Houston We Got a Problem (McFly/Jonas) 21: Just Friends

21: Just Friends

Tom awoke with a start. His entire body was covered in sweat, his head ached horribly, his ribs were shaking, and he had a sick feeling in his stomach. He stumbled out of the bed, making himself dizzier and dizzier. He knew this feeling. He walked as quickly as he could without tipping over into the bathroom. He lowered his head onto the open toilet seat and began to puke. With every heave, his worries soaked into his brain. Who was that person his arms were wrapped around? What happened last night? How drunk did he get?

It took what felt like forever. His head was pounding with a migraine. He shut off all the lights and closed all the blinds and napped in the now-empty bed beside the window for hardly an hour.

'Mate--' said someone, disturbing his almost-peaceful state. Tom opened his eyes groggily and rolled over in his bed, finding himself face-to-face with none other than Harry Judd. 'Get out of bed, Tom. We're leaving.'

'Sfumwun wusss in here,' he mumbled. 'Sum girl wuss sleeping here.' Harry bit his lip grudgingly and dragged Tom out of bed. He led him down the hall and back to the McFly room, where each member of the band stood with their suitcases in hand.

'We packed your things,' said Danny, shuffling his feet uncomfortably and pointing over to the fourth suitcase. 'Just in case, mate. Take this,' Danny muttered, tossing a collared shirt at Tom, who dropped it and had trouble putting it on. Danny redirected his attention to Harry. 'It seems like murder compared to how smashed he got the last time something like this happened. Where'd you find him?'

'Room down the hall,' Harry replied briefly. 'Tom, I think you need some air.'

'I kun go take a wallllk down Central Perk. I shud bee ahlown.' So Tom walked out the door and managed his way into the elevator and toward Central Park, where he kicked at the stupid pigeons and got bit by a stupid geese on the ankle. 'I'm stupid,' he whispered to himself. Then he raised his head and shouted it to the whole world. 'I'M STUPID!' People were beginning to stare. He lowered his voice and his gaze into his lap. 'I'm stupid,' he murmured.

'No, you're not,' said a voice. Tom looked up. No possible way was she here! She looked beautiful, her long reddish-blonde mane of hair floating down to her waist in loose curls, her blue-green eyes digging into his brown ones. 'Tom, I'm the stupid one.' Her skin was glowing. She was a goddess and he was nothing but a lesser mortal. She was coming closer. 'Tom, I'm the one who let things get out of control and everything that may or may not have happened between us is completely my fault.' Danielynn, in the flesh, blinked her long eyelashes and took one of his hands. 'Tom, you're an amazing guy. You truly are. But we have to remain entirely platonic. I want to be your friend again.'

'Just friends?' he said, his mind beginning to reel. No, they couldn't be just friends! He loved her with all his heart. How was he supposed to live without her loving him back? He couldn't take it. 'Danielynn, I don't think I can do that.'

'You can. You'll be in England soon. I'll be stuck here in New York. You'll learn to find another girl. Come on, you have loads of fangirls and you can't sacrifice Katie Holmes for me. Go on. There's one girl out there who's absolutely perfect for you. Sweetie, she and I aren't the same person. I know you want us to be, but we just aren't. I'm sorry, luv.' He stood up and stared at her, with tears peaking in his eyes. They pulled into a hug and he stroked her hair softly. 'I'll miss you loads,' she whispered. She backed away and wiped her cheeks. 'It's time for you to go.'

'Yes, but this time, I'll call for real,' he said, and Danielynn watched his retreating back. She walked up to the hotel before she could call him back.