Page 93 of Fallen Thorns
“You’ll just have to wait and see.” Casper winked at her. “Is that your favourite?”
She nodded and blushed.
“Well, in that case…” He strolled over to the worn leather sofa and flopped down into it, “we might just be playing it.”
“God, I sound like I’ve never met you before,” Rani burst out an embarrassed laugh.
“I like Moon Brats.” I integrated myself into the conversation. The sudden attention it gave me made me a touch self-conscious, afraid I’d somehow mispronounced it or misread the title, or that it was perhaps what the band believed to be their weakest song.
“Yeah? That’s cool.” Casper grinned proudly. “Ben wrote that all by himself. All parts.” The pride in his face was so prevalent. They loved each other so much.You’re not broken.
“Are you getting up there with us tonight then?” When Casper asked initially, I was completely disengaged from the fact that he was directing that at me. Then it hit me, and I remembered…
“He played piano for you didn’t he,” Rani guessed, her mouth wide open.
Oh, god. I completely forgot about that.
I played a piece for Ben and Fran one afternoon not too long ago, after I let it slip that I played piano. They both insisted I showed them, and asked me to play it again while they recorded it. Ben must have shown Casper, now I sincerely hoped he was joking. I couldn’t just get up there andplay.I could barely play my own doodles for an audience, let alone someone else’s music, without rehearsing.
“Ben played me what you created. It was beautiful,” he continued.
“I… thank you. Wow. But I can’t…”
Casper chuckled to himself, reaching for the half empty beer can he must have been drinking earlier, taking a long mouthful before slamming it back down onto the chipped table. “Not tonight, but we’re getting you in the studio. You’re really talented, my friend.”
Rani mouthed ‘I told you so’ then looked back at Casper. I blushed. I would never get used to people complimenting me, but I needed to accept that and stop hiding. Times like that were what made me feel invincible.
We were allowed front-row access,though we were early enough into the room to be close to the front regardless. Carmen was their stand-in photographer for the night, and I watched her move around in front of the stage, crouching and turning the camera at different angles — the band engaging with her movements as their set commenced. Francesca screamed close to the lens and even climbed down off the stage at times. I caught glances between Ben and Casper during songs, eyes glistening in true happiness. Lawrence channelled all his energy into his guitar-playing, Francesca joining his side to duet in a passionate rendition of the band’s most popular song.
Mars’ shadow loomed to the side, their head nodding to the beat whilst the audience bounced, dancing and thrashing magnificently to every single song.
I was so lucky to be there.
So lucky to have these friends.
I was surrounded with such an overwhelming sense oflove,and I never wanted it to end.
* * *
“We’ll just be outside,”Rani informed me as she and Carmen followed the crowd out of the fire exit, and I walked the other way to the toilet. I nodded in acknowledgement and pushed open the toilet door, letting it swing shut behind me and block out the excess rowdiness. I sighed as I could finally hear my thoughts again, and headed over to the wall in what I believed was an empty room…
“Ahh, finally. Some peace and quiet.”
I startled and whirled around to the mirrored sinks, where a glamorously suited man sat with one leg over the other, resting one hand against the sink’s edge, the other ring-clad and raised as he inspected his nails. Long, curly blond hair cascaded down to his narrow waist and in the reflection of his back — andonlyin the reflection — sat two dove-grey, feathered and bird-like wings.Wings.The tips trailed slightly over the porcelain counter.
“Michael.”
Everything came flooding back as he grinned a pearly grin and shifted his weight to the other arm. All our meetings. Over weeks. All our conversations. All my emotions. Everything we did…
I could see him now; his true form. His fingers extending to blackened claws and his wings stretching out into full view. His eyes too white for any human.
“Did you enjoy the concert? It sounded pleasant enough.”Velvet. Velvet. Velvet.
“You followed me again.” My heart sank.
“You should surely understand by now that I amalwaysfollowing you. That was a waste of a question.”
How do I stay calm?
