Christian

Chris was not sure he had made the right decision, accepting Elena in the band. A girl who had never heard a metal song in her life before. Moreover, a church choir singer who had only ever chanted psalms and prayers, and was now expected to sing unholy things.

But how could he not accept her? Her voice was everything he had dreamed of, and more. He thought he could never replace Ann, that no woman could ever rival her sweet angelic voice. Until he heard Elena's singing.

"What do you think of the new girl?" Chris asked Raymond as they sat together at the studio, practicing some riffs and solos for a new song before everyone else arrived.

"She's cute," Raymond replied absently as he focused on his notes. "I prefer bigger boobs though."

"Fuck you Ray, I am not asking you about her boobs! What do you think of her voice?"

"Well she knows how sing." Raymond paused as he finished off his solo. "But I'd be more concerned about her stage presence."

"I guess that could be managed. She should have enough time to practice."

"Will Ann still be coming to the studio? She could give her some help."

"I don't think Ann will be able to help much," Chris said, a hint of sorrow in his voice. "She's not like she used to be."

"I'm sorry, Christian," Raymond said. He put down his guitar and looked up at Chris. "Don't lose hope though."

"Thanks Ray." Chris forced a smile. "How's it going with your new girlfriend? What was her name, Megan?"

"Dude you're so outdated. Megan was like three girlfriends ago."

"Didn't you just meet her last summer?"

"Yes, last summer. We're in winter now."

"Oh right, I forgot, a new girlfriend for every season," Chris chuckled.

"You know I don't do long term relationships," Raymond said, his tone a bit more serious. "Why get attached only to get hurt later? You of all people should know... sorry, I didn't mean to..."

"It's alright, I get what you mean," Chris said with a sorrowful smile. "But sometimes, you just can't help it. One day when you meet the right person, you'll never want to be with anyone else, even when you know they can't stay with you forever."

"That's why I don't date long enough to realize I've met the right person. Call it self-preservation." Raymond smoothed his long blonde hair back and stood up, placing his guitar on its stand. "I'm going out for a smoke. Are you coming?"

***

It was a few minutes past seven when the full band had gathered at the studio, with Elena the last to arrive. Again she was dressed in a plain black sweater and black jeans, her brown hair falling in messy waves below her shoulders.

Chris noticed a weird glint in her heavily lined eyes as she entered the studio. She was not the timid girl he had seen last time. He could even swear he saw her smirk when her brown eyes met his.

Something was going on with her. He was even more certain when he found her walking up straight towards him and standing right under his nose. He raised a curious eyebrow, and next he found her reciting.

"Death, come near me. The cry of Silence. Daylight Misery. The last hour of ancient sunlight. The empty stare. Dishearten. Serenade of sorrow. Pale tortured blue."

Chris smirked as he realized what she was doing, naming each Draconian song she could manage. It seemed that someone had done their homework. Or quite not.

"It's easy to memorize some song titles," he said, acting indifferent, "but do you actually know the songs?"

Elena's narrowed her eyes for a moment, apparently challenged. But when she opened her mouth next, Chris was truly impressed, as her angelic voice filled the room.

Oh shed a tear for the loss of innocence, for the forsaken spirits who aches... in us

Cry for the heart who surrenders to pain... for the solitude of those... left behind

"Do you want me to sing the rest?" she asked with an attitude.

Chris did not feign indifference this time as he openly smiled at her. And in that moment he was even more positive that he had made the right choice accepting her in the band.

"Take out your music notes. We have a new song to practice," was all he said.

Their jamming session went even better than last time. He could tell that Elena was learning quickly, and she was no longer afraid to let out her emotions as she sang. She was perfection, and she had been with them for only one week. At that rate they would be more than ready for their big concert in two months.

"We have two more new songs to finish before Battle of the Bands," Chris said after they finished playing. "If we manage to keep things up we might even win the contest."

"What contest?" Elena looked up at him, and he could see her earlier confidence was once more replaced by a timid expression.

"It's like a big concert where many bands play on stage, and they choose winners," Elijah explained.

"Oh..." Elena looked even more intimidated.

"We still have two months. You'll get plenty of time to prepare and learn everything you need," Chris said, in an attempt to reassure her.

"Okay..." Elena said before she frowned and took out her beeping phone from her pocket. Her fell face again as she read what seemed to be an unpleasant message.

"Umm, is it alright if I stay at the studio for another hour?" she asked. "My sister won't be able to pick me up before ten pm, and... it's not safe to walk alone at this –"

"I'll walk you home," Chris said.

"Oh... you really don't have to," Elena said, her cheeks obviously blushing. But everyone was leaving already.

"See you buddy," Raymond said as he carried his guitar case and patted Chris's shoulder. He left with Elijah and Rebecca. Jacob and Daniel followed them as well, leaving Chris and Elena alone in the studio.

"Ready?" Chris asked Elena, giving her no choice. She nodded timidly and followed him outside.

It was freezing out there. The poor girl was shivering as she walked next to him, even with her thick black coat. Without thinking, he took off his scarf and wrapped it carelessly around her, which took her by surprise. She gasped and looked up at him with wide eyes, before she pulled the scarf closer around her neck. Despite the dark, he could see her cheeks blushing again.

"Thank you," she said through chattering teeth. He only nodded in response.

A long moment of silence passed, before she decided to speak. "How long have you been with the band?"

"I started the band when I was eighteen. That was six years ago."

"You do have a beautiful voice you know. Why don't you sing clean vocals too?"

"It's just not my style anymore."

"Anymore? So you used to sing clean before?"

"Yes, but that was a very long time ago. I used to be a choir boy when I was a child."

"You were with the choir!" Elena gasped, and Chris could swear he saw her eyes sparkling.

"Yes. My mom forced me to go to church every Sunday. Then I realized I could have fun while I'm at it, so I asked her to let me join the choir."

"My mom took me to church every Sunday too. I was a choir girl too you know?"

"Of course I know. Why do you think I accepted you in the band in the first place? When I heard you sing Miserere Mei at the audition, I didn't even think twice. If you can hit that high C like that, then you can sing any song I write."

"It's funny, how we seem to be very different, but actually we are so alike."

"Indeed." Chris smiled.

"But do you still go to church?"

Chris shook his head. "Last time I went to Church, I was thirteen. It broke my mother's heart when I stopped going."

"I can imagine," Elena pouted. "You know, as I think of it now, I guess one of the main reasons I still go to church, or pray to God at all, is because of my mother. I wouldn't want to disappoint her."

"So you worship God just to please your mother?" Chris scoffed. "That's ridiculous."

"It's not exactly like that," Elena chucked. "I mean, I do it in honor of her memory. I know she is watching me up there, and I want her to be proud of me."

"Oh..." Chris frowned as it dawned on him. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know your mother ... has passed..."

"It's okay." Elena smiled. "It's been five years already. Car accident. That's why I don't drive you know? Okay I guess I'm just blabbering now."

"I'm really sorry Elena."

"It's fine, trust me!" Elena was smiling widely, but he could see her eyes shining with unshed tears. "Oh, there's my house!" She pointed towards a beautiful two level white building with a blue roof. "Thanks for the walk Chris." She smiled again before she carefully took off his scarf and handed it over to him.

Chris remained in his place, watching Elena as she walked to the door. He still stood there even after she had entered the house, just staring behind her while holding his scarf that now smelled of vanilla and roses.

And he realized how similar they were indeed, despite their differences.

Like him, Elena was suffering. But unlike him, she did not hide her pain behind a façade of coldness. She hid her pain behind sweet smiles and a cheerful spirit. And today, he was able to see right through her, and find the wounded little girl within.