With or Without You - Pt 18

    As Darren rounded another corner he ran smack into a woman. "Oh! I'm sorry there!" Darren said quickly as he stepped out of the way.
    She looked at him a second before nodding, "It's quite ok.. Do.." She stopped suddenly and looked at him briefly once more before turning.
    Darren grinned and stood there watching her.
    She took another 5 steps before turning around again to get another look at the man who had practically mowed her down.
    Darren laughed at the woman. He could tell very well that she had saw him on some show, yet wasn't too clear on who he was. Darren spoke up again, "Savage Garden?"
    She looked over him again, "Yes, that sounds right. I thought you looked firmiluar.. My younger sister loves the band.."
    An instant smile came over Darren.
    "Especially that blond partner of yours."
    Darren nearly lost his smile, "Daniel.." he mumbled.
    She leaned forward a bit, "Hmm?"
    Darren sighed and plastered a fake smile on, "His name is Daniel, my partner, the man who plays the instruments..for me.. Well I should be on my way then.." And with that he disappeared the corner.
    The lady laughed as Darren disappeared then stopped, "You just talked to Darren Hayes and you didn't ask for an autograph. Instead you got him a little mad about the Daniel comment." She sighed and continued her way to her friends house.

    Another hour passed when Daniel spotted Darren a few feet ahead of him. Walking up behind him, he tapped him on the shoulder.
    "Yes! I am from that 'chica-cherry cola' band.." Darren said in an almost irrupted huff as he turned, "Oh! Dan.."
    Daniel just laughed at Darren, "Someone seems to be in a good mood!"
    "You can't even begin to realize how many people have stopped me asking if I'm that guy from that band. And then, when I say yes, they say, 'Oh, I just love the other guy you work with.' Americans have the lousiest taste in men." Darren said making a sharp turn into a Cyber-Cafe.
    Daniel laughed at him, "And what's that supposed to mean!?"
    "It means I'm pissed off that no one has run up to me saying I love YOU. No, I've had, 'I love the band you're in', and 'I love Daniel'. Where the hell are all my fans!?" Darren said in whine almost.
    "Look at the time Dazz.. They are all still in school. I get all the more mature older fans. The smart ones. You get all the influential youngens."
    "Oh stuff it!" He finally turned to the man at the counter, "I'd like a mocha and an hour I suppose. Oh, do you have mIRC?"
    The man nodded and looked at Daniel, "Anything for you sir?"
    Daniel scanned the menu, "Just an iced tea and a muffin, chocolate chipped.."
    "You're a guitarist or something aren't you? In a band.." The man said eyeing Daniel as he placed a muffin on a clear plate.
    Daniel nodded briefly then smiled, "Ah yes but can you name that band?"
    "No, can't say I could. I'm not into your music much, I listen to more mainstream stuff."
    Darren and Daniel shared a quick, yet confused look as the man bent down to type something into a computer.
    "You can find a computer sir and I'll just log you on. I'll have your drink in a minute. Oh, and here's your ice tea. Oh sir," he said calling after Darren.
    He turned, "Mmhmm?"
    The guy turned his monitor around, "I'm going to be a bit busy. See this icon down here? If you need anything, just message me through this."
    Darren nodded and headed over to a computer tucked away in a corner by the front window. Daniel sat beside Darren and picked at his muffin pulling all the chocolate chips out and placing them on a napkin beside his glass.
    Darren had fully logged onto mIRC as his code account as his mocha arrived.
    "Why don't you go as yourself?"
    Darren looked at Daniel for a moment, "Because it's much more fun to be a young female fan. It's simply amazing what you learn.."

    Willow looked up as Ben emerged from the bathroom, "Hey, what are you reading?"
    She looked at the magazine, "Just a tv guide.."
    He blinked dumbly at her for a second, "A tv guide!? I've been wasting time in here because you were reading a tv guide? You're kidding right?"
    "No.. I was bored, I needed something to do.. What's the big deal?"
    "The big deal is I've been cooped up for an hour so you could read through the tv guide!"
    Willow sighed irratedly as she grabbed her boots. "I didn't say you had to wait for me.. You could have very well left. It's not MY falt."
    "I was waiting for you!" Ben sighed and closed his eyes briefly, "I was hoping we could do something.."
    "Well all you had to do was ask. Get your gear on already then, 'I'm ready'.."
    Ben hesitated, he didn't want to go out now, especially since Willow seemed quite irrated at the moment. 'Gawd, we can't do this,' Ben thought silently to himself, 'It's only been two days of us together and we're already tiffing over something stupid.' He cleared his throat.
    Willow looked over at him, "Yes?"
    "You don't have to go out. You can stay in.."
    "Why would I want to do that?" She tucked a curl of hair behind her ear and smiled.
    He simply shook his head, "Nevermind.."
    Holding out her hand, Willow asked is he was ready to go.

    Shifting a few bags in her hand, Nichole looked over to Anna, "Can we stop by the hotel? These bags are heavy.."
    AnnaMaria stopped and turned toward Nichole, "Hm, ok, I guess. We'll have to look for the others later too. I don't want to roam around by ourselves now.."
    "Ok. So should we hail a cab or are we close enough to walk?" Nichole asked trying to read the street sign.
    Anna laughed, "I'm not walking back! This bag is heavy. Taxi!"

    Walking by a shop window Ben felt a sharp tug on his arm. He turned and saw Willow looking at the display.
    Taking a few steps back to her, he looked in the window himself. He hugged her, "Want to go in?"
    She smiled and nodded.
    The walked into a quaint little candle shop. As the two stepped into the store the sweet aroma of the candles mingled scent hit them hard.
    "Ooh, that smells so pretty," She walked over to the large pillar candles. After looking over a dozen of them she grinned to Ben, "You do realize I'll be stocking up. None of the stores in my area are this..'stocked'."
    "Sure, it's on me!"
    She looked at him as she picked up two large pillars, "No it's not. Don't do that. I've got plenty with me."
    "Luv..come on, please?"
    "No! You can buy drinks or something later,"
    The man who was working the counter walked over and handed Willow a basket saying it may help her. She smiled and thanked him.
    "You're welcome to check out the full stock, there's some in the back too."
    "Ok, thanks. I'll do that. Ben, go pick out some cool candle holders for me.. That's if you wouldn't mind.." She gave him a smile.
    Willow disappeared into the back room, in a matter of minutes the two men heard her again, "No way!" She stepped out of the room with a nice sized white, green speckled, candle, "You're aloud to sell this like this?!"
    The man laughed, "I'm aloud to sell it yes, legally, not too sure.. You interested in it?"
    "Yeah, damn right. Oh this is great.. Who would have thought. And it all works the same too? Not a bad smell or anything?"
    "Na, the vanilla scent is pretty over powering.."
    Ben stood confused and finally took the candle from Willow to read the little card attached to it. He laughed and looked to Willow, "You're into this kind of stuff?"
    She stopped for a second, "Maybe a wee bit..yeah.."
    "Ok, well whatever," He help up two candle holders, "These any good?"
    Willow looked over them, "Yeah! They're wicked. Well you can ring this all up now please."
    When Willow had paid for all her candles, the two left the shop.
    "A marijuana candle.." Ben said half laughing as they headed down the street. [yes people, these pot candles do exist..they work like a charm!..*laugh*..but anyway..]

    Willow was doing something that had sickened her for years - being all sweet. Her and Ben were currently walking down the street holding hands, talking and laughing over little things. Couples sickly sweet like that had always sickened her, and yet, here she was. She smiled and leaned into him, 'Oh well, screw it. This is just..nice'.
    Ben looked down at her smiling. He just wanted to..he didn't know what he wanted to do to her..he just wanted her. And as scary as it was, he knew if he had her, all would be well.
    The pair walked on for a bit more making brief stops looking at all the little shops.
    As Willow felt a hand clamp over her shoulder she let out a little shriek.
    She spun around almost white and looked onto Daniel. "Ah! You idiot! Argh, I should hit you!"
    Ben simply laughed and cuddled her.
    "I can't believe you had the nerve to do that Dan. You scared the bloody hell out of me.."
    Dan cut her off laughing, "Yes I know sorry. But anyway! Hello!"
    She glared at him, "Hi.." She said coldly shaking her head slowly.
    "Oh drop it!" Dan said still laughing at her reaction. He quickly grabbed her side which sent her into a fit of giggles.
    "Hey no fair! I'm far too ticklish! Screw off.. I'll..I'll..I'll send Ben after you!"
    Daniel laughed, "Ooh, I'm shaking. Ben, geeze, like I'm quite scared of him at all."
    "Heeyy! I could hurt you.. You know I could, comon, check me out here, I could lay a pounding on you." Ben said half laughing.
    "Yeah I mean, come on, check out the muscles.." Willow said grinning as she squeezed Ben's upper arm.
    "Oh yeah, Mr. Buff Carey here.." Darren said laughing as he checked his watch.
    Willow finally stopped and looked at them, "Oh, this is good. Just have the whole band out. Boy, this just screams, look at us." She said finally noting Lee, Karl, and the rest.
    Karl pointed to Darren, "ALL his idea.."
    "Yeah, yeah, so, whatever.." Darren said looking at Karl quickly before looking back at the shoe display through a window.
    "Hey, who's up for Interview With The Vampire tonight?" Willow asked finally.
    Ben looked down at her confused, and a wee bit ticked off. For he had been hoping he'd have the night with her..'alone'.
    Darren spun around like an excited little kid, "Oh you're joking! Where?!"
    "It's on the tube tonight. Whose room do we raid?"
    "Mine.." Darren said still smiling. One could never see that movie enough in his words.
    Daniel shook his head laughing, "Yeah, he always gets the best room. Two bloody beds..I'll never get who he's expecting.."
    Darren smacked him, "It's not that you wanker. I'm a picky sleeper. And no matter what, the bed I always get is lumpy or something. This way, I have a back up!"
    Willow just rolled her eyes shaking her head, "Anyway! Whose all up for it? Besides Darren and Ben that is.."
    Anna shook her head, "No thank you. I hate that movie. It's just gross!"
    "Oh Annie.." Darren coed, "It's the best.."
    "No thank you.." She replied simply.
    Karl shook his head too, "No, me and Lee were planning on checking out some of the clubs here."
    "Well, maybe. I'm not promising anything though, if I have to. I WILL leave.." Nichole replied undecided.

Part 19




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