I fiddled with my necklace, looking out into the makeshift stage.

Katherine looked around the bar, wrinkling her nose slightly as she sniffed the drink in her hand.

"I know this isn't like your usual hangout clubs but..." I shrugged, letting the sentence die. I wasn't going to justify this place because I didn't have to. I casually looked around the spot for any signs of Talia or her friends. I didn't see them at all.

"No, it's alright." Katherine mumbled, finally taking a drink.

I was defensive (or was it worried? Nervous maybe? A hardcore combination of all three?) about finally introducing Van to Katherine. Who knows what she would say. Hopefully she didn't say anything that blunt or embarrassing. The first time they met hadn't been particularly the best, so I didn't count it.

I hadn't gotten to talk to Van in person beforehand, I was only able to text him a quick good luck.

The lights dimmed, replaced by a dim red light focused on the stage. All four shadows got in place and Van's voice made me stand on my tiptoes to try and see his expression.

"I'm Van, and these are my mates Bob at drums, Benji at guitar, and Bondy at bass. Thanks to all the class people who came out here tonight. And especially a very very special girl. You can come mess my bed up whenever you feel it."

"Ohmygod!" Katherine yelled, joining in on the whistles that burst from behind us. I wanted to bury my face in my hands, but I was super stoked Van had called me out like that.

"One, two!" Van called away from the microphone and just like that, the band started with the song I'd remembered from the first time I saw them. Van had told me he was calling it Sidewinder, it just felt right to him.

I drummed my fingers on the table, mouthing the lyrics along with Van.

"Damn, they're not too bad!" Katherine yelled into my ear.

After the song Van looked out into the bar. Maybe he could see, but maybe not. I took the chance and waved at him, but I couldn't tell because it was just too dark. I quickly put my hand down and wrapped it around my glass, not bothering to drink.

Katherine danced along to the two songs they played after, knocking back another two drinks and buying me a second, completely ignoring my protests. "It's just one night." She said into my ear, smiling. "What harm could it do to you girl?"

I relented, taking a gulp. The liquid bought my body down like an anchor, burning my throat as I swallowed. "What is this? It's a little too strong for me."

"Oh, don't worry, it's nothing bad. Just a little absinthe."

"Wow, thank you all! Shout out to the owners Donna and Ron, good time wasn't it?" The lights brightened up a little to let them properly grab their stuff and manage to take everything off the stage.

"A little what?" I choked back a cough, suddenly feeling very lightheaded.

"Absinthe."

"Katherine! Wasn't that illegal?"

"Not anymore. I've had it a few times, you'll be fine."

Yeah, I'd rather not. I set the still filled glass down, my stomach jumping at the thought that Van and the guys would be coming out any second. The usual bar banter became a nice background noise as I saw Katherine knock back her drink and look around. "So when do I get to see your lover boy?"

"They've gotta load up the van, give them a couple of minutes."

"They're pretty good. They should change the lighting though, I could barely make out that they were all guys."

I rolled my eyes at her, almost jumping when I felt a hand close around my shoulder. Van laughed as he stopped beside me. "Scared you did I?"

I grinned, shoving him back lightly. He wound his hand around mine, pulling me forward onto him and pressing his lips against mine. A throat cleared before us. Katherine was smiling thinly and studying her empty glass.

Slightly out of breath I looked at Van again. "Van, this is my friend Katherine."

"I remember you. I'm Van." So did you like the show?" He turned back to me, drawing a hand over his forehead to push his damp hair back. His entire face was glistening with sweat, and he was fanning his shirt out, expectant.

"You know I loved it."

"I love that you loved it."

"I didn't see Talia or Angie though. How come?"

Van shook his head, his smile dropping a little. "Bob and Angie had a bit of a fallout last time we played. He told me about it because we weren't with them remember?" He wound his arm around my waist. "The guys were finishing loading up, but I was dying to sneak away and have you all to myself for a little. Well now I know that wasn't completely the case, but oh well."

He looked towards the entrance, waving over to someone.

"Ay Carmen."

"Hey Benji. This is my friend Katherine."

He turned to look at her, grinning hugely. "Hi."

"Hello." Katherine was grinning, her eyes shiny and her smile enormous. She leaned forward, setting her glass down, her eyes still on Benji. He didn't seem to break the eye contact either.

"Carmen!" Bondy called from behind. Bob followed, smiling thinly at me and then looking around the bar. He sighed as he sat down, dropping his face in his hands.

"Just call her man. Apologize." Bondy said quietly, thumping his back.

"I'm tired of apologizing. Why am I always the bad guy?" Bob's voice rose. "I'm gonna get a drink. You want anything fellas?" He turned towards the bar, dropping his shoulders.

"What's that? Mind if I have it?" Van pointed at the glass in front of me.

"I mean sure, if you like"-

He grabbed the glass, turning it to his mouth and chugging the drink.

"Absinthe." I murmured.

"Never had it. Guess we'll see what happens then." He laughed lightly, setting into the stool next to me. "Sit down, ya make me nervous like that, standing over me." He grabbed my waist, bringing me down on his lap.

I got self-conscious, what if I was too heavy? Crushing his legs or something. I looked up and saw Katherine with her phone in our direction. "Are you taking pictures?"

"Maybe." She slid her phone in her bag, then put her face in her hands. "So Benji, what's up? How's being in a band?"

The two launched into a one on one conversation, leaving me and Van to ourselves. "I meant what I said onstage ya know." He whispered into my ear. "Come mess my bed anytime you feel like." I tucked my hair behind my ear, wrapping my fingers around his.

"Where's the VIP treatment happening?"

"Anywhere you want babe." He laughed.

Bob and Bondy came back and pretty soon we all launched into a group conversation. Katherine liked Benji, I could tell by her body language and the way she whispered into his ear. By the end of the night she'd already balanced her hand casually on his knee.

During the conversation, many bar patrons wandered over to come and greet the guys. The owners of the bar sent a special round of drinks on the house, and we all clinked to years of success for the band. "Cheers!" Van yelled, almost spilling his drink from the glass. Looks like the absinthe had already taken over.

"Van babe I think this is gonna be your last drink." I murmured after he set his head on my shoulder, sighing.

"I wanna drink you instead of this." He laughed, letting the glass clatter from his hand onto the table.

"Oy now we gotta clean his drunk mess." Bondy stood up. He was still incredibly sober.

"I think we should call it a night." I yawned into my hand, looking over at Katherine. She widened her eyes, shaking her head in protest.

"We'll get together soon right?" Benji posed the question to us, looking at Katherine.

"Of course." I moved to stand up, but Van's hands laced around both of mine.

"Wait, baby. I wanna go with you."

"Van"-

"Come on then, I'm drunk and you can take advantage of me." He pulled himself up with me. He was taller than me, but his shoulders were hunched so his hair was touching my forehead. His breath smelled like lemon and alcohol.

"Oh shit, Van's downright wasted. He's gonna regret it in the morning, if he even remembers." Bondy patted Van's back, then wiped the table down. "Come on Vanny boy, time for bed."

"Hold on Johnny Bondy Bond." Van swayed slightly, pushing his jacket close around himself. He blinked slowly, looking at each of the guys. "Christ you guys look practically identically. Hasn't anyone told you that yet?"

"Oh god." Bondy laughed again. Benji had his arm around Katherine. And I was still trying to balance Van.

"Van, go with Bondy, you need to sleep."

"I'll sleep better with you. With that body." He pressed himself against me.

"Jesus." Katherine said, smiling at Benji. I laughed at Van's drunk rambling.

"I'm not going anywhere unless it's with you. Go on then, just try and talk me down but it ain't happening honey." Van crossed his arms, trying to steady himself against the table.

"Don't embarrass yourself Van." Bob put a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't kill my game Bobby." Van turned back to the table, waving his fingers as he looked for another drink.

"No no no." I took the glass he was reaching for. He stuck out his lower lip. "You can come home with me on one condition." I smiled at him, feeling light.

"What is it?"

"No more drinks. And you have to buy me lunch tomorrow when you're sober."

"Scout's honor." He burped quietly into a closed fist. "Alright lads, time to go."

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

I didn't feel drunk, which maybe didn't mean I was ok to drive, but I found myself surprisingly sober when I turned the key to the ignition.

A song came on on the radio, Van singing out loud in a deep voice, moving his shoulders. "It's the remix to ignition, hot and fresh out the kitchen, mama rollin that body, got every man in here wishin." He drummed his hands on the dashboard, ducking his head to look out at the street. "Man I wish I could rap."

"You can rap." I grinned, pulling to a stop at a light.

"If I quit the band and start a solo rap career would you support me?" Van started laughing.

"Sure, but you should stick with the band for now."

"Yeah, those little buggers need me." He sighed dramatically, pressing his hands around his jacket pockets. "Can we stop for some cigs?"

"In the morning." I answered. He didn't say anything else until we got to my apartment building. He steadied himself against me and we walked slowly to my door. "Shh, my friend's sleeping so you can't make any noise ok?"

"Alright."

I held his hand and led him into the dark living room. A loud bump came from behind me followed by a "Sorry!".

"Shh, careful." I pressed my hand against the wall until I felt the knob, turning it slowly. "Now lay down once you pass out."

"I'm not going to pass out." Van grumbled as he walked towards the bed, letting himself crumple on top of the bedspread before I could pull it back.

"Sure you're not." I muttered, walking towards my drawers to grab some sleep attire. I changed quickly, and then went to the bathroom to brush my teeth. When I came back Van hadn't moved at all. I got the idea to take his jacket off, so he'd be more comfortable. I stood over him. "Van I'm going to take your jacket off." He groaned, shifting slightly. I grabbed him by the shoulders, gently moving him back and pulling the sleeves down from his arms.

"Take...clothes..."

"What?"

"Take all my clothes off sugar." He laughed with his eyes closed.

"Stop it." I finally jerked the jacket off of him, leaving him in his thin sweater and jeans.

"Mmm, that's better. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

He was out in a matter of minutes again. I didn't want to wake him, so I draped a spare blanket over him and pushed the pillow underneath his head. Then I shut the lights off and climbed into bed, Van's warmth radiating through the sheets.

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

Van was out like a light when I woke up. He barely shifted as I tossed the covers back, the beginning of a headache throbbing through my temples. I checked my phone for the time; it was noon. I shuffled out to the living room, listening in for any sounds from Jesse. She must have left already. I went to the bathroom and rinsed my mouth, washing my face and squinting in the bathroom light at myself. I looked like crap.

I went into the kitchen and set the kettle for coffee, yawning while I checked the fridge for breakfast. I wondered when Van would finally emerge. I smiled a little at his antics from yesterday, I couldn't help it. Taking some eggs out to scramble, I heard the whisper of a door shutting closed.

A toilet flushing and the sink running. I cracked the eggs and held back a yawn, walking over to one of the kitchen drawers where I kept some aspirin. I filled a glass with water and left it next to the pills, whisking the eggs together and listening for Van.

"Oh my god." He croaked behind me. "Babe what happened last night?"

"Absinthe happened. And a bunch of other stuff."

"Never again I swear. My head feels like it weighs right thirty pounds or somethin."

I turned around to see him pushing his hair up with one hand, eyes half closed and breathing heavily. "Aspirin." I pointed to the pill bottle on the counter. I whisked the eggs onto the oiled pan and listened to the rattle of the bottle.

A hand wrapped around my shoulder. I turned around and Van let himself fall into me, his fingers wrapping around mine. "How much of a mess was I last night?"

"Do you really wanna know?" I straightened him up, holding onto his shoulders.

"You alright? You looked a little red. Feverish?" He cupped his hands around my face, his eyes looking tired but still bright blue as always.

"What? No- I'm fine." How was I supposed to explain to Van that even though I'd known him for a bit, whenever he touched me I always reacted too far, with my body burning up and my face reddening? The smell of something burning wrapped around my nose. "The eggs!"

"Don't worry about it." He grabbed the pan and placed it quickly onto the sink. The eggs were nothing but a charred brown mess.

"Oh no."

"It's fine love. I will take a cup of that water for some tea if you have any?"

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

I brought Van a blanket and we huddled on the couch, watching reruns and sipping from giant mugs. Tea for him, coffee for me. Van nursed his hangover, pretty soon reviving to his usual self.

I knew I had work in an hour, but I couldn't bear to peel myself away from Van to get ready. I snuggled in closer to him, feeling his hair tickle my face as I lazily glanced at the television. "So how bad was it? You never did say." Van tenderly brushed a hand through my hair during a commercial break.

"You weren't that bad...just very insinuating."

"Oh yeah? About what?"

"You said something about wanting to sleep with my body and have me take all your clothes off."

"Oh really? Eh, not bad." I swatted him. He looked at me and grinned. "Carmen babe, I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable. Just thought maybe I'd insulted someone, got into a fist fight with Bondy or something. Yesterday was probably my subconscious talking." He looked at the screen. "Well that and something else." He said that last part quietly, yawning into his hand.

My stomach clenched and my legs felt like jelly. Van and I had never gotten so far as the last time I'd stopped him. We made out like crazy whenever we were alone, but at one point or another we broke apart before things got too heavy.

Now was one of those times I wanted to see how far we could go. Van was for it, and I had no doubts.

"Van."

He turned to look at me. I closed my fingers around his chin and brought his face closer and closer to mine. He pressed his lips against mine softly, and then he became more urged. His fingers dug into my sides as he shifted me more to him. I felt lightheaded, holding close Van like he'd drift if I didn't.

I was lying on top of him with my hair shaken out of my bun and his hand resting on my stomach with the other on my back. I felt feverish with him, wild. I pressed my lips against his neck, hearing a moan escape from him that only fueled me.

"Oh babe. Carmen." His hands were inching slowly to the waistband of my leggings when he stopped.

"What's wrong?"

He licked his lips, studying mine and then looking up at me. "I just wanna know, how far do you wanna go?"

Cheers! New year, NEW ALBUM. This story is progressing quite well, in my opinion. Just a question: what's better in a story, a detailed love scene or when things are better left to your imagination?

Also, something went wrong and I had to publish this part twice, apologies x