Page 68 of Paint the Town, Dove
“It’s soundcheck!” He called back, sweat plastering his forehead. “Just running it like I normally would!”
“Well maybe jog, don’t run!” Tav said, but he too had a smile on his face. “Alrighty folks, let’s wrap it up for the event tonight –”
“Wait,” Ryden spoke into his mic, holding up a hand. “I’ve got one more.”
Tav and Mallory looked down at their set lists, ruffling papers. I leaned back in confusion, scrolling through my text convos with Ryden.He didn’t say anything about a new song?I mean, he mentioned that he was working on something with the guys at brunch but…
When I looked up, the rest of the band looked out of place, dropping their instruments to talk to Ryden.
Huh?
“We never – he never told us anything,” Mallory fretted because that’s what Mallory does, “Did you know about this?” She turned to me, eyes wide.
I paused while looking at her, hair as frantic as her concern. Before I could say anything, the lights dropped to a dim grey, painting the concert hall in shadows.
Ryden took the centre stage,just Ryden, and for a moment he was all I could see.
Hair ragged over his eyes, fingers strumming his guitar like I’d seen him do a million times before, only he was alone.
Entirely alone.
…
“He needs to run this by us! What if it attracts bad press? What’s going to come out of his mouth, Tav? What if…”
Mallory’s worries trailed off as Ryden began to sing.
No.
Began to confess.
This wasn’t a set for the crowd. This song wasn’t meant for the audience.
This was a personal promise he made to himself, to me, all those years ago –
This was his diary.
And when he glanced up from the guitar, eagle eyes honing in on mine, I knew –
I fucking knew.
This song was a tribute to us.
Paint the Town
Arc & Sheild Records
Composition By: Ryden Spectre
[Verse One]
I was young
We were here, walking on a tight leash
Here and there
Where we were, even now
