Forever

IV

"Dude, you're so caught up in your own thoughts," a voice suddenly spoke up, making Austin break his flying trail of thoughts. He was sitting slacked down on the floor at the far end side of the studio, his guitar resting on his lap as his left hand was absentmindedly holding the fret, his right palm flatly resting on the strings that go by the hole in the middle of the guitar. On his left side was his notepad and pen scattered on the floor and was left untouched. He looked up only to find Martin standing in front of him.

"Uh, sorry about that," he started off. "It's just that... I already have the right melody dancing in my head for our song to play in NY yet I can't find the right words that will fit to it," he informed him, placing the guitar on his left side, bringing his hands to cover his face. "Ugh, I'm so messed up," he complained, his voice muffled.

Martin just looked at him, heaving a sigh. "Sorry, dude. I can't help you with that," he said, and Austin just nodded. "What if we just practice the melody and who knows, words might also come around in the process?" he suggested.

Austin looked up at him, contemplating on his suggestion. "You know what? You're right. Let's just practice," he said, accepting the offer. He got up from where he was sitting, brought the guitar with him and they approached the other members of the band. Martin made his way to sit on the chair behind the drum set as the other lads where already in place – James on the bass guitar, Marcus on the lead, and John on the keyboard.

Austin strummed the chords, hoping Martin is right—that the words will just come around. They barely have a month to prepare.

*

Downtown Callants, the band Austin belongs to, was busy discarding the equipments from their road truck to bring to the university grounds where they are going to set up for their final gig in Texas before the NY competition. Marcus helped Martin carrying the large part of the drum set, while not far behind John can be seen dealing with his keyboard.

"When we became badass famous band, we don't have to carry these equipments all by ourselves. We will have road assistants," James ranted as he sits on the edge of the flower box, running a hand through his hair. Austin chuckled at his statement, hanging the strap of his guitar on his shoulder as he carried the two bronze circular metal parts of Martin's drum set.

"That's why we need to concentrate on the competition and I need to write a song ASAP or else we're dead," he said, shrugging. James stood up from his seat, passing an arm on Austin's shoulder as they walked towards the venue.

"It'll come around, bro," he reassured. "Honestly, I really want to volunteer to help you write but I know it will just ruin the reputation of the band. I might just write stuffs about sex or crappy relationship," he said, making Austin chuckle. "You're the most creative in us five when it comes to lyrics," he commented, earning an exasperated shrug from Austin. James removed his arm on his shoulder as they got up on stage, nodding to Marcus as he made his way down, going to the truck to get the other equipments.

"Thanks for the add-up pressure," Austin said sarcastically, placing the bronze circular metals atop the bass drum as James walked towards the mic stand placed at the centre stage. "Although, yeah, I really don't know why all of a sudden I've been like this. You heard the melody I structured, right? I know that will get by through the competition but it just that, the words are like, I don't know, missing? It sucks."

James stopped fidgeting on the mic stand, looking concern at Austin. "Maybe you need inspiration. Maybe the idea is just there, waiting to be discovered," he said. "You know what, let's just focus on the gig. Big night ahead of us tomorrow," James suggested, to which Austin just nodded in agreement.

*

8 in the evening, Austin was pacing back and forth in front of the two-storey house that belongs to Olivia's family. He was contemplating on whether to knock or to just dismiss the idea and head back home.

Maybe she's working on her uni task or maybe I'll just disturb her, he thought to himself. He agreed on his thoughts, and was about to walk back to his place when the door suddenly burst open.

"Austin!" Olivia's mum exclaimed, taking aback the lad. She was holding a large trash bag on her hand, while the other one was holding the knob of the door. Austin smiled uneasily at her, scratching the back of his head. He sure do looked like a thief caught stealing.

"Uh, hi Mrs. Anderson," he said shyly, placing his hand on his pocket. Olivia's mum furrowed her eyebrows playfully, getting out of the house.

"I thought you're calling me Mum," she joked, making Austin chuckle. "Come in, make yourself at home," she said, opening the door wider. "I'll just dispose this trash."

Austin nodded as they exchanged smiles before he entered the house. He looked around having a glimpse of the living room, and he saw family pictures seated above the fireplace. Olivia is the youngest in the family and his older brother is currently in the military, away for about a year already. He was walking nearer to have a better look of the pictures when his gaze was caught to the stacks of small white bottles placed on their dining table. He furrowed his brows slightly, cocking his head to side because of curiosity. Olivia's mum suddenly entered the room, making Austin look her way.

"Hey, there you are," she greeted. "Olivia's upstairs in her room. I think she's doing some paper works," she informed him to which he nodded at.

"I'll just go check on her," Austin said as her mum smiled at him. He made his way upstairs, walking down the hallway only to see the door of her room slightly opened; a hint of fluorescence can be seen from the inside. Austin held the knob, pushing the door open, revealing her room.

Olivia's room is the typical one—not that organized nor not that messy. Her bed was slightly made; above the headboard is a string with pictures clipped on it. On the left side is her vanity mirror where lots of brown cards with random scribbles are pasted around. Horizontally across her bed was her dressers, sitting atop on one of it was the jar containing the bottle of water. Austin chuckled seeing this; it made him remember that night when Olivia practically begged him to be her chaperone for that concert.

On the right side is her study corner—her table, stack of books and other papers are can be seen. Austin laid sight on Olivia, sleeping soundly as her head lie uncomfortably on her arms, while her laptop was opened in front of her, scattered of papers were on the table. His eyes softened at the sight of her as he made his way towards where she was. A few strands of her hair covered her face which Austin brushed off with his fingers, allowing him to see her face. It was evident the tiredness masked on her. His eyes darted to have a look of the stuff on her table. Aside from papers and books, she also has a corkboard posted on the wall where another set of scribbles are pinned. Austin focused her sight on it, only to read lyrics from his band's song.

'If there is a problem, I will clutch it out,' scribbled in a yellow post it. Another one was beside it, also from the same song. 'If there is a battle, I can win that bout.'

Austin smiled to himself, returning his gaze to the girl sleeping. He suddenly saw her digital clock sitting on her table, and it just read 8:15 pm.

This is too early compare to her usual sleeping time, he thought. Maybe she is really tired.

Carefully lifting her head, he carried her to her bed before lying her body carefully, covering it with duvet. He went back to her study place to save whatever she had left working on before shutting down the laptop. Beside the equipment was an opened notepad where random things are scribbled. Certain words caught his attention, written on the upper right corner of the white sheet of paper.

Take these roses off of me

Let me live, let me be - for a little while.

He glanced back at her sleeping figure as the words danced in his head. There's something in it that he cannot put a finger on, yet he just chose to dismiss the idea as he walked towards her to place a kiss on her forehead.

"Good night, Olivia," he whispered to her, before walking out of her room.