Page 90 of Replay
Black Halo had had it rough over the last year; but it’d made them stronger.Xane was confident they could tough out whatever got thrown at them.In any case, there was no news here.The story was a decade old.Case closed.The only reason for raising it would be to shit stir, and he hoped people would realise that and be accordingly unimpressed.That they’d dismiss it as a piece of history that didn’t deserve resurrection.A jury and a judge had already decided on it.
“You know we’ll stand with you, Spook.”
“I knowyouwill,” his friend said.“The others, they don’t know, so you can’t know that for definite.”
“Maybe it’s time to tell them.”
Spook closed his eyes up tight, as if he could block out the world by doing so.That he’d wish to dodge that possibility wasn’t any surprise.Who would want to open such a can of toxicity?And, it wasn’t the sort of conversation one had with a group.Rather, it would involve six or seven separate disclosures.Yeah, anybody would be reticent.
Spook gave a sigh, the sort that rattled up from the bones.“I guess so.It’s part of the burial process I suppose.”
“It happened, but it’s just one point in your history.It doesn’t get to define everything.You’re more than that moment and what led to it.”
“I know.”
“You deserve to be happy, Spook.”
“As do you.”
Xane nodded.“Working on it.”
He watched a shadow crawl across Spook’s face.“I just wish she didn’t have four brothers, you know.”
He couldn’t deny it was unfortunate that Allegra Hutton had a plethora of male siblings.“It’s not like we get a say in our family make-up,” he muttered.“If I had a penny for the every time I’d wished I didn’t have an elder brother or sister, I’d be a very rich man.”
“You are a very rich man.”
“Fine,” he amended.“A very, very, very rich man.”
Spook scoffed.“Yeah, you’re that too.You were that before we ever started making music.You’re one of those scarily rich people.”
Xane wrinkled his nose.He’d been born into wealth, that was true, but he prayed it hadn’t turned him into the usual brand of upper class wanker.He would always appreciate decently cut clothes, though.And exquisite, hand stitched footwear.
“I love you, Xane.You’re the best friend anyone could ever hope for.I really hope I haven’t screwed your life up for you by letting you sink yourself up to the neck in mine.Luthor and Dani are good for you.”
“Hey.”Xane kissed his fingertips.“I’m not planning on letting them get away.We’ll figure everything out, Spook.We will.I promise.And then you can get on with the business of screwing that hot woman you’ve been torturing at arm’s length.I’m hereby advocating a diet rich in egg whites.”
***
At some point, they both drifted off to sleep.Shortly after dawn, Xane woke, got up, and tidied the lounge to the best of his ability.He rang down to reception and reported the breakages.Then agreed a figure to cover repairs and replacements.Shortly after six thirty they both checked out, and went for a run around the nearby gardens.Afterwards, they enjoyed brunch at a café down by the waterfront.They were both aware that they were delaying the inevitable, but sometimes, you just had to step outside of time for a while.It was the only way to get your mind wrapped around things.In the end, they were back at the festival site well ahead of the others.
They took turns in the showers, and collected together various bits and bobs ready for the performance, finally heading over to the performers’ crash zone an hour before they were due on stage.
“Let’s get through this,” Xane said, as they stood outside the row of yurts backstage.“Once we’re done here, we can head straight to the docks.There’s no need for you to cross paths with Siv again, and the talking that needs to be done we can at least put off until this evening.Let’s just focus on the gig for now.”
“Sounds good to me.”
