Spray Paint Hearts

Ed

"Shadow" and "Poet" did their most recent painting about three weeks ago-and it's been trouble keeping Jazz and Bird out of that street until we were ready to show them. And now, turning down Parkdale Avenue (where we did the painting) and as soon as we get in the street the girls start running towards the art. It's the only one in the street so it's pretty obvious. Daisy and Dylan are slower than Leo; because they are so close together that you'd expect them to be ready to start ripping the clothing off each other.

"Oi you two, get a room! You'll be able to actually do it for once!" I start running after I yell at them, 'cause I'm expecting Dylan to start chasing me-ready to throw a few punches in my direction.

"Alright man, you asked for it!" Dylan runs after me but I stop next to Bird. She's just staring at the wall the painting's on. I drew the bird in my sketch-book and showed it to Leo and he told me he wanted to do a wall in honour of Jazz, he just needed images so I drew a new idea-and that's what's on the wall. A boy holding a heart, not like the one I painted on the wall of Leo's ex's house but one that you see on Valentine's Day, and in the boy's other hand he's holding a piece of hair (that is the exact shade of Jazz's hair, found it last week in the paint store-new colour) and standing on his head, is a little, yellow, bird. I could see both girls tear up as they read Leo's addition to the work. The work read; for the one I can't live without, with love, for forever. Jazz and Bird started tearing immediately and Leo went up to give his girlfriend a hug (and a butt grope-which earned him a soft backhand across the face) and I snuck up behind bird.

"Surprised?" I spun her by the shoulders so we were facing each other. She looks like she's about to cry enough tears to equal the water in the picture Bert and Val had framed and put over their fireplace. It's been too long since I visited my painting of Bert. I used to sit and talk to him about what was happening in my life at the time.

"Dudes, don't we have a club to get to? Cause it been tem minutes and you're all just staring at a wall. Move your arses!" Dylan was standing alone at the end of the street as Daisy had come over to check out the wall.

"Oh my god you're right! Let's get a move on! It shouldn't be too long." Jazz practically dragged Leo, Daisy and Bird with her as she tore down the street towards the club. I have to jog to catch up with the rest of the group. We arrive back at the Feast Café and pick up Jazz's car and drive to The Apartment, on Little Bourke Street. Stepping into line in between Bird, Leo and Daisy we file across the front of the nightclub. Dylan was the only one called up for his ID to be checked-maybe 'cause he's mentally three. But as soon as we passed the bouncer-who I'm going to guess was employed because he's fucking intimidating, with tattoos and a shaved head... directly from Prison Break-we enter the main part of the club. There are sued couched and a large dance floor in the middle of the room. It's kinda dark but the flashing lights are bright enough so you can see around.

The first song playing is OXO by Olivia Somerlyn-but it was half way through anyways. I look around and Dylan and Daisy are already grinding on the dance floor and within the thirty seconds I've been standing here, Leo and Jazz have disappeared. And Bird's not to be seen either. After considering my options (sitting down-looking like a loner, dancing randomly-like a loner or getting a drink-looking less like a loner than the other two, but still being a loner) I head for the bar

"Can I grab a hard beer mate?" I call out when the barman finished the last person's drink. He nods in my direction and then a girl comes and leans on the bar next to me. I don't really care who this girl is, so I just kept leaning on the bar waiting for my drink.

"We dated for how long and you've already forgotten me? Aren't you lovely? Always the gentleman Ed, sure know how to treat a lady. Make her feel... special." Shit-I can't believe I didn't notice her in the first place, and this can't be good...