A Song for Ezra (ONC 2021)(manxman)✅

I'll be Seeing You

While Aunt Ruth was out, I picked six roses from one of the rose bushes out front and took them to Levi. Roses were good, right?

At two on Tuesday afternoon, Levi wasn't home, so I waited for him at his door, fully dressed today. I also left my guitar at home. After an hour, I gave up and went home, leaving the roses on the stoop, along with a note.

'Sorry for being a dick. I'll go wherever Imperfect goes.'

I didn't see Levi until rehearsal that night. He hadn't been home yet, so he didn't see my peace offering. All eyes were on me as I walked into the room, everyone waiting for a response from me.

"Are you coming with us or not?" Sean asked.

"He's coming," Memphis said.

"Is that true?" Levi said.

"Yes," I replied. "It should be fun, right?"

I hoped I was right.

After rehearsal, I walked with Levi to his car. His silence was killing me. "I'm sorry. Yeah, I'm a little scared, and yeah, I'm an asshole."

"A lot of the things you said were correct," he said. "You're the reason for an increase in subscribers and likes."

"I'm not the only reason. It's still early. Can I buy you a drink?"

"Sure."

"Goodnight, boys," Memphis said, brushing against my arm on her way to her car.

"Goodnight, Memphis," I said, watching her walk away. She glanced over her shoulder once.

"Do you want her to come, too?"

"No. Why would I want her to come?"

"Never mind. Let's go," he said. He didn't resist as I brought my arm around his waist, walking with him to the nearby pub.

Levi talked about our upcoming tour and what was in store for me and the band, trying to ease my nerves. I wouldn't be at ease until after the first night on the road.

"I added Amy Winehouse to my playlist," I said. "You Know I'm No Good because that's me."

"Why is that you?"

"Because I'm no good, Levi. I killed my parents."

There, the truth was out in the open. We had known each other for four months, so it was about time I told him.

"You didn't kill your parents," he said as if he knew more than I did.

"Yes, I did... when I was eight years old. They died of carbon monoxide poisoning because of me. I took the battery out of the detector because I needed it. Don't you get it? I'm a murderer. Why would you want to be involved with a murderer?"

"You didn't kill your parents. If that happened, then... then I'm really sorry. That's horrible, but it's not your fault. How could you believe it's your fault?"

"Of course it's my fault. I'm only alive because I was at a friend's house. By the way, I picked some roses and left them on your steps. I hope that's okay." 

I didn't want to talk about the murders anymore, even though I was the one who brought it up.

"Yeah," he said, scratching the back of his head, something he did when he was confused. "You went from telling me how your parents died—if I believe it—to you leaving roses on my steps, which is really sweet, but I'm having a hard time figuring out where your head is at right now."

"I don't know where it's at, either," I said. "I just wanted you to know what kind of person I am."

"You're not a bad person."