Chapter 5

Gilbert got a beer and sat down at the table. Arthur looked at the pale man, got a new glass of rum and sat with him.

They both were awkwardly silent. Gil had never really said anything nice to Arthur, and now he was going to ask a question about inspiration? That wasn't normal.

Arthur was strangely quiet. Gil expected him to be an idiot like he always was and force conversation.

"You just going to look at me all night?" Gil finally asked

"Well you're the one who came over here. Talk." Arthur replied shortly, not looking at him.

His tone was rather daunting but Gil went on with it anyway "Sad songs are my deal. What's with 'Landing in London'?"

"You don't own sad songs. I can sing what I want." Was the gruff reply

"Why tonight, why that?"

"Why did you ditch your whiney depression for the first set?" Arthur growled, drinking

"More lively...more energy. It's what I used to sing."

"Used to?"

Gil was rather irritated with his blunt tone "Are you deaf? Yes, used to!"

The man smirked and finished his drink, slight drunkenness shining in his eyes "So the rock phase is in the past?"

"No...just for now." He muttered, swigging beer.

"Stop playing around. Answer straight: why is it 'used to'?"

Well Gil hadn't been expecting that. Could he say it was a broken heart? He didn't want to admit to a stranger he had one...he didn't want to admit that to himself.

"Just...a girl." He answered quietly, studying the floor

"Left you?" Arthur asked

Gil slowly nodded "Yes...and so...I sing about it. Sing what you feel...it the only way the feelings are authentic, makes the songs sound better. Put your heart into it, you know?"

Arthur bit his lip and nodded "So...that's my answer. For the 'Landing in London'..."

"Well...who is it?" Gil softly asked

Fireworks went off in the parking lot, the soft pops could barely be heard inside, but they were audible enough.

"Just some American git..."

A man came by and set down a new mug of beer and rum, and Gil finished his old beer.

The two didn't know about each other, of course nothing, they were strangers. Yet, strangers in a bar at three in the morning tend to talk about some of the deepest things. The most painful things, the best hidden, the best kept to self-things.

"This American git leave you?"

Arthur nodded to him, quickly going through his rum. They both knew something. They both had one thing in common. Broken hearts.

They drank a lot in the next half hour, both getting quite drunk. Not the I-can't-walk drunk, but rather the ask-me-anything drunk.

When the bar closed they both grabbed their guitars and put them away in their cars, but neither was done talking to the other, and they ended up taking a walk.

Fireworks repeatedly burst in the sky, patriotic songs blasted from everywhere. Gil caught bits and pieces of songs like 'American Soldier' and 'Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue' by Toby Keith.

"So why tonight...do you finally open up, with your song?" Gil asked, his voice slightly slurred but still very clear

"Because this would've been a year...." He mumbled, straying towards the park where the fireworks were

Gil nodded, walking alongside him

"Your girl left you, why?" Arthur asked, sitting down on the grass

"Because...she didn't appreciate my lifestyle I guess...or me." He mumbled, fresh pain springing to his heart

"I got that too...but Alfred wasn't...he...said he didn't...care..." Arthur struggled for words, and simply fell silent.

Gil looked up and stared. Somehow he didn't see the Brit being with a guy. He got over it pretty quickly. Did it really matter? Didn't some idiot say love was blind?

Gil lay back on the grass and looked up at the sky, and they lapsed into silence, both in deep hurt.

Besides the hangover, they would both deeply regret this tomorrow. The keg of bottled up feelings was tapped, and it wasn't closing until everything came out.

It didn't take long for the silence and pain to get to both of them, and pretty soon Arthur was telling Gil all about Alfred, the stupid American he loved so dear. From how the man loved hamburgers and video games to the job he had, the clothes he wore and everything else. By the end, Gil knew just about everything there was to know about Arthurs old lover.

Besides for why he left.

Sure, Gil didn't like the Brit at first. But...now he did, and Arthur wasn't that bad, he liked him.

By this point, pain had taken over the blond and he was softly crying as he shook. Was it manly to cry? No...but he seemed to have every right.

Gil thought it was only fair to tell him about Eliza, so he did. He told how they met in a bar when he was playing, and how he stole her heart. Then about her tomboy like ways, he went on about all the small things he loved about her, and he soon found himself sniffling as well.

The night had gone totally wrong, to what Gil had planned. But then again, he didn't plan much besides the question.

What a dangerous question it was... they couldn't do this again.

"Arthur..."

The man looked over "What?"

"Let's... make a deal. Never ask each other about inspiration to songs...no matter how they change...just never ask..."

Arthur nodded and stuck his hand out to shake. Gil moved his hand and shook his hand, blushing lightly. He knew not why, but blamed it on the beer.

Something was weird about their handshake. Maybe it was because what the deal was over. Just songs, such a serious mood, to promise they won't talk about songs.

Or maybe it was more.

Arthur stood up "It's time for me to go... I'll see you tonight maybe?"

Gil rose and nodded "If I wake up in time!"

The two then went their own ways, Gil to his car, and Arthur to god knows where. The Brit's car was still in the parking lot as he drove away.

He smiled faintly driving home. He hurt, that was for sure. But less than before...much less. Why, he didn't know, it didn't make sense.

But he didn't have to worry about it, he was positive he'd get slammed with overwhelming depression later.

But no worries, no, they promised after all...no more talking about songs, this would never happen again.

He pulled into his driveway, the only thought on his mind was sleep.

Thoughts?