Misprinted Lies (Alice in Chains/Bruno Mars)

Set Me Free

I took a couple of days off from the studio after playing at the White House. We hit a little bit of a musical block. It was so nice having time off again. Now that I was single, it really felt freeing.

Lily invited us over to her house. When we got there, there was a new car in the driveway, it was actually a truck.

"Whoa there, big shot," I said. "New truck?"

Lily laughed a little from under the hood. She had black gunk all over her. "Yeah. I finally did it."

"Since when are you a truck girl?"

"Since I went to the lot and thought, 'Hey I'd look sexy driving a truck."

It was a brand new black Ford pickup truck decked out with all the best technology. I couldn't stop staring inside of it.

"That's something I would say. What are you doing?"

"They put generic oil in it so I'm changing it."

I approached her for a hug.

"I have oil all over me," she said, putting her hands out. "Don't..."

I hugged her anyway. "You do your own oil changes? Is there anything you can't do?"

I laughed a little. "Why do you think my Jeep is still working after all this time? I can't dance, sing, draw, or do cartwheels. The list could go on but I'd rather not."

I laughed back and looked inside. The other guys did too. "This is so nice," I said looking through the windows. "I was afraid you'd get another old car...like something with a cassette player in it."

Phil and Jamereo left to go inside first, so it was just me and Lily. I was still looking at the truck.

"This truck cost more than the Whittier house. There was a time when I couldn't afford oil changes. I guess some things never change," she shrugged.

I smiled at her. "I'm really proud of you."

Naturally, we brought instruments and played music outside near the pool.

"I really wish I could work more with you guys on this album. I'm just so busy this summer with other people," she said, running some scales on the bass.

"Naw, it's cool," Phil said, patting her on the back.

"Jamareo, I have an idea for that song we were working on last week," she said and started playing a really cool riff. Jamereo was putting out solo work.

Jamareo's eyes widened and so did mine.

"Whoa, that was catchy," he said.

I went inside to the bar to freshen up my drink. As I was opening the glass door, they all were rushing back inside. Lily's arms were around Phil and Jamareo's necks.

"What's wrong?" I asked in terror.

"We gotta go to the hospital," Phil said.

My heart skipped a couple of beats. I grabbed my car keys and opened the front door for them. I ran to open my car door next.

"Fuck I have Jess's crap in the backseat still," I screamed. Mounds of clothes were in the back. There was no room for people to sit there.

"It's okay, Bruno," Jamareo said shutting the car door and walking over to Phil's. "We'll meet you guys there."

I nodded, got in the car, and we left. I took my eye off the road for a second to look at her. She was visibly shaking from head to toe, looking out the window. Her breathing was uneasy.