Chapter 2

It was past four pm by the time he finally got himself out of the bed. Half asleep he stretched and stumbled to his shower.

He turned the light on, then walked into the shower and turned the hot water on, slowly and sluggishly showering.

By the time he got out he was fully awake. Running a hand through his silvery hair he left it to air dry and walked back into the room, digging through his closet and pulling out bright white jeans along with a black shirt. He tied the bandanna on his wrist again and grinned. Alright, he looked awesome.

He grabbed his guitar and sat on the bed, yelling downstairs

"LIZ! Make me a sandwich!"

He was answered by silence and sighed, remembering she was gone. The pain washed back over him and he didn't really try to fight it off this time. He loved her. Tonight he had actually planned to play her another song, but privately.

Guess not anymore.

He stared at the wall for a long moment, the raw pain throbbing in his chest again. He could tell right then and there, this would be a long road of pain, and a grand old mess.

He needed to focus, he needed to tune the guitar, and most importantly, practice his main song.

He started picking stings, tuning accordingly just by sound. He relaxed this way, it kept the pain at bay, he could manage it this way. Maybe he could avoid the mess...by not talking about her and playing his heart out.

He started to play the cords and sing 'Break Your Heart; by Tiao Cruz.

He didn't even make it to the chorus before he stopped. He couldn't do it, the song was too lively and upbeat for how he felt. It wasn't helping him.

He started absently strumming as he thought, and without realizing it, he started to play 'Terrible Things' by MayDay Parade.

He smiled sadly, that was perfect. He practiced for the next half hour before he packed up the guitar and walked down the stairs, going in the kitchen to make himself some food.

It had been a while since he had attempted that.

"Right, a sandwich...can't be that hard." He muttered to himself.

Five minutes later there was peanut butter on the wall, two mangled pieces of bread held together by butter, ham on the floor, cheese on the counter, and a steak knife covered in jelly.

He looked at the scene and sighed "I give up...time to add cooking lessons to my to-do list..."

He ended up eating ham and cheese and his mangled butter bread, then cleaning up the rest of the mess.

He checked the time, seven thirty four. He usually didn't take the stage until nine or so, and he only usually played until ten. The he would flirt and drink until one or two in the morning.

He grabbed his keys and left the door unlocked. He knew Eliza well enough to know she'd be getting her stuff from the house tonight. He didn't care to lock it and have either a broken door or window.

His car gleamed in the driveway and he smiled faintly, tossing the case in the back seat and then slipping behind the wheel.

He drove down to the bar, walking in at about eight fifteen. He was a bit early, but he had to set up, maybe drink a bit.

Walking in the doors he became aware of two things. The crowd was on their feet and the lights were dim, and someone was playing on his stage.

He shut the door behind him and leaned on the wall, glaring at the man on stage.

The guy had blonde hair, and striking green eyes. He wore dark blue jeans that were tight on him, and a navy blue British flag t-shirt, which matched his British flag electric guitar. He had the typical punk rocker attitude, even had the spiked wrist band. He could tell the moment he stepped off stage girls would be all over him.

As if it couldn't get worse, he was totally rocking out to 'Anarchy in the UK' by the Sex Pistols.

Gil really was debating on walking out the door, but somehow he found himself a seat.

Great, not only was the idiot on his stage, but he was an idiotic punk rocker, who was also way too British. Wasn't he supposed to be drinking tea and blowing up kitchens?

He did grudgingly admit the man had a nice voice. The song he hated with a burning passion, the singer sucked, and his voice was too nasally. This guy had a deep and clear voice, and he captured the crowd and fed energy into the room.

It sucked, he wanted to hate the British punk, but he couldn't, he was a good musician.

The bar manager came over and yelled "Isn't he great?"

Gilbert glared at him "He's on my stage!"

He man scoffed "Your stage? You don't own it; he'll be off by nine anyway."

Gil glowered and sighed angrily but went quiet and the man walked away.

When the song ended the light came up and the man left the stage, sliding off to where Gil didn't see.

He instead walked to the stage and got himself set up and started playing through his set list of songs such as 'Move Along' and 'It Ends Tonight' by All American Rejects. He played 'Savin Me' and 'Feeling Way Too Damn Good' by Nickleback, and things along those lines.

He didn't pump up the crowd, but everyone listened as they talked, the loners drank somberly and absorbed Gil's heartbroken words. Gil felt a hot gaze on him the whole but didn't find who it belonged to, it was weird, he usually didn't feel like this, like he was being stared down.

Finally he got to his ending song.

"This will be the last song of the night..." he said into the microphone before he started strumming 'Terrible Things.'

"By the time I was your age, I'd give anything

To fall in love truly, was all I could think

That's when I met your mother, the girl of my dreams

The most beautiful woman, that I'd ever seen

She said, "Boy can I tell you a wonderful thing?

I can't help but notice, you're staring at me.

I know I shouldn't say this, but I really believe

I can tell by your eyes that you're in love with me"

Now son, I'm only telling you this...

Because life, can do terrible things

Now most of the time, we'd had too much to drink

And we'd laugh at the stars and we'd share everything

Too young to notice, and too dumb to care

Love was a story, that couldn't compare

I said, "Girl, can I tell you a wonderful thing?

I made you a present with paper and string.

Open with care now, I'm asking you, please.

You know that I love you, will you marry me?"

Now son, I'm only telling you this...

Because life, can do terrible things

You'll learn, one day, I'll hope and I'll pray

That God, shows you differently

She said, "Boy can I tell you, a terrible thing?

It seems that I'm sick and I've only got weeks.

Please, don't be sad now, I really believe

You were the greatest thing that ever happened to me"

It didn't fit him perfectly, she didn't die of course, he didn't try to marry her. But the song was so terribly sad, it fit perfectly. He played his heart out, poured all his pain into the song, into his voice and guitar.

Members of the crowd cried, but he didn't, he just played on, all the way to the end.

He stood up and weakly smiled "Thank you all, have a good night!" then he hopped off the stage and put his guitar away in the case. He noticed another case there, and assumed it was the man from earlier.

He got a beer at the bar and walked to the table where he had sat earlier, only to find the green eyed man there. He sighed and turned away but a voice called out

"Sit, there's another chair, I don't bite strangers in public."

Gil turned around and scowled but sat at the table with the man. Up close he saw the man had his ear pierced, and to Gil's displeasure, he still was an eye catcher. He was now officially a girl rival too.

He mentally cursed out Fate. As if he didn't have it bad enough as it was.

The man sipped his drink, rum, it looked to be. "Sad songs there."

Gil shrugged "Guess so."

"I'm Arthur." He said

"Great. I'm Gilbert, call me Gil." He said blankly, drinking his beer and looking ahead f him.

Arthur could tell the conversation was really pressed and he sighed "It's late, I'll go." And he went to stand.

Gil finished his beer and stood "Sure, bye. Suppose I'll see you tomorrow?"

Arthur nodded, to his displeasure. He rolled his eyes, grabbed his case and left. That was enough for one night, he was emotionally drained.

And tomorrow wasn't looking much better.

Thoughts?

And the song Terrible Things-listen at own risk, saddest thing ever