STORY ONE, CHAPTER THREE

 

 

 

You’ll Never Be Lonely

Chapter Three

 

Chris’ POV

“A week? Mum’s got to stay here a week?” I cried to my dad. “She looks fine, she talks fine, she walks fine- I think- and we’re-!”

 

“Yes, mummy’s staying here for the week, and so is your baby brother,” he said calmly. “They have to get better, both of them. The doctors said that he was born earlier than he should’ve been, so they have to keep a close eye on him, and mummy.”

 

“Well, it’s not fair!” I whined. “Mum’s gonna miss home, and she’ll be lonely up here by herself! Can’t we bring her home and leave the baby here for a few days while she rests up?” My dad shook his head and told me that we’d be spending as much time as possible in the next few days in this hospital. Maybe sometimes we’d stay overnight, if we had to. I looked at him in disbelief; he sounded off his rocker. Mum has a better chance of getting, well, better at home than she does here. Besides, dad makes the best noodle soup there is, and there’s nothing it can’t heal!

 

Al and I spent the whole day playing any game we were allowed to, until it was finally late at night. My dad had instructed me to go to bed, but I found it hard to. I looked around the room; the white hot lights made the room kind of scarily clean. I missed my mess at home, and I started feeling uncomfortable here. I swallowed my troubles and closed my eyes. I tried to force myself to fall asleep, but I couldn’t help my curiosity. I wanted to know more, and see more if I was going to live in a ruddy hospital for a week.

 

I stood up after two hours of trying to get some sleep. Tip toeing past my sleeping brother, I put my hands in my pockets and walked down the hall as normally as I could. Finally, I came across something that interested me, in a wing of the hospital that had another sign; “Children’s Care” in larger letters than before.

 

In my curious nature, I strutted in and started walking around. This part of the hospital had nice colors on the walls, and actually had a happy spirit in the air. I saw that there was nobody in the rooms, except for one door that was closed. I stood as tall as I could, and tried to peer in the window. I saw a mess of hair and a pale face. As if I’d been kicked by Al, my heart started hurting. He looked around my age, but I felt a great pain coming from him, though his expression was soft, sleeping.

 

I kept staring at his sleeping face for longer than I thought. Next to me, I saw a nurse handling a few warm towels. My mouth was also a little open, so I continued to open it to talk, “Nurse?” I asked after looking at a paper on the door. “Why’s he sleeping?” I noticed he’d only been here for less than a day.

 

The nurse bit her lip, like the answer was much more difficult than I’d put my question. “Do you know him?” she asked.

 

“No, but I don’t see anybody else here,” I started, and then smiled up at the nurse. “Anybody could use a little company.” She smiled and nodded back at me. She opened his door, and I quickly sat next to the sleeping boy.

 

“Nurse,” I started. “Do you know what his name is?”

 

“His name is Jonny, and my name is Brooke,” she chirped. I asked what’d happened to him, and she stalled to answer. “If he would like to share it when he wakes up, it’s his choice. Better you hear it from him willingly than from me. He could be sensitive about it, you know.”

 

I nodded “I understand. My mum says I’m sensitive too.”

 

She laughed to herself slightly and smiled at me. “But if you’re concerned about him, I can tell you this; he’s in what we call a vegetative state.”

 

I looked at Jonny curiously, buzzing this way and that. I decided on crouching below the bed, where his face rested on his cheek, so I could get a good look at him. “Funny, he doesn’t look like a vegetable,” I pointed out. Nurse Brooke laughed harder.

 

“You’re a cute kid,” she said. My face turned sour.

 

“I’m not cute, I’m a man!” I declared. She held her hands up in defeat and continued to laugh to herself.

 

“Oh, I almost forgot to ask what your name is,” she called herself silly.

 

“My name’s Chris and I’m eight.”

 

She nodded. “Jonny’s still seven, but he’s about your age,” she thought for a moment, and then remembered more important information. “If you talk to him, then maybe he’ll wake up, Chris. He’ll be able to tell you all sorts of things, then.”

 

I looked up with hopeful eyes “Really?” I whispered.

 

“That’s right, young man!” she smiled. After looking at the things attached to Jonny, Nurse Brooke left the room. I kept looking at Jonny hopelessly, just asking him to wake up. I tried giving him a poke and a nudge, but neither worked. I continued to badger him with things about me.

 

“My mum just had a baby, but we have to stay here for a whole week! But, I guess that gives me time to make sure you wake up, doesn’t it?” I paused, trying to find something else to say. Usually, I’d be talking endlessly but I knew I had to make sure I said important things. I thought them over carefully, putting my wishes of him waking up into every single tone of voice. “I wonder what kind of person you are, Jonny… although, everyone looks nicer when they’re sleeping. Take my brother Al for example.” I laughed. “Mum says he looks cute when he’s sleeping, but during the day wreaks havoc!” I stared at him, expecting some sort of response.

 

“Isn’t that funny, Jonny?” I tried, and failed. Sighing, I continued. “I guess you don’t talk very much, now, do you?” I leaned over and put my chin in my hands. “Well, that’s alright! I need someone to actually listen to what I go on about, really. I’m sure we’ll be great friends, no matter what!”

 

 

Still, I got no answer. I stared at him for a while before talking again. “I can’t wait until you can actually talk to me, though. Sometimes, I think it’s better that way.”

 

 

Iris

Chapter 1

 

 

 

“Please Jonny!” Jonny glanced up from the book he was reading only to see Chris’ puppy dog eyes and little pout on his stunning face. He bit his lip to try and hold in his grin, but to no avail failed and let slip his smoldering smile show.

“Chris, I swear you’re going to be the death of me someday!”

“Soooo, Is that a yes? Chris asked doing a little dance in place.

Jonny sighed “Yes Chris”

“Oh Jonny Boy! It’s going to be so much fun!”

“Yeah what’s more fun than a skip it? By the way where on earth did you find one? I thought those things were like extinct or on some banned toys list?”

“Nope!” Chris emphasized the ‘p’ to aggravated Jonny. “I got it off ewave oh wait I think it’s called ebay! Oh and to add to the awesomeness of the skip it, it’s hot pink!”

“Oh Joy! A hot pink skip it! Now people will really think we’re gay!” Jonny retorted.

“Psh whatever Jonny, your just jealous you didn’t think to buy it!”

“That’s exactly it Chris! Now where is this skip it?”

Chris ran upstairs to retrieve the prized item! Jonny glanced down at his book, “someday when I can say No to Chris, I will finish you, until then it’s back on the shelf for another day”

Chris magically appeared in front of Jonny with an enormous smile on his face and a hot pink skip it in his hand. “Ready J?”

“Yup, bring on the torture!”

Chris ran outside the door of the beehive to the street and began to search for the perfect spot to play with the skip it. Jonny followed him and sat down on the curb watching Chris with a little grin on his face. He couldn’t help smiling when he saw Chris like this. He always imagined that this was how Chris was when he was a little boy, always excited just like Christmas morning and always in constant motion like a tornado. Jonny chuckled to himself and watched as Chris hopped, skipped, and then proclaimed that this was the place to play with the Skip it!

Chris placed the skip it on his foot and began to spin it and jump in perfect sync with the spinning ball at the end of the toy. He was a natural and never seemed to falter. Jonny was mesmerized at the sight before him. Chris’ golden sunrise curls we’re bouncing every time he skipped and his eyes we’re light up like the fourth of July. He was laughing and clapping his hands in motion. He was truly happy, which in turn made Jonny happy!

“Jonny you wanna go at it?” Chris asked after a while of skipping

“Sure! I’ll take a whack at it!”

Chris somehow elegantly stopped skipping and passed the toy over to Jonny and took his place on the curb of the street. Jonny walked out into the middle of the street and placed the skip it on his foot and began to skip it. He was nowhere in same league as Chris, but still managed to get the toy to work properly.

Chris’ eyes glistened as he watched Jonny play with the skip it, he was so into the moment that he didn’t see the approaching car until it was too late. All he heard was the screeching of tires, the shattering of glass and the dull thud of Jonny’s body being smashed by a car. One moment Jonny was there skipping with a ridiculous grin on his face and the next he was laying on the ground with a pool of blood forming around him. Chris doesn’t remember moving, but the next thing he knows he is next to Jonny with tears streaming down his face. He pulled Jonny’s limp body into his arms and whispered in a shaky voice “all I can breathe is your life, don’t leave me Jonny, don’t you dare leave me here! I need you…I need you!”

 

 

 

Iris

Chapter 2

 

Short Chapter :dozey:

 

 

 

“Please stay here Mr. Martin!” The EMT said as he was pushing Chris back into the emergency waiting room.

“NO! I can’t leave him, he would never leave me! He just wouldn’t.”

“I’m sorry, but he is being taken into surgery and you can’t go back there, we will update you as soon as we know something, until then please stay in the waiting room!” The EMT walked through the doors and disappeared. Chris slumped down into one of the many uncomfortable chairs and buried his face in his hands.

‘Why did I convince him to play with me? He was so content reading his book, but I was feeling selfish and wanted his attention. Jonny was always doing things for me, but what was I doing for him in return? He was always putting me before himself, never thinking twice. What am I going to do if he doesn’t make it? Sooner or later it's over, I just don't want to miss him tonight. I.. I think I’m in love with my best friend, I want to grow old with him. I want to take car of him when he is sick. I want to walk through the park together. I want it all. He is my all!’ Chris continued to sit and ponder on his and Jonny’s life.

Chris was so wrapped up in his mind he didn’t realize that Will and Guy had walked into the room and were there sitting on either side of him. Will has placed his arm around Chris for comfort and guy the same.

“He is so lost in his mind, I wonder if he will come back around?” Will asked Guy.

“Gosh, who knows with Chris, I wonder if he has finally realized that he is in love with Jonny? I mean it’s been so obvious to me, what about you? Did you notice how they have always flirted with each other?”

“I’ve always thought they would get together in time, but maybe it’s just hit him finally. Look at him, he is sitting here breathing, but he is quite clearly not here, geez he is shaking Guy! We need to get him a blanket or something.”

“Right, I’ll go see what I can do!” Guy said as he got up and went off to search for a blanket.

“Chris, I know you are probably in shock right now, and can’t really hear me, but Guy and I are here for you and for.. for Jonny….. Christ Chris come back, Jonny needs you, Guy needs you, I need you.” Tears start to stream down Will’s check “Chris, Jonny is pretty banged up, but you can’t be like this.. just, just look at me God dammit!” Will stood up and walked over to the window, he couldn’t stand to see Chris look so empty and hopeless. “Poor Jonny, poor Chris.”

Guy soon returned with a blanket for Chris, as he was wrapping it around him, Chris looked up as if to register the presence of his friend, but then quickly looked back down.

“Shit, he has to snap out of it or I’m gonna start crying” Guy said softly to Will. Will just nodded his head and continued to look out the window. Guy looked away from Chris toward the doors of the emergency room to see a nurse walking towards him.

 

“Hi I’m Nurse Paige, Are you all here for a..”

“JONNY! Jonny Buckland!” Chris yelled back at her as he quickly stood up. Will and Guy just looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders in unbelief. One moment Chris is out in the battlefield of his mind and the next he is standing, looking like he is ready to grab the nurse and shake her for answers that she is not telling him.

“Uh yes, a Mr. Buckland.” Before she can say anything Chris is spitting out question after question.

“ Where is he? Can I see him? What is wrong with him? Is he.. is he alive?”

 

 

 

 

3.

 

I don’t know how long we stand there, but suddenly there’s a knock on the door. My heart skips a beat. I disentangle myself from Guy and run to answer it. It’s Will. Cue heart dropping back into its usual place.

 

“Hi, Jon.” He says and gives me a big hug. I close my eyes not to cry. “You’ve lost some weight.” He points out as he walks into the apartment. “What do you say about getting some lunch to try to meat you up again, huh?” He grins a little and whispers under his breath. “We can’t have you look like Guy.”

 

“Hey!” Guy objects, overhearing. “I’m not thin anymore! I’m ripped.” He smiles cockily, tongue behind his teeth. I almost laugh but catch myself. It feels wrong to laugh. So wrong.

 

But I turn to Will and plaster a fake smile on my face.

“Sure, lunch would be nice.”

 

Will and Guy try really hard to contain their excitement about me tagging along as they run around trying to clean away the last of the filth in my messy apartment and I feel my heart swell with love for my friends.

 

I ask if they need help but they pointedly ignore me and I just don’t have the energy to argue. I try to nibble on a cracker while I wait (orders from Guy, so that my stomach won’t be shocked by the sensation of food, sometimes he’s such a hen mother).

 

They soon finish and Guy hands me my coat. I put it on and follow them out the door. They can’t stop smiling. Why are they smiling so much?

 

We go down the street to our local pub and sit down in a dark corner. They protectively make me sit between them. I find myself not really minding at all.

 

“So, what are you having, J?” Guy asks, still trying to contain his smile.

 

I catch myself almost shrugging. I flick my eyes towards the menu on the wall and take a deep breath.

“The usual, I think.”

 

Guy seems content with that and walks up to the bar and places our orders. He returns with three glasses. Three glasses of water. He sheepishly smiles when I look up to meet his gaze. He continues to move me. Guy never drinks water. I take a sip of the cold liquid, ice-cubes clinking against the rim. Guy and Will do the same, and I see Guy having trouble with the clear liquid. I almost smile. I soon find myself relaxing and enjoying their company. But I still feel Chris missing. It’s like half my being is missing. Or at least a fourth of me.

 

“Jonny?” Will shakes my shoulder and I snap out of the daze I’ve ended up in.

 

“Yeah.” I answer.

 

“You look awfully pale, man.”

 

“’M fine.” I argue, but I feel a wave of dizziness overwhelm me.

 

“Lie down.” Will barks and I gratefully comply.

 

The smooth leather of the pub sofa is cool against the back of my neck. Will’s face appears above me. I try to focus on him, but everything is rather foggy.

 

“Jonny.” He says to gain my attention and I think I nod. “Guy is calling an ambulance. Hang in there, okay?”

 

“Just make sure he doesn’t leave his phone somewhere.” I try to mumble. Will laughs so I think he heard me.

 

I feel something wet on my head and I twitch.

“It’s just a wet cloth.” Will clarifies.

 

I feel my eyes slip shut and then there’s nothing but darkness.

 

-*-

 

“I have something for you.” Chris says, eyes twinkling mischievously.

 

“Oh, really?” I laugh, scooting closer to Chris.

 

“Yes.” Chris closes the space between us and stops millimeters from my lips. “But I’m not telling you what it is.”

 

I lean forward and press my lips to Chris’.

 

“And why is that?”

 

“It’s a surprise, silly!” Chris laughs and it’s the sweetest sound in the history of the universe.

 

“Where have you gone? I miss you.”

 

“It’s part of the surprise.”

 

“Then it’s a horrible surprise.”

 

“Yeah, I know. But it will be wonderful. I promise.”

 

“I guess I’ll have to believe you.”

 

“You’re right in that, Jonny-boy.”

 

“I love you.”

 

“I love you too.”

 

-*-

I open my eyes and expect Chris to be there. But he’s not. I close my eyes again, willing myself to go back into my dream. It doesn’t work.

 

“Jon?” I hear from the accent that it’s Guy. I open my eyes but it’s hard to focus.

 

“Yeah?” My voice sounds thick.

 

“Oh, thank…” He clears his throat and takes a shaky breath. “You gave us quite a scare.”

 

I frown. “Are you crying?”

 

“No.” I can hear that he is. “Try to stay awake.” He says and squeezes my hand. “I’ll go get Will.”

I don’t know if I succeed in staying awake, but soon I hear footsteps shuffling around my bed and someone ruffles my hair. I open my eyes and see that it’s Will.

 

“How are you feeling?” He asks and pulls up a chair next to the bed.

 

“I…” I begin. “I don’t really know.”

 

“That’s ok.”

 

“What happened?” I ask, genuinely not knowing.

 

“Apparently your blood pressure dropped like crazy.” Guy says and he looks like he’s about to cry again.

 

“Well, that’s not overly serious, right?”

 

Guy bites his lip and I look away. I don’t want to see him cry. I can’t stand more tears right now.

 

“It can be.” Will carefully begins. “The nurse says that this fainting episode wasn’t very serious. But you need to start eating again.” He takes a deep breath. “And you need to stop stressing and see a therapist.”

 

“I don’t want to see a therapist.” I reply, feeling disgusted by the idea. “I’m fine.”

 

“You apparently aren’t.” Will argues and he pauses. “Chris wouldn’t want you to feel like this.”

 

“Well, maybe then he shouldn’t have left me like he did!” I yell at him and I feel my heart break all over again. I feel tears well up in my eyes and I angrily wipe at them.

 

Will stands up from the chair and I’m afraid that he’ll leave. But he doesn’t leave; instead he leans over and wraps his strong arms around me. I sob desperately on his shoulder.

 

“Why?” I manage to get out.

 

“I don’t know, Jon…” He murmurs in my ear and I believe him. “I’m sure he’ll come back soon.”

That, I don’t believe.

 

I see Guy in the corner of my eye, sitting doubled over in the chair with his back shaking. I reach out for his shoulder and his head snaps up. I meet his anguished brown eyes. And then I realize that I’m not the only one who misses Chris. I'm not the only one who worries about where he sleeps at night. If he’s alright. If he’s alive at all.

 

That sends me into another batch of tears and Will comfortingly strokes my back through the thin hospital gown.

 

I finally fall back onto the bed, feeling exhausted. Will hands me a tissue and I wipe my wet cheeks and blow my nose. Will sits down again.

 

“Thank you.” I say, and I see from their looks that it’s enough. Guy’s red rimmed eyes have lost their spark, but he smiles thinly and pulls his chair closer to the bed. He tiredly puts his head on the mattress and I stroke his curly hair. Will puts his feet up next to mine and our heels touch.

 

We have each other.

And although one of us is missing; that’s enough for now.

 

 

STORY ONE, CHAPTER FOUR

 

 

 

 

 

You’ll Never Be Lonely

Chapter Four

 

Jonny’s POV

I woke up after the blinding lights of our car ride and slowly moved my head. To my left, I saw Tim sleeping peacefully in his bed, across from mine. We were home in Wales. It was like our adventure to England was nothing more than a dream.

 

If England was a dream then I had no idea how long I was asleep for. Were mummy and dad home? Or were Tim and I stuck at home with Holly? I creeped of my bed and peeked out the window; there was white snow on the ground and it was just about daylight. The sunrise was pretty mix of yellows, and pinks and the slightest blue. It looked like a painting at a museum.

 

I must have been standing there for a while because eventually I heard Tim speak. “Jonny… Are Mummy and Daddy all right?” He pulled my thin pajama shirt and looked up to me with his big green eyes.

 

“Of course, Timmy, why wouldn’t they be?” I picked him up and placed him on my back. I carried my little brother down the stairs to the kitchen and Tim made airplane noises as we flew around the house.

 

“Hey boys!” Holly greets us as we pull into the kitchen. I put Tim in his high chair and sit across from him. We wish her good morning and Holly asks what we would like for breakfast.

 

“Waffles!” Tim screams, at the same moment that I shout “Pancakes!” Holly starts giggling and eventually all of us are laughing. Tim and I were like twins, though we were born three years apart. We said things at the same time and never left each other’s sides. If something happened to Tim, I don’t know what I’d do. I was his older brother and I loved him.

 

“How about both? Timmy can have his waffles and Jonny, you can have pancakes.” We cheer and shout and laugh while Holly cooks.

 

“Holly, where are Mummy and Dad?” I bring up Tim’s question from earlier but, I’m disappointed by my response.

 

“Oh Jon, they just had another business trip to America. They told me they’d call when they arrived.” Tim nodded and so did I. I had no idea what time they left, or when they should be arriving but, Holly wasn’t too worried so neither was I.

 

“I want veggie-tables in my waffles Miss Holly!” Tim said with a sad look on his face, trying to get what he wanted. Where he got vegetables from was a mystery for me. Waffles with vegetables though was like soup and cake, they don’t mix well.

 

-o-o-o-o-o-

 

 

“Holly, it’s been a whole day! Where are my parents?” I think my cheeks began to get wet and I realized I was crying. I want my mummy… I want my dad… Sure Holly was an awesome nanny but, she wasn’t my parents.

 

“I told you Jon, they are in America. Don’t worry about them; just help me get your brother ready for bed.” Holly was a nice lady but, work was always above family. She would rather organize books than give a child a hug. As I said, she wasn’t my mum.

 

She was pretty. She had mum’s blonde hair and her blue eyes but, not her character. Holly was my cousin so, I couldn’t say bad things about her. I still think she’d be a lame mum to me, to Tim or to anyone.

 

“Holly, I’ll tuck Tim in, we’re fine. You can go call your boyfriend.” I gave her a dirty look. I was mad at her. She didn’t care when she had upset children who missed their parents. She didn’t care about making it better. She wanted to work, work and work. Holly never had time to love.

 

She kisses my forehead and leaves the room. I quickly wipe off her lip-gloss, which was always too sticky and shiny. I drawled into bed while Tim was in the bathroom brushing his teeth. Hopefully, it left me my little time to think, where were mummy and dad? I’m allowed to miss them, I don’t have anyone else.

 

I don’t have anyone else… My eyes began to droop and before Tim got back from the bathroom, I was asleep.

 

My dreams involved people; lots of people. Ladies dressed in white fussing over me, a family I never seen before who had many kids; a little boy with bright blue eyes smiling at me.

 

 

 

katie told me to write this, but it was ALL MY IDEA.

so whatever crap she tells you about this lovely tale being brought to you due to the wonderfulness of Katie Glynn, DON'T BUY IT.

leave it on the shelf and go buy those House DVDs. you know you want to. :awesome:

and while you're waiting to purchase them, stuck behind that guy with two carts full of groceries, read this story :cheesy::

The Risks and Benefits of Leaving Your Car Unlocked Overnight

 

 

 

Jonny sat quietly in the front seat of his car. He was just about to start it and drive off somewhere. His hand was on the key, the key was in the ignition, and his ambitions and hopes were stored in trunk. Well, his guitar was in the trunk, anyway.

 

When he started that car, the roaring engine made him feel like he was invincible. It was him and the car against the world, and there was no way they were going to lose. Unless he hit a tree or something.

 

The radio came on as well, a soothingly dull background noise that Jonny felt the need to crank up to eardrum-exploding volume. First an AC/DC song came on, and Jonny rocked out to that, then a Beatles song came on, and he also rocked out to that, because he liked both bands and thought they were both "puh-retty cool."

 

But then the worst possible scenario happened. Suddenly sound waves emanated from the radio that were less than pleasing to the ear.

 

That's right. It was Lady BaaBaa.

 

But as Jonny drove down the road as fast as he could, trying to reach the next stop sign quickly so he could change the radio while he was stopped, he looked up in the rear-view mirror and noticed something awful.

 

The radio wasn't on.

And in the back seat of his car... was Lady BaaBaa.

 

She sang to Jonny with all of her skankiness and bright pink wool, and Jonny swerved to the side of the road and slammed on the brakes.

 

"OH MY GOD!" he screamed as he ran out of the car. He thought he'd be safe outside, with Lady BaaBaa trapped in the back seat, but he was wrong. Lady BaaBaa was not your average pop-singing sheep. No, she was so much sneakier than that.

 

Lady BaaBaa slipped her way through the open driver's side door, and began to chase Jonny around in what looked like a simple, fun game of Ring Around the Car to an innocent passerby. But the passerby didn't realize that Jonny was trapped in a never-ending cycle of near death.

 

Someone else did, though. By a great stroke of luck, Jonny and Lady BaaBaa were locked in treacherous battle right outside of Chris's house.

 

Chris clung to the living room curtains, peeling them away gently to see what the hell was causing all the freaking rucous outside of his house. He was trying to watch Yo Gabba Gabba, for Christ's sake!

 

But when he saw that the source of the disruption was his precious Jonny and the dispicable Lady BaaBaa, he immediately forgot all about DJ Lance Rock and the fact that his house had a door, and he threw open the window and climbed out at lightning speed. This was finally his chance to prove to Jonny that he was more than just some dweeb who Jonny was kinda friends with.

 

"JONNY, I'M HERE TO SAVE YOU!" Chris shouted as he ran across his lawn in a manly way. Jonny looked up briefly as he rounded the front of the car, Lady BaaBaa dangerously close behind.

 

"Chris!"

 

"Hang on!"

 

As Jonny ran past Chris once more, Chris moved over into Lady BaaBaa's path. Jonny kept going, though, as he hadn't realized what Chris was doing just yet.

 

Lady BaaBaa charged at Chris with all her might, but she was no match for the awesome powers of Christopher Martin, professional sheep wrangler. Chris caught Lady BaaBaa just before she crashed into him, and he threw her as far as he could off into the street, where she proceeded to spontaneously combust.

 

"Oh, Chris," Jonny swooned, placing one hand over his heart and the other on his forehead. "You handled that amazingly!"

 

"Well," Chris said, tossing his head to flip his hair, resting his hands on his hips and puffing out his chest, "that's what happens when you grow up in Devon."

 

"Oh, do you think you could teach me how to do that?" Jonny asked, swooping in closer to Chris with big green eyes.

 

"Sorry, mate, but that's not something you can learn. Either you're born with it, or you're not." Jonny frowned and lowered his head, but Chris placed his hand on Jonny's cheek and forced him to look up again. "But I can teach you something else."

 

"Like what?" Jonny replied, completely entranced. Chris leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on Jonny's lips. "Oh. That's better."

 

"It sure is." Chris wrapped his arm around Jonny's shoulder, and together they walked towards Chris's house. "Now, let's go watch Yo Gabba Gabba... or maybe we'll do something else, eh, eh?"

 

Jonny blushed at Chris's proposition, and giggled as Chris smiled a cheesy smile and winked at the non-existent camera, because he's crazy.

 

STORY ONE, CHAPTER FIVE

 

 

 

You’ll Never Be Lonely

Chapter Five

 

Chris’ POV

The next day, I decided to visit Jonny again. Though I knew he couldn’t exactly respond or show any emotions or anything, I was still hopeful. Slipping past the door and away from Al- who I had distracted with some crayons and a blank page- I set off to his room.

 

Looking at the colorful area again, I noticed something was amiss. In a more detailed search, I saw a few of the toys had been moved. Excited, I start looking for somebody, or something that caused this. I saw a small bit of hair around the corner, and I went towards it. Looking on, I saw a little girl who looked a little younger than me. She didn’t notice I was standing beside her; she seemed too interested in what she was doing.

 

Startled, she jumped at least a foot to her right. “Wha- what were you doing, standing there?” she panicked. She took a few seconds to calm down before standing up. “Sorry about that, you scared me!”

 

“Um, it’s alright,” I started. “I mean, I should apologize for sneaking up on you,” I paused, thinking of a few possibilities. “If I could ask, what are you doing here?”

 

“That’s okay… and I’m visiting my brother,” she looked up at me with happy eyes. I couldn’t help but smile back at her, it seemed almost magnetic. Instantly, I started firing questions quicker than when I ran from chores.

 

“DoyouknowJonny? Isheyourbrother? Imethimyesterdayandheseemedprettynice. Whatshelike? Whatkindsofthingsdoesheliketodo? Doeshelikereading?” I sped. She looked at me, not sure weather to call a nurse, or fear me.

 

“My brother’s not Jonny… I’m not too sure I even know a Jonny,” she replied. “He was just put in today. I’m sorry, um…?”

 

“Chris. My name’s Chris.” I still spoke fast.

 

She nodded “My name’s Hahna, pleased to meet you!” she held out a small hand for me to shake. I greeted her, and she apologized again. I nodded and continued to make my way to Jonny’s room. I was disappointed and upset; I still didn’t know anything about him, and I’d have to wait on him to wake up to even know his favorite color.

 

I sat down next to him and instantly started talking. “Good afternoon, Jonny! Do you have a brother or sister? I have one, but I’m sure you already know that… maybe.” I took a deep breath and tried to keep myself from crying. Something about him made me want to, but I did what my mum told me. Whenever I needed not to cry, I took a deep breath and tried to think of happier things.

 

But it was those happier things that made me feel sad for him. He couldn’t feel anything, he couldn’t say anything, he couldn’t run around and play; he could do nothing. Keeping back my tears, I gripped tight onto a part of a blanket. “I- I hope wherever your mind i-is, that you’re- you’re okay,” I rubbed my eyes with my sleeve and tried to talk normally again.

 

“So, what kinds of interesting things are you dreaming up? Hopefully you don’t already think that I’m annoying,” I tried to laugh. “Usually people have to talk to me before that happens…” suddenly, I heard an odd noise. I looked at the machine that was keeping track of his heartbeat, and noticed it was going a lot faster than it was before. Panicking, I called a nurse right away.

 

A group of them came in just a few seconds after I’d called for them. They told me to stay aside until they sorted something out. Jonny seemed to get worse with every step I took away from him. I stared, praying that whatever caused this wasn’t my fault. I was frozen on that spot, until nurse Brooke told me to sit by Jonny again and talk to him. Without waiting at all, I sat next to him, and said anything I could.

 

“Uh, my favorite color’s green…” I tried to say. Since I was under pressure, I couldn’t always come up with the right thing to say. The nurses told me to ask him questions; maybe he’ll reply “How about yours? Um… do you have a favorite animal? How about a favorite, um… movie? Is there a type of music you really like?” I slowed down on my questions when I heard a mumbling.

 

I looked at him closely, excited that he might just answer one of my questions for once. A smile spread on my face more quickly than milk when I accidentally knocked over my glass. His eyes began to open themselves, and finally, looked directly at me. He had my favorite color as his eyes; green.

 

“I…” he started, as he looked around the room and saw the nurses. “Whe- where’s Tim?” he faintly asked. I looked at him in complete shock; he just woke up in a hospital, but he was worrying about somebody else? I put my hand on his arm, to comfort him.

 

“It’s alright, Jonny… it’ll be okay.” I told him, actually not so sure of myself.

 

 

Iris

Chapter 3

 

 

 

 

“Sir! I need you to calm down before I can tell you anything” Nurse Paige said to Chris. Guy stood up and placed his hand on Chris’ shoulder and whispered softly into his ear.

“Chris, stop. Take a deep breath, and count down from 10. When you have done that, then we can let the nurse tell us her information, but until then she is going to stand there and be silent. Please nod your head if you understand what I am saying?”

Chris turned his head slowly toward Guy. He stared at Guy with misery in his eyes and then slowly moved his head in an up and down fashion. To coach Chris on, Guy took in a deep breath with Chris, and then slowly exhaled. Both men paused for 10 seconds and then Guy turned to the Nurse and said “ Okay, sorry, this is one of our deepest friends and band mates, he means a whole lot to us. We are a bit scared right now.”

“It’s quite alright, I’m deeply sorry about your friend, but he is still in surgery and will be for quite some time. Mr. Buckland has broken 7 ribs, both his and left and right tibia as well as his left femur. He also has extensive internal bleeding. He is lucky to be alive in his current state due to the extreme loss of blood, which is why I came over here in the first place. It appears that your friend is in dire need of a blood transfusion and while we are fully capable of giving him O+ blood it would be better for him to receive the same type of blood. Unfortunatly Mr. Buckland is one of the rare few with type AB+ and of course at this time we are running extremely low on that type of blood. We want to give Mr. Buckland..”

“Jonny, call him Jonny. He doesn’t like to be called Mr. Buckland, it makes him feel like his father” Chris said.

“Okay Jonny, We want to give Jonny the best chance of survival in his current state. So we we’re wondering if any of you we’re of the same type of blood as Mr. Buck.. I mean Jonny?”

“Oh, I’m not the same type” Guy said as he stared down at his feet. “I’m A+”

“I’m not sure what type I am, I have never been tested.” Will said as he still looked out the window. It had begun to rain and drops we’re rolling down the window.

“ I.. I don’t know either” Chris mumbled

“Well gentlemen, if don’t mind having your finger pricked we can found out in a matter of minuets?” Replied Nurse Paige.

“Of course we don’t mind! I mean I don’t.. um Will?” Chris turned toward Will. Will had his forehead pressed against the cool glass, his eyes were closed as if he we’re meditating. He lifted his head off the glass and turned around and walked toward Chris.

“What kind of friend am I, if I won’t check to see if I match one of my best friends blood type?” Will sighed and turned to the nurse “Yes, I will agree to checking my blood type.”

Chris gave Will a quick smile and turned to the nurse and said, “Well, what are we waiting for? I have ten fingers, and you can prick them all if it will save Jonny!”

“Wonderful, if you will follow me then.” Chris started to follow, but then paused and turned around.

“Oh Guy and Will, thanks for being here. It.. well it means an awful lot to me and..” Chris’ voice cracked and tears we’re beginning to form in his eyes.

“Aw Chris, your going to make me cry and I don’t cry! Anyways you would do the same for one of us.” Guy said as he gave Chris a hug.

Nurse Paige tapped her feet in that annoying manner as if to say come on!

“Right Chris, come on we got to go see if we can help Jonny.” Will said as he tugged on Chris’ shirt and pulled him away toward where the nurse stood.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

“ I’ll prick your finger on the count of 3! 1..2..3 ‘click’ Perfect, I just need to get your blood in this tube and I will send it off the lab.” The nurse then walked out of the room leaving Will and Chris alone.

Chris put his finger to his mouth in hope that it would make it feel better by sucking on it. All in all the whole finger prick wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be, Will had already had his and was sitting there staring at me. Geez why he is staring at me? It hurt a little bit, and I always do this when I hurt one of my fingers.

“Will?”

“Uh yeah Chris?”

“err why are you staring at me, the finger prick hurt, so I was just um nursing my finger”

“Chris, I don’t care about your finger or your weird habits.”

“Then..then why were you staring at me?” Will took in a deep breath and responded back to chris.

“It’s raining Chris, every time I’m at a hospital and it rains something bad happens. I’m scared. Scared for Jonny, scared for you and Guy. I .. I just don’t know what I will do if something happens to any of you?”

Chris got up and moved across the room and sat next to Will. “Will, I’m scared too. I think I have realized that Jonny is more than a friend to me. I don’t want him to die, without knowing that…that he’s the closest to heaven that I'll ever be, And I don't want to go home right now without out him knowing that. I..I I love him. ” Will sighed and looked down at his hands. They we’re strong hands, great for playing the drums with and for holding and caressing people with.

“Chris, I’ve always known that you would be more to Jonny then me and Guy, and I think he feels the same.”

“Really Will?”

Will looked at Chris, his eyes had a little spark in them, one that had been missing all day. He nodded his head and gave Chris a hug so he wouldn’t see the lone tear roll down his check. He too loved Jonny, but was more in love with Chris, but Will knew Chris only felt for Jonny.

 

 

 

Bury My Lovely

 

 

Chapter 11

 

 

“Oh, my god.” Chris choked out as he turned away from the bed. “Is he…” His voice broke.

Will swallowed deeply before taking a step closer to the bed. Guy stood still, deathly pale, and stared at the bed.

 

“No.” Will breathed, relieved. “His chest just moved.”

 

“Oh, thank heavens.” Chris brought himself to turn around and kneel beside the bed. He reached out his hand.

 

“Jonny?” He shook Jonny’s shoulder and ran his hands across his face. He had strange dark circles around his eyes. “Jonny!” Chris desperately called out.

 

He turned to Will. “Why isn’t he waking up?”

 

Will shook his head. “I don’t know.”

 

“Maybe we should get him out of here.” Guy put in and they all agreed.

 

They managed with their combined effort to get him into Chris’ room.

 

“He’s so pale.” Guy sighed.

 

“Wait.” Will said. “What’s that?” He pointed to Jonny’s waist where his shirt had exposed a bit of skin, and something else.

 

Chris frowned and lifted up Jonny’s shirt.

 

“It’s a book.” He pulled it out from the waistband of Jonny’s jeans and lovingly pulled the shirt down again.

 

“It looks like a journal.”

 

Chris handed it to Guy. “You read it, I can’t see in this dim light.”

 

Guy took the book and opened it.

“The diary of Joanna Raven.” He looked up at his friends with wide eyes. “I really don’t want to read this.”

 

“Maybe she wanted us to find it.” Chris pointed out.

 

“Yeah.” Will agreed. “I think we should send for Dr. Weiss. Jonny might need medical attention. He should have the journal.”

 

The others agreed and Will went out into the hallway to ring Dr. Weiss up.

“He’s on his way.” He said as he walked into the room again. He clicked his phone shut.

 

They sat around Chris’ bed and waited.

“This feels like vigil.” Chris shivered and caressed Jonny’s hand.

 

The others sat silent.

“Can I tell you something?” Chris asked.

 

“Of course.” Guy said.

 

“Go ahead.”

 

Chris took a deep breath and looked down at his sleeping lover.

“Jonny and I are in love.” He waited for reactions, but got none. “I mean, with each-other.” He clarified.

 

“We know.” Will said and smiled smugly.

 

“You do?” Chris sat back in his chair and put his hands over his eyes.

 

“Please, we knew before you did.” Guy laughed.

 

“And we thought we were very stealthy.” Chris sighed. “Oh, well. So you’re okay with it?”

 

“Of course we are.” Will said and smiled. “Why wouldn’t we be okay with our two best friends finally being happy?” He looked over at Guy.

 

“I think Guy might even be jealous.”

 

“Hey!” Guy protested.

 

“I’m just saying.” Will defensively held up his hands.

 

Chris smiled feeling relieved.

 

There was a pounding on the door.

“That’s probably the doctor now.” Will said and he ran down to answer the door. He soon returned with Dr. Weiss.

 

“Well, well. You found him!” He smiled.

 

“He won’t wake up.” Chris said after shaking his hand in greeting.

 

Dr. Weiss pulled out his stethoscope and listened to Jonny’s heartbeat. Chris held his breath in anticipation.

“Hm…” He took out the earpieces. “His heartbeat is good and strong.” Chris breathed a sigh of relief. He performed some other tests and shrugged in confusion when they didn’t indicate anything wrong. “There’s nothing wrong with him medically.”

 

“We found this, doctor.” Guy said and held out the journal.

 

Dr. Weiss flicked through it for a few minutes. “Ah, what a find. I think this will be really helpful to the Munchausen research.”

 

Guy’s eyes suddenly widened and he grew extremely pale.

“Look.” He hissed and pointed at the wall. There, in big black letters a message was being spelled out.

 

He didn’t kill me. I am sorry. Please forgive me.

 

Dr. Weiss took a deep breath.

 

“Your husband?”

 

Yes.

 

“Joanna. I will try to make sure your husband’s name is cleared. ” He said loudly. “Although nothing can justify what you did to your daughter…You were very ill. You are forgiven.”

 

There was a shift in the air and Guy let out a small yelp; next to him stood a little girl. Her long blond hair hung loosely around her angelic face.

 

“Hello.” She said and smiled.

 

“…Hello.” Guy stuttered out.

 

“Oh, sweet heavens.” Dr. Weiss breathed. “Evangeline.”

She waved to the doctor.

 

“Mummy is gone now.” She bit her lip. “I think she’s happier now. She was never happy with me, I think.” She pouted. “She broke my dollhouse.”

 

“We saw that.” Will said, feeling very weirded out by the whole situation. “I’m sorry.”

 

Evangeline shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe I shouldn’t stay here.”

 

“I think that it would be best for you to move on, Evangeline.” Dr. Weiss said. “You’ve been here for an awfully long time now.”

 

“I really miss daddy.”

 

“He probably misses you too.” Chris said.

 

Evangeline nodded and frowned.

“I don’t know how to find him.”

 

“Maybe you have something to do before you go, and that’s why you don’t know?”

 

She lay down on the floor and looked up at the painted ceiling.

“I...” She lit up. “Oh, oh! I know, I know!” She jumped up and did a little dance. “Your friend.”

 

“What about him?” Chris said.

 

“Is he your boyfriend?” She laughed.

 

“Yes. He is.”

 

She laughed again. “But he’s a boy!”

 

“You’re right, he is. And I love him very much.”

 

“Oh, well that’s alright then.”

 

“Do you think you know how to wake him up?” Chris crouched down in front of the girl.

 

“Yes.” She smiled and started to hum to herself.

 

Chris looked from side to side and raised an eyebrow.

 

“Could you maybe do it?”

 

“Sure!”

 

She ran over to the side of the bed and climbed up next to Jonny. She blew on his eyes and lay down next to him. She looked up at the ceiling.

 

“Wow.” She smiled. “It’s like the sun.”

 

“What is?” Dr. Weiss asked.

 

“I think I’m going now.” She nodded to herself. “Bye, bye everybody!” She slowly faded away, her laughter ringing in their ears.

 

“Wait!” Chris exclaimed. “What about-“

 

“Ugh, my head…” Jonny mumbled from the bed.

 

“Jonny!” Chris laughed and hugged him tightly. “I was so worried!” He kissed him fiercly. “Never leave me again.”

 

“What are you talking about?” Jonny frowned. “I just went to bed.”

 

“Well, it seems like you don’t need me anymore.” Dr. Weiss shook hands and bid his farewell. “It was very nice to meet you all, thank you for your help.” He left quietly, not wanting to disturb the happy reunion.

 

“And who was that?” Jonny asked, perplexed, being engulfed in a hug by Will.

 

“We’ll tell you all about it over breakfast.” Will said and patted him on the back.

 

“Hey, move over!” Guy said. “I want to hug him too!”

 

“He’s my boyfriend!” Chris protested. “I should hug him!”

 

“You already did!”

 

“But being the boyfriend should entitle me to a few more.”

 

“Oh, please.” Guy said.

 

“Ehm, Chris?” Jonny asked from Will’s embrace. “Did you tell them about us?”

 

“Oh.” Chris waved him off. “They already knew.”

 

“They did?!” Jonny sighed.

 

“Yeah!” Chris nodded happily. “Apparently our love is very obvious.” He smiled warmly at Jonny as Guy wrestled Will off Jonny to get a hug of his own.

 

“The sky being blue is less obvious than you two being all in love.” Will grumpily commented from the floor.

 

Chris helped him up.

 

“It’s good to be all of us again.” Will sighed. “I missed it, even if it was for a little while.”

 

“Agreed.” Chris said and turned to Guy and cracked his fingers. “Now, I think it’s my turn to hug Jonny.”

 

 

 

 

That was the last chapter, folks! There will be an epilogue :nice:

 

Bury My Lovely

 

Epilogue

 

 

Their bags were all packed; they had found all of Jonny’s things in the locked room upstairs.

 

Jonny still couldn’t believe that he had gone missing and Chris wouldn’t leave his side.

 

They all stood in the big entryway, and looked around the old manor.

“Well…” Will began as he picked up his bags. “So long, house. Good riddance.”

 

Guy didn’t say a thing. He took a deep breath and picked up his things. He almost bolted out the door.

 

“Well, Jonny.” Chris began and grasped Jonny’s hand.

 

“Yes?”

 

“I can’t really feel bad about this place.”

 

“Oh, really?”

 

“Yeah. I mean… I got you here.”

 

Jonny smiled a brilliant smile.

“You’re right about that.” He put his head behind Chris’ head and pulled him in for a kiss that left Chris breathless.

 

“Wow.“

 

“Come, on Chrissy-boy.” He kissed their intertwined hands. “Let’s go home.”

 

Will poked his head in.

 

“Could you lovebirds pick up the pace? Guy’s about to have an emotional breakdown.”

 

They stifled their laughter. “Sure.”

 

They managed to get all of their things out into the car, only stopping to kiss once.

 

Chris was the last one to get into the car, and he turned around to look at the manor one last time.

 

There was a tall figure standing in one of the windows.

 

Chris paled and quickly got into the car.

 

“Go!” He hissed.

 

“What?” Will asked, perplexed.

 

“Just…” Chris swallowed. “Just get us out of here.”

 

Will shrugged and quickly turned the car around and drove away from the manor.

 

Chris snuggled up to Jonny, who already was feeling a bit car sick.

“Just close your eyes.” He whispered to Jonny and kissed his neck. “We’ll be home in jiffy.”

 

“Hey!” Guy said, feeling better as they left the manor further behind them. “No hanky-panky in the back seat, please.”

 

“What, you mean like this?”

 

Chris boldly lay down on top of Jonny and gave him a wet, sloppy kiss. Guy moaned and covered his eyes.

 

“Make them stop, Will!”

 

“Yeah, you guys… Get a room.” Will shook his head, but a small smile was playing on his lips.

 

“Oh, yeah!” Chris suddenly exclaimed, breaking his liplock with Jonny. “I just remembered.” He tapped Will on the shoulder. “Stop the car, please.”

 

Will, not having the energy to argue, pulled over at the side of the road. Chris ran back to the trunk and got his guitar out.

 

“You’re not having that in the backseat.” Will said.

 

“I am.”

 

Will sighed. “Fine.”

 

“I’ve written a song!” He happily declared, once they were on the road again.

 

“You’ve wr-“ Guy sighed. “When the hell have you had time for that?”

 

“It’s all in here, my dear friend.” Chris said and tapped the side of his head.

 

“Go ahead, then.” Jonny encouraged him. “Let’s hear it.”

 

Chris strummed out a few chords. And stopped.

 

“This should probably be piano, but you get the picture.”

 

“Yes. Play, please.” Will said.

 

And so Chris played, and sang as they drove away. The sun shone from a clear blue sky over the bright green rolling hills of the English countryside. The old manor stood proudly overlooking the hills, a winding road leading up to its huge double doors. The doors slammed open, and they stood swaying in the slight breeze.

 

Certain things have a tendency to not let go.

 

 

 

 

That's it, folks! Thank you so much for reading and appreciating it! Here is the song that inspired this fic. It's called Bury My Lovely and it's by one of my favourite bands called October Project.

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coEOuiuBO-Y]Bury My Lovely[/ame]

 

 

 

 

Alright, peeps. Here comes another story. I took the liberty of borrowing a name for this one! :kiss: I hope you'll like it, Thalia! :heart: And I hope the rest of you will too, I really like this story myself. :nice: On with the tale! (Don't worry, the boys will appear soon enough! :))

 

 

 

 

1.

 

The rain had finally stopped pouring down over the town and a gray haze now lay over the rooftops and the nearby woods. Residents stayed inside in front of their fireplaces and deep mugs of tea.

 

Everyone but Thalia and Nelson.

 

The gravel was crunching under Thalia’s green rubber boots. Her long brown hair stuck out from under a white wool hat and her breath came out in small clouds of smoke. It smelled of rain and moss from the dark forest that lined the little dirt road which she was pulled down by Nelson.

Nelson was a large black dog that she, with nothing better to do, took out on walks when her elderly neighbor went out of town.

 

The only problem was that Nelson knew exactly who it was who decided - and it was not Thalia.

And that was why Thalia now found herself being dragged between trees, pine boughs whipping her in the face.

 

"Nelson!" She screamed in vain "Stop! Stop right this instant!" She put down her heels in the ground "Stupid do-"

 

She didn’t manage to get any further before the wet moss made itself known, and she slipped.

She swore loudly and was just able to get up to see a black shadow disappearing between the trees, leash flying behind him.

 

"No, no, no! Come back! Nelson! "Thalia started to run after the dog, but it was growing dark, and Nelson was too fast.

 

Soon she found herself in the middle of the dark woods, with neither Nelson or gravel road in sight.

 

"Nelson?" She cajoled. "I have candy for you!"

 

She sighed heavily, as all she got as answer was the murmur of the cold November wind between the creaking tree trunks.

 

Suddenly she was startled. There was something else that could be heard over the wind.

Somewhere between the trees, in the middle of the woods, rang a bell.

 

Thalia was not very curious by nature, so she could not quite understand what caused her to sharpen her ears to hear more of the ringing. She wandered further into the deep woods, the wet moss splashing under her feet.

 

The bell rang again and Thalia stopped. She was surprised when the clear sound was followed by another much different one. It was a warm sound of hundred speaking voices that swarmed somewhere deep in the forest. There was also a faint sound of strings.

 

Thalia swallowed, gathered new courage, and continued walking. She ducked under one branch, but got something else in the face instead. She winced and took a step back. Above her on the branch hung a pair of bronze-colored theater binoculars in a long chain.

 

She frowned and pulled it gently from the tree. They were cold in her hand.

 

She looked around in confusion - a desperate attempt to find the owner of the beautiful glasses. She shook her head at himself and laughed a bit.

 

Then she heard a dog over the multitude of voices. "Nelson?!" She shouted and ran as best she could between the trunks.

 

She followed Nelson’s barks as long as she could, until she was standing right in front of a high cliff, the multitude of voices were stronger than ever now, and she looked around while she tried to catch her breath.

 

"What is that noise?" She muttered to herself and looked up at the gray sky.

There, high on a rock sat a black shadow.

 

"Nelson, come down!" She squinted. "Nelson, is that you?" She took up theater binoculars from her pocket and held it up against her eyes to see a bit clearer.

 

She gasped. Through the binoculars' lens, she saw something other than Nelson at the top of the cliff.

On the rock wall in front of her towered a large red wooden door.

 

She pulled the binoculars from her eyes and furrowed her brow in surprise. The door was nowhere to be seen. She looked down at the little bronze thing in her hand and slowly brought it back up towards her eyes.

 

The red pair of doors was once again visible on the rock wall.

"What the ..." she muttered and slowly walked towards the rock wall, the binoculars in front of her eyes. A murmur of voices was heard through the doors.

 

She reached out a trembling hand towards one of the gold-colored door handles, took a deep breath and pressed it down.

 

The grand door slid open with a faint creaking. Behind it was a large hall. Hundreds of odd, empty seats with worn velvet cushions were lined up in front of a large blood-red curtain. The murmur of voices was strong, but Thalia found herself alone in the hall. She took the binoculars from her eyes. The room seemed to remain in front of her but it remained visibly empty.

 

She gasped in shock and really felt the need to sit down. She turned around, only to see that the world behind her had faded to weak silhouettes and a thick fog was seeping through the door.

 

The door slammed closed by a sudden gust of wind and Thalia threw herself on the handle. It dissolved to dust in her hands. She stood and stared helplessly at the door.

 

"I'm sorry, madam, but you must see the show before you go."

A dry voice was heard at her side and she tore her eyes from the door.

 

Before her stood an old man with a crooked nose and coal-black eyes. He smiled a broad smile, one which Thalia did not perceive to be entirely friendly.

 

"Well? Does the lady have a ticket? "

 

As she slowly shook her head he knocked with a gnarled finger at a small bronze placard that hung around his neck. There it was messily written;

Usher

Today's ticket price is three locks of hair.

 

He smiled again.

"I am, quite understandably, Usher. Would the miss like to buy a ticket? "

 

He leaned forward towards her, and Thalia felt a faint smell of rotting apples.

 

"I have to ask, but the reality is that you actually have no choice, you have come too far not to buy a ticket."

Before she knew it he had, surprisingly fast for such an old man, produced a small pair of green scissors and cut off three locks of her hair. She opened her mouth to protest.

 

"Sch, sch, little lady. Calm down. The actors must of course have new wigs. "

 

He rubbed her cut hair between his fingers and sighed dreamily. "Human hair. Yes... "

He handed her a small bronze coin.

 

"Ticket." Usher explained. "Now, then. If the lady comes with me, we'll see. You are the last, and we are a bit late. The second ring was long ago!”

 

He turned around and Thalia twitched. On the back of his head was another face. It was now the rear mouth that was chatting with her when she hesitantly followed the old man. His anterior mouth spoke with someone she could not see.

 

She soon became pushed down into a large gold-painted wooden chair. The paint was worn and a bright red color was visible under the chipped gold.

 

"You were a little late, so unfortunately there are no better seats than this."

Thalia looked around the empty hall. "But ..." she began.

 

"Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do, miss, the show is about to begin."

 

He quickly slipped away between the rows and Thalia did not dare to do anything but to sit still. She pulled her hand through her long hair. Nothing appeared to be missing. She wrinkled her eyebrows.

 

The voices around her began to die out and the lights, thousands of them which sat in massive chandeliers in the ceiling, did the same.

 

Everything was silent as the grave.

 

The curtain went up.

 

 

 

 

Part One

 

 

 

If asked just how he knew that it was finally the right time, Chris wouldn't have been able to answer. It was just this gut feeling he had that told him... well, tell him. There's no time like the present.

 

So with trembling hands he tapped Jonny's shoulder and prepared himself. Jonny spun around with an expectant and polite smile, waiting for Chris to speak.

 

There was some odd force that pulled Chris's eyes to the side. In the corner of the room stood Guy and Phil, engaged in some sort of conversation. And suddenly the will to confess died down and Chris had to search for something new to say.

 

“Chris?” Jonny calmly said. Chris snapped his view back to Jonny and struggled.

 

“Oh, uh... the, uh... well, I guess it's not that important if I can't remember,” Chris awkwardly laughed. Jonny smiled, patted Chris on the arm, then walked away. Chris was left with a sinking feeling in his heart as he watched Jonny's figure disappear through the doorway and into the giant backstage area.

 

As Jonny rounded the corner, his heart sank a little, too. He had seen the look on Chris's face when he turned around, and had hoped that it was finally happening. His dreams were finally coming true.

 

But as that wasn't the case, he needed to stalk off to console himself. Perhaps a walk to clear his mind.

 

Then somewhere along the way his mind cleared itself of everything but Chris. Chris, and Chris's bright eyes, and Chris's adorable curls, and Chris's clumsy sense of balance, and Chris's homeless sense of fashion, and Chris's illegibly messy handwriting, and Chris's contagious laughter, and Chris's enormous smile, and Chris's soothing voice, and Chris's general loveliness.

 

Jonny nearly walked himself right into an open door because he wasn't paying any attention to the real world. He caught himself just in time and froze nearly an inch away, the doorknob just barely brushing against his jacket.

 

“Oh, sorry about that, mate!” Phil called as he shut the door behind him. “I didn't realize you'd be there.”

 

“No, it's OK,” Jonny said, this feeling of shame abruptly waving over him. “I should have been watching where I was going.”

 

“Well, maybe we should both be more careful in the future,” Phil said, and Jonny agreed. Then they both went their separate ways, and Jonny tried to clear his head again.

 

But no, there was Chris once more, laughing away with that beautiful laugh of his. It took Jonny a fraction of a second to realize that he wasn't imagining it, and that Chris was actually laughing beside him. Jonny looked at Chris then turned to see where Chris's focus was being held.

 

Standing not too far away, with his arms open in shock, his torso covered in some sort of dark red liquid, was Will. Next to him, with the same shock spread over his face, a nearly empty glass of wine in his hand, was Guy.

 

“Oops,” Guy silently mouthed as he looked at the mess he'd created. Will tried his hardest not to look absolutely pissed, but he basically failed at that. He was clearly fuming, flaring his nostrils like some sort of dragon. In fact, Guy even thought he saw some smoke emanate from Will.

 

Chris turned his smile to Jonny and said, “Bad luck, eh? I certainly don't envy Guy right now.”

 

“Nor do I,” Jonny quietly replied.

 

Jonny and Chris remained locked in eye contact, and Jonny noticed that look on Chris's face again. The one that gave Jonny all the hope in the world for the future, and also threatened to kill him at the same time.

 

Jonny thought he saw the words form on Chris's lips, just about to slip past his vocal chords as the door opened and interrupted the entire room.

 

“Boys, you're on in a few- oh, Will,” Phil moaned. “What happened?”

 

“Guy happened,” Will said, pointing angrily at the man next to him. “Why the hell do you even have that, anyway, Guy?”

 

“I was thirsty,” Guy said in a small voice. Will blinked at him a few times before raising his voice.

 

“There are water bottles right over there!” Will yelled, flinging his arm around and almost knocking the glass entirely out of Guy's hand. “You know what? It's over now. What's done is done.”

 

“Yeah,” Phil agreed, “you don't have time to argue. Will, you better go change now or you're going to have to perform shirtless.”

 

“Oh, everyone would love that.”

 

As he left, Will attempted to dry the shirt a little with his hands, though he knew it was no use. Guy, in his ashamed way, set the glass down on the nearest table and made his way over to Chris and Jonny.

 

“Well, that was awful,” Guy obviously said.

 

“Listen, mate,” Chris began, “I get yelled at by Will more than anyone else, and trust me, after a while you get used to it.” Then Chris turned to Jonny, even though he was continuing his speech to Guy. “Although it is still kinda scary.”

 

“I'd imagine,” Guy replied, and Chris immediately looked back at him, though it seemed like he was abruptly being pulled out of some dream world. “I guess I should be more careful.”

 

“That's probably a good idea,” Chris agreed. “What do you think, Jon?”

 

Jonny's heart skipped a beat at the sound of Chris saying his name, and he had to really think hard for a response to the question he was only vaguely aware of. “Uh... yeah.”

 

It was halfhearted and so fake, but Jonny just had to roll with it. Guy bought it, but Chris's lingering stare suggested otherwise. “I think we should probably go out there, we're gonna be on soon,” Guy said.

 

Chris jumped in his spot and began to rub his hands together. “This is gonna be a great show, I can feel it.” He led the others out the door, but once they were in the giant area he let Guy pass him and paused for Jonny. Jonny tried to walk on as normally as he could, but was surprised to find that Chris had taken the liberty of linking their arms together.

 

“Chris, are you feeling OK?” Jonny laughed, trying to keep his cool.

 

“Ah, Jonny, I am feeling brilliant,” Chris beamed, his eyes wide with excitement. “I don't know what it is, but it's like... tonight, something magical is gonna happen.”

 

“If you say so.”

 

“Come on, J, get in the spirit!” Chris tugged at Jonny's arm, and consequently his heartstrings. “Are you gonna rock out tonight?”

 

“Of course,” Jonny energetically said, giving in to Chris's peer pressure. Chris smiled widely at him, then drifted off into his imagination.

 

“I wish I could do a back-flip. Wouldn't that be cool?”

 

“It would be cool, but you'd probably break your neck.”

 

“And then you'd have to spoon feed me.” Jonny questioningly narrowed his eyes at the crazy mass of energy beside him.

 

“Are you sure you're feeling OK?” Chris simply laughed as they walked up to Phil and Guy, where they were also rejoined by Will, decked out in a nice clean and wine-free shirt. Chris let his arm slide away from Jonny's, but he still stood very close.

 

“The crowd is bonkers already,” Phil said to them. “I think you guys are in for a good one.”

 

“Great one,” Chris corrected. His eyes sparkled like the sparklers they carried out onstage, except they weren't as violent and potentially harmful.

 

Luckily neither the sparklers or the lunatic 33-year-old man caused any damage as the quartet made their grand entrance. The vibe from the crowd was overly intoxicating, and as he slammed down the riffs in Violet Hill, Jonny couldn't help feeling that Chris was right- something magical was going to happen.

 

But this feeling occurred rather often, and while each time the night was magical, it was never as magical as Jonny would have hoped. This night he tried to lower his expectations, which was very hard to do and he needed to remind himself over and over, especially after each time Chris glanced in his direction.

 

The heart-racing finale to In My Place once again killed Jonny, what with Chris slinging his arm around Jonny's shoulder, and bending back on the floor farther than should ever be physically possible for any human being. When it came time to help Chris stand back up- even though Jonny was thoroughly convinced that Chris was far from needing his help- Jonny's hand was pouring out sweat at the speed of a bullet, but he assumed that Chris would just think it was the result of performing on a hot night, which was partially true.

 

It seemed like only seconds had passed once Strawberry Swing arrived, though it was certainly a much larger spam of time. Chris had realized about two songs ago what exactly was going to make the night magical- he was going to revive the feeling he had much earlier, and finally tell Jonny that thing that was always eating at him.

 

He walked over to Jonny as usual at the end of the song, and played along for about ten seconds before he leaned in. Jonny was used to this, though of course that did not mean that he wasn't stripped of air because of it. Chris's breathing shook a little as he tried to draw up enough courage to speak, and as he moved to speak into Jonny's ear, he saw a figure waiting on the side of the stage.

 

“Jonny...”

 

Jonny kept playing, trying his hardest to concentrate, but he began to worry a little when Chris didn't say anything else. “...Chris?”

 

Jonny pulled back to look at Chris, but was caught off guard by Chris's sudden movement. A deafening clash sounded throughout the stadium as their guitars smashed together and Chris fell unconscious into Jonny's arms. Several people rushed onstage to where Jonny was hopelessly holding onto Chris. The first person to arrive was Phil, who assisted Jonny in gently lowering Chris to the floor.

 

“What happened?” Phil shouted. Though the music had stopped, the crowd was louder than ever, shouting their worry in a most unhelpful way.

 

“I don't know,” Jonny shouted back, “he just kinda collapsed.”

 

“Maybe he's dehydrated or something.” Phil stood and ran a hand through his hair, while some of the other people around ran off to get some water. “Better hope that's all, anyway.”

 

The show ended, much to everyone's dismay, and Chris was laid down on one of the couches in the dressing rooms. He was given water, and had regained consciousness, but he was very weak and tired.

 

“How are you feeling?” Jonny kindly asked, knelt down beside Chris. Chris tried to open his eyes and sighed.

 

“Tired and lovesick.”

 

“What?” Jonny quietly laughed, though his insides were going crazy trying to think of what Chris meant.

 

“You heard me,” Chris said.

 

“I did... Chris-”

 

“Jonny!” someone called from outside the room. Jonny rolled his eyes, contemplated ignoring whoever was calling him, but eventually decided to temporarily leave Chris.

 

“Yeah?” Jonny started as he walked out the door. He was approached with the image of Phil and some other man in front of him, the other man being someone who Jonny had never once seen before in his life.

 

“Oh, sorry, but this man,” Phil placed his hand on the man's shoulder, “is a doctor. He's gotta examine Chris now, make sure he's OK.”

 

“Right, yeah,” Jonny replied. “Please do.”

 

The doctor, after being shown the door by Phil, left the two to chat while he checked on Chris. But Jonny didn't really feel like talking to Phil, so he just stood there silently and shuffled his feet a bit.

 

“Listen, Jon,” Phil said after a long bout of silence. “We need to have a talk, I think.”

 

“What, all four of us?”

 

“No,” Phil replied, “just you and I.”

 

“Oh. About what?”

 

Phil grabbed Jonny by the shoulder and tried to steer him away from the room. “You see, there's something that I've been noticing these past few weeks... something that I would say is maybe not exactly professional.”

 

“What do you mean?” Jonny asked, totally confused.

 

“Well, it's pretty obvious that you've been... how should I put this?” Phil paused and stopped walking, pretentiously trying to come up with the best possible phrasing. “It seems that you've been harboring some, well, feelings for our Mr. Martin there.”

 

“Feel... You... It's obvious?”

 

“Oh yeah.”

 

“So... do you think Chris already knows?” Jonny nervously asked.

 

“Jonny, I think you're missing the point,” Phil sternly said. “It's just not something that needs to be brought into the workplace, you know? So, if you could try to take it down a notch, or...”

 

“Are you asking me to stop liking him?” Jonny dumbly replied.

 

“More or less.”

 

“But...” Jonny looked over to the door, behind which was the room where Chris was laying. “I don't know if I can do that...”

 

It wasn't really that he didn't know if he could, it was more that he didn't want to. As conflicting as he felt at times, and as much as he liked his heart beating at a steady pace, he had never felt happier than when he was around Chris. To take that away- to even suggest taking that away... it was preposterous.

 

“Unfortunately, you're going to have to try. I know it won't be easy, but trust me,” Phil was starting to sound even more pretentious and fake by the second, “it's what's best for everyone.”

 

Phil gave a wink and walked off, leaving Jonny to feel very confused and saddened. He stood in his spot for a while, pondering what he should do. Meanwhile, the doctor's examination had gone a little off-topic.

 

“It's almost like I can't breathe sometimes, you know?” Chris said.

 

“Oh yes,” the doctor answered, nodding his head, “I know quite well. I had that happen to me once.”

 

“What did you do about it?”

 

“Well, I just hooked myself up to some oxygen, and bam! Problem taken care of.” The doctor laughed at his own joke, then tried to act serious again. “I talked to the girl who made me feel like that. Asked her out. Maybe you should do the same?”

 

“It's a little more complicated for me, I think,” Chris sadly said. “See, 'cause it's not a girl, it's one of my bandmates. I think that makes the situation kinda... messy.”

 

“Ah. It could still work out for you, though.”

 

“I don't know. I mean, I tried twice to tell him today, but both times it was like there was this thing that just stopped me. Well, the first time, I guess I just got scared or something, then the second time I passed out.”

 

“Maybe you should have someone else tell him,” the doctor suggested. “One of your other bandmates, or that Phil guy. He seems nice.”

 

“I could have Phil tell him, yeah,” Chris said, smiling a little. “That's a great idea, thanks!”

 

 

 

2.

 

The mood backstage was as always on top. Chris ran back and forth between the costume department (a vast, underground room that was packed with costumes of all kinds. There was a thunder bird coat, velvet dresses that shimmered in an array of colors and the tiniest golden shoes that wouldn’t fit the pinky of a grown man) and the makeup room where they were putting the finishing touches on the leading roles’ peculiar face paint.

 

Dianna, the theatre makeup artist, shooed Chris out of the room.

 

“Chris, in the name of the Goddess, that’s quite enough! I can’t work like this!”

 

Chris laughed and flicked his curly blond hair. He winked at Dianna.

“Oh, my sweet lady. It’s only a matter of you not being able to concentrate when my magical presence appeals to all your senses.”

 

“Not being able to concentrate, indeed.” She replied grumpily and slammed the door in his face.

 

Chris grinned widely as he turned around and sauntered towards the stage. He was, after all, the show’s star and had been so for the past 200 years, mark his words.

 

A bit of nag from Dianna, who was very pleasant to spend time with when it wasn’t show day, wouldn’t get his spirits down.

 

He heard a giggling flock elf girls whisper about him and he winked in their direction. They sighed delightedly.

 

"Yes." He said and smiled to himself. "The show tonight will be wonderful."

 

He sat down in a chair that stood in front of a large number of mirrors in a room just behind the stage.

The large bronze bell over the mirror wall rang a muffled tone.

 

"Chris?" Dianna’s voice sounded through the room and he felt a gust of wind when she stepped out of the mirror. "It is time for the mask now."

 

He nodded slowly.

"See you in makeup." She continued, smiling broadly and disappeared into the mirror again.

 

"Damned mirror wanderer." Chris muttered, but he got up and walked down the corridor, whose red-painted stone walls were filled with old posters and candles that lit up the road. The floor was covered with a thick carpet that muffled his steps.

 

Chris stuck his pale, slender hand in the dressing room and Dianna came over to him.

 

"I can’t understand it! Two hundred years, and you still can’t be on time! Unbelievable. "

 

"Let me remind you that you threw me out."

 

"Ssh. Sit in the chair. " Dianna smiled.

 

Chris smiled a content smile and sat down in a large velvet armchair, legs crossed and head held high.

 

"Well, bring on the torture device, then."

 

Dianna smiled a crooked smile and took down a big black hat box from a shelf. Chris swallowed deeply when he heard the faint rustle of velvet being moved from metal.

 

Dianna’s voice was weak in his ear. "Ready?"

 

Chris nodded and looked with shining, unseeing eyes into the large silver mirror that was Dianna’s pride and joy.

 

"I'm ready to see the night again." He smiled. "And other beautiful things.”

 

She rolled his eyes but laughed a little.

"It’s time."

 

Dianna carefully put the cold metal mask over Chris’ eyes and pressed a red jewel that sat on the side of the mask.

 

Thousands of hair-thin silver wires protruded from the inside of the mask and crept under Chris’ pale skin. He convulsively gripped the chair's armrest and Dianna saw drops of sweat run down his neck.

She put her hand on his shoulder and Chris nodded.

 

Dianna left the room and soon returned with a glass with a gold-colored liquid in. She sat down next to Chris, who hung his head, and waited for the mask to work its painful magic and give him back his sight.

 

She touched his shoulder again after a few minutes and he looked up.

"Thank you."

 

Dianna smiled warmly and handed him the glass.

"Drink this now. You have get up on stage in a little while."

 

He blinked a bit in the bright light from the vanity mirror.

 

"Do you want me to put it out?" Dianna reached for the light switch.

 

"No, no ... I have to get used to it. Could you…” He paused. “Could you maybe get Jonny for me?”

 

Dianna nodded and left the room and Chris discovered that he, as usual, actually became incredibly happy to see her long, blond hair and warm smile again.

 

He stood up and eyed the new clothes that the seamstress had completed for him the same day. It was a job well done. The midnight blue jacket soldier was glued to his body and the brass clasps shone.

He raised his eyes and looked at his face. Half his face was covered by a silvery, jewel-studded mask. The only thing visible behind the mask was his eyes they were usually blue, but now they were almost black in the shadow of the mask.

 

He squinted at himself.

"Well, old friend, so we meet again tonight."

 

He reached for a brush and pulled it through his hair. He winced when he touched the mask.

"Is it bad tonight?” Jonny asked, suddenly appearing in the doorway.

 

"No, no worse than usual, I guess." He sighed and turned toward him. “It’s better now that you’re here.” He smiled warmly and stood up to greet him.

They embraced. “Hello.”

 

“Oh, Jon.” Chris sighed. “Let me look at you.” He caressed Jonny’s cheek. “This is the highlight of my evening.”

 

“It will get better.” Jonny sheepishly said and blushed.

 

“You’re right.” Chris said under his breath and pressed his lips to Jonny’s. “It will.” His eyes shone mischievously behind the mask. “I hope you’ll be waiting for me when I get off stage.”

 

“I just have to put away the instruments." He smiled. “Then I’ll be in your dressing room.”

 

“Oh, I can’t wait.” He pressed his lips to Jonny’s once more but drew back hissing as the mask pressed against his face.

 

“You’re hurting!” Jonny exclaimed worriedly and grasped Chris’ hands. “Are you alright, love?”

 

Chris blinked away his tears. He put on a big smile. "No sour faces, Jon. It’s showtime. "

 

With that he nodded thoughtfully, hugged Jonny tightly and left the makeup room, leaving Jonny to lovingly look after him.

 

-*-

 

Chris finally made his way up to behind the main stage. He heard the third bell, which signalled that the actors would take place on stage and he quickly ran up to the middle of the stage.

He heard the giggles that followed his sprint out on stage die out, and then the audience murmurs did the same. All was quiet.

 

Chris stared down at the floor and put his hand on his chest.

 

The curtain went up.

 

 

Far From Easy

 

 

 

Chris leaned against Jonny for support as he opened his mouth to a perfect 'O' shape and scraped at the side of his lips. Of course, he only did this because it meant he got to touch Jonny. It's not like he needed the support. He wasn't gonna fall over because he opened his mouth.

 

Jonny was standing innocently when he felt the pressure of Chris's elbow digging into his shoulder. It was something he was used to, the physical pain of Chris's boniness, but the shivers sent down his spine as a result still took some getting used to. After all, it's not like he'd been feeling this way ever since he first met Chris.

Chris quickly removed his arm to not seem too suspicious. But it was no accident that his hand brushed against Jonny's as he rested his arm at his side. He looked down briefly as if to make sure that it happened, then glanced at Jonny to find some sort of reaction. He didn't find anything but a handsome young man staring into the distance.

Jonny kept his eyes ahead to hide whatever was leaking through them. He knew well enough by now that it was almost impossible to keep his secret buried safely inside, especially with Chris always bumping into him. He both relished and detested Chris's apparent clumsiness. If only he'd intentionally brush his hand against Jonny's.

Chris thought about forgetting the rest of the world and just telling Jonny how he felt. He thought about reaching out and softly stroking Jonny's cheek as gorgeous green eyes pierced through him and made him bleed love. And Jonny could be the healer and give some of his own lovely blood to supplement that which Chris had lost. Then Jonny would always be a part of him.

Jonny wished Chris would stop staring at him. Not only because it made him a little uncomfortable and less able to hide his secret, but also because it meant he couldn't stare at Chris. He dared to turn his head anyway, just to catch a glimpse of those stunning blue eyes that had first captivated him so long ago. It was almost too long ago- too long being in love without any hope of the feeling being returned.

 

Chris turned away as Jonny looked at him. It was more of a reflex than a true desire to lower suspicions. He knew Jonny was aware of the staring. He slowly slid his eyes back to where Jonny's were watching over him, and that's when he began to wonder- what else was Jonny aware of?

Jonny noticed a change in Chris when he looked back. No longer was there the twinkle that always made his heart flutter, no longer was there a sense of infinite happiness and wonder at the world behind the bright blue eyes. Now there was only a sad pain. It reached out to Jonny and screamed HELP ME.

“What's wrong?”

 

“Nothing's wrong.”

 

“Are you sure?”

 

“I'm sure. Everything's right.” Chris winced a little as he spoke. “The world is how it's supposed to be.”

 

Chris turned away and stared sadly at the ground. He wondered if Jonny believed anything he said.

 

“No.” Chris went to turn his head, but his shoulders were already being grabbed by Jonny. “No, tell me that's not true.”

 

“Tell you what?”

 

“ 'The world is how it's supposed to be'... Tell me that's not true.”

 

“Why would I tell you it's not true?”

 

“It can't be true, you can't believe it!” Jonny cried.

 

“Why can't I believe it?”

 

“Because it's not true... right?”

 

“But it is true... How can the world be anything else other than what it's supposed to be?”

 

“But if it's true, then...”

Jonny gave up and dropped his arms to his side. Chris was right; they were only meant to be friends, and for now that would have to be good enough.

 

 

 

3.

 

Thalia had never seen anyone capture an audience like he did. Or, lack of an audience. She could practically feel hundreds of eyes focus on his shape in the middle of the stage.

 

Hundreds of souls held their breath.

 

His voice was soft but still rang out strong and clear into the big hall. She was enthralled and found herself wishing she could see his eyes. There was nothing visible behind the silver mask he wore as it was all hidden in shadow.

 

Instead of eyes, he seemed to have a pair of glittering pieces of coal that watched the audience proudly.

Thalia was so taken aback by his presence that she hadn’t paid attention to what was happening on stage.

 

“Ladies and gentlemen…” He began “Especially all you lovely ladies.” There was laughter in the hall.

 

He continued. “I am much honoured to have all of you here tonight. Tonight is the night, my dear people. The night you’ll never forget, for as long as you breathe.”

 

He waved with his hand and pulled a silver cane from the air. He leaned on it with both hands and smiled a wide smile, white teeth glistening. He had a small gap between his front teeth. He shook his head slightly.

 

“Let the show begin!”

 

He walked backwards and Thalia could swear he was looking straight at her. He disappeared into a milky fog that had floated in on stage. Somewhere, in the distance, there was a sound of a slightly out of tune piano. It was a strange melody.

 

Thalia had to laugh quietly at the absurd situation she had stumbled into. She pinched her arm and was very surprised to find out that it hurt.

 

The fog now floated into the audience, and she could suddenly see faint silhouettes situated in the chairs.

 

The man on the stage had entirely disappeared into the fog and in his stead there was a twinkling light. It looked very far away.

 

The piano was now accompanied by a series of bells and chimes. It sounded so out of worldly that Thalia’s eyes watered.

 

The music increased in volume and several other instruments joined in. A faint noise was heard in the background. It almost sounded like waves.

 

Thalia kept her eyes fixated on the stage. The twinkling light moved closer and closer. A sudden gust of wind blew against her face and the fog floated away in front of her eyes.

She lost her breath.

 

-*-

 

Chris smiled at his audience as he leaned on his cane. This was where he belonged. He always felt most at home when he was performing, hundreds of eyes watching him. Well, it was either on stage or in Jonny’s arms. He slightly shook his head. Such thoughts were not for now. He felt his heart flutter.

 

“Let the show begin!”

 

An empty golden chair caught his eye as he walked back into the fog. He tilted his head. They were always sold out. He made a mental note to ask Usher about it later.

 

Chris felt the cool mist engulf him as he slowly backed into the wings. He looked up at the technicians and smiled as they were getting ready with the wind. They had done this so many times now. He caught sight of Jonny far away in the left wing where he ran around between instruments, tapping them to get them to start playing. Jonny felt that someone was watching him and looked up to meet Chris’ gaze.

 

He gave a little wave, but soon had to return to his work.

 

Chris sighed happily and bounced a little where he stood.

 

He watched the stage transform in front of his eyes and he grinned widely as a collective gasp was heard from the audience.

 

He walked back out on stage.

 

-*-

 

The tale that unfolded in front of Thalia’s eyes was the most magical thing she had ever laid eyes upon. She was in such a state of shock that she couldn’t follow the plot at all. All she was able to take in was a huge golden ship that floated upon waves of sapphire; there was a pirate queen decked out all in rubies, a very beautiful damsel in distress and a hero.

 

And that man with the silver mask was the narrator, singing in a low, soft voice that made the hair on Thalia’s neck stand up. He climbed around the stage like some sort of mad man, and she feared for his safety on several occasions.

 

The story was over as fast as it had begun, and Thalia was shocked to see that there was now a perfectly visible audience around her, giving the cast a standing ovation and applauding until their hands hurt. Thalia saw very strange creatures in the audience and felt the need to sit down and close her eyes for second.

 

She did not do so, however, as the cast now came out on stage and took a bow, waving their farewells. The man in the silver mask didn’t stand in the middle like she thought he might, but he stood off to the left, keeping his arm wrapped around some sort of musician with a very sweet face. They smiled at each-other and the man in the mask gave the other man a peck on the cheek before walking away into the middle as the crowd began chanting his name.

 

Chris.

 

An ordinary name for an extraordinary man. Thalia thought to herself.

 

The Chris who wasn’t performing seemed to be another man entirely; he didn’t carry himself with as much grace as he had before, but was jumping around and smiling widely, like some sort of excited puppy. Thalia found the transition somehow fitting.

 

The cast and crew soon retreated from the stage and the audience began to pile out of the grand hall, chattering as they went.

 

Thalia, finding herself without any options, followed the big crowd out of the stone hall and into the sunshine.

 

She did a double take. How long had she been in the theatre for? She blinked and gasped. She stepped out of the stream of people.

 

She stared up against the clear blue sky and the high, towering leafy trees that swayed in the wind. There was a strange glimmer to the leaves. She pinched herself again. Nothing. She pulled off her thick wool sweater, the summer sun making her feel incredibly hot. She dumbly sat down on the soft grass. There were butterflies swarming everywhere, and blackbirds sang strange melodies as they sat perched among hundreds of rose bushes. The smell was intoxicating.

 

Thalia couldn’t believe her eyes. She did the only thing she could do. She panicked.

She elbowed her way through the crowd and into the great hall again. She pressed herself up against the wall and began to search for an alternative door. She found none.

 

She grabbed onto a small man’s coat. “Excuse me, sir, where is the door to Old Forest?”

 

“Ouy dnatsrednu t’nod I.” He answered and shooed her away, checking his pocket watch.

 

“Shit, shit, shit.” She mumbled to herself and scanned the room in hope to find the strange man who had shown her to her place.

 

He was nowhere to be found.

 

She tried to grab onto more people but she was ignored. She tiredly went back to her seat, where she had left her coat and hat and sat down, waiting for all the strange people to leave the room.

 

They had soon all disappeared, leaving her alone in the great hall. Someone, or something, was flying up among the chandeliers, blowing out the candles. Soon it would be pitch black in the hall.

Thalia stood up and grabbed her things. She had a small argument with herself but soon made a decision. She determinedly walked over to the red velvet curtain and grabbed the end of it. She looked over her shoulder.

 

She took a deep breath and stepped in behind the curtain.

 

 

 

Part Two

 

 

“You had something you wanted to ask me?” Phil began as he walked over to the couch. Chris was sitting upright now, feeling a thousand times better than earlier.

 

“Yeah, I was wondering if you'd do me a favor,” Chris replied, motioning for Phil to sit next to him.

 

“What sort of favor?”

 

“Well, I guess it's kinda awkward to ask, but...” Chris paused, then quickly jumped up and ran across the room. For several minutes he dug through various bits of paper until he found a scrap suitable to use for his purposes. Then he took another minute searching for a pen, with which he used to write a rather long note.

 

Phil just sat and waited for Chris's crazy shenanigans to be over with, and in his impatience he checked his watch several times within one thirty-second period. Chris finally sat back down a few minutes later and immediately handed the now folded paper to Phil.

 

“OK, I need you to give this to Jonny for me.” Chris smiled like he always did, trying to hide his actual nervousness. He most definitely realized that once the paper was in Phil's hands, and once he had asked the favor of Phil, there was no going back. “Can you do that?”

 

“Yeah, man, of course,” Phil happily replied, not even daring to ask what the note said. “I'll go do it right now, if you want.”

 

“Uh, sure.”

 

Phil politely smiled at Chris, then left to deliver the note. Chris folded his hands in his lap and tried to calm his nerves. It felt like a million bouncy balls were flinging themselves against the lining of his stomach until it eroded into nothing. Then they were just bouncing around his entire body.

 

Jonny was just chilling outside, accompanying Guy while he smoked. Phil peeked his head around the corner and greeted them both.

 

“Jonny, I need to speak to you again, if that's all right,” Phil discreetly said. Jonny quickly glanced at Guy, then nodded.

 

“OK,” he replied, then was led by Phil to a more private location a few feet away.

 

“Have you given thought to what I said earlier?”

 

Jonny's heart sank again as he was forced to remember what Phil had told him. Not that he had forgotten about it since then, though. “I'm sorry, Phil,” he genuinely began, “I really just can not do it.”

 

“I don't think you can really determine that since it's only been about an hour. I think you need more time... Just try. I'm sure you can do it if you set your mind to it.”

 

“Do I really have to? I mean, if I just, you know, don't act on it, then it's not bothering anyone, right?” Jonny asked with hopeful eyes. Phil, unfortunately, shook his head, and Jonny frowned.

 

“Listen, Jonny, whether or not you think it's affecting the group, it is. And even if it's unintentional. Sometimes even just one smile left for a second too long can make everyone feel uncomfortable.” Phil placed a hand on Jonny's shoulders and locked their eyes together. “Do you really want to make everyone feel uncomfortable, Jonny?”

 

“What if I can't?” Jonny replied in a near-whisper. “What if I can't stop liking him?”

 

“If you can't do it on your own, then... well, we might need to take some more drastic measures. But all I'm asking right now is that you at least try. OK?”

 

It took all his strength to do so, but Jonny reluctantly nodded, extracting a consequential smile from Phil's pompous face. “I'll try.”

 

“You're a good man, you know that? A good man.” Phil shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans as he walked away. Once he was far enough from Jonny and Guy, he pulled out the paper Chris had given to him. He flicked the corner of it a few times, contemplating what to do with it. He thought about ripping it up, but was afraid that someone might find it and piece it back together again. He thought about burning it, but realized that the smell would probably attract the attention of other people, and he didn't want to have to explain himself. So instead, he chose the only option he felt was available- he forced the paper into his digestive system.

 

The worst part was probably the taste, as the ink was rather nasty. But Phil didn't care, he just needed to get rid of the evidence. He eventually did, and decided afterward that he needed a nice glass of water to wash it down. Of course, the only refreshments were in the dressing room, and Phil knew he was going to run into Chris again. That was all right, though, because Phil was prepared. Whatever Chris decided to interrogate him with, he was going to be able to answer perfectly without faltering even the slightest.

 

Sure enough, as soon as Phil entered the room, Chris jumped up and was at his side in an instant. “Did you do it? What did he say? Did he say anything? Did you stay to watch him read it? Did he tell you to say anything? How'd it go?”

 

“Chris, calm down a bit first, then I'll tell you.”

 

“Oh, right. Sorry.” Chris closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “OK.”

 

Phil watched him for a moment, as if he was skeptical that Chris had actually calmed down, then said, “I gave him the note.”

 

“...And?”

 

“And... well...” Phil twisted his mouth up and slowly shook his head. Chris's face fell as his heart dropped to the floor.

 

“Oh...” he said, tears beginning to well. “Oh... Right... Um,” his voice was shaking now, “could you excuse me for a minute?” He buried his head in his hands and whisked away into some other room. Phil got himself a glass of water and gulped it down as quickly as he could. It was hardly enough, though, and he found himself pouring a second glass as soon as the first was gone. As he did so, he heard muffled sobs wave through the walls.

 

“Fucking pansy,” Phil muttered to himself. He threw down the second glass of water, which helped a lot more than the first. Then he left the room, feeling rather accomplished and proud of himself.

 

He passed by Jonny and Guy- who were headed towards the dressing room- gave a friendly wave, and continued on to where his car was. He was a little tired now, and he felt that he deserved a rest after all the hard work he'd done.

 

When Jonny and Guy finally arrived in the dressing room, Chris's sobs had grown even louder. Jonny and Guy exchanged glances, and Jonny knew that he'd be the one who would have to console Chris. But he was more than OK with that.

 

He lightly pressed open the door of the room Chris was in. Most of the lights were off, save for one small lamp in the corner. Buried underneath its dim light was Chris, curled up in a ball with a picture frame in his hand.

 

His tears splashed onto the glass front, and he could hear footsteps approaching. He didn't bother to move or acknowledge the guest, though. He just continued to stare at the picture.

 

“Hey, Chris,” Jonny quietly said. He sounded apprehensive, and his actions mimicked the same tone. He carefully stepped over to where Chris was sitting, and looked down at the photo Chris was holding.

 

It was a picture of the two of them, one that had been taken when they were touring in the States. They'd had a few days off when they were staying in New York, and they took the opportunity to visit Niagara Falls. Just the two of them.

 

It had been a lovely day, warm and sunny like one would hope a summer day would be. Guy and Will had decided that they would much rather stay in the city and shop around, so Chris and Jonny went north by themselves. They made sure to take loads of pictures while they were there, but sadly Chris had only brought a disposable camera with them and not a digital. Which was fine at first, and Chris had gone to develop the pictures, which all came out beautifully. Guy suggested that they make some sort of collage out of the pictures, they were just that nice.

 

But something happened to them before that was possible. It seemed that somehow Guy had left a lit cigarette too close to the envelope, and the pictures were all damaged. Something was off about the whole thing, though, since Guy had not been anywhere near the pictures while he was smoking. Jonny, naturally upset about the ordeal and always wanting everything to make perfect sense, went on and on about it, but Phil told him each time to just drop it. It was too late, anyway. Jonny reasoned that Phil was right, and he let it go.

 

Not every picture was ruined, though; Chris had secretly kept one of them before the rest were destroyed. He had it framed and brought it with him everywhere. It always made him smile whenever he was feeling down and Jonny wasn't around to cheer him up. Except for now, when it just made him cry even harder.

 

“What do you want, Jonny?” Chris bitterly asked. He lifted his eyes from the picture and pointed them at Jonny. They were sad and gray, nearly as dim as the poor lighting.

 

“I just wanted to see if you were all right.”

 

“Yeah, well, I'm not. But what do you expect?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“I mean, why would I be all right?”

 

Jonny still wasn't fully understanding what Chris was talking about. “Chris, did everything go OK with the doctor?”

 

“Oh, does it make you feel better to change the subject like that?” Chris sounded angry now, which only confused Jonny more. “Shift the blame off yourself, right?”

 

“Chris, I don't know what you're talking about.”

 

“What do you mean you don't know what I'm talking about? Phil gave you that note, didn't he?”

 

“Phil didn't give me anything,” Jonny replied, shaking his head. Chris immediately looked apologetic, then just as confused as Jonny was.

 

“But he said he did... and then...”

 

“What note was it?” Jonny quietly asked. But Chris- though unintentionally- ignored him.

 

“Why would he lie like that?” Chris looked back at the picture of Jonny and himself. He ran his thumb across Jonny's smiling visage, and muttered, “He told me that he gave it to you, and you...”

 

“I what?” Jonny asked, a little louder than before. “What note was it, Chris?”

 

Chris slowly moved his eyes to Jonny. “Remember when I told you I was lovesick?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Well, then, you're, like, the virus or something.” Chris stood up and raised the frame so Jonny could see the picture. “Look how happy we were.”

 

“We definitely were happy, yeah,” Jonny agreed in a low voice.

 

“Can we be that happy forever?” Jonny said nothing in return, so Chris kept talking. “Jonny, if you didn't get the note, then you didn't know that I love you, did you?”

 

“No... You love me?”

 

“Of course.”

 

“I... I guess I kinda knew,” Jonny shrugged slightly, “I mean, I always hoped anyway.” Jonny began to smile, but then he remembered something. “Oh...”

 

“Oh?”

 

“Well, it's just that Phil... he talked to me earlier, and said that this wasn't appropriate for the workplace. Or something to that effect.”

 

“Phil told you that?” Chris incredulously asked. “And he lied to me... Jonny, how long have we loved each other?”

 

“Uh...” Jonny paused to think, which took a while. “A really, really, really long time?”

 

“What if that entire time, the only thing keeping us from being together was Phil?”

 

“Well, that's certainly an interesting theory,” Jonny replied. “And it does make sense...”

 

“CHRIS! JONNY!” a booming voice called from the other room. Neither of the men were aware that Guy could make such loud noises, but apparently he could. They both rushed to see what was wrong, and received the answer, “Something's wrong with Phil.”

 

“Seriously?” Chris replied. Sure enough, laying on the ground in front of Guy was Phil, and he looked rather unconscious.

 

“No, I'm joking,” Guy sarcastically remarked. “Is that doctor still around somewhere?”

 

Ten minutes later, the doctor was rushed into the room. But by that time it was too late.

 

“I'm terribly sorry, gentlemen, but your friend is... well, gone.”

 

“Gone?!?!” Chris shrieked. “Oh my!”

 

“Gone, indeed,” the doctor repeated. “By the looks of it, he's been ink poisoned.”

 

“Well, that's... that's certainly something. Why do you think that happened?”

 

“Who knows? Maybe he... well, I hate to make light of such a devastating situation,” the doctor quietly and condescendingly chuckled, “but maybe he got hungry and decided to munch on some paper!”

 

And suddenly Chris was struck with a thought. “Yeah, maybe he ate a note...” He shared a knowing glance with Jonny, and despite the sadness of the scene, they both ended up smiling. Chris reached out and grabbed Jonny's hand, no longer afraid of what may happen as a result, because he now knew; nothing could ever stop true love, not even the devil.

 

STORY ONE, CHAPTER SIX

 

 

 

You’ll Never Be Lonely

Chapter Six

 

Jonny’s POV

December 19th, 1985. A day I’d remember for the rest of my life. I woke up once again but, this time I wasn’t at home with my brother. Now, I was alone in a hospital bed in the middle of an unknown country.

 

Next to me was a boy my age with lots of golden curls and bright piercing eyes. He was chatting away to me, asking every question he could. When the boy noticed my waking, he smiled at me. I didn’t “Where’s Tim?” I ask, concerned about my little brother.

 

“It’s okay Jonny,” Who was this boy, and why did he know my name? Why was he so concerned about my well-being? Did he know where Tim was?

 

“Who are you?”

 

“I’m Chris! Chris Martin; and I’m eight years old! I know you’re seven, but that’s okay! Eight and seven are pretty close, right?” He smiles proudly and I become kind of scared by his energy.

 

“Hello Chris.” I try smiling back but, I fail “Nurse? Where is my family? Tim, mummy and dad, where are they?”

 

The nurse looked down and took a deep breath “I’m sorry, Jon…” she calmed herself slightly before continuing. “Your parents died upon impact in your car crash. Your family was involved in a very serious accident. Your brother... he wasn’t found at the scene. We don’t know where he is but, he would not have been able to survive the crash on his own.” The nurse looked at me with sad eyes.

 

My world was falling down on itself. I was asleep minutes ago, dreaming of Tim and Holly, and now I had nobody. Holly wouldn’t stick around, especially if she wasn’t being paid. Why couldn’t mummy and dad be on that trip to America? Why couldn’t Tim and I be at home with Holly? Why did we even come to England, in the first place?

 

I looked at Chris. His blue eyes were shiny and looked as if he was ready to cry. “I’m sorry, Jonny… I didn’t know what happened to you,” his face was wet, but I held my hand out to him.

 

“Don’t cry for me, Chris… You have a family, and you don’t need to be sad,” I began crying and eventually sobbing.

 

Chris mumbled something to me and held my hand. The nurse sat on the edge of the bed and smoothed down my hair. I don’t know how long we sat there but, eventually, Chris had to go.

 

“I’m sorry, Jonny, but my family is probably wondering where I am…” he then gasped at what he had just said. “I’m sorry- I shouldn’t be talking about my family, when you don’t...” he apologized quickly. I patted his leg, as it was the closes part to me and nod in thanks for his visits.

 

“Bye, Jonny. Bye Nurse Brooke,” he waved as he exits and Chris promises he’ll be back later.

 

Nurse Brooke smiles as Chris leaves and asks me if I’m doing better, physically.

 

I, personally didn’t know. I can’t feel any pain, not even emotionally. All I felt was emptiness. Nurse Brooke said it was completely normal. Another woman visits me and tells me she’s my doctor. I am told all of my injuries; blood loss, broken bones and etcetera. As far as I knew, the biggest problem had to be my broken heart.

 

Despite him being annoying, I really wanted Chris to come back to visit me. The doctors didn’t care like he did; to them, I was just another patient. To Chris, I was a person in need.

 

Nurse Brooke visited me often through the day as she only had two children to look after. Every minute I spent alone was a moment to think about my parents- about the accident, and about Tim. The man driving the truck who crashed into us had been drunk. He had been driving down the road when it became very slippery with ice. He wasn’t able to be careful, and lost control. His car spun around and directly slammed against us.

 

December 19th 1985- seven years old, and a newly orphaned child. This was the day I lost all my family; this day was only six days away from Christmas. Days after this, I met the boy from my dreams with the bright blue eyes.

 

 

 

Far From Easy

 

Jonny's eyes were closed, deep in sleep while resting on the sofa in the dressing room. It wasn't unusual for any of them to nap before the shows. Actually, it was unusual for Jonny not to nap before each show.

 

Chris never slept. Even at night he'd lie awake and count the ceiling tiles. During the day he'd count the floor tiles.

Jonny breathed steadily and stayed asleep as Chris sat down next to him. Chris laid his pretty blue eyes on Jonny's image and loudly sighed. Jonny still stayed asleep.

Chris watched Jonny for a long time in the otherwise empty dressing room. The ticking clock on the wall filled the silence. Then Chris decided to speak.

 

“Can I tell you about my day, Jonny?” he whispered. “Well, I'll tell you about my yesterday.

 

“I woke up and I realized it was a day off, which made me sad, because then I knew I wasn't going to see you. So I woke up sad, but then I decided to make the most of the day anyway. I always do that- try to make the most of the days when I don't see you. That way I get life experience, and I can tell you about those experiences when I do see you, and then maybe you'll be impressed with me.

 

“So yesterday I decided the experience I wanted to... experience was rock climbing. And I was gonna tell you that I did that, if you were awake, and I did do it, but the thing is that you know the rock wall at the gym? That's what I climbed. But I thought that would make you laugh, in the kind way that you always do that makes me happy.

 

“I did fairly well, and then I would have told you that I'm now considering doing it for real, now that I'm so experienced in this area, and you probably would have said that I'd break my neck. Then I'd wonder what you would do if something happened to me. Would you be devastated? I guess maybe you would, since I'm your friend. If something happens to a friend, you'd be upset. I suppose that's enough.

 

“If something happened to you, I'd be way more than devastated. But I don't like to think about that sort of thing. Right now, right this second, you're here, and that's all that matters to me. I'll... I guess I'll have to deal with the rest when it happens, you know? But I certainly don't want to think about it.

 

“I'm feeling a little worried about the show tonight. But I guess I feel that way a lot. Maybe I'll feel better once you're awake and you can give me a pep talk. Will tried to do that earlier, but it's just not the same. I know he means it, and so does everyone else, but I need to hear it from you, otherwise I just can't believe it.”

Jonny woke up a few minutes later. He opened his eyes to find Chris sitting beside him, which was an altogether pleasant thing to wake up to.

 

“Hey, Chris,” he hoarsely said.

 

“Good morning, sleepy head,” Chris laughed. “Jonny, would you be impressed if I told you that yesterday I went rock climbing?”

Chris bit his lip and patiently waited for an answer. Jonny narrowed his eyes- he definitely knew something was up.

 

“You went to the gym, didn't you?”

 

“... Maybe,” Chris sheepishly said.

Jonny laughed, which Chris expected him to, but he also nodded his head. Chris didn't expect that.

 

“Yeah, it's impressive.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Most things you do are impressive, Chris. They are to me, anyway.”

Chris involuntarily smiled at the most wonderful thing he'd ever heard. It was the small things like this that made him feel that with every day he drew one step closer to the doorway of Jonny's heart.

 

 

:curtain:

 

Chapter 1: Sam's Town

 

 

 

It was during spring break and their last year of college when the boys decided fly to California and take a road trip to Las Vegas. Will had rejected the idea but was somehow, miraculously, persuaded by Chris.

 

FlashbackFlashbackFlashbackFlashbackFlashback

 

“Come on man! By the end of this year we’ll be signed onto a record label. We’ve done absolutely nothing fun. We need to before the year ends. Don’t you at least want to celebrate?”

“We don’t even know how to get from L.A. to Las Vegas Chris!”

“That’s what maps are for silly! Come on. It’ll be great! We’ll get drunk and do coke and get high and have sex with hookers and win a fortune at the casino.” Will stared at Chris blankly.

“I was joking man. Get a sense of humor and learn to let go every once in a while! You‘re in your 20‘s for God‘s sake! Don‘t be an old fart.”

“Fine! But we need to get back in time for the continuation of our classes. Alright?”

“It’s a deal!”

 

EndOfFlashbackEndOfFlashbackEndOfFlashback

 

And so the rented old beat up 60’s Volkswagen sped down the lonely Nevada desert blasting old rock tunes. No other sign of life was visible apart from the occasional tumbleweed or Joshua tree that was passed by.

 

“Chris, could you turn that shit down?” said Will, focusing on the road ahead. “I already feel enough like a hippie as it is.” he sighed.

“It’s the Beatles man.” said Chris, riding shotgun, drumming his hands on the headboard.

“I dislike the Beatles.” grunted Will. Chris’ eyes widened with disbelief.

“You….dislike…..the Beatles?! How is that even possible?!”

“Either turn it down or it gets turned off.”

Chris sighed and turned the music off, much to the discontent of Jonny who was riding in the back with Guy.

“Aww! Come on Will! It’s a fucking road trip!” he whined.

“Drop it Jon. Will won’t listen to anything that isn’t Michael Jackson” teased Chris.

“That’s not true!” yelled Will, gripping the steering wheel a bit tighter.

“Look, why don’t you two just play I spy or something?”

“Not much to spy on.” sighed Chris looking out the car window. Nothing but dirt and tumbleweeds out here....he thought.

 

“Hey man, shouldn’t we be in Vegas by now?” asked Chris, “It shouldn’t have taken more than 5 hours to drive up to Vegas. The sun’s almost set. Why don’t you ask for directions?”

“Sure. I’ll ask the next bloody tumbleweed we see.“ growled Will. He glanced at the gas meter. “Fuck! We’re almost out of gas! Where’s the map? I need to see where the nearest town is.”

“Hey Guy! Where’s the map man?” called Chris. He turned to the backseat only to find Guy was asleep.

“He’s sleeping.” said Jonny, shaking Guy gently.

“Gee, I hadn’t noticed.” said Chris sarcastically, “Hey! Guy! Wake up! We’re at the strip club!”

“Hmm?! Wha---” Guy sat straight up in his seat. He was very disappointed to find they were still in the middle of nowhere.

“Where? We’re in the middle of nowhere!” he shouted angrily.

“Give Chris the fucking map you pervert.” shouted Will back.

“I don’t have the map! Jon had it! I’m going back to sleep.” Guy turned to his side and pretended to sleep.

“I don’t have it! I thought Guy had it….”

“Fuck! The van just ran out of gas.” Will drove the van to the side of the road where it crept along until it came to a complete stop. The boys jumped out of the van (with the exception of Guy). It was dark now and it was impossible to see more than five feet in front of you.

 

“Great. This is just perfect. I’m going to check the back to see if there’s any gas in there.” said Will as he left.

“Jonny? Where are you?” called out Chris.

“Right next to you.” said Jonny, making Chris jump. Chris stuck his arms out in front of him in search of Jonny. He moved around until he finally felt something, but it wasn’t Jonny. Couldn’t have been, unless he’d somehow transformed into some skinny round wooden pole.

 

“Jon… why are you so rough? When did you turn into a fucking pole?”

“I’m at your left Chris.” said Jonny, biting back a laugh. Chris swung his arms to his left, accidentally smacking Jonny in the face.

“Ow!” yelped Jonny, stumbling back a bit.

“Oh shit! Sorry! I’m sorry. Are you okay? I didn’t mean to!” said Chris apologetically, trying to see if the wound was fatal.

“That fucking hurt.” whimpered Jonny, rubbing his cheek.

“I’m sorry! Here, you can smack me in the face!” said Chris wincing, bracing himself for the blow.

“I’m not going to hit you Chris…..” said Jonny, surprised his friend would even suggest such a thing.

 

“There’s no gas in the back. Woah, what happened to your face man?” said Will when he returned.

“Uh… Chris… and the pole… then… yeah…” said Jonny hoping Will would understand.

“Oh. So what’s the sign say?” said Will. He had actually understood what Jonny had tried to tell him, but then again, Will understood everything.

“What sign?” said Chris confused, looking around. He was hopeless in the dark.

“That sign.” pointed out Will, taking a closer look.

“It looks like it says…. Sam’s Town..... It’s only a mile away!” said Will happily.

“I can see the lights from the town!” announced Guy, who had appeared out of nowhere, making everybody jump.

“Shit. Don’t do that man!” said Chris as he recovered.

“Do what?” asked Guy. Just then a pack of coyote’s howls could be heard in the distance, they sent a shiver down Chris’ spine.

 

“I think we should start heading towards the town.” said Will, already making his way down the road.

Guy quickly followed. Chris turned to Jonny.

“Jon, I’m scared…..”

“Don’t worry Chris, you can hold my hand.” Jonny grabbed Chris’ hand and Chris was thankful for the dark for he had turned bright red.

“Hey guys! Wait up!” called Jonny, running towards Will and Guy, dragging Chris along.

 

FiveMinutesLaterFiveMinutesLaterFiveMinutesLater

 

“Are we there yet?”

“Chris, it’s only been 5 minutes.”

“How ‘bout now?”

“No.”

“I’m tired.”

“You can rest when we get there.”

“I can’t see where I’m going.”

“None of us can! Just head toward the lights.”

“Will?”

“WHAT?!”

“Am I dead?”

“I wish.”

“What…?”

“Nothing. Now be quiet, the quicker you shut up the quicker we get there.”

“………………………. Will…?”

“WHAT?!!!”

“I just…..wanted to say sorry for bothering you….” Chris hung his head in shame. He looked so pathetic that Jonny, despite his better judgment, decided to confront Will.

“Don’t do that to Chris! He just wants to talk!” he shouted at Will, he didn’t expect himself to get so worked up over this.

“He’s not talking, he’s bitching. All of us want to get there. What makes him so fucking special?” barked Will. Jonny said nothing and continued walking at Chris‘ pace, which had slowed a bit.

“Don’t worry Chris, we’ll get there soon.” he whispered.

“I hope so Jonny boy.”

 

FastFowardFastFowardFastFowardFastFowardFastFoward

 

They continued their journey in silence until the lights of the town grew very close. It was a much smaller town than the four were expecting. The lights came from buildings that appeared to be from a western movie set. It looked like the kind of place where cowboys would go and have shoot outs then leave riding out into the sunset on their noble steed. The sight of the town greatly excited Chris. He had always wanted to be a cowboy when he grew up. He ran toward the town as fast as he could, everybody else was to tired to go after him or care for that matter. He came across a big billboard that was just outside the town. The dim glow that illuminated in a nearby building’s window allowed him to read what it said:

 

Sam’s Town…A Place To Call Home.

 

 

 

 

this part is dedicated to the lovely katie :heart::kiss:

Far From Easy

 

 

Chris jumped down the sidewalk, gaining nearly five feet on Jonny. Once his feet collided with the pavement, he proceeded to skip further along the path. He would have preferred not getting ahead, but he was far too energetic to walk at a slower pace.

Jonny walked rather slowly and just enjoyed the night. It was cool, and he knew it was only going to get colder, but he would brave it. There was no way he was going to say no when Chris asked to join him on a walk.

Chris stopped and waited for Jonny. He would have walked back to where Jonny was, but he chose instead to stand and just watch Jonny walk under the streetlights. Jonny was looking down at the sidewalk, but every now and then Chris caught flashes of green that made him smile.

Jonny was unsure of whether or not he should stop once he reached Chris. He figured that Chris was just waiting for him, but he was still a bit iffy about what to do. He didn't want to keep walking and look like a bit of a tosser, but he also didn't want to slow down and risk looking like an idiot for just standing there while Chris walked away.

Chris moved again when Jonny was only a foot away. He silently walked beside Jonny for quite some time, his attention strictly focused on making sure they were walking in sync. It took a few tries and some fancy footwork, but he eventually managed it.

Jonny bit down on his lip to stifle his laughter. He loved it when Chris did silly things like that. He wasn't sure though if Chris realized that he knew, or if Chris would even care anyway.

Chris was starting to get cold, but he didn't want to say anything. If he did, Jonny would suggest that they just go back to the hotel, but Chris wanted to keep spending time alone with Jonny. But Jonny seemed to be able to read Chris's mind, which freaked him out a little.

 

“It's kinda cold, isn't it?” Jonny asked.

 

“It's not so bad...”

 

“Chris, you're shivering.” Jonny bravely reached out and grabbed Chris's ice-cold hand. “Dude, you're freakin' freezing!”

 

“No, wait,” Chris said when Jonny took his hand away. “Your hand is warm.”

Jonny forgot to breath for a while, but when he finally did, he tentatively held out his hand again. Chris held onto it tightly, and Jonny shivered himself not only because he was cold. But he didn't want to read too much into it.

 

Chris held onto Jonny's hand and tried to keep his head from exploding. He had always wanted to do this, walk hand-in-hand with Jonny down some deserted street, but he never thought it would actually happen. He always told himself it wouldn't, just so he couldn't get his hopes up and would theoretically never get crushed, either.

 

“Seriously, Chris, you're freezing.”

 

“No, I'm just... I'm just a little chilly.”

 

“Well, I'm freezing. Maybe we should go back to the hotel.”

 

“OK,” Chris frowned. “But, Jonny... well, could we maybe still hang out? I mean, if it's not too late or anything.”

 

“We could, yeah. It's fine with me.”

 

“Good, because I miss hanging out with you.”

 

Jonny had never said it before, and even now he was a little nervous to admit it, but he missed it, too. Even though they were still close, it seemed as though they'd drifted a little since their days of starting as a new band and sharing a flat. As they walked in the general direction of the hotel, still holding hands, Jonny hoped that the night would help restore some of that lost connection.

 

 

Mirrorball

Chapter 1

 

 

 

It was another busy day. The emergency room was chaotic, especially now that it was summer. Nurses ran around, tending to the needs of the demanding patients. Most of them had injuries and illnesses that could be considered minor. A broken leg here, a low grade fever there. Work in an emergency room for one day, and you will be aware of a human's expert ability to exaggerate.

 

Jonny knew what to expect when he volunteered to help out that day. Although he was now the head doctor of traumatic injuries, he had once been an average staff member working in the emergency room twelve hours a day, back when he was still in college. He still worked up to twelve hours a day sometimes, but he found his new position to be considerably less stressful.

 

He was well-liked at the hospital. People respected him for his kind demeanor. When the hospital was short on staff, he would always be the first to volunteer to cover another position. He understood the tension that all of the workers in the ER faced, and was glad to give them a break when he could. Secretly, he actually enjoyed working the ER. Sure the people there were generally just crazy, but they were interesting.

 

Although he was rarely stressed at his current position, he was often bored. Trauma was not a very captivating field, if you were to ask Jonny. He would much rather examine people's heads the way a psychiatrist would, instead of the way doctors did.

But no one else knew this. To them, he was just the pleasant doctor with a gentle smile who was willing to lend a hand where it was needed. They had no idea that the things he did were for selfish purposes. Jonny was just searching for something to intrigue him during his long hours of monotony. And these were still his goals when he was working in the ER on a brutally hot day in summer, and he came across a certain patient who sparked his interest.

 

He came into the emergency room the correct way, through the two large doors in the back, on a gurney being wheeled in frantically by three paramedics. He looked pretty bad, even for the ER, especially in the area above his neck. Blood dripped down from his nose and made its way down and around his mouth. Some had dried there already and formed a crusty outline around his lips.

 

One of his eyes was basically swollen shut, leaving only a small slit where the actual eye could become visible. He had a few cuts on bruises on his forehead and chin, but those were minor. The biggest problem came from a deep gash above his left ear. The paramedics had covered it with a temporary bandage. But Jonny knew the wound must be deep, because a good deal of blood had already seeped through the white dressings, leaving them stained a deep red.

 

Jonny couldn't even begin to imagine what this man had gotten himself into. But he did know that this was the kind of person he was specifically trained to treat. He needed a trauma doctor, and he needed one now. Jonny hurried over to the paramedics to get a hold on the situation. He was shocked by what he heard.

 

Apparently, this man had gotten these fairly severe injuries from falling down two flights of stairs. Jonny decided he wasn't shocked by this. He was completely disbelieving. He did not see how someone could simply fall down two flights of stairs. Surely no one could be that uncoordinated.

 

Jonny came to the only reasonable conclusion one could come to after working in the ER for so long. This man must be seeking attention. Nobody could fall down that many stairs by accident. Even done on purpose, it was a little extreme. Jonny whispered a question into the ear of one of the paramedics.

 

"Does he have Munchausen's?" The paramedic just shrugged. Jonny was sure that he must. But he let the matter drop for now. Either way, this man needed an immediate examination. "I'll take it from here," Jonny said. The paramedics nodded and quickly made their way back to the ambulance outside.

 

Jonny beckoned to a few of the nurses. "Get this one to room 420B right away. He needs an MRI immediately."

 

"Yes doctor," the nurses replied in unison, and hurried off with the gurney.

 

The scan itself only took a few minutes, but the results would take much longer. The nurses set the man up in an intensive care room, where he could be closely monitored at all times. Now it was time for Jonny's real duties to begin. He briskly entered the room to examine the man's head. The man moved his eye towards the sudden movement. He was responsive. That was a good thing.

 

Jonny gently laid his fingers on the bloodied bandage. The man winced. "I am sorry," Jonny said. "But I must get a good look at it." The man didn't put up any sort of fuss though, and allowed Jonny to remove the bandages. Jonny stared at the wound intently.

 

"This is a pretty deep gash you have here. How did you manage this?"

 

"I.....fell," he said. He sounded absolutely humiliated by the fact. But he also said it with a certain amount of nonchalance, like he was well-accustomed to falling and giving himself severe head wounds.

 

"I need you to answer a few questions for me. What is your full name?"

 

"Christopher Anthony John Martin."

 

"When were you born?"

 

"March 2nd, 1977."

 

"Very good. Now, can you please write that information down for me?" The man took the paper and pen that was handed to him and wrote the responses out correctly.

 

"Good, good," mumbled Jonny. "That's all for now." As he began to leave, he glanced over his shoulder. The man's one good eye stared back at him. He was clearly in a good deal of pain. Jonny decided to ask one more question. "How are you feeling?" he questioned softly. Since this man was clearly crazy, he fully expected to receive a response along the lines of "I'm dying." Instead, he received the most shocking answer of his life.

 

"I am fine, just unlucky," was Christopher's reply. He actually attempted a smile as he said this. His mouth turned slightly upwards, still surrounded with dried blood, and although his jaw shook with pain, he managed a small grin. Jonny had never seen or heard anything like it before.

 

 

 

4.

 

Thalia shivered as the curtain softly closed behind her. The air behind the curtain was stale and still. It was deadly silent. There was a faint, golden, light from a corridor just right off the stage.

 

Thalia quietly made her way across the big stage, mouth open in awe at the grandness of it. It almost felt sacred. It certainly felt forbidden. The wooden floor creaked under her foot and she bit her lip and stopped. The silence was uninterrupted. She breathed a silent sigh of relief and continued to tiptoe across the stage.

 

She reached the corridor and peeked in. She took in the stone walls and lit candles. She sighed. It was beautiful.

Suddenly there echoed a loud scream of anguish in the backstage tunnel. Thalia desperately looked from side to side in the empty corridor, not knowing what to do. She sunk down against the stone wall and buried her head in her hands.

 

“I wanna go home, I wanna go home, I wanna go home…” She mumbled to herself squeezing her eyes shut as the screaming got louder and louder.

 

-*-

 

Chris sighed happily as they all walked out on stage together to receive the audience’s praise. The crowd was deafening. It sent shivers down his spine. Then he saw someone else who gave him a different sort of shivers. He spotted Jonny at the end of the stage and walked over to him. He swung his arm around his shoulder and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Jonny blushed scarlet but smiled at him. Chris’ heart swelled. He loved that shy man.

 

The crowd grew louder and began to chant his name. He smiled at Jonny again and happily walked to the middle of the stage and took a final bow before the curtain fell.

 

That’s when he gasped in pain and fell down to his knees. The man next to him, who had played the hero in the show, quickly crouched down next to him.

 

“Chris?”

 

Chris moaned in pain. “Guy. Get me off the stage. Quickly.”

 

Guy nodded and bent to pick Chris’ slender form up. Jonny appeared by their side.

“What’s wrong?”

 

“I don’t know. He’s hurting.” Guy answered.

 

Jonny helped carry Chris backstage. They put him down on the sofa in his dressing room.

 

“Ugh…” Chris moaned and desperately drew his hands through his hair.

 

“Chris.” Guy sat down next to him and delicately put his hands on his cheeks and turned his head.

 

“Look at me and calm down.” Chris stared at him with bloodshot blue eyes, panic shining in them. He sweated profusely. His bottom lip quivered.

 

“You need to tell us what’s wrong.”

 

“M…” He began to mumble through clenched teeth. “Mask!” He finally got out. He wheezed out a shaky breath.

 

“Get Dianna, she’s the only one who can get it off!” Guy shouted out into the hall and there was a shuffling noise as several people ran away to get the mirror wanderer.

 

Jonny crouched down and Guy stood up and began to pace. Jonny took Chris’ shaking hands in his own.

 

“Hang in there, okay?” He winced at the pressure Chris was applying to his hands. “I love you.”

Chris smiled a shaking smile and squeezed his eyes shut.

 

“I... Ugh…” He took a shaky breath. “I love you, too.”

 

Jonny leaned over him and carefully pressed his lips to Chris’, taking great care not to touch the mask.

 

He gasped. “He’s burning up!”

 

“What’s taking Dianna so long?” Guy asked. He had just finished his sentence as Dianna came storming into the room, her long black dress swirling around her ankles.

 

“I’m sorry, the mirrors are all wonky. Must be the weath-“ She stopped. “Oh, sweet Goddess.” She muttered as Jonny stepped away from Chris’ shaking form. Chris’ hands tiredly fell down against his side as Jonny reluctantly released them.

 

She grabbed Chris’ hand and immediately pressed the button on the side of the mask. Nothing happened.

 

“Shit.” She swore and bit her lip. Chris moaned louder.

 

“Get it off.” Chris said through clenched teeth. “It’s like fire under my skin.”

 

“I’m sorry, Chris. I’m trying.” She pressed the button twice. Still nothing.

 

Chris’ moans began to grow louder and his head lolled back and forth.

 

“Get it off him!” Jonny desperately exclaimed.

 

“I’m trying!” Dianna fiercely answered. “This has never happened before!”

Blood trickled from beneath Chris’ left eye.

 

“Help him!” Jonny gasped.

 

Guy stepped forward and put his hand on Dianna’s shoulder.

“Just calm down.” He paused. “I believe in you. You can do it.”

Dianna reached up and put her hand on Guy’s. He smiled at her.

 

“Thank you.” She sighed as she looked deep into his warm brown eyes.

 

She turned back to Chris, who had blood on his cheek.

“Alright. Chris, can you hear me?”

 

Chris nodded stiffly.

 

“You know that there is a way to get the mask off, but it’s going to hurt.”

 

Chris forced his eyes open and looked at her with anguish.

“I’m sorry.” She whispered.

 

He took a few deep shaky breaths and reached out his hand.

“Jon.” He stuttered out.

 

“I’m here.” He grasped Chris’ hand and kissed it. Chris relaxed a little.

 

“Do it.” He said to Dianna.

 

She nodded.

“Alright, everybody but Guy and Jonny have to leave.”

 

The onlookers piled out of the room and Dianna turned to Guy.

“Can you hold him down?”

 

Guy, pale as a sheet, nodded shakily and pressed his hands down on Chris shoulders.

 

“What are you going to do to him?” Jonny suspiciously asked and held on tighter to Chris’ hand.

 

Dianna turned to the big mirror in Chris’ room and slowly tried to push her hand into it. She sighed with relief when it went through without any problems. She rummaged around, brows knit in concentration. The room was quiet with the exception of Chris’ labored breathing.

 

She soon pulled her hand back with a small green glass vial in her grasp.

“Here we go.” She quickly got to Chris’ side. “Are you ready?”

 

He squeezed Jonny’s hand even harder and nodded.

“Yes.” He hissed.

 

Dianna nodded determinedly and uncorked the vial. “I’m sorry.”

 

She poured a dark, thick liquid onto the mask and a faint sizzling noise was heard.

 

“Jonny, hold his legs down.” She muttered and Jonny sat down on Chris’ legs, grasping both his hands tightly.

 

Chris soon began to convulse, his whole body shaking by the pain coursing through his body.

He screamed loudly.

 

“What’s going on?!” Jonny angrily asked, fearing for Chris’ welfare.

 

“We’re burning the threads that go from the mask to under his skin.”

 

“Burning?!”

 

“Yes.” Dianna answered calmly, but she looked up at Jonny with tears in her eyes.

 

Chris continued to scream until his voice gave out on him. Jonny kept a tight hold on his hands and his eyes never left Chris’ face. He bit his lip not to cry. He tasted copper and realized he has bit it hard enough to draw blood. Guy stood with his eyes tightly closed, his skin was white as paper. Dianna calmly looked at Chris’ letting tears fall down her face.

 

When Chris couldn’t scream anymore, he quietly sobbed, his chest heaving. Tears glided down under the mask and onto his feverish face.

 

Soon Dianna saw the blood red ruby on the side of the mask turning white. She immediately reached out and tore the mask from Chris’ face. His chest rose from the sofa, a silent scream on his face. He fell back against the cushions, unconscious.

 

“There.” Dianna said.

 

“Now what?” Jonny whispered. Guy took a step back and shakily sat down on a nearby chair and buried his face in his hands.

 

“Now we wait.”

 

 

I'm still working on Iris but here is a new story i'm also working on.

 

 

 

 

 

“ Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep” I glanced up at the red numbers that we’re glaring back at me from my night stand. ”Ugh”

 

The angry red numbers displayed the time of 5:42am. I quickly hit the snooze button on the clock and buried my head under the pillow and prayed that the numbers on the clock would roll back so I could get more sleep.

 

The door opened slowly and the man crept across the carpet. He paused when he reached the rod iron bed and then knelt down at the side where the girl with long chocolate brown locks was sprawled out on the bed. Her hands we’re tightly gripping the sides of her pillow as if to block out any sounds or light that might emerge from the room. The man quietly started saying the sleeping girls name.

 

“Katherine… Katherine?”

 

“mmmpphhww”

 

“Uh Katherine? I don’t understand pillow mumble”

 

Katherine knew that there would be a cocky grin on the mans face, and so to try and make him leave she reached out her hand toward the night stand and found the item she was looking for.

 

“Go away you ****, let me sleep!!” and then Katherine chucked the water bottle towards the sound of the man, the only problem was she still had her head underneath the pillow. The bottle flung right past the man and collided with the wall instead of it’s intended target.

 

“Bahahahahaha, you completely missed me sucker!” The man did a little jig in place and moved his arm in a bizarre way to celebrate his victory of avoiding the water bottle.

 

“Come on Katherine, you need to get up, it’s time!” The man then quickly left the room and started singing a little tune as he bounced down the stairs. When he got to the bottom he took out a little black box from his pocket. He turned the little box around in his hands. He grinned and couldn’t wait for him and Katie to leave and visit her family this weekend!

 

Back upstairs Katie too was grinning, Chris only called her Katherine when he was truly, madly and deeply in love with her.

 

She would never tell Chris that she secretly enjoyed it when he came into her room to wake her up. He had been doing that for years, or at least since they decided to get a flat together.

 

~Flashback~

 

“Chris!” Chris looked up and saw Katie walking toward him. He had just finished his lunch and was lounging on a bench in the courtyard of the school enjoying the rare rays of sunlight.

 

“Katie my dear!” Katie giggled and sat down on Chris’ lap and flung her arms around him in the tightest hug.

 

“Why hello, to you too!” Chris said with a sexy undertone as he wrapped his arms around her petite frame.

 

“Chris, I just got my first letter of acceptance to University! I’m going to University College London! I’m so excited! Where are you going? Do you know yet?”

 

Before Chris responded back to Katie he had to stop and do a double take looking at Katie. Chris and Katie had been the best of friends during school, but they were never serious with each other. They had always been the kind of friends where you climb up the tree outside of their house, and climb in their window to tell them about the awful date you had or the drama with your parents.

 

Chris always thought Katie was pretty, but not in a I want to date you and take you home kind of way. But lately Chris was starting to see little things about Katie that he had never seen before. Like this moment right now, Katie was smiling; she had a little dimple on the left side of her check when she smiled and Chris had never seen that before. She also smelled of cherry blossoms and peach. Oh and when she was happy like she was now she outshined the sun.

 

“Uh, oh um I’m going to the University College London too!” Chris grinned back at Katie.

 

“Oh my gosh! That’s awesome we should get a flat together, that way we wont have to climb trees anymore to get into each others dorm, haha”

 

“Yeah that would be brilliant! I can’t cook but I can clean! Perhaps that’s how I can contribute?”

 

Before Katie responded back to Chris she just had to take in his glorious face. Katie had always thought the Chris was handsome in his gawky demeanor. He was always smiling. Katie especially loved the little gap in his teeth, even though he had had braces and that gap had been fixed, Chris hated wearing his retainer and hence the little gap in the front.

 

“Oh that’s fantastic cause I can cook, but I hate cleaning! This is going to be perfect, oh and at night you can sing me to sleep!” Katie said with a twinkle in her eye.

 

“Katie, I’m a terrible singer, why would you want me to sing you to sleep? I think I would end up doing the opposite and keep you up at night, and would probably be kicked out by you in the end” Chris looked up at Katie with a crooked smile and then tickled her.

 

Soon the two were rolling around on the ground laughing and grinning from ear to ear at the thought of sharing a flat together. Finally the stopped and just laid next to each other enjoying the sun and each others company.

 

“Chris?”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“You have grass in your hair.” Katie said as she moved closer to Chris to remove the grass from his hair.

 

“Oh do I?” Chris asked suggestively. “Well I have news for you too!”

 

“Hmm and what might that be?”

 

“You have grass in your hair too!” And before Katie could respond Chris had swiftly pulled her into his lap and was pulling the grass out of her hair. As he did so he started humming a little song.

 

Katie closed her eye and let Chris move his hands through her hair to remove the grass. Katie hadn’t realized that Chris had stopped, so when she opened her eyes again, all she saw were the sultry blue eyes that were staring right back at her. She moved closer to Chris and he moved closer to Katie. Never loosing eye contact that continued to move closer until if they moved anymore their lips would touch.

 

Then the bell for the end of lunch rung and Chris and Katie instantly moved apart.

 

“Right, uh… I’ll see you later.” Chris flung his backpack on and ran in the opposite direction of Katie toward his class. When he got there he sat in the back and closed his eyes, his heart was racing and pounding in his chest, not from running to class but from Katie. The Katie he had only known as his best friend.

 

~End of Flashback~

 

Katie rolled out of bed and made her way to the shower. She stood the shower and let the hot water sting her back, it felt so relaxing and comforting almost like when Chris held her in his strong arms after a bad day. After the shower she wrapped a towel around her head and put on some comfortable clothes, then headed down stairs to find some form of caffeine to wake her up.

 

She walked into the flats tiny kitchen to find Chris sitting there with two cups of tea. She smiled and sat down next to him. He pushed one of the mugs toward her and then kissed her forehead.

 

“Good Morning beautiful!”

 

 

 

 

felt like I need a happy story, after the beginnings of my previous one :lol:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Far From Easy

 

 

 

 

Jonny flinched when the door nearly hit him. It was never going to actually hit him, but as he wasn't paying attention, he was caught off-guard. He'd been too preoccupied with staring at Chris.

Chris held the door open and waited for Jonny to go inside first. He noticed that Jonny hadn't really been paying attention, which was worrying. Jonny was always really focused, at least the most focused of all of them.

Jonny, like always, ignored the constant flipping of his stomach and walked past Chris. The small lobby of the hotel was nearly empty by now, which begged Jonny to wonder what time it was. He didn't really think about it earlier, but the moon had been up pretty high.

Chris tailed behind Jonny and stared longingly at the back of his head. He wondered what would happen once they were alone in Jonny's room together. It was pretty late now, and Chris always found it extremely difficult to control his actions as the night went on.

 

Jonny fumbled with the key to his room. He tried to hide it from Chris as best as he could, and he thought he was doing a good job by standing as close to the doorknob as was possible. But then he felt Chris's hot breath on his neck as Chris looked over his shoulder, and he nearly broke the key in the lock.

Chris watched as Jonny finally unlocked the door. Chris continued to worry about Jonny, but he was slowly beginning to realize that Jonny's odd behavior seemed to be simple nervousness. Then he only had to wonder why Jonny would be nervous.

Jonny threw his room key onto the nightstand by the bed. He took off his shoes and left them right where they were, then just stood there. He debated whether or not he should sit down on the bed, or cross the room to the sofa.

Chris made a quick decision. He flew past Jonny and plopped himself down on the bed. He smiled brightly up and Jonny and rested his hands in his lap, waiting for Jonny to sit down beside him.

Jonny was only a little relieved that Chris had made the decision for him. He sat down next to Chris and made sure that there was little room between either of them. But he didn't think that he would act upon their closeness.

Chris thought that after a while he would get used to sitting so close to Jonny. After a while, he would stop thinking about it, and start thinking about other things, like what the next day was going to be like. After a while, though, after a long period of completely nerve-racking serene silence, he realized that this feeling wasn't going away any time soon.

 

“Jonny, we are grown men,” Chris finally stated.

 

“Yeah. What does that have to do with anything?”

 

“Grown men aren't supposed to feel like this.”

 

“Feel like what?”

 

“Like I'm gonna throw up.”

 

“Well... grown men throw up sometimes.” Chris turned his head, lifting his stunning blue eyes to Jonny, and blinked a few times. “I mean, I guess everyone throws up every now and then-”

 

Jonny instinctively raised his hands to cup Chris's jaw as Chris leaned forward and introduced their lips. The very tips of his fingers grazed Chris's curly locks, the pointy ends lightly and lovingly pricking his fingers. Jonny felt Chris's hand rest on the side of his abdomen, sending bursts of tingling shivers throughout his entire being.

Chris looked into Jonny's eyes as they pulled apart. His own began to fill with tears, which he tried and failed to hold back. Jonny unsurprisingly noticed, and he brushed his thumb across the smooth, wet surface of Chris's cheek.

 

“What's wrong?”

 

“Nothing's wrong.” Chris counteracted the tears with a wide, satisfied grin. “The world is how it's supposed to be.”

 

EVERYDAY LIFE

A Rachel-Hahna Collaboration

 

 

 

 

Jonny sat beside Chris and looked up at Will.

 

"Eww! Germs! Get him away from me! Germs! Yuck! Ickies!" Will yelled.

 

"Will! Come on you big baby!! We aren't contagius! It's looove! Jonny said oblivious to why Will was spazzing out over himself and Christopher.

 

Chris suddenly started a bout of loud coughing.

 

"What's wrong with him?" Will asked. "Eww, I don't wanna get germs!"

 

"THAT'S MY CHRISSY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT! DON'T SAY THAT!"

 

Jonny's face is so cute when he's angry, Will thought.

 

"Jon..." Chris croaked, "I think i have whooping... *coughcoughcoughwheezecoughwheezealmostdiescough* Cough..." Chris choked out.

 

"I'll get you your pills, sweetheart." Jon lowered his voice, and gave Will the evil eye.

 

Will just wanted to run to Jonny and kiss him. He longed for that.

 

Jonny walked out of the room leaving his lover and wanna-be-lover in a room together. About four minutes later, Jonny emerged from the kitchen with a bowl of Slap Chopified pills and gave it to Chris.

 

Immediately after swallowing, Chris felt a forty two thousand times better and immeadately began to make out with the guitarist. Will coughed and began to rant. "Oh come on. Sleeping pills do not relieve whooping cough. Anyways Chris will crash in 42 minutes or so and will be as useful as a sick cat ready to die."

 

"DON'T YOU DARE SAY THAT ABOUT LUCY AND CHRIS!" Jonny looked at the adorable little cat nibbling some biscuits.

 

"Why don't y-you just go home, Will?" Chris said, and even though no one could understand him, Will got the message and walked out the door.

 

"Yays!" Jonny exclaimed, did a little whoop-whoop dance and smooched Chris.

 

"Its justy you and me, JB..." Chris said with a look.

 

"Indeed it is," said Jonny, mirroring the look.

 

Two hours laaaaaaaaaaaaater!

 

The guests had arrived, and they were hungry... Almost all the food was gone already!

 

"Joooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnyyyyy..... Wont you please, make me some more foooooodddd, maybee with someeee cheeeseee? Oh, and roflwafflesssssssssssssssssssssssssssss and lolburgerzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz?" Guy sang as he came into the room.

 

Jonny frustratedly agreed, and headed to the fridge to get out some lolburgerz to cook up and the ingredients for roflwaffles. "Would you like anything else your majety, Berryman?"

 

"No."

 

"Okay, I'll take that."

 

"DO NOT SAY TAKE THAT!"

 

"Take. Taht."

 

"Don't. What's wrong with Take That, anyway?"

 

"Its a stoopid Boy Band that is sooooo stoopid it's stoopider than you and chris. And stoopider than Miley cyrus and stoopider than... YOUR MOM!'

 

"Yo mama's so klumpig hon trasslat in i en sladdlös telefon!"

 

"Din mamma är så fet när en ljudsignal går bort tror hon att säkerhetskopiera."

 

"Yo Mama är så fet när hon steg på en skala står det jag vill ha din vikt inte ditt telefonnummer."

 

"Din mamma är gammal när Gud sade: Varde ljus hon vändas växeln!"

 

"Yo Mama's så fet att hon skränande dra förhastade slutsatser."

 

"Yo Mama's så fet att hon är på båda sidor av familjen."

 

"Yo mama så elak jag kallade henne för att säga hej, och hon slutade med att jag en öroninfektion."

 

"Yo mama så dum när din pappa sa att det var kyligt ute, sprang hon utanför med en sked."

 

"Yo mama dum så hon frågade dig, 'Vad är numret till 911?'"

 

"Stop förolämpande varandras mums!" Chris entered the room and yelled.

 

"Alla vägar Jon mamma pwns som hon craeted min gosa-lovely-honung ..." Chris continued.

 

"Jag älskar dig, Chris," said Jonny.

 

Some random ran into the room.

 

"Eso es lo que ella dijo!"

 

 

 

 

:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P