#christophercolfer

Everyone is crying and laughing at the same time and that’s Darren’s usual default behavior when it comes to something this huge, therefore it’s easy for him to roll with it all and he’s clapping and hugging people like he is supposed to. After a while though, the craziness is a bit too much even for him and he’s not sure why, but it seems like there should be more than it is and maybe it’s because he’s been psyching himself up for it for weeks now and there are so many other things awaiting him in the foreseeable future which require his energy and concentration. He’s not sparing any real thought to his plans now though and instead his eyes roam through the crowd as if he’s trying to soak it up for the last time and when Lea climbs onto the piano, he laughs, clapping louder than ever and he doesn’t realize someone is already missing at that point because people have mingled and moved and everyone is simply everywhere. His palms are already hurting a bit, but he doesn’t notice, why would he, and he’s pumping his fists into the air, grinning like a fool. Despite everything that went down in those past couple years, them moving further away rather than closer, there are still memories to share and cherish and Darren can’t ignore it, he chooses to enjoy it rather than resent the present for what has happened in the past. And because of that it takes him a while to truly notice an absence which would have been obvious if circumstances were different, but they aren’t and so it does take a moment before Darren’s eyes are searching, looking and there is not a familiar tear soaked face and he’s turning on his spot by now, Chord bumping into him, clutching his arm for a brief second and Darren laughs, patting his friend’s back, saying something about having to catch a break and Chord understands more than he should, because he stills for a second before he’s swooped into another group hug. Darren is already pushing past people at that point though and trying to disappear without anyone stopping him on his way, and he could say he’s lucky because no one seems to really notice when he walks away from the set and seeks a familiar face. He doesn’t ask, because he sort of knows where to find him, there is no real hiding place on a television show set. Only solitude one could find is in their trailers and that’s where Darren is heading, his heart leaping slightly because this is most likely his very last journey down that familiar route. His not letting nostalgia bring another wave of emotions and lose his footing that way, he concentrates on jumping up the couple steps, before taking a deep breath and knocking, the metallic sound echoing quietly. There’s silence, as per usual and thus Darren leans forward a bit and says audibly enough, but with a gentle, careful tone: “Chris? Are you in there?”