All the Small Things (part 26)
Danny and Tom stood in the living room doorway, staring into the room and sipping from their bottles.
Harry and Doug were stretched out on the sofa, Harry on his back, Doug lying on his side with his head resting on the drummer's chest and shoulder. Their hands overlapped on Harry's stomach.
Tom giggled. “Harry and Dougie, sitting in a tree.”
Danny grinned, took a swig from his bottle and reached into his pocket. He held his phone up, pressed a button, looked at the screen and laughed to himself. He showed it to Tom, then tiptoed into the room and took a few more.
“No, wait. Harry and Dougie, on the settee…”
“You'll go to the bad place, Fletcher.”
“…-I-N-G!”
Danny put away his phone, sat in the two-seater. Tom joined him, chuckled at the TV. The silent countdown of the Fifty Worst Ever Videos was at number 17.
“Silent music videos. It could catch on.”
“Specially if you had a piano player.” Danny wiggled his fingers, hummed a bit of “villain ties girl to railway” music.
“You idiot.”
Danny laughed, slouched in the chair, and turned his attention back to the other sofa as Worst Ever Video number 16, then 15 played out on the screen. He drained his bottle, went out and came back with two more.
“Hey, I remember this one.” Tom sang a few notes. “I thought it was really good.” He bopped in his seat.
Harry turned a few degrees away from the television. Doug stirred, nestled closer into his chest.
Danny finished his second bottle, watching.
“Do you think it's serious?” Tom said.
“They're lucky.” Danny set down the empty, pointed to Tom's untouched bottle. Tom shrugged and nodded, Danny picked it up. “Things can get lonely… Helps if you've got someone close.”
“Even if they're…”
“Don't care. Two of my best friends happy…” He raised the bottle, then took a swig. “Can't ask for more. Never go wrong, that's all.”
Worst Ever Videos number 13 and 12 went by.
“Did you call her?”
“V-voicemail.”
Danny sighed and waved the bottle. “Trouble with our album. It's good, but it's all can't get the girl I'm not good enough she went nuts and dumped me. Takes over.” He tapped his head. “In here. We need some that say I've got someone and I'm happy. She Loves You. If I Should Fall Behind.” He took another mouthful. “Army of Two. We do a song like that, we can fucking retire.”
“Go on.” He gestured at the door. “Go do something good to write about.”
Harry blinked, lifted his head and scanned the living room. The comforting warmth beside him was breathing evenly. On the telly, the Worst Ever Videos had given way to The Very Best of Britney. Spot the difference.
Across the room, Danny was sprawled on the other sofa with a clutch of bottles strewn at his feet. No sign of Tom.
“Dougie?” Harry rubbed his shoulder, tried squeezing, then shaking. Doug grunted, settled a fraction closer.
“Dougie, it's time to move. Nice warm bed waiting for you upstairs.”
A deep chuckle sounded on the other side of the room.
“You say that to all the boys?”
Harry lifted his head. “Just the ones I live with. C'mon, Bolton, give us a hand.”
Danny's smile got wider. “I'm good here, thanks.”
“Bastard.” Harry slipped the cushion he'd been using as a pillow under Doug's head, slid and rolled out and lowered himself onto the floor. He sat up and stretched, then faced Danny.
“Go on then, get it over with.”
Danny shook his head. “Told you, doesn't change a thing. It's good.” He looked from Harry to Doug and back, and nodded. “Yeah, it's good.”
“It isn't what you think.” Harry peered at Danny in the flickering half-light. Doug muttered in his sleep, shifted forward, reached out with his hand. Harry looked at him, rested against the sofa and laid his hand over Doug's, then smiled faintly as he quieted. “This is all it is, nothing, really. But it's so… I've never…”
He looked back to Danny. “I don't know how to explain it.”
“Whatever it is, it's good. You're lucky.”
Harry turned his face towards the window.
Danny drummed his fingers, then sat up a little. “Mate, what's wrong?”
Harry shifted his weight.
“You were talking, just now, in your sleep. Couldn't understand a word, but… last night, and you've been jumpy all day…”
There was a long pause while Harry tried to scratch a hole in the floor with his free hand.
Danny studied him. “Serious.”
“Serious as it gets,” Harry said. “Or it could be nothing.”
He dug at the carpet some more .
“If I talk about it, it makes it real.” He looked up, eyes glittering in the light from the TV. “And it can't be real.”
“OK.” Danny nodded, pushed himself upright and from there onto his feet, clanking the bottles against each other. Doug tensed, squirmed, stretched, and cracked one eye open. Danny looked at him, looked down and lifted his feet clear of the bottles like they were dozing crocodiles.
He brought a finger to his lips.
“Ssh. Let sleeping Dougs lie.” He looked solemn for a moment, then his face cracked into the familiar sheepish grin. “Sorry…”
Harry rolled his eyes. “You muppet. How many?”
Danny shook his head, held up four fingers, then shrugged an apology. “Long day.” He nodded towards Doug. “Still need help?”
Harry turned towards the sofa, squeezed the hand he was holding and tapped it against the sofa cushion. “Come on, Dougie.”
The eye opened again, a little wider. Doug stiffened, brought his legs to the edge of the sofa and pushed himself up until he was sitting.
“Three,” he said, his eyes drooping. “Couldn't find the other one. Sorry.”
The older boys exchanged glances and shrugs.
“That's OK, Dougie,” Harry said. “I'm tired, going to bed. You?”
Doug nodded, leaned forward and put his weight on his feet. He gasped, opened his eyes wide, lifted his leg and fell back.
“Crap.”
Danny knelt beside the sofa, slid one arm under Doug's legs and the other round his back, hefted him forward and up.
“Danny… Put me down, I'm not a fucking kid.”
“In a minute. This is quicker. Plus, you've walked enough today.” Danny set off towards the door, stopped and nodded at the TV. Harry nodded back.
Danny took the stairs at a trot, and was panting by the time he reached the corner landing.
“What you. Did.” Danny slowed as he climbed the second flight. “Computer. Brilliant.”
They turned the corner at the top, and Danny lowered Doug onto his legs just outside his room, then leaned against the wall to catch his breath.
“Thanks, but I-”
“Favour. Big one.” Danny swallowed, looked towards the stairs and put a hand on Doug's shoulder. “Harry. Really needs. You right now. Can't say why. OK?”
The stairs creaked under the drummer's weight. Danny brought his finger to his lips, asked again with his eyes. Doug nodded. Danny raised his thumb and headed back towards the stairs.
“Getting a drink. Only tea,” he said in reply to Harry's raised eyebrow. He stopped. “He's all right,” he said, nodding over his shoulder. “You?”
Harry shrugged.
“Well, you know where I am. Night, mate.”
“Cheers, Danny.” Harry watched the brown head disappear, turned and headed for his room. As he passed Doug's door, he looked in. Doug was sitting on his bed, pulling his T-shirt over his head.
“Goodnight, Dougie,” he said, and moved away towards his own room.
“Harry…”
He stopped, reversed his steps.
“You know this morning, you said if I needed…” Doug's blush seemed to start with his ears and spread forward over his face.
Harry smiled and nodded. “I'll be a couple of minutes.”
⇐ Part 25 - Part 27 ⇒