Party 'til you pass out / When the party's over

2.29

'You've got to hear this,' I just said, pulling her in my lap and starting Parasite Eve again.

'Wait, is that –'

'Yeah,' I grinned at her. Alison focused on the music and rolled her eyes when her voice popped up.

'That sounds really good,' she said when the song was over.

'Wait until you hear this.' I started Kingslayer, and her eyes went wide.

'Oh, shit!'

'I know, right?' I watched her reaction when Babymetal joined in, and Alison's face lit up. She grinned at me and moved her head to the beat of the music.

'That's insane,' she let out afterwards, clapping her hands. 'In-sane, Oli.' I laughed at her reaction and nodded my head. 'Do you have more?'

'No, this is it for now. Full album should be back in a few days.'

'I'm so excited!,' Alison said. She cupped my face and kissed me. 'And so proud of you, and the lads.'

'I didn't do anything special,' I said.

'You recorded and mixed an entire fucking album from home, Oli. After an intense lockdown and a mental breakdown.' I smiled a bit and shrugged.

'Just another day in my life, eh?'

'Don't try to down play it, you guys made something incredible with the little resources you had –' She looked around the studio, filled with quality equipment. 'Well, I mean, without going to a big studio like you were used to. You recorded everything apart from each other, and still Jordan and you threw it together and made it sound awesome.'

'Okay, okay, I'd love for you to keep the compliments coming,' I grinned at her. Alison laughed and nudged my shoulder.

'When is the video shoot for Teardrops?,' she then asked.

'Next week.'

'Good. So... Eh, I got a request for an editorial photoshoot this coming weekend.' Her eyes met mine and she smiled. 'In London. I thought, maybe we can go spend the weekend there and see my parents again. It's been a while.'

'Hmm, I'd love to, you know that. But I think with the record coming out and all...' My voice quieted down at seeing her slight disappointed face. I put some hair behind her ear. 'I'm sorry, it's just crazy busy right now, love.'

'I understand...'

'But we'll go see your parents when things quiet down again, okay?'

'Sure.' She smiled a bit and slid off my lap, walking up to the door.

'Ali?'

'Yeah?'

'I'm really proud of you too.' Her face softened.

'As you should,' she said sassily, throwing her hair over her shoulder with a playful smirk. I chuckled and shook my head when she left, then focused back on my music again.

*

Another day, another fight. Alison was bound to drive down to London this afternoon and stay in the apartment for two nights, and she wanted Tom to stay with me. I had looked at her as if she was mental, then almost exploded at her idea. We had been yelling to each other about Tom babysitting me, until Alison had thrown in my face that she didn't want another death scare by me anymore. At that, I had fallen quiet, feeling hurt. She didn't trust me. After all this time, she still didn't trust me to be alone. And I couldn't even blame her.

'Hey.' It was the first time in two hours she spoke to me again. I looked up from the email on my computer.

'What?' She came in hesitantly, biting her lip.