Clearing The Mind

Chapter 15: Sunset Bay

Flamingo Theater Bar. 3 days before the wedding.

There he was. It was his turn to sing again. And this time, he wasn't taking any chances of any lacklustre performance. Julian took the mic to his mouth, and the retro parts entered as if they'd been playing for years.

Two of his friends from high school joined in with him as backup vocals.
Daphne was there by the cello, few more of the band members took in the other instruments.

This time, the arrangement felt more upbeat.
That was just part of the set they were doing for their tour, but Julian was really trying to forget what happened before with this song.

Drowning his feelings in music? He wouldn't say that, instead, he would call it immersing himself in music's mesmerising bosom. (And Daphne would kick him for being a bit too sentimental when he didn't need to.)

Gwen wasn't there. She told them that she wouldn't be there tonight since she only had one song for tonight and Daphne was able to cover it for her so that she could move on and have some time for herself. In fact, she was in Mallory Square, watching a sunset that she had seen a few years ago, while she was with Peter.

Hey, I was doing just fine before I met you
I drink too much and that's an issue but I'm okay
Hey, you tell your friends it was nice to meet them
But I hope I never see them again

For once, he knew that they were vibing. He was actually enjoying the music once.
A feeling that he'd not felt for some time as the song speeds up into the bridge.

She felt a pang in her heart. Inside her heart, she hoped he would come back to her again.

I know it breaks your heart
Moved to the city in a broke down car
And four years, no calls
Now you're looking pretty in a hotel bar
And I can't stop
No, I can't stop

Ironically, the music stops with them before slowly reeling back in again through the thorough melodies of the piano before everyone pulls back and joins along.

The sunset started to drift slowly downwards. The colours that the sun reflected around her surroundings changed to darker and darker tones.

So baby pull me closer in the backseat of your Rover
That I know you can't afford
Bite that tattoo on your shoulder
Pull the sheets right off the corner
Of the mattress that you stole
From your roommate back in Boulder
We ain't ever getting older
We ain't ever getting older

He was dancing as if he was Elvis, making weird expressions while still flawlessly making sure he hits the notes in the right ways.

She looked around her and saw a young couple sitting together near her. They had to be just graduated from high school.

Ah, fresh love. Her heart fell. She was happy for them.
She still missed her Spider-Man.

You look as good as the day I met you
I forget just why I left you, I was insane
Stay and play that Blink-182 song
That we beat to death in Tucson, okay

He smiled and continued to go in sync with the band around him. This was a good practice before their last gig at Aaliyah and Christian's wedding. He needed to find the correct idea of what he was to use, and he did find it.

She tried her best to bring up her smile. Sure, she missed Peter, but then again, it'd been months since he left her. Sure, she didn't deserve it, but perhaps she did.

She looked to her right. Fuck. She couldn't believe her eyes, but there Peter was.
He was looking at the sunset, too. But why the fuck was he here?

I know it breaks your heart
Moved to the city in a broke down car
And four years, no call
Now I'm looking pretty in a hotel bar
And I can't stop
No, I can't stop

So baby pull me closer in the backseat of your Rover
That I know you can't afford
Bite that tattoo on your shoulder
Pull the sheets right off the corner
Of the mattress that you stole
From your roommate back in Boulder
We ain't ever getting older

The instrumentalists all pull back again, as he held his mic tightly again and started to use his higher register with his backup singers executing flawlessly, too.

He saw her. He was alone, there was no one else with him, and he walked over to Gwen slowly.

We ain't ever getting older
We ain't ever getting older
We ain't ever getting older
We ain't ever getting older

He braced himself and went to his highest.
We ain't ever getting older
She turned with her back facing him, and took a cigarette out, indicating to him that she didn't want to talk. It was getting darker that the streetlights were turned on now, and she smiled when she saw that. She didn't know how she could smile while thinking of him, but seeing him alone was different.

So baby pull me closer in the backseat of your Rover
That I know you can't afford
Bite that tattoo on your shoulder
Pull the sheets right off the corner
Of the mattress that you stole (From your roommate back in Boulder)
We ain't ever getting older
We ain't ever getting older (Pull the sheets right off the corner)
We ain't ever getting older
So baby, pull me closer (closer~)

She finished smoking that cigarette and left the bay as the sun had discoursed to the east.
Jumped on her motorbike and drove her way back to the Theatre Bar.

The band's gig ended, and they were ready to pack up before heading for supper.

Julian, still not forgetting with Daphne did that day, took her hand.

"Daph."

"Yeah?"

"Do you wanna go on that Ferris wheel you said you wanted to go to?"

"The Skyviews?"

"Yessir. We do have the time right now, so yeah."

He watched as her expression turned from expressionlessly tired to excited.

"Can we?" She still had to ask as he pulled her close to him and kissed her on her forehead.

"You don't need to ask again, love."

She took his hand, and both walked out of the bar to find the nearest cab to take for their sudden date, as Gwen saw them from a distance.

She smiled the warmest as she saw those two get in the cab. Happy for her student, and yet knowing that his doubts were now extinguished, it was a feeling that she loved, even when it was not hers.

A/N: A soft one before we twist to our other characters and on to the wedding. Hope you guys enjoyed and I'll see you soon!