When Two People See Each Other

Chapter 4

"I don't want to listen to an album with naked people on it. It's bad."

"Why wouldn't you? It's funny!"

"I don't like avant-garde."

"And who was whining about how Ummagumma is not as bad as people think?"

"It's my least favourite album of theirs, I just don't find it that horrible."

"What do you suggest then, Flower?"

Florian thought a little bit, while Robert just stood there, arms crossed, head tilted. They gasped when something came to their mind, running to Robert and shaking him by his arms slightly.

"Let's pick your guitar up at your place and come back here, Planty." they suggested gladly.

Robert glanced at Florian, he liked the idea.

"Alright, shall we go then?" he smiled, opened the door and offered Florian his hand.

They gladly placed their own in his, and both walked out into the afternoon light.

"We'll finally have the jamming session we both dreamt of, that's cool, isn't it?" Robert broke the silence, after they started walking down the sidewalk.

"Yeah, that's nice. I've got so many songs I wanna play, but I only know the bassline." they answered.

"Oh, really? But can you play guitar at least a little bit?"

"Yep, I can play some songs with chords and I know a few riffs, but nothing special. I could be a guitarist, but I always pictured myself as a bassist." they looked down to think into it slightly more, but nothing came up.

"With my face and hair, I could be a model or a lead singer. It pisses me off when people point out my pretty face." he wasn't smiling anymore, but it didn't ruin the mood even in the slightest.

"Planty, you are beautiful, but it's much, much more than just your face and hair. It's your voice, your taste in music..." they stopped to face him and reach for his shoulders.

Robert gazed into Florian's eyes, glanced at their lips, oh, they had beautiful lips, the shape and the colour was just perfect. And they were smooth and plump and wet...

And they panicked a little when they noticed, but didn't look away, as usual. Instead, they finished what they wanted to say.

"And most importantly," Florian smiled, which finally made Robert look into their dark eyes slightly covered with the even darker hair. "your soul is the most colourful and beautiful thing I've ever laid my eyes on."

They pulled Robert, who thought that he's going to melt, down by his shoulders, so they were the same height. Florian reached out to place a light kiss on Robert's forehead and smile as they pulled away.

"Let's go get my guitar now, huh?" Robert stood up fully and took Florian's hand in his again.

"Let's go." they answered cheerfully.

"By the way, which one should I grab, Flower?" he asked as they walked.

"What do you mean?" they turned their head shook it a little in confusion.

"My classical, acoustic or electric?" Robert laughed a little.

"Oh, that. Which one do you want?" Florian laughed with him.

"What about an acoustic?"

"Why not, let's go get your acoustic." they squeezed his hand gently, he answered with the same silly gesture.

After they got back with the guitar, Florian took out their bass to connect it to a plugged amp.

Both of them sat on the couch.

"What do you wanna play, then?" Robert asked.

Florian smirked and just started playing a legendary bassline. Robert smirked too, and starting to play D minor in a special way. He also decided to sing the lead vocals, correctly assuming Florian would let him. "Here we go,", he whispered before raising his voice to the right pitch and singing the lines.

Here come ol' flat top
He come grooving up slowly...

Florian somehow managed to get the backing vocals, while totally absorbed in the music, closing their eyes and making a focused face expression, all of us musicians have.

Robert observed his friend, glancing at their delicate fingers somehow perfectly plucking the strings, and at their ocasionally moving lips.

Together, they sung the chorus, giving each other a quick gaze, both of their eyes glowning with passion.

Come together
Right now
Over me!

They finished the song, Florian sighed with satisfaction, Robert grinned, clasping his hands together.

"You wanna sing the lead vocals on the next one?" He asked, punching their arm in a friendly way. They turned to him, whining.

"You know I'm no vocalist, Planty! I'll mess everything up!"

"You will not, Flower, I'm sure. I'll pick an easy song."

"Who do you want me to offend, then?"

"Do you know Lithium? The one from Nevermind."

"I do, it's got a brilliant bassline too, doesn't it? Shall we play it?"

"Why not, I know the chords and all." Robert shrugged.

As musicians usually do, they gave each other the look and nodded at the same time, starting to play right after the nod.

The iconic bassline, not so easy to learn, y'know.

I'm so happy
Cause today I found my friends, they're in my head

Florian sung the words way too quietly, but pronounced them well and sung in the right pitch. Once the first verse ended, the yeah part came, but Florian wasn't ready, so they stopped.

Robert was concerned about how quietly they were singing the verse, he stopped a second after they put their hands down from their bass.

"Why did you stop, Flower? It wasn't bad at all..." he gently squeezed their shoulder.

"I just can't bring myself to sing louder than that when other people are around. I'll fuck up!" they exclaimed, throwing their arms to their face dramatically.

"How many times do I have to tell you, you won't fuck up. Why can't you understand something so simple?" now, he put both his hands on their shoulders, pulling them closer.

He said the words firmly, but with no intention of hurting them. Robert's eyes softened as he saw a slightly bewildered Florian. They covered their shaking mouth with their hands as they looked away and shook their shoulders in a sign for Robert to let go.

He did let go, turning away on the couch to wait for them to calm down a bit.

"Should I go for now?" He whispered in a caring tone.

Florian just shook their head, grabbing Robert's hand. They gazed at him and moved closer. Their eyes were still a tiny bit wet, but not that dissapointed anymore.

"I'm sorry for breaking down like this, Planty. I just..." they said softly, not being able to finish their thought completely.

"Don't apologise. I'm the one who should do that." he cupped their white face with a dash of pink on the cheeks and gently pecked their forehead.

Florian leaned in to hug Robert. He let go to hug them back.

"I'm so sorry, Flower..." he whispered as he buried his face in their black hair.

"I forgive you." they said back.

"Do you want me to sing the lead vocals the next time we do this?" he asked. Florian just nodded silently again.