Steve strummed his guitar, playing each string separately with his thumb.

"Sounds good." He murmured to himself, removing the guitar from around his body and leaving it on the stand. The roadies would deal with the placement for the show the next day. Steve glanced over at Rick, who was seated at his kit, staring out at the huge space that would later be filled with screaming fans. They always liked to have everything set up early, and if that meant a whole day before the show, they did it.

"How you feelin' about it, mate?" Steve called, trotting over and up the stairs to Rick.

"Pretty good. I'm still quite nervous, though." Rick chuckled, twirling a drumstick in his hand.

"You're gonna be great. All the fans have been dying for you to come back." Steve assured his friend, smiling genuinely.

"I'm still shocked by the fact that we have 'fans'." Rick snickered.

"Yeah, it's still all so surreal, honestly. Everything seems to be going right." Steve smiled softly.

Steve had quit drinking. He had done it. Never had he been so proud of himself.

But never had the urge been stronger.

The band was about half complete with the writing for their soon-to-be-produced new album. Although it was missing a title, and any ideas for cover art, there was a picture coming together in Joe's mind. They already had eight tracks ready to be recorded. Joe didn't feel it was finished, though; and he really hadn't taken a true liking to two of the tracks, Desert Song and Fractured Love. He didn't think the others had, either.

Hysteria.

Joe had seen the word on a billboard during the drive into Ireland and instantly fell in love with it.

Hysteria: a state in which your emotions (such as love) are so strong that you behave in an uncontrolled way.

Joe wanted it to be the album's name. So much so that he was putting all his song-writing energy into creating a ballad named Hysteria, so he'd have a good excuse for suggesting it.

All he had was "I gotta know tonight if you're alone tonight. Can't stop this feeling, can't stop this fire".

"Hey, Joe."

Phil's voice broke through Joe's mental barrier. The guitarist had just boarded the bus Joe had been hanging out in, confronting the man where he had plopped himself down on the floor, armed with only a pencil and a notebook.

"Whatcha working on?"

"It's nothing right now." Joe admitted, pushing the paper over to where Phil had sat down. Also on the floor. Who needs couches?

"Hysteria. That's a sexy word." Phil chuckled at the title. "Can you sing what you've got?"

Joe went ahead and did so.

Phil grinned.

"Mate, that's awesome. I fucking love it." Phil praised, already trying to construct riffs in his mind. Mutt said he was aiming for a record where every song could be a hit. They could do that.

"Thanks, Phil. I only wish I could write more. All I have is the start of this verse."

"That sounds more like a hook, y'know." Phil pointed out. Joe raised an eyebrow.

"You think? I mean, yeah, I could see it.. wow. That makes this seem a lot easier to write." Joe was astonished at how quickly Phil had unraveled his writer's block. "Wait.. what if the chorus was somethin' like.. I get hysterical, hysteria..." Joe paused, ready to spit out whatever came to mind first. "Can you feel it, do you believe it?"

Phil nodded quickly, jotting down the lyrics on the paper before either of them forgot.

"That's great, Joe. This is why you do lyrics." Phil laughed. Joe returned it.

"Thanks so much, Phil. I'm gonna keep working on this."

"The album is already half-done, Joe. Remember that there's no rush. We've still got part of a tour in front of us; take your time, and don't overwork yourself." Phil smiled softly as he stood again, snagging his guitar from the sofa, completing his original goal for entering the bus.

"You sound like Sav." Joe rolled his eyes sarcastically, his playful tone making Phil laugh.

"Then it's not my job. I'll leave you to Savvy, and I'll go take care of Steve. Then everybody's happy." Phil chuckled. Joe laughed.

"Shoo."

Phil did so, trotting over to the stage area to find Steve.

Joe stared down at the paper in front of him, unsure of how or why those certain words came pouring out of his mouth. They just had. And they were beautiful.

Time was passing and Joe was smiling. He stared down at the notebook and his new lyrics.

"It's such a magical mysteria, when you get that feelin', better start believin'.."
He sang softly to himself, following the same rhythm as the part he had written with Phil.

"'Cause it's a miracle, say you will, babe.."

Joe especially liked the ending of the chorus.

"Hysteria when you're near."

•

Sav shook up his hairspray, growling under his breath as he realized he was running low. He'd run over to a store to pick a few cans up.

Might as well get Joe the pens he's been complaining about while he's out too.

No one in the band ever liked to stay in motels, so they always slept in the bus. But the venue was near a strip mall, to Sav's advantage. He tugged on his leather jacket, and skipped off the bus, but not before fluffing his hair one last time. The bassist made his way over to the grocery store. It was the kind of store that sold everything, so he'd always find what he needed.

The silence of his short journey was enough to let Sav sink into his own thoughts. The big show was tomorrow. Sav was excited to be on stage back in England, playing to a native crowd. Castle Donington, where the festival was placed, was only just over an hour from Sheffield. Sav missed their hometown even though they hadn't been gone for long. He didn't know how he'd make it on larger tours.

Sav pushed open the doors to the store, making his way down the aisles until he found beauty products. Thankfully, he scooped up the last three cans of his favorite hairspray. He always bought multiple cans. Big hair required big product. Trotting to the checkout, he grabbed a pack of cheap ballpoint pens from a shelf.

Joe better not throw these out the window, too.

Sav didn't speak much as he checked out, replying only with a small nod when asked if he found everything easily. Taking his bag and leaving the store, Sav inhaled the fresh air of outside. It was only slightly interrupted by the scent of burnt-out cigarettes, stomped out on faded asphalt. It smelled almost like Joe's garage. Home.

Sav scooted across the parking lot over to where the bus was parked on the other side, the bag swinging and occasionally bumping into his thigh. He unconsciously began to hum Foolin', the sound of his lover's voice pounding through his brain and making Sav smile to himself.

Pushing the door open to the bus, Sav froze in his spot. Joe was sat cross-legged on the floor, singing softly to himself.

"Hysteria when you're near."

Sav softly rapped on the wall with his fingers, smiling. Joe turned, startled.

"Ah, hey babe." The vocalist grinned, eyes flicking down to the bag. "What's in there?"

"My hairspray. And here." Sav tossed the package of pens over to his boyfriend, who laughed.

"Thanks, Ricky."

Sav rolled his eyes.

"C'mon, babe, you know I don't like being called that."

"I can call you anything I want because you love me." Joe smirked.

Sav chuckled, abandoning the plastic bag on the floor and strolling over to Joe. He slipped down into his lover's lap, wrapping his arms around Joe's shoulders.

"Yeah, maybe." The younger of the two mumbled, hiding his smile in Joe's hair.

Joe chuckled, leaning back so he could connect his lips with Sav's.

"Love you, Joe."

"Love you too, Sav."

They spent a few minutes like that, enjoying the warmth the other man gave out. Holding each other close, arms wrapped around, chests pressed together. Gripping the other person so tightly, one would've thought a force was taking them away. They felt like one person, rather than two embracing.

Love.

Joe felt the burning need to bring Sav's attention to something else. Something special.

"Baby? I wanted to give you somethin'." Joe murmured, pressing a kiss to Sav's temple. He leaned back, rummaging through his pocket. Sav detached himself from around Joe, straddling his lap with a puzzled look on his pretty face.

Joe tugged out a small box. It opened it with a satisfying snap, and Joe took out one of the objects inside. Taking Sav's hand in his own, Joe slipped a ring onto his finger. Sav bit his lip, turning the ring. It read 'Joe' across it.

"A promise ring. I promise that I will always love you and take care of you. I'll always be there when you need me, and more so when you don't. I'll protect you from harm and hold you close, always. I love you, Sav. I promise that I always will."

Sav found himself lost for words. Gently, he removed the other ring from the box, which read 'Sav' in small print. He slipped it onto Joe's finger, lifting his love's hand up to his face and giving his knuckles a soft kiss.

"I love you so much, Joe. I promise I will always love you, too."

Some actions do speak louder than words.