EVANESCENCE

CHAPTER 10| Write for Me

If there is something that I am slowly learning from Christen, it is that the world doesn't necessarily need happiness all the time. When I'm with her, I am really at ease where the world is still horrid but it is fine because she feels like home. She was standing right beside me wearing a smile that complemented her dress which was priceless for me. We were just getting inside a coffee shop which isn't really my thing but that was the thrill. We were exactly the opposite and I'm trying to feel her world. I bought her some coffee as she waited on the second floor where the walls were glass rendering an overlooking view of the city with the sun that was just about to set.

I placed the tray on our table as she uttered a Thank you. I'm not really the type of man to hover inside a coffee shop although I drink coffee- it kind of feels odd that everyone looks normal here and I'm the only one wearing all black, with my hair and beard getting longer like a f*****g spawn of satan or a hobo.

"Luke, this is wonderful," Christen said softly, looking at the view and even taking a picture of it.

"I know, that's why I took you here," I said with my eyes glued on the horizon too where the sky bled colors that seemed to argue. "I'm not really knowledgeable of coffee but I drink coffee," I said which made her furrow her eyebrows slightly.

"What do you mean?"

"I can't really recognize the difference between a mochaccino, cappuccino, espresso, robusta, arabica beans and whatever." "Oh, Luke." She slumped her head on my shoulder. "I should lecture you on that,"

"To me, they're all coffee though." I chuckled. "I heard that there's this animal that shits coffee, what is it again?" I stifled a laugh.

"It's civet coffee, silly." She smacked my arm playfully. "They better call it caffeinated poop," I immediately laughed at my own joke and gladly she laughed at it too. It wasn't really intended for her to laugh at because I laugh at my own jokes and it's practically stupid

"Luke, do you want to have children someday?" She curiously asked me as I was somewhat surprised at her question. I pulled her closer to me and kissed the top of her head. She gazed at me, like a little girl eager for an answer.

"Do you want it now? I'm ready." I lowly chuckled. She giggled and rolled her eyes. "No, but I'm sort of wondering. How running a family would feel like."

"Well of course I do wanna have, Who else doesn't want to right?"

"Yeah. I know right. I someday wanna have a baby boy and you'll be the father." She gazed at me and smiled. I had the same dreams with Stacy, we even had names for them but we spiraled out of control until it all faded.

"Someday Chrissy. You know, we'll get married. We'll build a home and have kids running around the house, isn't that nice?" I smiled as she softly nodded. She took a sip of her coffee and placed it back on the table. It amazes me how she can sip a scalding hot beverage while I was waiting for mine to cool down a little. People say that bitter coffee tastes great with pastries but I'm almost finishing my platter of cookies. "How did your dinner go with your brother?"

"It's really amazing, Luke. I only have to finish this year and I'll be able to go back to college." I don't have the same sentiment with college although having a degree would apparently lead a person towards fulfilment, but it wasn't my definition of fulfilment. However, I could feel the excitement from the tone of her voice and even when it wasn't my interest at all; I was subtly absorbing her delight. "Why, what’s up?" I asked.

"Matty got promoted and now I only have to finish this year and wait till they open their applications. He'll be the one to take care of the fees and everything,"

"Really, that's great!" I said and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. She looked at me again and placed a hand on my on top of mine. "You'll support me all throughout right, Luke?" There was a hint of worry on the tone of her voice.

"Hey, look. You push it through. You don't have to worry about anything because I'm here." I assured her. “You really haven’t told me anything about the record label yet, “She said. I must’ve become too oblivious thinking I have told her, but I haven’t yet.

“They want to hear more from us and we decided to individually write a song but the whole band will take the credit. We let each other hear and make some arrangements- you know, just a sense of freedom and to really squeeze out our abilities in its optimum level.” I told her. “I really know nothing about music but that’s amazing. It’s gonna be your big break. What are you gonna write about anyway?”

“Let’s see where my writer’s block is gonna take me,” I chortled. It’s true; I haven’t written anything since I barely had the drive. These past months only rendered me distress and the song I’ll be writing will be a major game changer. “Will you write about me?” She blushed at the thought as it suddenly applied pressure. I haven’t thought about that. “Of course, you don’t to ask.” I smiled but deep down I knew I’ll be stressing it.

STACY

“Oh my God, what are these knobs for?” I said pertaining to Calum’s newly bought bass amplifier. He was sitting on the stool from the kitchen after popping a can of peach mango juice. He was smiling at me adoringly perhaps because I didn’t know about these that much. “Funny how you’re a music guru yet you have no idea about those.”

“Okay, first of all it doesn’t have labels. And I’m not really good at making the perfect blend of sound effects using amplifiers.” I explained in defence. Soon enough, he stood up from the stool and sat beside me on the couch instead. “Alrighty, Stacypoo do you want a label?” He c****d an eyebrow, his breath smelling like peach. Same old flirty Calum pinning his stare on me but I laughed right away. “You, s**t. That’s not gonna get you a girlfriend.”

“Alright, I know, I’m shit.” He chuckled as he put the empty can on the table and lied down on my lap. “I thought music virtuosos can be sound techs too,” He said. I was already squishing his face and he didn’t seem to complain. “I’m not really a music virtuoso, you shit.”

“Can people, like stop referring me to faeces? At least for once?“ He retorted, but a laugh was getting on the way. “You are a virtuoso, Stacy. Violin is f*****g hard to learn and so is piano plus reading music and you nailed them all you bitch.” He babbled like a teenage girl talking to her best friend spilling some tea over the phone.

“Okay, whatever.”I rolled my eyes. “You should get in your head that you’re really good. Those kids of yours leave your class like a pro,” He said which made me flattered. Notwithstanding the fact that I play instruments really good, I know that there are things that I haven’t learned yet. “You know, before I really thought of being in an orchestra, or like… do some arrangements for an artist. But that’s not my focus right now.”

“Who knows, someday? Right? Oh, I have an idea. Why don’t we hire you as our music critic?” He bantered looking at me from his angle. “Okay, I’ll bite that. The p*****t shall be my share on our apartment will be shouldered by you guys.”

“I was just joking, but wise choice.” He laughed and so did I. “I know, as far as I know, I don’t want any more agreements.”

“Hey, before I forget… “He stood and reached for something near the couch. Your brothers sent me this, and yes. Me being ‘s**t’ I left this here and wasn’t able to give it on your exact birthday. “They wanted it as a surprise too,” He gave me a box that was average in size. I immediately felt touched by my brothers who, in the first place were against me moving out here.

“I’ll probably open this later, when I get home.” I told him. “Hey cal, will you please drive me home?” I realized it was already eleven in the evening. “Sure, no problem with that.” We both got up as I straightened my clothes that were a little bit wrinkled at this moment. He then suddenly tossed his jacket as I thanked him and slipped it on my arms. Calum, Michael and Ashton’s apartment were in the same building but in a different floor- they were the first ones who applied for this with Luke and I as the last since we encountered some problems before we were able to settle completely. So we ended up settling in another apartment since this one is only a twenty unit and were already full by the time we were ready. The proximity was just a kilometre and a half which didn’t take us really long but we were quiet all the way through. He didn’t leave me by the building but he escorted me until we reached our unit. “Hey, Stacy.” He said, breaking the silence. “Alex really wants to know how you are,”

“We’re in good terms Cal, I don’t know why he’s really making you as his spokesperson.” I said, shrugging it off although it brought back my memory of the heated argument we had before I left two years ago. “He’s still sorry, you know. I know it’s been so long, but- yeah sometimes mistakes haunt people so you should talk to him more often.”

I nodded absorbing his words. “Yeah, I understand. Anyway, thank you for today Calum.” He smiled softly and wrapped his arms around me. “Nice time catching up with you. Goodnight, Stacy.”

“Goodnight,” I waved goodbye as he made his way to the lift.