The song that changed my heart

Chapter 1: The invite

The ticking clock filled the disastrous trainwreck that was Rody's apartment. Sinking into his ears, leaving him with the only hope that something would disrupt it. The microwave was busted, his bathroom was flooded with his only reminder to be cautious of it was his bike thrown over the door. His trash was overflowing with crumbled papers. Papers he had spent hours of his time scribbling what amounted to nonsense in the end. At his side were lyrics for love songs he never finished, and now he had doubts he ever would. Then three gentle knocks came at his door. Rody immediately shot up from his couch. So fast that it made him dizzy. Yet that didn't stop him from rushing to the door. He opened it without a second thought. He had hoped to see a familiar blonde appear at his door. Only to be met with the jet black hair of Mathew. Rody's shoulders slumped a bit and his smile faltered. Just a bit. Though he knew Mathew could tell he was disappointed. "Hey Rody." Mathew greeted awkwardly. "Hey, what brings you by?" Rody asked. It was a stupid question he should probably know better by now. "To check up on you. It's been a while since we've seen you out and about. Dolly told us from Richard you see more tired recently. Everything alright?" Mathew asked as Rody sighed. "I'm doing fine, do you want to come in?" Rody asked before looking back at the trainwreck he called home. "Actually nevermind it's not really clean." Rody replied quickly as Mathew gave a concerned smile. "So is that all you needed?" Rody asked. "That and do you have those lyrics you've been working on?" Mathew asked as Rody's false smile now drifted into the frown he wanted to give. "Uhm, not really, I haven't really had the inspiration to, well finish them." Rody replied as Mathew nodded. "Hey, that's completely fair. Sometimes shit like this can cause a creative block. Can I at least see what you've gotten done?" Mathew asked. Rody nodded as he walked back into the apartment and grabbed every piece of paper he didn't throw out. Scanning through them all to make sure they were actual lyrics, and not a incomplete sappy love poem he couldn't bring himself to finish. He found three in the stack. He chucked them all onto the floor before walking back over to Mathew who waited anxiously outside. "Here's all I got." Rody said as he handed over the small stack of papers. Mathew took them and began to scan through what Rody wrote. His expression was unreadable. Eventually he nodded and looked up at Rody. "I'm pretty sure we can make do with them in some way." Mathew replied with a smile as he passed the papers back. Rody shook his head. "Keep them. Maybe you or one of the others can complete them." Rody said somberly. Mathew seemed confused but reluctantly took them. "Okay then." Then his eyes widened a bit. "Oh and if you're up for it the band was wondering if you would want to come with us to watch Richard perform on the twentieth at seven. They're performing for three nights, and we figured we would go the last night to avoid the crowd." Rody's ears perked up. His eyes light with surprise. His heart pounded as he could feel an excitement brewing in him. "I understand if you don't want to. Especially considering your ex will also be there, but you can join us if you'd like." Mathew offered. Rody wanted to scream yes right then and there. If he went there he could see her again. He could beg her for a second chance. Yet deep down he knew if his other friends were there they would stop him at any chance he had. It was a chance he wouldn't take. "Uhm no, I have something else to do." Rody replied quickly as he stepped back inside. Mathew furrowed a brow in confusion. "Well okay." "Bye Mathew maybe some other time." Rody said as he quickly shut the door. He could hear Mathew mumbling something before footsteps left down the hall. Rody sprinted over to his closet immediately. Though there was barely anything there outside of some long sleeved shirts, three button ups, and pants that either had tears in somewhere on them, barely holding on jeans, and some with patches. He figured he could just wear his uniform, but that may end up disastrous. Especially if anyone there were to think he was a member of the waitstaff. He sighed as he grabbed an old blue button up shirt. By now the color was a bit dull making it look more gray. Looking again he could see a pair of black pants. Just like the shirt they were also pretty faded. Giving it a sort of gray appearance. Finally the shoes. As tempting as it was just to throw on his work shoes, the outfit he had already thrown together was anything but worthy of them. He looked down at his old worn shoes, and sighed. "Guess y'all will have to do." Rody said to himself as he threw the clothes on the couch, and rushed over to the kitchen. He flung open the cabinet and located a circular cookie tin. He snatched and quickly opened the lid. Revealing several euros in it. He looked through counting what he could see of the bat. "Not enough." He muttered to himself as he grabbed what he counted revealing just a bit more. Enough that barely covered the bottom of the tin. He sighed knowing he would regret this later. He gathered about 170 euros before deciding that would be enough. Leaving only a single fifty left in the tin. Looking back at him he was tempted to grab. Bring it with him and offer to grab her a drink, or a snack during intersection or afterward. "No." He said as he slammed the lid back on the tin and stashed it back in the cupboard. 170 would have to do. Maybe if he was lucky he'd have enough left over.