(Writer's Note: As promised I uploaded soon :D I hope you enjoy this chapter, but I have a sneeky suspicion anybody with Red as their fave character will love this one ;) )
Chapter 10
The Aurora Borealis of Sullaby
~Crystal
I felt sick. I felt like I could spew up the world in an instant. I fell out with Red with him being so… So horrible about Michelle, but when I began to think about it, at least he was honest. Me on the other hand? I told him he was my best friend, which I felt to be true, even though Michelle is my best friend too- but at least I’m not lying to her. But I’m lying to him. And to Strings and Drummer. I knew I had to tell them, but I had already signed up as a guy! What was I supposed to do?
Dreading seeing Red again, I ended up appearing at band ten minutes late.
‘We thought you might not show.’ Strings sighed, ‘Wouldn’t blame you, but he’s like that sometimes. Remember how he was when you joined? Once he gets to know her he’ll be better.’
‘Er… well I don’t think that’s going to happen.’
‘How come?’
The deal with Michelle was one date and one date only, Strings had connection to popular groups and she didn’t want to get a name for herself as a two timer.
‘We got into a fight…’ more lies…
‘Not over Red?’ Drummer asked.
‘No, she says I’ve been too clinging and rushing her… So we split…’
‘Aw that sucks so much!’ Strings said, genuinely disappointed things didn’t work about between me and my fake girlfriend.
I looked around to see Annamolly, Red’s new Wyman Bass, still in its stand, ‘Where’s Red?’
Drummer shrugged, ‘Said he didn’t want to play today.’
‘Just leave him.’ Strings said seeing me sway towards the hallway, ‘He’s just taking a strop.’
I didn’t listen to him. I knocked on Red’s door twice and got no answer. Opening it, I found Red with his back against his bedpost, eyes closed and earphones over his head. His shirt was unbuttoned and I couldn’t help but blush when I saw his well-toned abs. I coughed and scratched the back of my neck, trying to scratch the bashfulness away.
‘Red.’ I called. No reply. I moved over slowly towards him staring into his face as I did so. Had he always been so pale? Had his lips always been that pink? He looked so innocent like a child. I suppose he was. Ray once said I was childish but that was only because I was quite naïve, I got really angry with him for that, being as young as I was, but it made him laugh. I asked him, "Why’d you always laugh at me when I’m not happy!?"
"Because you’re so cute." He said and pulled me into a tight embrace, "You’re naïve and childish and cute. Don’t ever change."
But I did, I kinda felt I had to. We all have to grow up sooner or later… but I knew how he felt. I was so annoyed at Red saying those things about Michelle but his headstrong attitude and naivety and his childishness made him so innocent. I didn’t want him to change.
I was beside him now and began to notice a single droplet of water running from his eye over his cheek.
‘Red.’ I called again and poked his arm.
He jerked up, removing his headphones and looking completely shocked at my appearance there, ‘C-Chris… What’re you doing here?’
‘We need you for band.’
‘I don’t want to play.’
‘Fine.’
He looked to the door and then back at me, ‘…okay.’
‘I won’t play either in that case. Now scoot over.’
‘What?’ I shoved him onto the corner of his bed using my right hip and leaned back on the headboard.
‘What’re you listening to?’
‘Uh… Trading Yesterday…’
‘Ah… Is that why your eyes are watering?’
He quickly wiped them; ‘I’m just tired.’ There was a long awkward pause for a moment and then he turned to me and said, ‘I’m really sorry about yesterday, I’m a moron.’
I laughed, ‘You’re not a moron Red, you’re human. You make mistakes, but thanks for the apology.’
‘And I’ll be nice to her next time you bring her over, I promise.’
I shook my head, ‘There isn’t going to be a next time.’
‘Whadya mean?’
‘We broke up. Apparently I’m to clingy or something like that.’ I sighed but with a smile on my face, ‘I liked her a lot but I don’t think it was anything serious anyway.’
‘Oh.’ Red said, but with a smile on his face, ‘Sorry.’
‘Don’t worry about it.’ I slid off the bed onto my feet, it was strange but the more I wore guys clothes the more I actually began to fit into them- mannerism wise. To be honest, it was getting to the point I was struggling to act like a girl. ‘So, are you doing band or what?’
‘Yeah.’ He smiled, buttoning up his shirt and jumping to his feet, ‘Sure.’
~
It was a little after midnight when we finally finished practising, we had written two new songs together to use in the competition and we needed to practice over and over again if we expected to learn it in time for the first round which was in June.
‘I’m going to hit the sack!’ Yawned Strings, dragging his feet across the carpet, ‘See you tomorrow afternoon.’ He waved.
‘But I come up in the morning.’
‘I don’t.’ He laughed, letting his door creak slowly until it shut.
Drummer was already asleep with a pillow on his small tom and one arm resting on his snare. I stole the blanket from the couch and placed it gently over him, tucking it around his arms.
‘You’re really kind.’ Red said, watching me, ‘Me and Strings just leave him when he falls asleep.’
‘Well this is Scotland, I didn’t want him waking up freezing.’ That made him chuckle, I have no idea why, I wasn’t trying to be funny, ‘I should head home now.’
‘Don’t.’ Red said and I whirled my head around.
‘Why not?’
‘Can’t you stay up for a few more hours?’
‘I guess, why?’
‘Because I still don’t feel forgiven…’ He said, ‘I kinda wanted to show you something to make up for it.’
I smiled, ‘You really don’t have to.’
‘But I want to.’ He said gesturing to the front door, ‘Come with me?’
I felt my lips curve, ‘Sure.’
He took me outside and pulled his bike out from a tiny little hut that Strings had obviously not put any of his crafty talent into. He sat on it and patted the cushioned bars behind him, ‘It’s not so comfy but we’ll have to cycle to get there.’
I shrugged and placed myself on the bars. He took my arms and placed them around his waist, ‘Sorry if this is awkward, I just don’t want you falling off.’
‘It’s fine.’ I said, although my cheeks were burning like blazes.
When he began to cycle, the world around us seemed to change. The sky that seemed so natural and safe in daytime loomed over us in night. Trees all pointed in our direction, as if they were staring at us as we came and then passed. The stars were scattered across the sky that held the moon which was beaming down on us. Darkness had touched everything and distorted all objects, but I felt safe somehow with my arms around Red. He cycled up a steep hill; I have no idea how he managed that with me on. We were up in the more country side of town where lamp posts were no where in sight and the only light we had was from the moon, the stars and a torch Red had attached to the front of his bike. I turned to stare at the town below us. I couldn’t see a single building, a single park, a vehicle or even the horizon. All I really saw while looking down was bright lights that formed their own miniature constellations in that sea of darkness.
Red pulled the brakes and the wheels rolled to a stop. I jumped off and so did he, letting the bike fall on its side.
‘This way.’ He said pointed to the forest.
Being in a forest a few miles away from town without my mobile in the middle of the night should have scared me. But it didn’t. As I followed Red that feeling appeared again, like I could take any risk and nothing could harm me.
He took hold of a branch and swung himself into a void where I couldn’t reach him. ‘Red?’ I called with panic. A hand appeared out from a fissure in the darkness, ‘I’ll help you up.’ His voice called back.
I took his hand and was immediately sucked into the Darkness for a moment. When I opened my eyes I was sitting beside him. We were sitting on the planks of some sort of abandoned warehouse. The bricks were old and crumbled and only half of roof remained. The other half had the view of the starry town and a river down to it that seemed to hold dancing stars in its water.
‘It’s beautiful!’ And that was the understatement of the century. It was more magnificent than I would ever be able to describe, it wasn’t just the view of the beautiful scenery but the feeling that went with it, that feeling Red kept reminding me of, what is this feeling?
‘I know.’ He said, ‘This is my secret hide away, I’ve never told anybody about it. Not even Ray.’
I turned to face him, ‘Then why me?’
He shrugged and with a smirk said, ‘Because you are my best friend. Ray was too, and you could never take his place… But you haven’t… You’ve kinda made a place of your own with me.’
I smiled, ‘Thanks.’ My heart was racing, my smiled was unreadable, what is this feeling?
‘Don’t thank me just yet.’ He said, grabbing my shoulder and getting me to face the brick wall opposite the wonderful view. ‘Wait here and close your eyes!’
‘Alright…’ I said and did so.
I heard some clashing and banging behind me and Red swear under his breath a few times. I could see dim light behind my eyes as I heard his footsteps walk towards me, then a thud as he sat down.
‘Now you can open them.’
And I did. My heart skipped a beat. My breath was stolen from me. I wanted to cry and laugh at the same time- it was just so- so- enchanting. Pink, blue and green lights danced around each other, swirling into each other and intertwining. Within them they held sparkling diamonds, or stars, or many, many constellations- I didn’t know what to think of them as, I just knew I was in a trance looking at them.
‘How’d you-‘ I turned to look behind me. He had used a combination of a magnifying glass, shards of broken bottles and a glass of water, aligned with the light from the town to create this masterpiece on a brick wall. ‘It’s so- so- wow!’ I laughed turning back to it.
‘You think so?’
‘Red- you’re fucking amazing!’
He burst into laughter, ‘I guess I should believe you since I’ve never heard you swear before.’
‘Red it’s so beautiful.’ I really couldn’t bear to part sight with it for even a moment.
‘Yeah… It really is…’ He said softly, but he wasn’t looking at the lights… his gaze was on me.
I turned slowly to find myself staring into his eyes and admiring the way they sparkled just as the lights did and I could see he was doing the exact same to me. My heart jumped. Gravity had left the earth leaving us light as a feather but had just appeared between us, pulling us in closer and closer together. It got to the point he was only a breath away and that feeling, that huge feeling, the one that slowed and fastened the pace of my heart, controlled me breathe, left me feeling I could take any risk, I knew in that moment what it was. And I wanted to cry.
‘I really think I should go now.’ I said, pulling away before we got any closer, ‘My ‘rents will get worried, y’know?’
‘Right.’ He said before clearing his throat, ‘I’ll take you.’
We said nothing the whole ride there and I got him to drop me off at the top of my street so he wouldn’t know where I lived. I couldn’t risk them finding out who I really was. I said bye quickly and left him. Staring at my ceiling, I pressed my fingers against my lips imagining what would have happened if I had leaned in just that little bit closer.
Oh, Ray… What’s happening to me?
A city of stars by Chris Parlour
What is this?
That leaves me breathless.
What is this?
That leaves me smiling,
When I’m with you?
What is this?
That makes my heart race.
What is this?
That makes me feel safe,
When I’m with you?
You see a window,
I see a door,
You see a forest,
I want to explore,
Do you see what I see?
What I see in you?
You see a bunch of streetlights,
I see a city of stars…
I see a town full of constellations,
Where anything can happen,
Take a risk; pry your mind open,
Paint the northern lights on your wall.
Where are we?
In this darkness.
Where are we?
In this forest,
I’m here with you.
Where are we?
In this old ruin,
Where are we?
On top of the world?
Well, I’m with you.
You see a window,
I see a door,
You see a forest,
I want to explore,
Do you see what I see?
What I see in you?
You see a bunch of streetlights,
I see a city of stars…
I see a town full of constellations,
Where anything can happen,
Take a risk; pry your mind open,
Paint the northern lights on your wall.
You see a window,
I see a door,
You see a forest,
I want to explore,
Do you see what I see?
What I see in you?
You see a bunch of streetlights,
I see a city of stars…
I see a town full of constellations,
Where anything can happen,
Take a risk; pry your mind open,
Paint the northern lights all around.