Chapter 25

 

 

The crops had been harvested. All went well, surprisingly well. Guy thought it was a good crop, but he didn't expect things to go so smoothly. He figured there'd be a problem with the shipping, or that the demand for beets might have gone down since last season. But everything went off without a hitch, much to his relief.

 

"We made good money," Guy told James excitedly as they returned from town one evening.

 

"I know, it's great to hear," James replied, smiling as best he could. It was weeks later, but he was still thinking about the things Karen had said. He knew he wasn't being rational. He had figured he would have gotten over it by now. But the words still burned in his head.

 

Burned really was the most appropriate word. Because it wasn't always so bad. Sometimes James could go a whole day without thinking about those words at all. But then Guy would say something and it would remind him of them again, and the pain would flare up with a vengeance.

 

Now was one of these times. James knew the reason Guy was so happy about the money they had made with the crops, and it had nothing to do with shiny new things. James took a deep breath as Guy began to talk about the dreaded subject.

 

"James," Guy said, the serious look in his eyes telling James everything he needed to know before Guy even finished his sentence, "I think it's time I visited Malcolm. I was too embarrassed before, and I didn't want him to see me before there was some hope of getting him back. And now that hope is there. Al said that everything was looking great with the case, right? That we had a very good chance of winning?"

 

"Yes, he said that," James replied, concentrating more on ensuring his voice didn't crack than what he was actually saying. This was quickly becoming too much for him.

 

Whenever Guy spoke of Malcolm there was so much love in his voice, and it just made James feel more and more like he would never be able to be as good of a father as that. He was sure he'd disappoint Guy by never really connecting with Malcolm, and disappointing Guy was one of the things he feared most in the world.

 

"So you think it's a good idea then?"

 

"Do I think what's a good idea?" James asked distractedly, having been abruptly pulled from his thoughts by Guy's question.

 

Guy frowned. "Do you think it's a good idea for me to finally visit Malcolm?"

 

"Oh...yeah. Definitely." He nodded and tried to sound as convincing as possible. He really did think it was a good idea. A great idea, in fact. He could hardly imagine how much happier Guy would likely be after he finally saw Malcolm again.

 

"Okay...what's wrong?" Guy asked. James flinched. He had tried so hard to keep his feelings to himself. And the fact that Guy sounded more worried than irritated was even worse. James thought he deserved anger, but certainly not concern.

 

"Nothing," James told him.

 

"I don't believe you."

 

"Really, it's nothing. I promise." He smiled as genuinely as he could, as the pain

he felt inside grew worse. Now he wasn't just pathetic. He was a pathetic liar.

 

"You look a little pale," Guy noted, his eyebrows pulling together in the special frown he only used when he was truly worried.

 

James sighed and rolled his eyes, trying as best as he could to show Guy that all was normal. "I'm fine," he told Guy.

 

"I'm going to call Julie about Malcolm. You go lay in bed and rest. I'm going to make you some tea."

 

"You don't have-"

 

"I want to," Guy insisted. "Now go."

 

"Fine."

 

Guy watched him go and the guilt he had been hiding crept into his eyes. He felt like he had to be extra kind to James right now. He was being gracious and loving enough to allow a child he had never met and barely knew, beyond what Guy had to told him, into his life all for Guy's sake. Guy thought the least he could do was make sure he treated James right.

 

------

 

"So.....how'd it go?" James asked, as Guy slid into bed beside him, sitting up and leaning against the headboard. He slipped a cup of tea into James's hand, and James in turn sat up beside him.

 

"It went...well...it went, at least," Guy replied awkwardly. "I remembered her number, so that was good." He laughed nervously."And she seemed, much to my surprise, quite willing to let me see Malcolm. I'm going to visit him tomorrow."

 

"Awww...that's really great," James replied. He kissed Guy's hair. "You smell great...like...like a father."

 

"I have no idea what that is supposed to mean," Guy told him, "but thank you."

 

"You're welcome....neither do I. I just wanted to make you feel good."

 

Guy smiled. "That reminds me, are you feeling any better?"

 

"I was never feeling bad. But, now that I'm in bed next to you with the tea you made me, I'm feeling better than I was five minutes ago."

 

"Will you be alright being on your own for a while tomorrow? I don't think I'll be gone for too long But I don't want you to get lonely in this house all by yourself."

 

"Guy, as much as I love your presence here, I think I can handle a day by myself. I want you to take as much time with Malcolm as you need. You earned it. You deserve it. And you need to have it. You both do. He's your son, and you're his father. You've missed out on too much bonding already."

 

"Yeah....we have," Guy said, sighing sadly. "He turned to look James in the eyes.

 

"Thank you for being so understanding. You have always been like that with me. It's one of the reasons I love you."

 

"Oh? And how many reasons are there in total?" James raising his eyebrow in a playful gesture.

 

"Too many to count," Guy mumbled, suddenly feeling drowsy. He rested his head on James's shoulder. "How about you?"

 

"About the same," James said, smiling down at him lovingly. "Or probably even more," he whispered. But Guy was already asleep. "Yeah," he said to just himself "I am sure I could think of at least one more."

 

 

 

Chapter 26

 

 

The following evening, Guy returned to a thoroughly clean house. James had scrubbed, dusted, and polished every visible surface. He was sitting lazily in the only upholstered chair they owned. It was heavily cushioned and seemed to swallow up James's thin frame.

 

Guy didn't even notice him sitting there until he jumped up suddenly. "Take your boots off," he commanded. "Do you know how long it took me to get this floor to look clean?"

 

He tried his hardest to give Guy a stern look, but he just ended up grinning instead. "Awww honey," Guy joked, "I'm so glad to have a woman like you around." He laughed at his own joke and embraced James warmly.

 

"You should be glad you have someone around to help you. This place would be a dump by now if it weren't for me."

 

"I know. Thank you. I mean that," Guy replied with sincerity.

 

"I know you do. I wanted to get all the chores out of the way so we could chat for a while. Now tell me, how was it?"

 

Guy absentmindedly began to take off his boots as he told James about the meeting. "It was really great," he told James. "He....he knew who I was. Right away. He ran right up to me." His eyes shown with a combination of delight and tears. "He hugged me."

 

James was smiling before he knew it. Just picturing the scene in his head filled him with unexplainable levels of joy. To imagine Guy's certain euphoria during the reunion was almost ore than he could bear. He felt his own eyes tear up a bit. He knew nothing could ever compare to seeing the one you loved most be so happy.

 

"Come here," James told him. He led Guy to the chair and sat down, playfully pulling Guy on top of him. Guy kissed him then shifted so he was sitting on James's lap.

 

Somewhere in their minds they both recognized the ridiculousness of what they were doing, but neither of them particularly cared and were content to carry on conversing in this way.

 

"I'm really happy for you, " James said.

 

"I'm shocked he still remembers me."

 

"Of course he remembers you. You're his father. And besides, I don't see how anyone could know you and forget you. I know I never could. Most of the time I find it difficult to think of anything but you."

 

Guy smiled thoughtfully. "He grew a lot. His hair's longer now. And his eyes....he looks so smart. I'm proud of him."

 

"He must have your eyes then," James mused with a smile.

 

Guy blushed and turned his head away from James's gaze. "We talked for a while. He told me about school. He says he doesn't have any friends. That kind of worried me. He told me his dog was his best friend. That was kind of sweet."

 

"And what did you say to him?"

 

"I told him I never really had any friends when I was in school either. And then I told him about you."

 

James shifted nervously in the chair. "What did....what'd you tell him?"

 

"I told him that you are my best friend. And I told him that eventually I realized it had turned into something much more. He asked me if I loved you. I told him that I did, very much. And he smiled at that."

 

James looked visibly relieved. But that quickly turned to worry when Guy continued speaking. He spoke quietly, but looked James straight in the eye. His own eyes sparkled as he spoke, the thought giving him almost too much joy to bear. "He told me he wants to meet you."

 

James stared at him blankly. He didn't know what to say. He knew what Guy wanted to hear. But he couldn't make himself say the words. Because he was still scared. He couldn't imagine ever developing a relationship with Malcolm anywhere close to what Malcolm shared with Guy.

 

"I don't know," James told him weakly. "I think it might be a little...weird."

 

"It won't be weird at all, I promise. Besides, you'll have to meet at some point. So why not now? Well, not now. But next week. That's when I arranged with Julie to visit Malcolm again."

 

"Maybe," James said. "I'm sorry, but that's the best I can do right now. It's still a little awkward for me."

 

Guy sighed and stood, stretching. "I understand."

 

He sounded disappointed, and it made James cringe inwardly to hear that tone in his voice. He spent the following week focused on nothing but trying to overcome his irrational fears.

 

But the more he tried, the worse they became. All he seemed to be able to do was conjure up scenarios where he would let both Malcolm and Guy down.

Nighttime was the worst. As he lay beside Guy in bed, trying desperately to sleep, all he could hear was the sound of Guy's steady breathing and feel the warmth of his slender, fragile body so close to his own. And he could think of nothing but the way he would feel if he were to lay in bed without Guy beside him.

 

By this point, he had already convinced himself that any attempt he made to bond with Malcolm would turn out disastrous. He thought up extreme circumstances where Guy would be angry with him, and take Malcolm and leave, never to return. Or kick him out, leaving him nothing but the pathetic, empty shell of a life he once had.

 

His thoughts were out of control. In a week had had developed a terrible case of insomnia, and by the morning of the meeting, James felt like he was completely out of options. So when Guy asked him the dreaded question that morning, he lied.

 

He stayed in bed that morning. He told Guy he wasn't feeling very well. Guy frowned, instantly worried.

 

"I'll stay here then," he said, full of concern.

 

"No," James told him. "Go. I'll be alright."

 

Guy finally relented, albeit reluctantly, and left giving James a goodbye kiss on the cheek.

 

At first, James hadn't technically lied. He wasn't feeling well at all, though it was more of a mental and emotional kind of sickness than a physical one. But he had thrown away the truth when he told Guy he'd be alright. He hadn't known it at the time, but he would be far from alright that day.

 

 

A Bad First Day

 

This is based off of something that actually happened in my chorus class this morning :awesome: Enjoy (these are the characters from Coldplay Story, but this one is unrelated to Coldplay Story, just as a heads up.):

 

 

 

Back to New York after 2 years and right in the middle of the school year. I thought it’d be fun just to visit, just to see Mae and for the guys to see their former . . .

“girlfriends” before the summer. We all just had a “what the hell, let’s do it” moment and did end up in the states a day before Valentine’s Day. We took a day to get over jet lag and then met up with the girls after they were done with school.

 

“So, are you guys coming to the school with us tomorrow?” Mae asked. We’d met up at the inn and, as you’d guess, we were teenagers again.

 

“Um . . . I hadn’t thought of it, if I’m honest.” I said.

 

“I think it’d be fun to see what the school day would turn out like, having you guys around . . . it’d be different.” Rebecca said.

 

“I’ll be in the office within the first 30 minutes.” Guy said, laughing.

 

“And why’s that, Berryman?” Mae asked, “Flirting?”

 

“Oh yeah.” Guy said, a smirk on his face. Becca gasped and punched his arm playfully. “You know I’m kidding!”

 

“Right,” I cut in, “I really don’t care either way, so . . . you know what, we’re here, so what the hell?”

 

“Great, I’ll come by to get you guys in the morning,” Mae said, “7:15, okay?”

 

“Why so early?”

 

“School starts at 7:35, so that’s actually rather late.”

 

“Okay then.” I said, then the girls smiled and left, leaving me and the guys to get what little ready for tomorrow . . . which came rather fast.

----

“Well, you ready for today?” Mae asked, half awake.

 

“No.” I said.

 

“Join the club.”

 

We were in the building and Mae was walking down some hall, which looked like it led out to the auditorium.

 

“What is your first class?” I asked.

 

“Chorus,” Mae said, opening a big blue door and holding it open, “You comin’?”

 

“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming.” I said, just looking around the building mindlessly.

 

“You okay?” Mae asked.

 

“Yeah, just not awake.”

 

Mae just smiled and hugged me, “It’ll get better . . . lets hope.”

 

I laughed and hugged her back, “Yeah, lets hope so.”

 

Mae let me go and pulled out a folder with drawings all over the front from a small slot on the wall, “I’ll show you where your section is.”

 

“Alright then.” We walked into the room and saw a few people had already come in and taken their seats, including Sara and Jonny.

 

“Hey, Finny.” Mae said, waving to Sara.

 

“Hey, Wadsworth.” Sara said, a tired tone in her voice.

 

“Tired?”

 

“What do you think?” Sara rested her head on Jonny’s shoulder, shutting her eyes and sighing, “I wanna go back to bed!”

 

“I know, so do I.” Jon said, putting his arm around Sara’s shoulder.

 

Mae walked over to her spot and said for me to sit wherever in the next section over, so I took the one right next to her, which was right in front of Jonny. That’s when there was this noise, which Mae told me was supposed to be the bell, even if it sounded nothing like one, but people started flooding into the room after.

 

That’s when things started going down hill, there were a TON of kids in the class, which made it rather cramped for such a big room, and then there was the teacher, who I soon learned was a bitch. She was making the kids sing the worst songs ever and she had a temper beyond my understanding.

 

“Alright, now, lets take it back to measure 76, altos first,” she said about half way through the class. She started playing the piano for a few bars, looked up and shouted, “ETHAN!”

 

There was a guy behind me that faced her, “Yes?”

 

“What are you doing back there?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“It looked like you were about to kiss Joe, or am I seeing things?” she asked in a snobbish tone. The whole class erupted with an ‘Oooooh~’ and I saw this Ethan kid go red in the face, as well as the boy next to him.

 

“Well, I uh . . . yeah, kinda.” Ethan admitted. That’s when the class started laughing and then was dead silent when the teacher banged on the piano keys; she was pissed.

 

I took advantage of the situation, “Excuse me, teacher?”

 

“Yes?” she said, eyes still on this Ethan person.

 

“What’s wrong with that?” I asked, knowing just how to get out of this hell hole of a high school.

 

The teacher looked at me, “What do you mean?”

 

Jonny turned around and looked right at me, “What are you doing?!”

 

“What’s wrong with this?” I asked, taking Jonny by surprise and kissing him. The class gasped, and the teacher was now red with anger. “Well?”

 

“Office, now!” she roared.

 

“And where is that?”

 

“I’ll take him,” Mae said, grabbing my wrist and dragging me out of the room. I turned around to see Jon, shaking in his seat slightly, totally red.

----

We got to the outside of the room and Mae turned down the hall to where no one could hear us, “What the hell were you thinking?!”

 

“What? It was supposed to be entertaining.”

 

“It wasn’t, Chris. Far from!”

 

“What? Are you jealous or something?”

 

“No! Just . . . oh, shut up, I’ll let the principle deal with you.”

 

“Wait, you’re joking right?” Mae didn’t answer me; she just scowled and took my wrist again, taking me to the office. “Mae?”

 

The song in this story is "Secrets" by OneRepublic

 

Oh, and Gwyneth and Chloe are nonexistent :sneaky:

 

 

 

 

 

Jonny walked into the Bakery, guitar case in hand. For once, when he walked in, Chris wasn't at the piano or strumming a guitar to the latest tune he had come up with. Instead, Jonny could hear Chris upstairs in the lounge area playing some song he had never heard before.

 

So Jonny set down his guitar and walked up the stairs.

 

Chris had the stereo playing and was singing along with the song. It took awhile for Chris to notice Jonny standing there.

 

"Til all my sleeves are stained red

From all the truth that I've said

Come by it honestly I swear

Thought you saw me wink, no

I've been on the brink, so

 

Tell me what you want to hear

Something that will like those ears

Sick of all the insincere

I'm gonna give all my secrets away"

 

Finally seeing Jonny, Chris turned nearly sprinted over the small area of space to grin broadly in his face.

 

"Isn't this song great? I'm officially on a OneRepublic hype, but this song is definitely one of their best. Don't you love it?!"

 

Jonny thought a moment and responded with a 'maybe' face.

 

"I want to be like the character in this song. I am 'sick of all the insincere' and I do want to give all my secrets away! You know what," he said, grabbing Jonny's shirt sleeve, "I am gonna give some secrets away... starting NOW!"

 

He sat down on the plush white couch, pulling Jonny with him.

 

"Where's Guy and Will? Shouldn't they be here by now for rehearsal?" Jonny asked with a VERY confused face.

 

"Not here. Will and his wife are out at some concert of their kids', and Guy took the day off."

 

"Where's Brian and Marcus?"

 

"I wouldn't let him in."

 

"Why?"

 

"'Cause the secret will take a while to tell, only between you and me."

 

Jonny was starting to get suspicious. He thought he knew what was going on, but could it really be? Could...

 

No...

Maybe?

NO

Well, maybe...

NOOOOO

It's a possibility...

Well, if he was right and reading what Chris was really saying correctly...

 

It could be...

Let's find out...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LATER!!! HAHAHAHAHA LEFT YOU WITH A CLIFFHANGER!!!

 

The song in this chapter is "All This Time" by OneRepublic.

 

 

 

 

Was it? Could it? Is it? Does he know what I'm trying so hard to say? Am I on top of a mountain or did I just dig myself a hole? Chris thought.

 

Only one way to find out.

 

Chris turned his brilliant blue eyes on the sparkling green ones. They both read something there that neither seen there before. Or had it, and they had been ignoring it all these years?

 

Chris leaned his head on Jonny's shoulder. "You know what I'm saying, don't you?" he asked.

 

Jonny sighed and laid his head atop Chris's. "Yeah.."

 

Chris's hand snuck itself around Jonny's neck while the other picked up the stereo remote and changed the track to track 7.

 

They sat comfortably for awhile as they listened to Ryan Tedder's voice singing their life song:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C-TrXJFhC4]YouTube - One Republic All this time[/ame]

 

 

Six on the second hand

Two new years resolutions

And there's just no question

What this man should do

 

Take all the time lost

All the days that I cost

Take what I took and

Give it back to you

 

All this time

We were waiting for each other

All this time

I was waiting for you

We got all these words

Can't waste them on another

So I'm straight in a straight line

Running back to you

 

Chris sat up a bit, not to stop leaning on Jonny, but so he could kiss him, for it had to be now or never...

 

I don't know what day it is

I had to check the paper

I don't know the city

But it isn't home

 

But you say I'm lucky

To love something that loves me

But I'm torn as I could be

Wherever I roam

 

Hear me say

 

All this time

We were waiting for each other

All this time

I was waiting for you

We got all these words

Can't waste them on another

So I'm straight in a straight line

Running back to you

After what seemed like an eternity and yet similarly felt like only a millisecond later, they broke apart and in perfect synchronization said:

 

"I love you..."

 

Yeah, all, running back to you

Yeah, all, running back to you

Yeah...

Oh, every time is so far

It's just so far

To get back to where you are

 

All this time

We were waiting for each other

All this time

I was waiting for you

We got all these words

Can't waste them on another

So I'm straight in a straight line

Running back to you

I'm straight in a straight line

Running back to you

Straight in a straight line

Running back to you

 

 

Jonny began to laugh as the song ended, and with not much effort (for Chris doesn't weigh much), pushed Chris away from him so that he was lying dazedly on his back on the couch.

 

Chris attempted speech, but was interrupted by him being the one getting kissed this time.

 

Jonny was now lying on top of Chris, much to the delight of both of them.

 

 

"I've loved you for so long..."

 

 

 

 

A Bad First Day: part 2

 

Sorry, it's kinda short :sweatdrop:

 

 

My time in the office was horrible, I was the only one there and the school got me to the vice-principle, not the actual one. He must have been too busy, which is understandable, he must be busy.

 

I walked into the small office and the vice-principle was sitting at his desk, eyes on the computer. He turned in his chair when I knocked on the door, “Oh, uh . . . can I help you?”

 

“I was sent down here from the chorus room.” I said, sitting in one of the chairs in front of the man’s desk.

 

“Ah, yes, you’re the new visitor Mr. Wadsworth told me about.”

 

“‘Visitor’?”

 

“You’re not attending this school, but you’re with Mae, right?”

 

“Yes, I am, does that matter?”

 

“Yes, it does.” He looked me over for a minute then sighed, “Clara has every reason to report you, you know?”

 

“What, why? I was just sticking up for that Ethan kid!”

 

“Ethan’s trouble and also doesn’t have a sense of who has authority over him, he’s a good actor but a pain.”

 

“Actor, what?! Look, I don’t care, he still was still being-”

 

“I don’t care, he deserves whatever he got.”

 

“WHAT?! Are you mad?! He was just kidding around, I’m sure! That crazy woman you have employed as a chorus teacher just over reacted!”

 

“Crazy woman? Is that what you think of her?” He laughed slightly, “She had every right to report you then, and to yell at Ethan.”

 

“How so?”

 

“Ethan may have disrupted class, but you have, and with a display like what Clara told me-”

 

“Display?!” I yelled, then I realized what I was doing. I was supposed to be younger than this guy, and probably was even as an adult, but I was still the one who was supposed to be listening.

 

“Yes, display. Now, I’m letting you off with a warning, pull something like this again, and I’ll have you out of this building so fast it won’t even be funny.”

 

I wanted to say something, but what was I going to say? I couldn’t flip out on him, at least, not until I was an adult again and had calmed down a bit. I just nodded and left the office, seeing Mae waiting for me.

 

“C’mon, we’ve got Spanish. We’re just watching Pan’s Labyrinth, easy class.”

 

“Is the teacher insane?”

 

“Yes, but in a good way. He’s a good kind of insane.” She smiled at me and I just smiled back, “C’mon, let’s go.”

 

“Alright then,” I said, walking out of the office and down another few halls with Mae. I grabbed her hand after a minute and she just looked at me. “What?”

 

“Look,” she said, taking her hand away, “Not now, okay?” She had a slight blush on her face but her expression didn’t match. She looked a little embarrassed . . . worried almost.

 

“Okay? Is it because of earlier or-?”

 

“No, no, it’s not that,” she said, “I just . . . later, okay?”

 

“Okay? . . .Are you alright?”

 

“Fine, just c’mon, Señor Dell won’t like it if we’re any later.”

 

“Okay.” I said, walking with Mae down the hall and to the room. I couldn’t help but feel slightly guilty, was she lying to me just to try and forget about earlier or was she serious or . . . this school is insane, and its disease, whatever it is, is getting to me.

 

In the mean time, if anyone is bored::::P

 

THE PLAYMATE

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 1

 

Lighting flashed and thunder crashed.

The angry sea flung itself back and forth against the huge boulders.

Rain hailed down in massive drops.

Wind whirled around the castle walls.

The television screen went blank.

"The satellite has lost its' signal," the message read.

Chris flung the remote across the room.

"Somebody should be able to figure out how to stop that," he snarked.

His pet werewolf, Jimmy, sprang up.

From Chris' lap.

He lumbered across the room.

Grabbing the remote in his sharp teeth.

And carrying it back to Chris.

Unfortunately, Jimmy did not always use restraint.

And the remote device was now a tangle of wires and batteries.

Chris looked at the animal.

"Be gentle," Chris said.

Petting the animal on its thick fur.

"Remember what happened last time you brought that tourist home?"

The animal dropped his head.

Then laid down and covered his face with his long paws.

"It's okay, Jimmy," Chris said, "I didn't really mean for you to fetch it anyway."

The embarrassed animal howled.

Chris sat back on the bat skin covered sofa.

"I need a hobby," he observed, "Besides watching television and dissecting nosy strangers."

He looked across the room.

"Although that last one was pretty cool."

His latest experiment was on display in the room.

Inside a large glass covered case.

His face dropped.

"Who am I kidding?" he whined, "No one will ever see my genius handiwork."

He looked at Jimmy.

"It's not like I have any friends to invite over. Not since Dracula's grandson got admitted to Transylvania University. He never visits anymore."

Jimmy tilted his head sideways.

As if showing empathy for Chris.

"He thinks he's so good now. Just because he is going to one of those pedestrian medical schools. He wants to help people," Chris said in a mocking voice.

Jimmy barked.

"I know," Chris agreed, "I think that's rather ridiculous too. Medicine has many uses....helping people is not one of them. That's just exploitation of a fabulous past time. I'll show him...I'll find another friend. One who isn't so humanitarian."

Chris practically spit out the last word.

Suddenly, Chris sat up straight.

His natural blue eyes twinkling.

"Jimmy!! That's it!!"

The werewolf howled.

"I don't need these limited humans. I will make my own friend. Smarter, funnier..and a lot cheaper."

He stood up.

"To the lab!" he declared.

CHAPTER 2

 

Chris slipped nylon purple gloves onto his sleek hands.

Flexing his fingers back and forth.

"I am so glad I ordered these glow in the dark gloves," he observed.

His large blue eyes showing devilish handsomeness.

Behind a white mask.

His sepia toned curls refused to stay hidden under his head wrap.

"HAHAHAHA!"

He threw back his head on a long elegant neck.

Laughing the laugh of a man with a plan.

The frightening sound echoing off the stone walls.

And down the rock corridors.

It was a rather evil and somewhat sadistic plan some would say.

While others would say it was rather erotic and sensual.

"I'm making me a friend....I making me a friend....Oh..I am making me a good friend.."

Chris danced around the room.

Singing and twirling.

He danced to the stainless steel sink.

Where his instruments of terror lie.

Seemingly innocent blades and saw.

Soaking in an alcohol solution.

Seeing that nothing was amiss, he continued to dance and sing.

He made his way to the glass cases.

The ones that held the wide array of drugs and potions.

He took out a large bottle.

Opened the cap and drank fiercely.

"Good Kool-Aid," he said.

With a satisfied grin.

And a moustache of the sweet red liquid.

He replaced the ominously labeled container.

"Now..To Business!"

Chris rubbed his hands together.

His eyes lighting up with the possibilities of what might come.

"Igor! Bring me the model.." he ordered.

Then his face fell.

"I have no assistant," he murmured, "Dammit I always forget about the budget cuts."

He dropped his head.

And shuffled to the closet.

"I bet Dr. Frankenstein never had to work under these conditions," he griped.

As he wrestled with a perfectly preserved corpse.

 

(continued on my blog)

 

 

 

A Bad First Day: part 3

 

Again, kinda short, sorry:

 

 

 

We got to the Spanish room without saying another word to each other. The teacher looked at us and smiled; then he just gestured to a couple of seats in the back. Mae smiled and took one of the seats toward where he gestured and patted the empty one next to her. I just smiled and sat down, turning to my attention to the movie and just enjoying a class period of almost nothing running through my mind. The time in class went by fast though, and I followed Mae up to her locker and then down to the gym.

 

“What are you guys doing?” I asked.

 

“Soccer,” Mae said, “But I don’t know, maybe we’re doing Guard the Castle, who knows.”

 

“Okay? Do I not do anything then, since I have no change of clothes?”

 

“Uh . . .” Mae thought a moment and then I felt an arm go around my shoulder.

 

“I have a pair you can use, Martin,” I heard, not recognizing the voice. It scared me, this person may have found out who I actually was, but when I looked to see who it was, I saw Riley. He had grown since the last time I’d seen him, taller and a bit more muscular. His hair also seemed darker than it was before.

 

“Uh . . . okay? Thanks.”

 

“Sure, what the hell you know, Mae are you-?” Riley began, but Mae was gone. Riley sighed and walked to the boy’s locker room, “Coming?”

 

“Oh, yeah, yeah sorry.” I followed him, got changed, and went out to the gym. I saw a ton of other people and then Mae finally showed up, but she was talking with another girl I didn’t know. The other girl was much taller than Mae though, longer, dark brown hair that was pulled back in a ponytail, deep brown eyes, and her looks were amazing. I dropped the idea of even talking to her, because Mae came right over to me.

 

“I hate it when she does that,” she said.

 

“What?” I asked.

 

“Oh, sorry, forgot you don’t know too many people around here.”

 

“Yep, who is she?”

 

“Just . . . she’s just a super athlete with too many personal problems, that’s all.”

 

“Her name, I mean.”

 

“Not important.” I just looked at Mae, and she rolled her eyes, “Her names Aubrey.”

 

“Thank you, now, why’d you leave when Riley showed up?”

 

Mae went silent and looked down slightly; then we heard, “Alright! 3 laps and then warm up, let’s go!” Mae looked at me and shrugged; then she started running around the gym with everyone else. I did the same and the rest of the warm up was just form runs, crunches, and push-ups. Then the teacher divided the class into teams and then put a Nerf soccer ball out on half court. The game started from there, Riley in one goal, someone else in the other.

 

I was impressed with some of the kid’s skills, Mae’s included; they were all pretty good . . . for Americans. Mae got the ball away from me a few times, but it was just as easy to steal it back. I did notice something strange about her shots whenever she went to score, she’d aim more for Riley than she would for the actual goal. Other than that, it was a pretty good game, I scored a few times, but it was weird to go up against your former girlfriend and be on the same one as her new boyfriend.

 

Something didn’t seem right about Mae and Riley though, I had a few guesses, but only one of them made perfect sense. Mae had refused to let me hold her hand, that wasn’t too strange though, it may have been due to my “rash” actions from first period. Then she ran off when Riley showed up, Riley seemed upset by her leaving, and then Mae’s aiming to hit Riley instead of the goal . . . have they broken up? My thoughts were cut off short when I heard the bell ring and Mae took me up to the next class for the day, history.

 

A Bad First Day: part 4

 

Here, a decent chapter I think, and the art teacher is very similar to my art teacher. Enjoy:

 

 

 

The history class went by just like Spanish did, fast. Mae went to her locker again and told me to go up to room 72, the art room. I walked down the hall, following classroom numbers that were on the doors or on the wall next to the room and found it easily; it was just at the end of the hall. I walked in and was greeted by a hyper little kid at the door.

 

“Hi!” she said, smiling.

 

“Hi?” I said, “Who are you?”

 

“Hailey, get back over here,” I heard the teacher say. He was a normal height guy, looking about my height, with black glasses, no hair on his head at all (he’d buzzed it to the scalp), and a smock on with a hand on it, a hand with an open mouth on the palm.

 

“Hey, Mr. A,” I heard Mae say, walking into the room.

 

“Hey, Wadsworth,” I heard the teacher say, “What’s up?”

 

“Nothing much, why’s Hailey with you?”

 

“She wanted to come.”

 

“Mark was fine with you doing that?”

 

“He’s Mr. Knights to you, and you know it, Wadsworth. And yes he was.”

 

Mae laughed, “I know, I’m just kidding.”

 

The teacher shifted his attention from Mae to me, “Who’s this?”

 

Mae smiled, “This is Chris.”

 

I waved, “Hi.”

 

“He’s hanging out in the states for a bit, and well . . .”

 

“Wait, is this the same Chris you were talking about a couple years ago? The one who got you and Riley together?”

 

Mae’s lip snared at the mention of Riley’s name, but she forced a smile, “Yep, same one.”

 

“Nice to meet’cha!” the teacher said, shaking my hand.

 

“What’d you tell him about me?!” I asked.

 

“Not too much, actually,” Mae said, and the teacher laughed.

 

“I’m just kidding around,” he said, “Anyway, you’ve come at a pretty strange time, we’re half way through our project so . . . if you want to just hang out or free draw or help out somehow, feel free.”

 

“Okay? What’s your project?” I asked.

 

“Book covers,” Mae said, bringing down her project from the drying rack. It was a painting of a cover for Frankenstein; only, it was only half way done. She’d done sketches across her paper and painted only about half the canvas.

 

“Very uh . . . different than what you’d expect for Frankenstein,” I said.

 

“Have you read the real, Mary Shelly version?” Mae asked.

 

“No.”

 

“Exactly.” She walked away from me and grabbed a pallet of acrylic paints, brushes, and a small plastic cup filled with water. “I recommend you read the real version before you comment.”

 

“Okay, no need to be so snippy!” I said.

 

“Oh, shut up.” Mae said rolling her eyes and laughing a bit.

 

“Fine,” I said, “What do you want me to do then?”

 

“Um . . .” Mae said, thinking for a minute before answering me, “Draw something that’ll impress me, something awesome.”

 

“Um . . . I’ll try.” I said. Mae laughed and shook her head, “What’s that supposed to mean?!”

 

“Nothing, nothing, it was just the way you said that, that’s all.”

 

“Mae and Chris, sitting in a tree . . .” I heard being sung by the teacher, who just laughed at his childish remark. The other students laughed too, but just a couple, others of them were too focused on their projects or by their music to have heard the teacher.

 

“Ha ha, very funny.” Mae said, blushing slightly.

 

The teacher laughed again, “You know I’m just kidding, Wadsworth, lighten up.” Mae just shook her head and continued on with her painting. The teacher turned his attention to the computer for a minute and did something I couldn’t see. “Here, Wadsworth, this is for you.” The teacher clicked his mouse and Yellow began to play.

 

“Oh no,” Mae said, turning to me, a worried look on her face. I heard the song and bolted out of the room.

 

“Where’s he going?!” I heard yelled from the room. I was running down the hall to the bathroom to make sure my cover wasn’t blown. Too late for that though, I could feel my body change to my normal self and I ran out of the building just as the lunch bell rang.

 

-

A Bad First Day: part 5

 

Part 5, yay!!! More tomorrow :P

 

 

 

I ran up the hill the school ended at, running up to the track and hiding behind the small building that was there. The road was far enough up where no one would see me and I was out of view of any of the students.

 

“Oh . . . fuck!” I yelled, “This can’t be happening, this can be happening, this. Can. Not. Be. HAPPENING!!!”

 

“Believe it, Martin,” I heard from behind me, “It is happening, and I can make it all go away.”

 

“Wait a minute . . . I know that voice . . .”

 

“A little slow on the update, aren’t we?” I turned and saw Murphy, his Civil War uniform still on, his face unchanged, “Miss me?”

 

“Not particularly, no.”

 

“That’s a shame, you know I’m the only one that can get you back to normal. Besides, it’s only a matter of time before someone comes looking for you.”

 

“I know, I’ll run back to the inn, they know I’m there.”

 

“They don’t know where you’ve been though, they only saw a teenage boy leave this morning, as far as the staff knows, you and your band mates are still in bed, asleep and getting over your jet lag.”

 

“So? It’s not too hard to get around the staff at the inn, I’ve done it before, and they never questioned me.”

 

“Right, but every time you came back in, who was with you?” I was silent and looked away from him, “Mae or Riley, top dogs of the establishment . . . Mae now, I guess.”

 

I looked back up at Murphy, wide eyed, “Mae and Riley have split?!”

 

“Got that right, buddy boy,” Murphy said, leaning his arm on his rifle, smirking, “However, you may not want to mention that you know to Mae just yet, she’s still kinda sensitive about it.”

 

“Oh my God . . . what went wrong, I-”

 

“CHRIS?!” I heard from the track, “CHRIS! WHERE ARE YOU?!” I recognized the voice as Mae’s, turning around and almost going out to tell her where I was.

 

I felt Murphy’s cold, dead hand on my shoulder, his rifle loaded and the barrel pressing up to my back, “Move one step, and I shoot.”

 

I smiled, knowing a way to get around Murphy and his little game of, ‘I-have-a-gun-don’t-fuck-with-me’, “MAE?!” I yelled.

 

Murphy pressed the barrel of the gun further into my back, “WHAT’D I JUST SAY?!”

 

“You said if I moved, you’d shoot, nothing about me yelling.”

 

“Do you think I wanna hear your sass?!”

 

“Chris?” I heard. Mae had come around the back of the building to see what was going on, “MURPHY?! What in God’s name are you-” Mae didn’t finish her sentence, Murphy pulled the trigger, shooting me just below the shoulder blade. I felt my knees give in and my body collapse to the ground, everything went black.

 

\\\\

 

The next thing I knew I was a teenager again, laying on a couch, shirtless, with white bandages going around where Murphy had shot me. I sat up and looked around, recognizing the Wadsworth Mansion in an instant. I saw the time, 2:00, why was I here then? I saw Mae in the kitchen finally, Rocket, the now fully grown Boarder Collie, begging from her.

 

“No, Rocket, these aren’t for you,” I heard Mae say to the dog. Rocket sat down and put a paw against Mae’s leg, “Alright, fine, I’ll give you a pretzel how about that?” The dog barked and stood up. She got herself on her back legs and jumped up at Mae, and Mae caught the dogs’s front paws, “Good girl; hugs before a treat, very smart.” The dog got down and went back to sitting, and then she barked, “And even a please, that deserves at least two or three pretzels.”

 

“You’re just looking for a way to spoil that dog, aren’t you?” I asked, surprising both Mae and the dog. I smiled at their reactions, “Where’s my shirt?”

 

A Bad First Day: part 6

 

 

 

Mae’s cheeks suddenly had a bright pink color to them, but Rocket was more than thrilled to see me. The dog came prancing over to where I was and her tail was going back and forth so fast, it was like a whip when it hit my leg.

 

“Hi, Rocket,” I said, petting the dog’s head. She moved toward me, making my hand move down her dark fur and to her back. I just smiled and pet when I saw Mae finally move from the kitchen to the living room.

 

“How ya feeling, nothing hurts?” Mae asked, going over to my back.

 

“No, why?” I asked.

 

“Cause of this,” Mae ran her finger down my back, toward the shoulder blade, and right where I got shot. She applied zero pressure, but it hurt like a mother. I twitched and let out a yelp, “Just like I thought, he did hit you with a real bullet.”

 

“WHAT?!”

 

“It didn’t go very deep,” Mae said, “Just enough to get you to bleed, pretty badly too.”

 

“Oh my God! You’re shitting me right?!”

 

Mae laughed, “Sadly, no, I’m not, but why do you think I brought you here?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“I know how to remove a bullet, Murphy showed me how, it was easy, besides, you’ll be fine. Just keep it covered up and put antibiotic cream on it, you’ll be fine. Besides that, an ambulance would have attracted too much attention and too much trouble.”

 

“I see your point but . . .” I shuttered, “How are you not grossed out by taking a bullet out of someone?!”

 

“I was kinda, but it was either that, or we have too much attention and too much trouble. Besides, I’m sure you don’t want the American paparazzi after you too.”

 

“Got that right.” I said with a sigh, “They’re a pain no matter where they’re from!”

 

“I’m sure,” Mae said.

 

“You have no idea . . . now, back to my original question, where’s my shirt?”

 

“Being cleaned,” Mae said, “along with your jeans.”

 

“Wait, then who’s jeans am I wearing?!”

 

“My brother’s.”

 

“You have a brother?”

 

“Yeah, he’s like twenty eight and has kids.”

 

“You never told me about this.”

 

“I know; I don’t like to talk about it much.”

 

“Why?”

 

“He’s so much older than me that . . . people know who he is and then there’s me, 10 years younger than he is and . . .”

 

“Hey, so what? I don’t care.” I said, smiling.

 

“Everyone else seems to.”

 

“So? Forget them.”

 

“That’s easier said than done, Chris.”

 

“I know, but sometimes it has to be done . . . no matter how difficult it may be.”

 

“You sound like my dad,” Mae laughed.

 

“Sorry, but it’s true.”

 

“I know, but just like everything else in life, there are exceptions to that rule.”

 

“Like who?”

 

Mae went silent and looked away from me, “It doesn’t matter.”

 

“Sure it does, you just said that there are some exceptions, so I’m curious what you mean.”

 

“Again, it doesn’t matter!” she said, her tone now inconsistent and shaky.

 

“Mae,” I said getting up and walking over to her, “I know about Riley, and whatever happened, I’m sure that it can be-”

 

“HE WAS CHEATING ON ME!!!” Mae yelled, her eyes starting to water.

 

“WHAT?!”

 

Mae sighed, “He was cheating on me with some other girl and . . . and . . .” Mae was fighting back tears now and was losing it. I could see them roll down her cheeks and fall to the floor.

 

“Oh, Mae,” I said, hugging her, “I’m so sorry.”

 

A Bad First Day: part 7

 

Again, it's a short part, sorry:

 

 

 

 

Mae wrapped her arms around me and rested her forehead on my shoulder. I just rubbed her back and tried to get her to calm down. I have to admit it was rather strange without my shirt on, but I really didn’t care at the same time. Rocket stopped whatever she was doing and pawed at Mae, whining a bit.

 

“Hey girl,” Mae said, smiling and petting the dog.

 

“Smart dog,” I said, amazed that Rocket knew what was going on.

 

“Yeah, Border Collies are one of the smartest dog breeds . . . even if Rocket does some pretty stupid stuff.” The dog looked up at Mae as if to say, ‘Like you don’t,’ which got a laugh from the both of us.

 

“You know . . . Riley’s an idiot for leaving you, he’s missing out.”

 

Mae looked at me and gave me a look, “How so?”

 

“Well, you’re sweet, kind, smart,” I saw Mae had a pretty deep blush still on her cheeks, so I kept going, “you’re easy to blush . . .”

 

“Shut up!” Mae said, shoving me a bit.

 

I just laughed and smiled, realizing that I’d only got the blush to deepen to almost red. I put an arm around Mae’s shoulders and kissed her cheek, “But it’s true.” Mae’s cheeks went totally red at that point and she looked surprised. Her look of surprise turned to a smile . . . a smile I recognized in an instant.

 

She turned to me and left that smile on her face, “You know what? We’ve been beating around the bush for way too long,” and with that, Mae pulled me in and I felt her lips press to mine. I wasn’t surprised, and it felt just like it did before, I felt that buzz run up and down my spine and I was in heaven. Mae didn’t let me go after a minute, which was strange; she hated it before, why not now? I pulled away and looked at her, confused, but she just had that same smirk on her face.

 

“What’s running through that mind of yours?” I finally asked.

 

“Nothing at all,” was the simple response I got. Mae started kissing me again, and I just went along with it, I knew there was no way around her, what the hell, may as well go along, right? Before I knew it though, we’d ended up on the couch and pretty much snogging each other. It was strange, but again, I didn’t care!

 

. . . My ‘I-don’t-care’ feeling ended when I heard the door open and then the sound of multiple objects hitting the floor. Mae and I turned our heads to see a man, one I didn’t recognize, with an astonished look on his face. He’d dropped grocery bags onto the floor, their contents being sniffed happily by the dog.

 

“Oh shit,” I heard Mae say under her breath, “. . . I am so dead.”

 

A Bad First Day: part 8

 

 

 

 

 

The man’s look of shock changed to one of disapproval in an instant, “Mae, what on EARTH are you doing?!”

 

“Uh . . . nothing, Max, nothing,” Mae said.

 

“Really, then why is it that you were just sucking face with this guy?!”

 

“Um . . .”

 

“And do you think you are?” I asked.

 

“Her brother,” the man replied. My eyes went wide with astonishment, but then I saw the similarities between this man and Mae. Both had curly, red hair (the man’s a deeper shade than Mae’s), and had a similar face, “Who’d you think I was?!”

 

I shrugged, “I don’t know!”

 

“Get out of our house, NOW!”

 

“MAX!” Mae cut in, “That’s no way to talk to him!”

 

“Oh yeah, why? I thought you already had a boy-”

 

“Finish that word I will punch you! You know Riley and I broke up!”

 

“Really now, this is my first time hearing!”

 

“I TOLD YOU YESTERDAY!!!”

 

“You know I forget things! Besides, Dad wants to know why you left school.”

 

“To take care of Chris, he was shot.”

 

The man looked at me and then at the bandages, “. . . Where?”

 

“Right below the shoulder blade,” Mae said, “Murphy did it.”

 

“Oh my God, you and this ‘Murphy’ thing! You’ve been using that since you were two years old, Mae, it didn’t work then, and it’s not gonna work now!” The man took me and had me under his arm, sitting on the arm of the couch, his free hand ripping the bandages off.

 

“Hey, wh-what are you doing?! Get off!” I yelled, struggling to get out of his grip.

 

“Oh, shut up!” he barked, pressing the spot where the bullet’s mark was. I yelled in pain and then he let me go, “That’s no real bullet, it’s a copper beebee’s mark at the very worst.”

 

“OW! NO! That’s no fucking beebee, you asshole!” I yelled, still in pain.

 

“Pfft, please,” he said, punching me again in the same spot, “You’re just being a baby, besides, not only that,” he grabbed the back of the jeans, “You stole my jeans.” He ripped out a pin and the waistband suddenly became very loose.

 

“Hey!” I yelled, grabbing the baggy jeans, “What the hell!”

 

“Little creep, sucking face with my sister and stealing my stuff, you’re nothing more than a skinny wimp who doesn’t know how much trouble he’s gotten himself into.”

 

“Why you-” I began, but I was cut off by the sound of drums playing. Music started playing throughout the whole house, the opening to LOST! to be exact. “No, no! No, no, no, no, no, NO!” I yelled, feeling myself change again. I was the adult me again, shirtless, shot, and jeans still sagging slightly, just exposing the top of my boxers.

 

“Holy shit,” I heard the man say, “You’re . . . you’re . . .”

 

“Chris Martin, yeah, big shock. Now, what was that bit about me being a . . . oh, what was it . . . a ‘skinny wimp who doesn’t know how much trouble he’s in’?” The man looked at me with a blank look on his face, his color gone, “Well, are you going to answer me or what?”

 

----

 

“I . . . I uh . . .” the man stammered. He started to shake a bit and he backed into the kitchen.

 

“I take you’re not going to answer me,” I said, “What a surprise.” The music stopped and I heard Mae come down the steps. She came into the kitchen and put a med-kit on the counter, taking her brother’s shoulders and sitting him down in one of the chairs by the island.

 

“You wait here, Max, I’ll explain after I re-bandage Chris’s wound,” Mae said, hugging her brother.

 

Max sat in the chair, shaking with his disbelief and shock of finding out I was Chris Martin. Mae walked back over to me and gave a half smile, “Sorry, he would have just made things ten times as worse as they were already.”

 

“I can tell,” I said, “How are you gonna re-bandage me then?”

 

“First things first,” she said, holding out a belt, “Your jeans and shirt are still in the wash, and you’re gonna want this.”

 

I could feel myself blush as I took the belt from Mae, “Thanks.”

 

“Not my fault you’re a twig.”

 

“It’s called being a vegetarian, you should try it.”

 

“Have, hated it, meant I couldn’t eat lamb.”

 

“You would eat a poor little lamb.”

 

“If I didn’t know it before it’s slaughtered and its cooked right, then yeah, I would . . . I do.”

 

“You monster!”

 

“Yeah, yeah, sit down while I get out the bandages.”

 

I laughed, “You’re so quick to change the subject!”

 

“Do you not want my help or what?” I just rolled my eyes and sat down while Mae put on a fresh bandage and re-wrapped my shoulder. It was weird, I have to admit, but it meant I didn’t have to face any more punches to the back.

 

Whoops accidental post

Yes, I am aware that this is extremely short, but I am currently experiencing writer's block.

 

The song is "All the Right Moves", OneRepublic.

 

 

 

 

 

In Guy's flat, not far from the Bakery, Will and Guy were allowing themselves a victory drink.

 

"Well, mate, we've finally done it. It took 13 years to get through Chris's thick head, but," Guy grinned, "we've done it."

 

"Yep," said Will, "13 years for Chris to realize that he loves Jonny. I mean, we both noticed it right away that they were meant for each other, but those two had no idea!"

 

"Using music was the perfect way to get him to realize it, I think. Seems to be the only way to get through to him."

 

"Never thought that that American pop-ish sounding rock band OneRepublic would be the band to make it, though."

 

"Yeah, thought it'd be some Brit band like us, but evidently not."

 

They high-fived each other.

 

"Mission accomplished."

 

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

 

Chris ran his hands through Jonny's short hair and grinned as Jonny's nimble guitarist's hands snuck under his shirt, a move that eventually ended with said shirt getting tossed across the room and landing on top of the stereo. Chris couldn't get his thoughts in order; they were as scrambled as marbles on a highway.

 

Jonny couldn't think either; you try organizing your mind as your best friend is taking your heart and your pants off at the same time. It just doesn't work.

 

The music was still playing, only slightly muffled by Chris's shirt. The current track couldn't suit the situation better:

 

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRO7stC7eDg]YouTube - OneRepublic - All The Right Moves (NEW ALBUM: Waking up - 2009) + MP3 download link[/ame]

 

 

 

All the right friends in all the right places

So yeah, we're going down

They got all the right moves and all the right faces

So yeah, we're going down

 

"Y'know some people say that guys like us will all go to hell."

 

"Well if you're there with me, it can't be all that bad."

 

Now both of them were nearly down to wearing nothing. And just as that was about to become nothing, there was suddenly another presence in the room, it was female, and it was really, really annoying. For one thing, it was intruding on something very important to this story, and for another thing it was there on a mission that could rip Chris and Jonny apart forever.

 

The person, or shall I say being, in the room was not of this world, or any other, but was nonetheless there.

 

"Hello," it spoke, "what a nice day it is."

 

Bewildered, Chris and Jonny sat up, EXTREMELY disoriented, because the door hadn't opened. It was as though she had popped up out of nowhere.

 

"Chris," the thing said again, "shouldn't you be at home, helping Gwyneth with the children? And Jonny, why aren't you with Chloe? You know she wanted to go out for dinner this evening, so why aren't you getting ready?"

 

The names Gwyneth and Chloe were unfamiliar to the pair, yet tantalizingly familiar...

 

Before I Fall To Pieces

PART ONE.

 

 

"This song is going to be killer, Chris, I'm telling you" Jonny said, grinning as he strummed on his brand new, shiny acoustic guitar.

 

"You think? Because I'm sick of just writing and writing songs and not getting anywhere" Chris replied, sighing as he tried to work out some notes on the piano.

 

"Look, I'm telling you Chris, you know my mate Mitch?"

 

"The bald one?" Chris asked.

 

"Yeah, well y'know that he is a radio DJ, I've played him this new song, well, just the demo and he loves it- he say's he's going to try and play it!" Jonny said excitedly. Chris didn't seem to share his excitement. "I thought you'd be happy"

 

"Not really, because I know it's going to get nowhere. After that first radio play- our lives aren't going to change in anyway! I mean we don't even have a drummer, I've been trying to get my mate Will to join for months!"

 

"You just wait Chris, your life will change forever, we don't need a bloody drummer!" Jonny said, setting his guitar down and walking out. "I'll see you later Chris"

 

"Jonny, wait!" Chris said. Jonny stopped in his tracks.

 

"Yeah?" Jonny replied.

 

"I'm sorry, I mean, this could work, I''m going to go and see my mate Will again, see if I can get him to reconsider, because I'm telling you- that is what we need!" Chris said.

 

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

 

Chris knocked on the very grotty looking door. The number 6 was hanging off and as Chris knocked, it fell to the ground.

 

"Oh god" Chris muttered to himself. The door opened.

 

"Chris" Will sighed.

 

"Don't act too pleased to see me!" Chris said, letting himself in. "Woah, what's going on here?"

 

"I'm moving" Will said looking at the stack of cardboard boxes and clothes slewed all over the place. "As you can see, the flat is a bit of a mess"

 

"Where is your drumkit?" Chris asked, puzzled.

 

"I've sold it" Will said, sighing.

 

"What?" Chris exclaimed. "Why the hell would you do that?"

 

"I don't want to drum anymore" Will replied. "I want to do something meaningful with my life instead of pursuing bloody music!"

 

"But music is the most amazing thing in the world, why the hell wouldn't you want to do it anymore. I couldn't imagine never doing it again. I don't know if I would able to take it!" Chris said, genuinely honest.

 

"Well that is where me and you are very different people" Will said. "And if you don't mind, will you let me get a move on with packing, the flight is tomorrow evening"

 

"Flight? Where are you going?" Chris exclaimed.

 

"Germany. I have some family there" Will said. "Look I'm sorry for being snappy, it's just all a bit sad"

 

"Germany? Germany? Are you ridiculous, look, you are sad because you don't want to leave, is it that bitch girlfriend of yours making you leave and get music out of your life?" Chris exclaimed.

 

Will punched him. "Get the fuck out of my flat" Will said calmly as Chris fell to the floor and scrambled up and out of the flat.

 

 

 

Before I Fall To Pieces

PART TWO.

 

 

 

"Chris...Chris Martin. Hey! over here!" a woman shouted down the street running to, you guessed it, Chris Martin.

 

"Oh...hey...Mel" Chris said, continuing to walk down the street, genuinely scared about what this woman might do to him.

 

"Chris...is that...is that blood seeping from your face?" Mel asked, shocked. "It is, it's not tomato ketchup, I would be able to smell that" she continued, moving right up towards Chris' face and smelling him. "The smell" she said, putting her finger in the blood and tasting it. "The taste...of copper"

 

"Okay" Chris said calmly. "I'm going home now, please leave me alone"

 

"Okay...I'll catch you later, but don't get into any more fights!" Mel said with her beaming smile showing off her teeth which resembled that of a shark.

 

"I'll try not to" Chris said sarcastically.

 

"Oh...Chris, and before you go" Mel said. Chris turned round.

 

"Yes?" Chris sighed.

 

"Do you want to tell me when your next gig is?"

 

"Check our Facebook" Chris replied, opening his front door and slamming it behind him.

 

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

 

"Chris" Jonny said. "What's happened?" he said, looking at Chris' battered and bruised face.

 

"It's Will ain't it?" Chris said, moping as he collapsed onto the sofa.

 

"I told you that we don't want him in the band. Especially when he does stuff like that to you for no reason"

 

"Yeah...no reason" Chris said sarcastically. There was a pause, the radio could be heard playing in the background. An old U2 song was playing.

 

"Chris have you been going around pretending you are it again?" Jonny said. "You've got to be nicer to people, the world doesn't revolve around you y'know?"

 

"Yeah...I know...I'm sorry" Chris said, hugging Jonny. "I love you man"

 

"I know you do" Jonny said. And the two men paused when they heard something familiar from the radio and it wasn't U2.

 

It was Coldplay.

 

The pair just sat there are listened and long after it was played, they both replayed it in their minds.

 

"We're going to be famous" Chris muttered before falling asleep in Jonny's arms.

 

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

 

"Open up, please" a voice could be heard from outside. Chris opened his eyes and went towards the door, half naked. He opened it.

 

"Are you Chris Martin?" the man asked.

 

"Who want's to know?" Chris replied, his eyebrows raised.

 

"I do" the man said. "Y'see. when you write music, it's supposed to be your own, not somebody elses"

 

"What do you mean? What the hell are you talking about?" Chris exclaimed.

 

"What I'm talking about...pretty boy is that you can't steal music from U2 and claim it to be your own. You are going to be in a lot of trouble" the man said. "Come with me"

 

"Damn Bono" Chris muttered before being carted away into the back of a strange, black car.

 

 

 

Before I Fall To Pieces.

PART THREE.

 

 

 

 

"I'm home" Chris said, collapsing onto the sofa.

 

"Chris!" Jonny exclaimed, running towards him and parking himself next to Chris on the sofa. "What the hell happened?"

 

"Accused of plagiarism for our song...by U2" Chris sighed.

 

"Woah, U2 listened to our song on the local radio station!" Jonny said.

 

"That's besides the bloody point!" Chris shouted.

 

"I'm sorry" Jonny said calmly. "Are you going to tell me what happened, you denied it obviously, didn't you?"

 

Chris shrugged.

 

"Didn't you?"

 

"No, I fucking well didn't. This is U2 we are talking about and we are some crappy band who are never going to get anywhere!" Chris complained.

 

"So what's happened?" Jonny asked.

 

"I'm banned from the music industry for ever, I'm not allowed to do music anymore. The only thing I've ever wanted to do ever, and I'm not allowed to do it" Chris exclaimed.

 

"What? They can't do that!" Jonny said.

 

"Apparently they can" Chris said. "Apparently they can" he reiterated.

 

There was a knock at the door. The two men turned to the front door. Jonny got up to answer it. It was Will.

 

"What do you want?" Jonny snarled.

 

"I've come to say sorry to Chris" Will said.

 

"He doesn't need your apologies" Jonny replied, trying to close the door.

 

"Jonny!" Chris said. "Let him in"

 

"I'm sorry Chris" Will said. "Look, I'm leaving today, I don't want to leave on bad terms with you so I have come to invite you to my leaving party"

 

"I forgive you Will, I was being a bit of an idiot to you" Chris said. "Me and Jonny would love to go to your leaving party!"

 

"That's great, come to mine around 7 tonight?" Will said.

 

"We'll be there" Chris replied before Will walked out.

 

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

 

At the party

 

There were about thirty people stuffed into Will's little flat.

 

"Don't look, but that Mel is over there" Jonny said.

 

"Oh fuck" Chris replied. "Why lord?"

 

Mel noticed them and walked over to Chris. "Chris, I heard your song on the radio. It was brilliant! It reminded me of this song by U2"

 

"Uhh...thanks...but I don't think you will be hearing it again anytime soon!" Chris replied.

 

"Why not?" Mel asked.

 

"Coldplay quit" Chris said. "That's all I'm going to say" Chris said before leading Jonny away, leaving a visible distraught Mel sobbing.

 

"Jonny, do you want a drink?" Chris asked.

 

"Yeah please" Jonny replied. Chris smiled as he walked into the kitchen, he was on his own.

 

Chris reached for the bottle of what looked like very cheap gin in front of him and proceeded to pour two glasses. Chris' attention soon moved to the papers underneath the bottle. They were all Will's credentials, everything that made Will Champion were right in front of Chris in black and white, Chris quickly pocketed it all and turned round. Mel was standing in front of him.

 

"Chris, what the hell are yo doing?" Mel exclaimed.

 

 

 

Before I Fall To Pieces

PART FOUR

 

 

 

 

"How are you doing, Mel?" Chris said.

 

"Don't try and change the subject, Chris. What the hell are you doing?" Mel exclaimed, staring daggers at Chris. He didn't want to mess with her.

 

"Alright Mel...I'll tell you, but you can't tell anyone else- not even Jonny" Chris said.

 

"I promise" Mel said, smiling, sitting down next to Chris at the kitchen table.

 

"I haven't quit music" Chris said.

 

"Really? Oh my god, that is fantastic" Mel said with delight.

 

"Keep your voice down" Chris said. "Well at least I don't want to quit music, and now I think I've got an idea of how I can carry on"

 

"I don't understand" Mel said, puzzled, staring into Chris' eyes.

 

"I got done for plagiarism, by no other than U2" Chris said, sighing.

 

"Ahh, so that is why it sounded by U2, you little cheater" She chuckled.

 

"I didn't mean to, I never even bloody listen to them!" Chris said. "Anyway the point is, I got into trouble over this and basically I have been told that I can't do music anymore"

 

"What?" Mel exclaimed.

 

"What did I say about keeping your voice down?" Chris replied, starting to get annoyed. "Look you see, Chris Martin can't do music any more but...Will Champion can"

 

"What?" Mel exclaimed, getting increasingly confused.

 

"Y'see because I am Will Champion" Chris replied, reaching for the documents out of his pocket. "Look, I found all these here, with this information...I can be Will Champion"

 

"But...he's Will Champion" Mel said.

 

"Yeah but...he's moving abroad and doesn't want to do music any more. Music is my life, this is the only way I can continue with it." Chris said.

 

"But people know who you are!" Mel said.

 

"Stop kidding yourself, I play gigs to about ten people in the local area every month or so...I am going to move away" Chris said.

 

"You're not moving to Germany as well, are you?" Mel asked.

 

"Of course not, I'm staying in the country, but to where no one knows who I am...to somewhere where I can become Will Champion" Chris said, grinning.

 

"You're crazy" Mel replied.

 

"Yeah, and what are you?" Chris replied. "You can't tell anyone this, Mel. Do you hear me?" Chris said, grabbing her wrist.

 

"I promise" Mel said. "As I can have a bit of fun in the process...Will" she chuckled.

 

Will walked into the room, Chris quickly stuffed all the documents back into his pocket.

 

"I heard my name" Will said, smiling.

 

"Stop being nosy, Will. I'll see you later...Chris." Mel said, touching Will's nose seductively before walking out of the kitchen.

 

"She's crazy is that girl, isn't she?" Will chuckled.

 

"She sure is" Chris replied. "It's a great party by the way, Will"

 

"Cheers" Will said. "You've been a great friend to me, I will really miss you. I'm off soon, I don't want to go, it's going to be lonely on that flight. I'm having second thoughts"

 

"Oh don't be stupid!" Chris said, worriedly. "Forget about me and everyone here, have a new life abroad with your girlfriend"

 

"She's left me" Will said. "You are right, she was a bitch"

 

"Well I'm sorry to hear that" Chris said. "But yeah, you can have a new life, eh?"

 

"Yeah, cheers Chris" Will said. "Come with me"

 

Will lead Chris out into the living room where everyone was gathered round. Turning off the music, Will began to speak.

 

"I just want to say thank you to all my friends. Especially my good friend, Chris Martin. This guy is going to be famous one day, I'm telling you, there is only one Chris Martin" Will said, proudly.

 

"Yeah...and there's only one Will Champion" Chris replied, hesitantly as he walked to Jonny.

 

 

 

Before I Fall To Pieces

PART FIVE

 

 

 

 

"He's nice is Will, isn't he?" Jonny said, collapsing on the sofa.

 

"Uhh...yeah...he is" Chris said, biting his nails.

 

"Chris, what's wrong?" Jonny said.

 

"I'm tired, I just want to go to bed" Chris replied, turning away.

 

"Chris" Jonny said, he knew exactly when something was bothering Chris. "Is there something you want to tell me"

 

Bursting into tears, Chris began to pour his heart out.

"I'm in hell...I can't do music any more...it's the only thing I've ever wanted to do. I hate this place. I'm sick of life!" Chris exclaimed.

 

"Eh, eh, shush, don't be silly, there is tons of things you can do" Jonny said, smiling.

 

"Like what...cleaning? Pretending the mop is a guitar? Well, I'm telling you Jonny, I'm not doing that again! No way!" Chris said, moping.

 

"I'm afraid that the law is the law, you have to deal with it" Jonny replied.

 

"But I didn't do anything wrong" Chris replied. "I haven't got the money to take on U2!"

 

"I know you haven't, so there's not much we can do. But just name something, anything that I can do that might make you feel better?" Jonny asked.

 

"I want to move. I want to move away" Chris said. "I hate this place...it's got to many bad memories"

 

"Well where do you want to go?" Jonny said, a little taken aback.

 

"I want to move to Scotland. I have no family there, I know no one there, I want a fresh start" Chris replied.

 

"Are you serious, is that what you want?" Jonny asked.

 

"Yes it is" Chris replied.

 

"Then your wish is my command!" Jonny said. "Now...can I ask for something?"

 

"Of course you can, my beautiful boy" Chris said, giddy with excitement.

 

"I want a baby" Jonny said. "I really want a baby"

 

 

 

Before I Fall To Pieces

PART SIX

 

 

 

 

"Wow, a baby" Chris said. "That's a huge step"

 

"I'm sorry...it's probably too soon, I'm just being silly" Jonny replied, sighing.

 

"No, no, don't think like that" Chris said. "I'm all up for the idea"

 

"Really?" Jonny said, perking up.

 

"Yeah, it would be cool to have a kid around the place" Chris said.

 

"Oh, I'm glad you've said yes, I was already talking to that Mel about her being a surrogate!" Jonny said.

 

"You are kidding" Chris replied. The two men paused.

 

"Of course I am" Jonny said, laughing. "Not her, but my friend Charlotte and I have been talking, I mean, if that's the route you want to take"

 

"Yeah, sure, why not?" Chris replied. "After the house move?"

 

"When you were thinking of moving Chris? We have to put this place on the market first y'know!" Jonny said, getting a little bit frustrated.

 

"I'm sorry but you can't just throw this bombshell on me and want to do it straight away!" Chris exclaimed.

 

"I don't want to, I mean, Charlotte is six months pregnant already!" Jonny said. "Poor girl, she's just been ditched by her boyfriend, it will be a bit of time, after the pregnancy, that she will want to carry another baby!"

 

"Will you stop talking about bloody babies!" Chris exclaimed.

 

"You were all up for it two minutes ago!" Jonny said. "But fine, if that's the way you feel, I'll forget I ever mentioned it. Why don't we just drop everything tomorrow, the house and just up sticks and go to Scotland, hoping we'll have a place to stay"

 

"Well...that was what I was hoping, I mean we can stay at a hotel or a bed and breakfast for the first few months or so" Chris said.

 

"First few months? And who do you think is going to pay for this- You're jobless, and on my salary I can't afford to!" Jonny replied, annoyed.

 

"Well why don't you ask for a few more shifts at the Butcher's?" Chris asked.

 

"Oh, right, so I do all the work? I'm sorry Chris, but you haven't thought this through, have you? All you think about is yourself!" Jonny shouted.

 

The phone rang. Staring daggers at Chris, Jonny proceeded to pick it up.

"Hello...Yes, I'm Jonny...what? I'll be on my way!" Jonny said, worriedly.

 

"Who was that?" Chris asked

 

"It was the hospital, Charlotte is there, she's gone into labour, three months early!" Jonny replied. "I need to go!"

 

"Do you want me to come with you?" Chris asked, calmly.

 

"No!" Jonny snarled. "Uhh...no, just stay here"

 

"Of course" Chris replied. "I'll be right here for you when you come back"

 

"Whatever" Jonny replied, walking out the front door.

 

Sighing, Chris lay down on the sofa and closed his eyes. He then heard a noise, he opened his eyes and there was Mel- staring back at him.

 

 

 

Short, but oh well.

 

 

 

There was definitely something wrong.

 

Very wrong.

 

Guy stormed through his flat, kicking things, shouting, and generally acting stressed. "WILL!" he shouted. "WE HAVE A PROBLEM!"

 

"What?"

 

"We're all out of alcohol."

 

"Damn."

 

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

 

Something, some instinct of theirs, was telling Chris and Jonny to NOT believe the Logic!Fairy. The whole room was so silent, you could hear the dust settle.

 

Chris was clinging to Jonny's arm so hard it was starting to hurt, but Jonny didn't mind, because it was something he could focus on, something besides that stupid sparkly thing that was intruding upon business that should have been taken care of years ago.

 

Then, after about a minute of silence, their minds were assaulted by the Fairy, who was trying to stuff memories in their brains that didn't belong there.

 

Chris was fighting it with all his will, cursing, squinting, etc.

 

But as he fought the memories of being married to some blonde American actress, he was suddenly back in that awful plane, the one that nearly crashed when he was in Africa around 2003.

 

In his mind, the plane jolted and swayed, buffeted by the winds, but this time they were not winds, but more memories. The only difference between this plane and the the one he was in then was that the 2003 plane had no parachutes in it.

 

This one did.

 

Chris forced his mental self to get up out of the plane seat and stumble to the door. He flung it open, seeing nothing but darkness outside of the plane, but he knew what he had to do.

 

He jumped.

 

 

 

Jonny was remembering when Chris had said to some reporter a few years ago that Coldplay's favorite way to reject a song was to batter it with insults and sarcasm.

 

Well, he thought, here goes nothing.

 

The Addiction

Chapter 1 Fooling Someone

 

Guy leaned over his bass and whipped out his iPhone 4 and unlocked it.

He swiped the screen a few time until he finally tapped the Angry Birds app.

He strummed a few notes Brian or Will wouldn't find out he wasn't working.

The application finally stopped loading and the main menu popped up, he tapped play then suddenly he heard Chris walk into the studio, "Can you believe it? That idiot seriously thinks the album is coming out in autumn!" He said to Jonny. "Hey Guy! Working on something?" Jonny asked curiously. Guy slipped the iPhone away in his jean pocket and turned to face Jonny. "Uh… Yeah.." He said anxiously. "Keep it coming, let's prove Parlophone wrong!" Chris grinned. They left him to "work" in private. Guy focused on playing some notes for 5 minutes but off in the background he heard Chris singing Clocks. Guy smiled and got out his iPhone and started playing Angry Birds and slingshot birds far away, knocked down bricks, scored tons of points. A door creaked open, Will walked in "Hey!" he called out. Guy tucked away the iPhone in his pocket. Will noticed something flash near Guy's bass and asked, "Guy, what was that?" Guy turned around and tried to look calm and relaxed, "What are you talking about?" He said acting puzzled.

" I saw something silver flash."

"I haven't the slightest clue as to what you're talking about."

"Never mind." Will mumbled. That was close Guy thought, Chris and Jonny were easy to fool however tricking Will was much more difficult. It was like a fly trying to escape from a Venus flytrap; you might as well give up and say your goodbyes because it was game over.

 

 

I apologize for it being short but oh well.

Before I Fall To Pieces

PART SEVEN

 

 

 

"Chris, have you been sat on that sofa all night?" Jonny asked as he walked through the door.

 

"I've been thinking. How's Charlotte?" Chris asked.

 

"She's in a right state...she gave birth to a little boy but it's touch and go. He's so premature. He'll be in hospital for a long time yet. Chris, she has got no one. I've got to be with her. I've only come back home for a few things and I am going right back" Jonny said.

 

"Jonny, it's 5.30am in the morning, have you not slept?" Chris asked.

 

"I can't sleep when my friend is in a such a state!" Jonny replied. "But I suggest you get some sleep"

 

"Jonny...are me and you alright?" Chris asked.

 

"Just get some sleep, I'll speak to you later, I'll have to call in to work to say I'm not coming in. I'll come home for dinner but I will be spending a lot of time with Charlotte" Jonny replied.

 

"Of course, of course" Chris said, smiling. "Send her my love and my prayers"

 

Jonny smiled and walked up to Chris, hugging him. "Come here you! Of course we are fine, I mean, situation's like Charlotte's make you really appreciate what you have and what you take for granted!"

 

"It sure does" Chris replied, grinning.

 

"Now, get some sleep" Jonny asked.

 

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

Later that day...

 

There was a knock at the door...

 

"Jonny, did you forget your keys?" Chris said as he waked over to the front door, opening it, he was surprised to see that it was not Jonny...it was Mel.

 

"Hello...Will" Mel said, walking in and closing the door.

 

"Mel, what the hell are you doing here?" Chris whined.

 

"I've come to get the gossip" Mel replied. "I mean, it's exciting all this identity theft"

 

"Will you be quiet, I haven't done anything yet!" Chris snarled.

 

"So when are you moving to Scotland?" Mel asked, having a good look round the place.

 

"Not anytime soon" Chris replied. "In fact, I'm having second thoughts about moving all together. It's not what Jonny wants"

 

"Not what Jonny wants?" Mel replied, puzzled. "What's he got to do with it"

 

"Well...he is my boyfriend" Chris replied. "Did we not tell you, we have been going out for over a year"

 

"You're kidding me?" Mel exclaimed. "You must be, Chris..." she said, moving closer to Chris. "You are joking with me, aren't you? I mean you are a musician, musicians aren't gay!"

 

"Uhh...nah...of course they aren't but...I'm afraid, this one is" Chris replied.

 

"Well, this changes everything" Mel said, turning away and sighing.

 

"And what do you mean by that?" Chris asked.

 

"Well, you've got nothing I want now...I might as well just go to the police, I've got nothing to lose now" Mel snarled.

 

"You're deluded!" Chris replied.

 

"Oh really? Then tell me it's not true!" Mel said. "Because I'd rather be living a lie than live a terrible truth"

 

Chris kissed her, just quickly, a quick peck on the lips.

 

"I knew it" Mel said, walking towards the door. "Well, that's my fix for the day, I'll be on my way. Same time tomorrow?" she said before blowing Chris a kiss and walking out.