“Damn it!”

Danny Jones kicked the shut door violently, as if doing so would cause it to spring open and admit him to the audition that had ended an hour previously. Damn the fact that he couldn’t drive! What the hell had made him think he’d make it on time if he’d walked? How stupid was he? He turned round and slumped against the wood, clutching his guitar case to his chest. Finally he found the perfect advertisement for band auditions, and he missed it. That was just his luck. That was how things went for Danny Jones. He never got what he wanted. He slid down the door so he was sat on the filthy ground. He needed a moment before he began the journey back home.

“I was just born to be a failure, wasn’t I?”

His question was directed at no-one in particular- not that there was anyone around to answer. Danny blinked, he was suddenly really tired. But he couldn’t fall asleep now. He had to get back home. He had to get back home after missing out on his big break. Danny blinked once more- this time fighting back the hot tears that threatened to fall. He rested his head on his guitar, and closed his eyes.

*****

That was how Tom Fletcher found him twenty minutes later. He had been going back to the audition location because he had left his guitar there. He thought that everyone they’d seen today had been hopeless. He was in no way nearer to finding a band. He walked round the corner and saw a boy- roughly his own age, perhaps slightly younger- sat on the steps, his face obscured by the guitar case he was leaning on. He was asleep, Tom marvelled as he got closer. Not that that was a particularly dangerous thing… It was a nice enough neighbourhood, and there was certainly still enough Summer in the air so he wouldn’t freeze to death. So, why not? The only problem was the boy was blocking the only way into the building. Tom bent down and shook his arm gently.

“Excuse me, but I need to get in.”

The boy stirred, and Tom felt instantly guilty. Then the bluest eyes Tom could ever recall seeing slowly flickered open and focused on him. The boy sat up properly and Tom was struck dumb. He was, in Tom’s opinion, gorgeous. His face was unique, to say the least. It was delicate, but not so much that he looked unable to handle himself. Soft-looking brown hair fell over his face and eyes.

“Oh, sorry, mate. I must’ve fallen asleep.”

He had a definite accent, Tom mused. He wasn’t entirely sure where from, though. The boy got to his feet and dusted himself off.

“Do you have the time, by any chance?”

“Half nine.”

His eyes grew wide- causing Tom to wonder exactly how long he had been sitting on that step. Actually, now he cast his mind back, Tom couldn’t remember seeing him at the audition. Surely he would have remembered him? And- if the guitar was anything to go by- that was what he was there for.

“Damn it! Now I’ve got to walk home. And it took me ages to get here… I missed the audition ‘cause I walked.”

He was muttering, more to himself than anything else. The pieces began to fall into place in Tom’s head. He’d missed them! Arriving too late… Tom couldn’t imagine how annoying that would be. He was exactly the opposite- normally five hours before they even opened the doors and therefore having to wait outside in the rain more often than nought.

“Why are you here, anyway?”

Tom turned to the door, and inserted a key to open it. He wasn’t sure how to answer. If he told the truth, he couldn’t be bothered with the whole ‘Can I audition now?’ palaver- as hot as this guy was. Then again, otherwise, how would he explain that he had a key to the door?

“I ran the actual audition. I left my guitar here.”

“Ah… Cool.”

He fiddled with his phone before pressing it to his ear. Tom paused from stepping inside. He could hear the annoying mechanical voice from where he was standing:

“There are insufficient funds available in your account to connect this call.”

“Aw, piss it!”

He hung up, looking more than a little annoyed. Tom didn’t stop to think, just pulled out his own mobile and held it out.

“Here. Use mine. It should have enough credit. Just bring it in to me once you’re done.”

He accepted it with a grateful nod, and Tom turned and walked inside, giving him privacy to make the call. Either that, or giving him a chance to leg it with his mobile, but Tom got a good vibe off this boy. He headed along to where he had left his instrument. He was just putting it neatly back in its case when the boy entered.

“Thanks, mate. That was a big help.”

Tom smiled and reached for his mobile- which the boy was holding out to him. As his fingers grazed the other boy’s palm, both of them started. Tom cleared his throat nervously and slipped the phone into his pocket.

“No problem.”

Tom could feel the boy’s eyes on him as he closed his guitar case carefully and snapped the latches into place. He turned back a moment later and found a hand offered to him.

“Danny Jones.”

Tom took hold of the hand and shook it, and both of them felt that bizarre feeling again. It was almost like static jumping between them, but certainly not as overly painful. Tom managed a small timid smile, only a fraction of the one he had used before.

“Tom Fletcher.”

He released Danny’s hand and moved towards the exit. Once outside, Tom set his guitar case to the side and waited until Danny was clear of the door before locking it.

“Well, it was nice to-”

Tom broke off as he turned to find himself staring into a pair of blue eyes. The brunette’s guitar was strapped to his back, but he showed no signs of moving. Tom couldn’t held but stare at the pair of lips directly in his vision for a second, then blinked and forced his gaze up as he ordered himself to quit it.

“I should…erm…”

It would appear Tom wasn’t going to finish a sentence. A pair of lips brushed smoothly over his. Then Danny pulled back, looking as shocked as Tom felt.

“Sorry, mate. I don’t-”

It was Danny’s turn to be cut off as Tom curled a hand round his neck and brought their mouths crashing together. Their lips fit of over one another’s perfectly, and Danny bit down on Tom’s lower lip into order to gain entrance to the hot cavern of his mouth. Their tongues clashed as Danny slid an arm round the other boy’s waist, holding him in place. After a few minutes, they detached, and simply stared at each other.

“I need to head off.”

Danny pressed another light kiss to the blond’s lips, then- with a grin- turned to leave. Tom stared after him in shock.

“Wait! You can’t just do that to me.”

Danny turned back briefly and gave him a stunning smile before disappearing round the corner. Tom sighed, and spun on his heel to pick up his guitar again. He began to walk home, pulling his phone out his pocket, and that’s when he noticed a message on screen.

‘Number in directory. Call me if you’re desperate and in need of a guitarist.’

Tom grinned, and checked his address book. Right enough, under ‘Danny’ was a new mobile number. Tom felt a spurt of happiness as he slid his phone into his pocket.

“Danny Jones… Being too late is going to be the best thing that ever happened to you…”