be jealous? I have David." He beamed. I laughed and ducked away from Pierre, pushing Seb toward him and seating myself in David's lap,
"Now I have David." I told him sincerely, "Wha'cha gonna do about it?"
"This!" He launched himself at me and lifted me over his shoulder. I saw him nudge a still-confused-looking David toward Pierre. Grinning wickedly, I slipped my hands into Seb's back pockets; he yelped and threw me onto the couch, sitting on my stomach; I wheezed and reached up, slapping his shoulder. "Now Pierre has David, and I have you." He informed me, "And Jeff has Chuck,"
"What?" Chuck's car crashed. Everyone burst out in laughter,
"Pierre! Your friend is mean." I pouted at him, Sebastien snorted and Pierre stood up, lifting Seb away from me. I beamed up at him, and he picked me up after depositing Seb on Jeff's lap. He sank down onto the couch again, and placed me beside him. David casually lounged across both of us and Pierre wrapped an arm around my shoulders; I wrinkled my nose and smirked at him,
"What?" He questioned, smiling slightly,
"You're the only one - except me - who hasn't changed. You're all sweaty and stuff! Eeewwww!" I whined, not making any move to get away from him, though. He laughed and pulled his shirt over his head - Seb gave a wolf-whistle, and I winked at him, pulling Pierre to his feet - resulting in David hitting the floor with a whine and a thump - and dragging him into the bunk area. Seb cat-called after us; I giggled,
"Where am I supposed to sleep?" I questioned, surveying the six bunks - I surmised one was for the driver. Pierre gave a weak smile,
"With me - unless you object?" He asked, hoisting himself up into his bunk, and then peering over the edge, "Join me? I'm tired."
"But, my things..." I said meekly,
"Can wait until the morning." He smiled as I nimbly climbed up and crawled over to him, "D'you want something to sleep in, or...?" He trailed off; I bit my lip, nodding. He scrambled out of the bunk and out of sight.
"Be gentle with Pierre. He's a big boy now, but he's crazy about you; he'd literally do anything just to hold you in his arms." Jeff murmured to me as he pulled himself into the bunk opposite, just as I opened my mouth to question him, Pierre reappeared, carrying a t-shirt and shorts. I nodded at Jeff and jumped down from the bunk, taking the clothing from Pierre's hands, I pressed a kiss to his cheek and flounced toward the bathroom.
By the time I'd changed and gotten back to the bunk area, Pierre was sprawled across his bunk, not sleeping, but staring at the ceiling. I climbed up next to him,
"Pie?" I asked affectionately, he smiled and looked around at me,
"It's unbelievable - you're here. I never thought we'd get to actually meet - I'm...at loss for words to describe how amazing this is..." He murmured; I let a small smile slip onto my face,
"I'm still feeling a little star-struck, to be honest." I admitted, "Here I am, a mere college kid from Scotland, acting like best friends with a bunch of guys that kids all over the world idolize..."
"Scottie?" He said softly, after around ten minutes of silence - he'd always called me Scottie - a nickname I earned after he learned I was Scottish, around the same time I started calling him 'Pie',
"Mm?" I looked at him - he didn't reply verbally, his lips met mine softly and I felt my whole body melt against him, butterflies swirling in my stomach, if only for those two seconds, "Pierre..." I whispered, not opening my eyes after they'd fluttered closed, wanting to keep the tingling feeling he left on my lips,
"Shh - don't say anything..." He whispered back, pulling me close and throwing the blankets over us both. His body spooned with mine perfectly, and I smiled, feeling safer than I could ever remember with his arms wound securely around my waist.
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