The Showman

Paris & Michael Hutchance

The 4 of them got lost into Paris's night. They walked around the city searching for places to hang out some time. They saw a little bar in the corner of a tiny street and got inside. It was full of drunk French people, and nobody recognized him. That was perfect.

"Whiskey please" Bono ordered to the barman

He had one, then two, three and after that everyone lost the count of how many he took. At the end of the night, he was drunk and tired. Eli, Guggi and Sun decided the night was over. They got into the car and headed home. Guggi was silent, something unusual. He felt guilty for bringing Ali's name out, and with it, memories that got Bono into darkness once again. He was sleeping like a baby in the back seat, with his head on Sun's shoulder. She could smell his amazing cologne mixed with whiskey. She felt pity for him. Sun wanted to help him, but she couldn't do much if he didn't open himself. She was thinking about what Guggi said during dinner, that he was keeping something for himself that caused him pain

Once at home, Guggi loaded Bono to the living room couch.
"Let him rest here. He'll wake up and head to his room" Guggi said

"I'll stay here then" Sun said looking at him, sleeping

"I'll stay a bit as well, and then I'll go to bed" Eli said

"I'll go up to the guest room. The driving got me tired. If you need something, call me" Guggi said as the girls nodded
Once Guggi left, the girls stayed silent in the living room.

"He's really hurt" Eli said "She must been everything to him.... It's been almost 3 years and he's not over her yet"

"There has to be something more...Guggi didn't even mention her name..." Sun said thinking out loud

"What are you thinking?" Eli asked

"He has like a sanctuary at his room in Dublin...Pictures of her, paintings of her face, her clothes are all tidy as she is still there"

"Wait...You told me that when you saw him in Buenos Aires, he talk to you like if you were her, right?"

"Yes" Sun replied

"So get him drunk and pretend to be her" Eli proposed

"What!?"

"What you heard" Eli said looking serious "Look. We're going back home next week. You know her, you've seen pictures, and he talked to you like you were her before. So if you want to help him, I think this is the only way" Eli finished and stare at her "But you have to know that if he finds out what you're doing, whatever you both have will be fucked up?" Eli warned her

"I know. But if I don't do it, his life will be fucked up. I rather make him be pissed with me than having to see him like this pretending he's gonna be better someday" 

"Tomorrow is Michael's party. We have to get him drunk and then you take him to his room"

"Who's Michael?" Sun asked

"Michael Hutchance....Guggi and I are here because he ended the tour with INXS and he organized a party because of it. Michael invited Guggi, Adam and Edge, and since he's a close friend Bono, he will be there too..."

"Oh God!" Sun said looking nervous, she admired Michael Hutchance

"Come on! It's going to be a party, and that means alcohol maybe drugs and a lot of people. It will make it easier for you" Eli said "Besides I'll be there, and Guggi as well, if we tell him about this..."

"I'm a piece of shit for doing this...For submerging into his memories, into his emotions..." Sun said with a guilty face

"You're helping him. You're risking what you have with him, just to make him feel better, to fix him. You have the biggest heart." Eli said while putting her hand on Sun's shoulder