"Had to have high, high hopes for a living
Didn't know how but I always had a feeling
I was gonna be that one in a million
Always had high, high hopes
Had to have high, high hopes for a living
Shooting for the stars when I couldn't make a killing
Didn't have a dime but I always had a vision
Always had high, high hopes
Had to have high, high hopes for a living
Didn't know how but I always had a feeling
I was gonna be that one in a million
Always had high, high hopes.. "

" That's a wrap, guys. Good job", Mallory spoke, swiping the sweat away with his arm.

"Did I do good, Mal?", Don smirked.

"It was decent", Mal shrugged while he held his guitar.

"It was spectacular, Vasco! ", Roxette commented as she removes her bass string from her neck.

"Ditto", Collin muttered.

"Thank you guys. I am flattered, truly", the blonde man smiled.

"Let's go home now guys, I miss my bed", Rez uttered.

*****************°******************

The gang left the building,
the night breeze greeted them by blowing through their coats, coldly caressing their exposed skin.

"Hey Rez, don't walk too fast", Mallory shouted as he cups his hands unto his mouth.

"Nah, the road is empty. It's fine--"

As they were halfway on the slippery road, they all alarmingly glanced over a car beeping obnoxiously as it stopped near them. It almost hit Rez and missed him by an inch.

He slammed the roof of the car in anger and cursed.

"Hey motherfucker! I'm walking here!"

The driver popped his head out from the car window, yelling as he pointed angrily to Rez. It's one of the friends of Roxette's boyfriend.

"Zip it, Mohawk! Don't touch my baby ever again!"

"I have a name, Greaseball!"

"Don't you know who I am!"

"I don't fucking care who you are-"

"I am Cid Furious!"

Mallory face-palmed as Roxette stomps towards the two arguing in the middle of the road.

Roxette put her hands on Rez's shoulders and reprimanded them both.

"Shut up you two, It's both your fault!"

"He almost crashed at me--"

"Mal told you to slow down, Rez"

"Fine.. Sorry Cousin"

"Cid?"

"Not sorry", Cid replied.

Rez took Colin's guitar and almost hit Cid with it, but Roxette pinched her cousin to stop.

Cid turned his head and made a loathing expression in his face as he sees Mallory. He examined him creepily and sneered.

"Oh, it's your weird gay friend. How was your spreading ballet to the masses?"

Mal stares back indifferently and snarkily replied.

"it's great, Simon Ferocious"

Cid glared at Mallory and comes intimidatingly closer.
Quickly, Don blocked him and put his arms around Mal.

Eddie, Roxette's boyfriend, finally goes out the car, diverting the attention and focus to him.

He kissed Roxette briefly and nodded to the others to acknowledge their existence.

"Howdy. How it's going?"

"Fine", Collin almost audibly answered.

"Been better, honestly", Mallory muttered.

Roxette nudged Mallory.

"Mal!"

"I can already sense his sickening aura in this distance, Darling"

"Mal, please"

Eddie stares at Don, whom he never seen before.

"What's your name, Smiley?"

"Don Vasco"

They shook hands and looks at the time.

"Nice meeting you, but we gotta go. Come 'ere, Rox"

Roxette kissed Mallory cheek-to-cheek
and bid farewell to her friends as she goes to her seat near Eddie.

"Goodbye, guys!"

The group waved goodbye to the car, except Rez who flipped them off.

After a while, Rez and Collin seperated to go off to their own paths.

Don tailed after Mallory, who just finished his carton of smokes.

"I never liked her boyfriend", Mal abruptly said.

"Why is that?"

"Honey, have you seen his friends? I knew him for a long time, and I know he's bad news. Roxette is just incredibly attached to that manipulative ass"

Don nodded along Mallory's rants, not sure what to say.

"My hotel is this way, Mal"

"Okay. Take care, Donnie"

"..are you sure you can handle--"

"Yes, yes. See you tomorrow"

Don smiled hesitantly and left Mal on his own.

Mallory goes through an alley, which a bunch of shady men seems to be hanging out.

"Odd, no one usually goes here", he thought to himself, clutching his fur jacket.