One Heart

Nathalie’s POV

As I pulled up outside Brian’s house I couldn’t help but smile at the fact he had finally found his own place; without my place as an option and Chloe moving into Zacky’s I guess he had no other choice. However I could see he wasn’t feeling too adventurous since the house he had chosen was actually only a few doors down from his best friend; I guess it just meant that he never had far to walk if he needed to stumble home drunk from Zacky’s one night. He probably had a lot of thoseafter I left.

I made sure I looked alright with a quick touch up using a mirror I had stashed in my bag before I knocked on the door, actually feeling nervous as Brian opened the door and smiled. “Hey, you look great.” He helped me through the door since the large feather wings I was wearing weren’t very forgiving.

“I was a bit rushed since you only called last night; do I look alright?”

For the night I pretty much went with a traditional angel look; I came back the night before with an asymmetric white dress with a crescent shape cut out from the side. I had quickly altered the original design include feathers along the diagonal line running down from my shoulder while also managing to find a way to hide the straps for the wings underneath the material so it actually seemed like the wings were fixed to my back. I chose an old pair of strappy silver heels that tied up my calf like ballerina slippers and let the ribbon ties flow behind me, matching the few ribbons I had placed amongst my natural curls and the silver shadow I had brushed across my eyelids. Even my clutch bag matched the theme, adorning a white colour and a few feathers on one side.

Dressed as an angel; how ironic.

“You look amazing.” He wrapped an arm around my waist as he led me to the front room, introducing me to the rest of the guys who were already there. This included Jimmy and Val, the latter of which was looking very unimpressed at me. “Hey guys, this is Nat.” He turned to Zacky and poked his tongue out. “Told you I would win.”

“You would win?” I echoed. “Was I some kind of bet?”

He instantly looked embarrassed, receiving quite a few ‘well done dumbass’looks from the rest of the room. “Well… maybe that came out wrong…”

“I hope you won something nice,” I mused, glancing around the room until I reached the arrangement of alcohol on the table. “I see the party has already started.”

“Care for a drink?” Jimmy offered, trying not to laugh at the act we both had to put on. He immediately reached over and began to mix various drinks into one glass until the infamous sunrise colours arose. “You seem like a Tequila kind of girl.”

“It’s almost as if you know me,” I replied, trying not to sound sarcastic as I was accepting the drink. “This is my favourite.”

“I’m just good at reading you.”

“Right…” I drained it easily in one, receiving funny looks from the others who weren’t Jimmy and Val. “Perfect mix though; should I guess you drink a lot?”

“Not enough,” he quipped, pushing off from the seat. “So now that the guest of honour is here, shall we set off?”

Brian draped an arm around my shoulders. “If you’re ready?”

It was weird feeling this close to him again; perhaps that was why I sub-consciously slightly resisted when he tried to pull me closer. “Sure.”

--

It was a few more beers until we all ended up walking to the club, deciding that the fresh air would do us good (plus with the club only being four blocks away, it seemed weird to get a cab). The couples- Val and Matt, Leana and Jimmy- walked in front while those lacking girlfriends with them as they were working at the Club- Zacky and Johnny- walked behind leaving Brian and I in the centre, free to talk.

“So you just moved here two months ago?”

“That’s right,” I replied. “I live about thirty blocks from here actually, on the eastern side of town.”

“Why did you leave Phoenix?”

“I have something I need to do here.” I smiled at him. “I’ll probably be leaving after.”

“How long do you think you’ll be sticking around then? A week?” He sounded disappointed; looked it as well. “A month?”

“Not that soon,” I chuckled, reaching out for his arm and curling mine around his. “No time to have fun in that short time.”

He brightened up at that, just as we were walking to the entrance of Deviate. I couldn’t deny that I felt a bit bad that Luke was not the bouncer at the door that let us in, but the nostalgic feeling that washed over me was almost overwhelming. As usual we were led to the VIP section, but of course I had to feign awe since I was meant to be unaware. Brian had already clued me in about the band and everyone’s part in it, seeming happier when I took an interest. This interest was genuine; just that he didn’t realise I had it long before today.

--

“Anyone up for some drinkie-winkies?” I slurred as I turned in Brian’s arms, giggling as he kissed my neck. There were certainly no sober people in our section tonight. “I’m paying.”

“How about I get a drink from you?” Brian murmured seductively, his kisses trailing from my neck to my cheek. I pushed him away with another giggle and stumbled as soon as I was from his grip, not realising how drunk I really was.

“You should stop thinking with your stake,” I replied with a cheeky grin, commenting not only on his costume idea of vampire hunter but on something a bit more… bold. I walked as best as I could over to where Matt was sat and pulled on his arm to make him get up. “Come on Mr. Shadows; you can help me.”

Using my heels as an excuse I made him give me a ride on his back over to the bar, feeding him his drink and holding mine in my other hand as he took the tray of our drinks back over to the table after I had passed down some money to pay for it.

I slid down after he placed the tray on the table, giving him a hug before seating myself directly on Brian’s lap. I didn’t care that the others looked at me oddly for doing so, especially when there was a free seat next to him.

“Brian.”

He looked up at me, his lips crafted into a drunken grin. “Yes?”

“I had fun tonight.”

“So did I,” he murmured, wrapping his arms around me as I twisted on his lap so I was straddling him in a way the let me face him. “I haven’t felt this way in a long time. It feels just like it did before.”

I smiled. “Let’s just hope that I can add something original into the mix then.”

Maybe because I was drunk, or perhaps I was actually feeling this way, I leaned in and kissed him, my hands locking into his hair as our lips parted and our tongues met. At that moment it felt like the four years apart hadn’t happened, as if our split had never occurred. Right now, in these few moments, everything was perfect.

When we broke apart, I gazed longingly into the chocolate eyes I had missed over all these years. “Brian.”

He pushed back some of my hair, his hand feeling warm against my cheek. “Nathalie.”

Behind us, someone cleared their throat. “Erm, yeah. Guys?” We both turned, looking directly at Chloe who had spoken. “I’d prefer it if you didn’t have sex in my club, and I would absolutely loveif you didn’t do it right next to me.”

We both grinned as I slid off him and settled onto the seat next to him. “Sorry.”

“Perhaps we should go somewhere else,” Brian murmured. “We can always get a cab back to mine.”

“Maybe you should wait a while,” I replied, pecking him lightly on the cheek before I turned to Chloe. “I want to go dancing. Want to come with?” I didn’t give her any time to decide as I pulled her out from the booth and over to the dance floor. However I didn’t stay with her long as I soon noticed the elevated platform along with the poles that went with it. Something in my mind clicked and soon I was up there, swinging around the poles in delight. “You should try this Chloe! It’s so much fun!”

--

Brian’s POV

They were gone perhaps one song when Chloe came walking back, without the person who had originally dragged her out there. I raised an eyebrow at her lonely return, asking, “Where’s Nathalie?”

Her lips instantly played a smirk, turning to point across the dance floor. “Your new girlfriend seems to be a natural on the poles. Maybe I should offer her a job.”

I looked at where she was gesturing and instantly I felt my mouth drop; both out of surprise, and lust. Her body looked fantastic as she moved around on the platform, the material of her dress riding up her leg to expose more of her thigh as she hooked it around the metal pole. However after a while she seemed to slow down; her movements becoming more sluggish as she seemed less coordinated with her body. As more time passed she seemed more and more out of it, and if I hadn't quickly ran from the booth and forced myself through the dancing bodies than I doubt I wouldn't have been able to catch her as she fell off the side.

“Nathalie?” I shook her gently, the alcohol in my system almost instantly vanishing from the adrenaline pumping through my veins. “Nathalie?”

She seemed completely out of it so I just pushed my way through the crowds trying to get to the front door. If Jimmy hadn't suddenly turned up and started elbowing people out of the way to clear a path for me to walk I don't think I would have managed it, gently setting her down on the ground and propping her back against the wall. For some reason he seemed genuinely concerned with her, crouching down by her side trying to coax her into speaking after finally regaining consciousness.

“Jimmy?” Her eyes soon drifted from his until they were staring up at me, an underlying sense of fear reflected in the blue orbs there. “Brian?” She then began to look around, soon asking, “How did I get here?”

“It was hot in there, you must have passed out,” I answered. “I brought you out here with Jimmy's help.”

“Oh. Thank you.” She looked around once more before pushing her palms onto the ground, trying to get herself onto her feet using the wall for support only to fail. Instead of trying again, she merely held her hand aloft. “Jimmy, could you help me up please?”

Once standing she still looked worse for wear, having to rely on both the wall beside her and Jimmy to keep her from sliding back down to the ground. If this was because of the alcohol, I would understand, but this looked like something completely different. For one, if she was drunk, she certainly would be laughing right now, or at least showing some signs of the condition.

While in the middle of my thoughts, Jimmy turned to me. “Brian, I'm going to take her back, she's not feeling right. Are you good to tell the others?”

“Yeah, I guess.” I was about to suggest that I would take her myself, but something about the way he was acting just felt like he knew something I didn’t, and that he should be the one to take care of her. “Here,” I said, tossing him my keys from my pocket, “get a cab and take her to mine.”

He shoved them in his own before gathering Nathalie onto his back, holding onto her legs as she held a weak grip around his neck. As they left I couldn't help but feel worried for her, deciding that I was cutting this party short as soon as I rounded up the others.

–

Nathalie's POV

“Jimmy...” My voice didn't sound like my own; it was almost as if I was an entirely different person. It sounded weak and hoarse, plus the fact my throat was dry probably didn't help. “What happened?”

“I was over at the bar when I saw you dragging Chloe into the crowds,” he began, sitting on the edge of the bed that he must have tucked me into. “So when she came back without you, I looked over and saw you dancing on the poles- looking mighty fine might I add,” he chuckled, pausing for a few moments before continuing, “but then you just went weird- at first I thought you were just drunk so I didn't do anything but then I saw you fall- luckily Brian was there to catch you, I just shoved everyone out of the way so we could get you outside.” He sighed, his back falling against the bed across my legs. “How long has it been?”

“Since when?”

“Come on Nat, you know. Don't make me have to say it.”

I sighed. “About two and a half months. I thought I would have more time before it would start to catch up on me.”

“So...”

“About five months left.” I looked to him. “What am I going to do?”

He shook his head sadly. “You know what I think Nat. You can't keep this a secret forever; what will happen next time, when you don't have the excuse of alcohol? What happens if next time I'm not around to be there? Nat-” Jimmy reached over, taking my hand in his, looking directly into my eyes. “You need to tell him.”

I turned away. “He wouldn't understand. How could I hurt him again?”

“You haven't given him a chance to understand Nat. And don't try and use the 'I might hurt him again' excuse, because it won't work on me.”

“Why not? It's true.”

He chuckled softly. “Did you not see how he was acting today? He hasn't been this happy since... well, since before you left him over four years ago. He just doesn't realise that the reason is because you have come back.”

“You can't be sure of that.”

“I've been his friend for a long time Nat,” he replied, pushing off of the bed. “You'll have to trust me on this. Now get some sleep; I'll check up on you later.”

I smiled, my eyes falling closed by his command. “Night Jimmy.”

“Night Nat.”