Sepia Makes Everybody Cry With a Dyle Fanfic

twenty eight

I managed to get the song to a point where the lyrics were satisfying (as satisfying as my own could be) and I could hear a bass line and a tune rolling through my head. It made me sad, but the pride of finishing another song was overwhelming.

There was a knock at the door, shattering the peace and quiet. My heart stopped and my muscles felt flooded with ice water for a brief second before my brain kicked in and told me to put the papers away. I stuffed them into my backpack and replayed the knock in my head. It had been quiet, hesitant. I prayed it wasn't Kyle. I didn't know how I would react to seeing his face after waking up after such a dream.

My face burned just thinking about it.

I sighed and rubbed my hands over my face, mumbling a, "Come in." Much to my relief, it was Will. I almost felt worried that he'd ask me about what had happened before mentally punching and reminding myself it was a dream. Only a dream. A horrible, sick dream that should never have happened and never will happen.

He awkwardly stood by the doorway and rubbed his neck. "Um... hey." My stomach dropped. What did Kyle do?

"Hey," I forced a light tone. "Are we heading out for the interview?"

Will opened his mouth to say something, closed it, and opened it again. "Uh... yeah. Yeah, we are. The others are all set to go as soon as we stop—we're running a little late. They're all gathered in the kitchen... area."

I nodded and hoisted myself off the floor. I brushed myself off and looked to Will, a solemn serious look on my face. Then I cracked a smile. "It's all good. Things are gonna start getting fixed and make sense again, okay? I'm sorry for dragging you into the stress."

His hand slid off his neck and he waved me off, laughing quietly. "Nah, I signed up for this shit when I agreed to join the band. We're a family, stuck together on the road like this."

Laughing, I stuck my hands in my pockets. "I really appreciate it. I'm a wreck, we're a wreck, we all fall down. But we're getting back up."

"Stop being so melodramatic, you weirdo!" Will burst out. I jumped. "Well, I mean, you are the songwriter, but damn you love your dramatic phrases and strange allusions and... and..." He sighed and leaned against the doorway for a moment. I opened my mouth to say something but he suddenly groaned, seemingly to himself, and took a few large steps to meet me in the middle of the room. He wrapped his big arms around me and pulled me into the tightest bear hug I could remember being the victim of.

I tried to speak but it was muffled in his shoulder. I couldn't even attempt to hug him back, as he'd pinned my arms to my sides. Finally, he let go and I caught him wiping the corners of his eyes.

I dusted myself off and filled my lungs with as much air as I could, letting it out slowly. Then I raised an eyebrow curiously at him. "Will are you... crying?"

He wiped at his eyes again. "No. I'm just... emotional. I never, y'know, expected something like this to happen. To my best friends." He shrugged, obviously trying to get past the moment. "I don't know. I'm glad you're fixing it. But I'm still here. Vent to father William, Daniel."

I laughed. "Thanks Will. I'll, uh... I may have some more to talk about later. After the interview."

"Ah, damn!" he exclaimed. "We gotta go!"

As I followed him out, I noticed the bus had stopped moving somewhere between our conversation and the embrace. On the way out Will said over his shoulder, "Oh, and sure. Tell me about your thing afterwards, okay?"

I smiled and nodded. The smile froze on my face as my stomach clenched when we entered the kitchen, though. Kyle. I hated myself for feeling that way. I hated myself for not feeling the other way. I hated Kyle for feeling that way. I hated Kyle for worrying about Janna. I hated myself for feeling that way.

I just wanted the whole nightmare of a situation to end. But it wouldn't unless I stood my ground and actually did something. Which I was going to do. As soon as I could lift my eyes off the floor. I would know it was over when I could look him in the eyes and only think of it as a past experience that was just that—in the past.

But that wasn't today.

I tried to pick up my stomach from the very bottom of my abdomen as we checked in and headed out. I could get through the interview, I told myself. It would probably just be questions about our music and album two, anyway. I glanced at Will, who was already looking at me. I scowled when he glanced over to Kyle and back to me. I looked ahead again.

We entered the building and were checked in with only a few minutes of downtime before rushed into another room. The door closed and I looked around. Red curtains were everywhere. It reminded me a bit of David Lynch's work.

Everything reminds you of David Lynch, my brain muttered. I rolled my eyes before glancing around embarrassingly. Great job, roll your eyes at yourself. That's a great way to convince them you're sane.

I almost rolled them again but quickly found my way to the couch in the middle of the room. I eyed the camera set up across from me with another scowl on my face.

Kyle sat in a chair on the other side and Will and Woody surrounded me on the couch. Will tried to casually pat my back but I flinched away, making it awkward as hell. I shot an apologetic look his way and he only shook his head at me.

I sighed and crossed my legs. That's it. Great start. Fuck it all up. I ran a hand through my hair and forced positive thoughts into my mind. It was over. It was the beginning now.

I slid my gaze over to Kyle and he caught my eyes. Tight jaw. Steady gaze. Slight shake of the head. He nodded. Neither of us looked away when the door opened and the crew and interviewer entered, sat down, and prepared to start.

Goodbye, Kyle. It was good while it lasted.