dance floor drabbles

after hours | andrew rayel

I called Andrew.

"Hello?" The beeps on the line finally switched to a familiar voice after the click, albeit a voice I haven't heard for quite some time. Nevertheless, I was relieved. I needed to make this call.

"Hey, Andrew," I sighed, "Are you available tonight, by any chance?"

"I do have a set tonight," he sounded concerned on the other end, "but is midnight fine for you, or will that be too late? Shayne, you need to sleep."

In all honesty, midnight is early when you can't sleep at night.

"Doesn't matter, I can make it," I replied abruptly, "I just need someone to hang with."

I couldn't see him but I could guess that Andrew was probably raising his brow at my sharp tongue. "Okay then, see you at the Sky Bar tonight, I'll be there."

"Gotcha," I ended the call and threw on a black leather bomber before heading out and blending right into the darkness. Two hours to head downtown, two hours before I can clear my head.

The lift I step into raises me 56 floors off the ground and I gesture to the waiter for an al fresco seat overlooking the skyline. With the city lights illuminating the scenery, I ended up getting lost in the downright spectacular view.

A buzz from my phone snaps me back into reality.

Andrew Rayel: Set's over. Be there in 5 minutes.

Five minutes? Sound pretty fast for me.

Me: Andrew, where are you?

Andrew Rayel: The club's just downstairs, love.

That explains everything.

I sat down in the armchair nearest to me, scrolling through social media until I hear a familiar voice call out to me.

"Shayne?"

I put down my phone and I come face to face with the guy I've known throughout high school, even though I'm two years younger. In some sort of coincidence he's dressed exactly like me, black everything and a leather bomber, and I can tell he's tired — he's drenched in sweat from partying in the club and the bags under his eyes were starting to peek out.

"Hey, Andrew," I flashed him a small smile, gesturing to the seat in front of me.

"Call me Andrei please," he reminded me, "I don't like paparazzi."

Oh right, I remember how Andrew used to go on about how he had decided on a stage name back in the days. Young Andrew, so eager to break through into the dance music scene, and now he's out there bringing energy all over the world, I can't help but feel a sense of pride for him.

"Andrei," I began, watching him lower himself into his seat, "so how was the set?"

"It was fine," he wheezed, "I'm drained as hell though, so much jumping." His soft laugh followed as I watched him pull a small box out of his jeans pocket. "Want one?"

Turns out it was a box of cigarettes.

"Nah, I quit," I refused, pushing the shiny box back to him.

Andrew shrugged, pocketing the box once again. "I don't smoke either, I have no idea why some random clubber would throw this box onto my DJ booth."

"People are strange, aren't they?" I laughed. My subconscious gaze roamed the Sky Bar and took in its atmosphere; it was completely dark outside, except for the lonely candle on each table, flickering in the night breeze. There weren't many people here either, just a small handful of couples dressed to the nines, and of course, Andrew and I, dressed in the exact same clothing.

Needless to say, with the soft ambient music playing, it does seem somewhat romantic. Which reminds me...

"Andrei, can I ask you something? I'm kinda feeling I need to get something off my chest." I carefully dragged my chair closer to him.

Andrew smiled. "No problem, what's wrong?"

I looked out into the night sky and couldn't help but feel sentimental. "Have you ever been in love?" I asked, turning back to him.

The candle was enough to illuminate the red flush that was starting to rise from Andrew's cheeks as he laughed softly but shyly. Aww.

"You mean with music?" he chuckled, his arm subconsciously wrapping the back of my chair, "If it is then always, Shayne."

"I mean, with a person." 

"Oh," he blinked, "I told you about that years ago remember, that one girl I had eyes for throughout high school. Too bad she didn't like me back."

I remembered. If young Andrew wasn't going on about his music, he was going on about this girl from his class, for whom he was absolutely soft for, which was adorable. She never paid any attention to him though, except for when Andrew forgot his pencil and had to ask her for one, poor Andrew.

"Did you get over her eventually though," I inquired. God, I sound so mean, but I needed advice.

Now it was Andrew's turn to stare wistfully into the distance and for a moment my heart ached for him. He's such a lovable guy but when it's coming to love, he's sadly overlooked.

"Yeah, I did," he sighed, "I immersed myself in my music and spilled my feelings out in them, like in 550 Senta. And when I got my big break as an artist, everything just seemed to be going so fast, who would have time for love?"

I blinked back at him as he turned to face me again. "Is everything okay, Shayne?" his tone softened.

I was about to speak when the waiter came up to us from seemingly out of nowhere. "May I take your order?" he asked cheerily.

Oh right.

I hastily opened the menu and asked for a glass of red wine, to which Andrew followed suit before the waiter turned his back and returned inside to the bar. Surprisingly he didn't recognise Andrew, which was good, or what would the media have to say about our discussion? Not to mention that Andrew couldn't stand paparazzi. 

"Anyway, so where were we again?" I asked, turning back to look Andrew in the eyes.

"Is there anything else bothering you?"

I sunk into my seat. "Well, Andrei, it's just... feelings, you know," I tried to string my thoughts together, "Feelings are weird, especially mine because you know how I'm such a hopeless romantic."

Andrew raised his eyebrow. "How are they weird though?" 

I squeezed my eyes shut before flinging them open, as though I was squeezing my thoughts out of my head. "I feel too much, Andrei. Every time I get my hopes for love high up they all just come crashing down, over and over again, in and out of love every single time. It sucks." I felt bad that I had to rant to Andrew, yet the expression on his face still looked unfazed.

All he did was reach out to squeeze my left hand gently. I felt a stubborn heat rising from the back of my cheeks.

"It's okay to feel and fall in love, it's human nature," he explains, "I'm not stopping you from falling in love, and don't stop yourself either; when it happens, it just happens, but if you need help coping with it, turning to your hobbies can help, or you can always hit me up, I'm here for you."

I glanced at Andrew, who was still gripping my hand. "Are you sure? I mean, you're on tour, and I don't wanna bother you. You're pretty busy," I started to worry.

"Shayne, don't worry about it. I care about you and I wanna help." He gave me a firm nod, a determined, genuine one.

His hand was still wrapped around mine, but I slowly relaxed into his grip. "Thank you, Andrei," I gave his hand a light, knowing squeeze, gazing up into the void which was the night sky before withdrawing my hand from his grip.

-

a/n wrote this while overseas, where the internet connection kinda sucked balls but it's okay, writing passes the time. andrew is taken irl tho, but he and his girl are adorable, i stan.