Introduction

Have you read Trevor and Reya’s prequel story, One Epic Night? If the answer is yes, then please continue to Hearts on Air. If no, then please read on.

It is highly recommended that you read One Epic Night before continuing to Hearts on Air.

One Epic Night

A Hearts Story

BY L.H. COSWAY

Part I

I was busking on the street, singing an “ironic” cover of Wrecking Ball when I opened my eyes and saw him.

Trevor Cross, one of my best friends/bane of my existence sat with his legs dangling off the edge of a shop rooftop. He was my best friend because he was one of the most hilarious and fun people to be around. And he was the bane of my existence because he was a hyper-active livewire who, for some reason, enjoyed being in my company. Dealing with him sometimes felt like trying to circumnavigate a mine field. I changed the lyrics as I sang and wondered if he’d notice.

You came in like a wrecking ball.

That was Trev down to a T. Destructive. Addictive. Fascinating. Frustrating. Too full of energy to ever pin down. At times he wrecked me. Other times he built me up. Our relationship was…complicated. And yet, we’d never even kissed.

He often liked to turn up unannounced like this. He knew my routine off by heart, so if he wanted to he could always find me. I busked every afternoon, Tuesday to Saturday, and in the evenings I gave private piano lessons. I usually played a club gig on Saturday nights, then had Sunday and Monday off. I tended to make a pretty steady income week on week.

Trevor watched me with a serious look on his face, his head tilted to one side as though in contemplation. He’d heard me sing countless times before, so I didn’t really get what was different today.

Most of the time, I got one of two Trevors. The flamboyant, loud-mouthed, piss-taking one normally came out when we were around other people, while the more serious, introspective, thoughtful one made an appearance when it was just the two of us. If I wasn’t acquainted with his more low-key side, then we probably wouldn’t have stayed friends this long. There was only so much hyperactivity a person could handle.

We met almost two and a half years ago through my girlfriend, Karla, who at the time was having a clandestine relationship with Trevor’s brother, Lee. Trev latched onto me from the very first night we met, charming me, making me laugh, making me feel like the most important and interesting person in the world. I’d come to learn that’s what he did. His liveliness made you feel like a better version of yourself, someone far more exciting than who you really were.

When I finished the song Trev effortlessly jumped down from his spot on the roof, a skill honed through his years of dedication to parkour. As he crossed the street he pulled a lollipop from his pocket, ripped off the packaging and stuck it in his mouth.

“To what do I owe this pleasure?” I asked once he reached me.

His mischievous blue eyes caught the light in a way that almost made them appear otherworldly. He took his time sucking on the lolly, then pulled it out with a loud popping sound.

“Just came to check up on my favourite girl. I haven’t heard you sing that one before. Never took you for a Miley fan,” he grinned, goading me.

“Course I am. She’s got more grit than Taylor,” I answered, smiling as I moved to pack up my keyboard. Trev came forward and pushed my hands away when I went to fold up the stand.

“I’ve got it. You go grab your cash before someone tries to steal it.”

“Okay, um, thanks,” I said and went to pick up the hat I left out for passers-by to throw money in. Once everything was packed, Trev lifted my keyboard case and gestured for me to lead the way.

“Come on, I’ll walk you home.”

“Somebody’s feeling very helpful today. What are you after?” I asked, suspicious.

He put his hand to his heart as though offended. “Can’t a fella help out his best friend simply because he feels like it?”

“Yes, a fella can. You, on the other hand, always seem to have something up your sleeve.”

He let out a slow breath, his gaze moving lazily over my features, down to my chest and then back up again. I was used to him looking at my boobs. It was par for the course with him. And since I’d been born with an ample pair, it seemed like a losing battle to get someone like Trev not to ogle them. I ran my hands down my long burgundy dress, feeling self-conscious. He wasn’t ogling me light-heartedly like he normally did. Today there was more heat behind it, and it put me on edge.

So, here’s a confession. When I first met Trev I was hopelessly infatuated with him. I mean, show me a twenty-two-year-old girl who wouldn’t be. Trev was tall, dark haired, light eyed, athletically muscular and had a great sense of humour. Plus, he was never short on charm or compliments. All this meant I developed a gigantic crush. Little did I know, all he was after was friendship.

It should’ve been more obvious to me, but at the time I had my head in the clouds. Trev didn’t go for women who looked like me. He liked them petite and blonde, while I was anything but. Anyway, it took me a few months to come to the heart-breaking realisation that he wasn’t interested in me romantically. After that, I made my peace with the situation and moved on. Now I was a twenty-four-year-old woman who knew better than to put her eggs in the Trevor Cross basket.

But today…today he was looking at me in a way he never had before and it was making me feel strange. Too hot, and itchy – real itchy.

He was uncharacteristically silent as he went back to sucking on his lolly.

I eyed him. “What’s up with you?”

“Nothing.”

“Come on. You’re being weird. Well, weirder than usual.”

He shoved one hand in his jeans pocket. “I guess I’m just a little bit restless. I feel like doing something crazy, something exciting. It’s Friday and I don’t have a shift at Lee’s until the day after tomorrow. How about we go out and have some fun? Throw caution to the wind.”

I smiled fondly at his enthusiastic hand gesture. “Like how?”

“Like…” he paused, pondering it a moment before he continued, “Okay, how about this. We both make a pact to stay out for the entire night, and we can’t go home until we’ve done at least three things we’ve never done before.”