Band On The Run

Music When The Lights Go Out

Raising my eyes to the ceiling, I let out yet another sigh before looking down to him. Taking my time in the movements, I carefully straddled him in the chair, bringing my hands away from his to rest them on his shoulders. “We’re going to record it live,” I said as I settled on his lap, my eyes dropping just the right amount to meet his gaze.

I wasn’t sure if he just didn’t feel the need to respond or not, but Seth didn’t say a word. Instead he just stared back at me, so close that I could see the way that his cheekbone still had the slightest discolouring from that bruise, something that was only visible at this distance. Even as his open hand ran up my thigh, the other reached up and tucked my hair behind my ear, the movements still enough to have my breath catching in my throat.

Swallowing the sudden thickening, I moved my hands off his shoulders in order to wrap my arms about his neck. Hoping that his ribs were no longer sore, I leaned against him, burying my nose in the crook of his neck.

There were practically waves of bewilderment coming off of him, but I didn’t bother to respond as I breathed in deeply. He smelt just as I was used to; a hint of cigarette smoke he thought he was hiding from me, leather, soap and something that I’d never been able to put a finger on and had decided it was simply him. There was nothing more comforting in the world than to be able to close my eyes and know that he was that close from the heat travelling through my body and his scent.

Although he was obviously still unsure what was going on, Seth raised his arms to twine around my back, hanging loosely in a gesture I was sure he didn’t know was as comforting as it was. He was just there and it was enough.

I didn’t know how when the interaction had turned into this, and I squeezed my eyes shut, leaning my forehead against the side of his head, the soft hair creating a border.

These days it always seemed we were standing together on a single foot of ground, cliffs to all our sides. And there was always the incentive for one of us to shove the other over the side, though they always followed on the fall, whether it to be for a blow out shouting match or sex wherever we might be. We were forever pushing at each other, seeing who was going to be the first to fall and I didn’t know how to stop it.

This was one of those rare moments when where we were perfectly balanced on that foot of ground, just clinging to one another.

 

Snapping his fingers in front of my face, Ben successfully caused me to see him although I’d been staring at him blankly the entire time.

As I blinked in response, he just gave me a slight frown that was edging towards suspicious but more to confusion. “What’s up with you lately?” he questioned, “You keep getting these blank looks and zoning out.”

“That’s not just lately,” I muttered unenthusiastically, “Sorry; I’m just really tired. What did you say before?”

“It doesn’t sound right.”

Heaving a great sigh, I gritted my teeth ever so slightly as I ran a hand over my face, leaning my elbow against the soundboard. I swear if I put my head down I’d be sleeping within seconds. At least I knew where that memory had come from that made my stomach clench uncomfortably and my eyes prickle.

“I know it doesn’t,” said I wearily, opening my eyes to stare at all the switches in front of me. They were blurry and I had to blink again to get them in focus. Reaching out to pick up my coffee mug, I told him, “I think we might need to bring someone into help me mix the album at the end. I can just do rough mixes until then.”