#everyone else enjoying their sandwiches while eddie rants

[chamomileteainabuttercup]

Steve thinks soulmates sound romantic, he likes the idea that there’s someone just right for you and somehow you’ll find each other

Eddie is so viscerally pissed off by the idea of destiny pushing someone at him that he will rant for at least half an hour about how dumb that is and how important free will and choice are to actual love and how he and Steve are most definitely not anything as CLOYING and UNIMAGINATIVE as soulmates, in fact he would say destiny took its best shot at keeping them apart forever but they said UP YOURS DESTINY, while flopped across Steve’s lap while Steve puts daisies and clover flowers in his hair

[90simaginesandfanfics]

Cradle Broken Glass - Chapter Fifty Five

“Well I need him to be here in five minutes, completely sober, if the record company is going to even consider still promoting the album.” Kelly said down the phone to Layla, and she sighed as she took in the sight before her.

“KC, we’ll be there in two seconds, I can see the studio from here.” She replied, and tried her hardest to sound like everything was under control. She turned back to the rest of the band as they tried to get Eddie and Mike to stand up properly. They were at a bar on the other side of The Site, the studio they were recording at. Everyone was drinking and were in good spirits, but like usual, Eddie had gone overboard again.

“Ed, please give me a hand, I can’t fucking carry your whole body weight.” Jeff said, exasperated as he tried to pick Eddie’s slumbering body up and get him out of the bar. Layla moved to Mike’s side, where Stone was trying to stop him from throwing up. Dave was nowhere to be found, and had probably made his own way back to the studio, since him and the guys barely spent any time together anymore unless they were rehearsing. The band trudged down the street and made their way into the building, Eddie barely even able to stand up properly without the help of Stone and Jeff and Mike gulping down a bottle of water to sober himself up. Once they entered they were met with the thunderous face of Kelly.

“Look, I don’t have time to shout at you guys, but there’s two executives from Epic Records here, so you better get your heads out your asses soon and sober up, and play them a fucking song that’s finished. If you even fucking have one!” He shouted, before storming into one of the backrooms. Jeff and Stone both shared a look, and then hauled their other band members to where the studio was. Layla stood out by the reception, pacing back and forth.

After 20 minutes past, the door opened again, and the band stepped out, along with Kelly and two men in suits. The men shook hands with KC before leaving soon after. Once they had, he turned to Eddie and Mike.

“You two are fucking lucky I managed to get you out of this one. Next time we have a meeting, you better be sober and I don’t want to hear any fucking excuses anymore, especially from you Eddie, Mr. I’m the band’s lyricist yet I can’t even write a fucking chorus. What the hell is the matter with you! Mike might get wasted every now and then but at least he still pulls his weight!” Kelly screamed out, his gaze directed at Eddie while the singer stared at the ground emotionlessly. Kelly sighed before running his hands down his face.

“I need you guys here first thing tomorrow morning. Since you managed to fuck up today, we’re going to have to travel to Epic’s Los Angeles offices which is 6 hours away from Nicasio. So pack your shit and I’ll find a hotel for us to stay at tomorrow night.” Kelly finished and loud groans were heard throughout the room. Layla saw Jeff glaring at Eddie for getting them into the whole ordeal, while Stone slapped Mike on the shoulder. Layla simply huffed out an annoyed breath and followed Kelly back to one of the office rooms.

*****

“Stupid fucking record companies. All they want is money, and they make it out like they give a shit about the music and they don’t. Why can’t they just come back to the studio, it’s not like they couldn’t just stay at a hotel for the night. But noooo. The whole fucking band has to drive to L.A. for the meeting, which is probably only going to last for half an hour. And don’t even get me started on….” Eddie went on. Layla was sat on the bed in the little apartment the band were staying at near the studio, packing a bag for tomorrow. She has zoned out completely, not paying attention to what Eddie was saying, since he has been ranting for the better part of two hours since they had got back. She had packed a bag for him and even managed to make sandwiches for the drive tomorrow, all while he was shouting about how ungrateful the record company was for their band.

She was biting her tongue, not wanting to anger him even further when he was clearly already pissed off, but she was starting to get really frustrated. He was going on and on about today, yet refusing to acknowledge that it had anything to do with him. He was the one who decided to get black out drink at 3 in the afternoon - which had turned into a habit despite him promising to not go near alcohol - and he was the one who apparently refused to play or show any material to the two executives when Kelly had got them into the studio. If he hadn’t have acted like a child they wouldn’t be in this mess. He was also refusing to acknowledge it was affecting anyone but him. All of them had to drive up tomorrow, not just him, and the band couldn’t get anywhere near producing an album if he wasn’t writing lyrics at the same rate they were producing songs.

“.... and I fucking hate recording in L.A. anyway. It feels so commercial, and I don’t fucking understand why we couldn’t do it in Seattle…” He continued and Layla hummed in response, barely paying attention.

“.... and Stone said he was pissed at me, but It’s not like the execs were even trying to be understanding about the situation…” Layla nodded, but with the movement, she caught something in her peripheral vision. Eddie was opening a bottle of beer. He continued to talk as she walked over to him, but abruptly stopped when she grabbed the bottle out of his hands.

“That’s enough.” She said meekly. Layla looked up to see Eddie’s eyes staring at hers in confusion.

“What?” He replied, almost incredulous.

“I. Said. That. Is. Enough.” She bite out her words in staccato, her tone turning bitter as she glared up at him. Eddie’s eyes flared with anger and he grabbed the bottle back.

“Don’t tell me what to do.” He retaliated, and Layla saw red. She took the bottle out of his hand forcefully and then stomped to the front door, swinging it open and tossing the beer bottle out onto the street, the glass shattered and liquid seeping down the concrete of the pathway. She slammed the door shut and looked behind her to Eddie.

“What the fuck did you do that for?” He questioned, his voice quiet but she could sense his fury.

“I’ve had enough Eddie. You need to fucking sort yourself out and stop blaming everyone else for your problems.” She said to him, her eyes burning as she glared at him. He suddenly smirked and scoffed at her.

“Well isn’t that funny? The pot calling the kettle black. Because I seem to recall that’s your speciality right? Blaming people, specifically Phil for how fucking messed up you are.” He bit out.

Time seemed to stop. She felt like she stood there immobile for hours, taking in what he had said to her, although it was probably only a few seconds. But in those few seconds thousands of thoughts rushed around her head.

What that what he thought of her? That she was one big basketcase trying to pawn off the blame to someone else? Was she really that pathetic in his eyes? Hadn’t he been the one to support her, to get her out of the situation with Phil? Wasn’t he the one who helped her realise she was in a toxic relationship? Was he suddenly changing his mind about her, or did he just say that to hurt her because they were arguing? No matter how uncertain she was over the questions roaming in her head as she stared at him, there was one thing she was absolutely sure about. He had changed. She had seen it for a while, knew that it was happening somewhere along the line, but now she saw it as clear as day. He wasn’t the same Eddie she met when she went to the record store and a handsome guy with dimples got the record she couldn’t reach.

Tears started to collect in her eyes, and his face suddenly swarmed with guilt over what he had said. She ran to the bedroom and slammed the door shut behind her, before sinking down on the bed and crying, trying to come to terms with everything that was going on. She still loved Eddie, more than anything, but she felt like she didn’t even know the person he was starting to turn into. The one who drank all the time and seemed to always have fun except when she was around. He only seemed to be interested in her when they were alone and he needed comfort, otherwise he was barely even around her. Did he even want her anymore?

The tears started to fall harder and before Layla could process her own emotions, she felt herself falling asleep, mentally exhausted.

*****

Layla groaned as she felt the bed dip beside her, waking her up. It was dark out, but she could see the outline of Eddie’s body as he crawled under the sheets next to her. He turned to face her, only then noticing that she was awake. Eddie hesitantly wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her against his body, cradling her while he kissed the top of her head.

“I’m so sorry. You know I didn’t mean that at all. I was just defensive and angry and I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.” He whispered, his voice gravelly, and she could tell he had been crying. She nodded into his chest and got closer to him, appreciating these small moments when she felt like she meant something to him. He kissed her on the head again and then whispered an ‘I love you’ before he started to fall asleep. Laying in his warm arms, Layla asked herself a question which she had been dreading to ask herself for weeks; Am I happy?

*****

I know I’m a complete bitch for making their relationship even harder than I already have, but what can I say, I’m a masochist. Anyway, hope you enjoy and give me some guesses as to what you think is going to happen in the next chapter xx