friends in low places

Chapter Six

After the boys had situated themselves, and they each gave each other the nod, Phoebe started playing and singing. 

Back in the states now

in a college town

I would walk around

but its really coming down

mesmerized by double lines

two yellow tightropes 

im making good time

Charlie was blown away by Phoebe's voice; she had such a low speaking voice, but when she started singing she sounded like a literal angel from heaven when she sang. Julien and Lucy joined in on the chorus, and Charlie thought he was about to start levitating. 

I am never anywhere

anywhere I go

when I'm home, I'm never there

long enough to know

Charlie had never heard such beautiful harmonies in his life. He had listened to their music before because of Zeb, but hearing such a beautiful song being performed right in front of him made him think that maybe there was a god. As they kept singing, Charlie couldn't wrap his head around how talented they were. The song was heartbreaking, the lyrics ate at his heart and chewed it up and spit it right back out; the lone guitar made him want to weep, somehow personifying the feeling of loneliness the song was bringing on to him. Their voices blending together was his final straw, he couldn't help it. By the time they were done, his head was in his hands for the second time that night, desperately trying to hide his sobs. 

"Charlie, are you okay?" Julien asked, sounding very concerned. 

Charlie looked up, unable to say anything for the time being; instead he gave them a weak smile and nodded half heartedly. 

"That doesn't seem to reassuring man, what's going through your head?" Phoebe asked Charlie, who was still wiping tears off his cheek. Lucy was looking at him like he was a puppy with a broken leg. 

"I'm okay guys, I'm sorry." Charlie said through sniffles, "That was just really beautiful. I don't think I've ever had such a visceral reaction to a song before." He paused before saying anything else, wanting to gather his thoughts so they made sense. The boys seemed to notice this, and so they stayed quiet, patiently waiting for him to speak again.

"The past year has been rough and I don't think I fully allowed myself to feel the things I really needed to feel. I think hearing such a beautiful and heartbreaking song allowed to get some of those pent up feelings out, ya know?" Charlie asked as he looked at the three women before him, hoping that they understood what he meant. "I mean I am also like, super fucking high so that might be it too!" Charlie said through a laugh, hoping to lighten the mood. Thankfully, it worked. 

"Ah that'll do it!" Lucy said, chuckling. Julien and Phoebe were laughing, but they still felt bad for him. They played sad songs to crying people all the time, and it was never easy to watch people cry to their songs, but something about sitting in this kid's room, in an abandoned house that only he and his friend lived in, really just got to them. They didn't really know why, they didn't really know him that well, but they couldn't help just feeling bad for him. 

"Well, thank you guys for singing, that was incredible. Seriously, I am so blown away by you guys." Charlie said sincerely. He had a huge smile on his face, despite his eyes being red and puffy. The boys didn't say anything, they just smiled at him; they all sat quietly, taking in the moment. Charlie didn't want to be high anymore, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to be at the house at all.