The Way You Are

Take a Break

It had been a long week already. Each day filled with more meetings and interviews rather than music. Roland was tired and all he really wanted to do was barricade himself in the studio. But the guys wouldn't have it.

"Come on. Lets just go out and celebrate a bit." Manny tried. He was leaning against the kitchen doorframe sipping something in a mug.

"Yeah, It's about time we did something fun. We need some action." Ian interjected coming in from the kitchen with his own steaming cup.

"I'm just not feeling up to it guys. I'm beat", Roland sighed and returned to aimlessly strumming his guitar.

"We all know what that means Ro. You're just going to lock yourself in and work. That's not relaxing." Manny then looked at Ian. "And that better not be new coffee. You said we were out!"

Ian grinned. "So I lied. And don't bother looking for the rest. I dumped it." Ignoring the curse he turned back to Roland, "Come on. Let's go. The night is young mate."

Curt, who had been in the bathroom, walked in and looked at the group. Roland was on the couch with his guitar looking frazzled. Manny looked like he was going to be sick. What was he drinking? Ian looked... well Ian looked like he always looked. Like he was up to something.

"What's going on?" Curt asked

"Oh, we are just trying to rally Roland into action. " Manny grumbled and took another small sip of his full drink.

"What are you drinking?" Curt wondered aloud at the grimace on Manny's face.

"Coffee. Or at least it was coffee yesterday. Now it's motor oil with some cream and sugar."

"I don't know about you man." Curt said, shaking his head and chuckling. "Why?"

"Because this arse, "Manny boomed pointing at Ian, "Lied to me about us having anything better."

Ian laughed. "You deserved it after yesterday. You tripped me in the hallway in front of that pretty blonde. You knew something was coming you wanker. And that's just for starters."

Curt came further in the room and sat next to Roland. Roland caught his eye and smiled. They both knew that this meant a few weeks of observing the most childish pranks imaginable. It should be entertaining.

"So why are we drinking coffee at 8:30 at night?" Curt asked leaning back into the couch.

Manny walked cautiously away from Ian and sat in the armchair. "Well, we were told to take the weekend off and have some fun weren't we? We are fueling up." He winked and tried to sip a bit more of his "coffee".

"Ah. That sounds kind of fun actually." Curt said sitting back up. "What were you planning?"

Ian stepped forward, standing behind the chair Manny was sitting in. "There's a new club opening up. We figured we should check it out. You know? Grace it with our presence?"

Manny got up and moved to the arm of the chair so he could keep a better eye on Ian. "What he means is that where there is a new club, there are new girls to chat up." Ian smiled and Manny finally took his eyes of him for a moment to look back at Curt. "You in Smith?"

"Let me think on it." Curt got up and headed to the kitchen for something to drink. He took a moment to conceder while he sipped some water. Watching these two drunkenly try to prank each other in a public place sounded pretty fun. He could use some fun. It had been grueling lately. He snuck around the corner and took a look at his friends again.

Manny and Ian were eying each other from different parts of the room now. Oh this was going to be good. Then he looked at Roland.

Roland had been silently listening to the conversation, lightly strumming his guitar and staring at the small picture window on the far wall. Curt knew the look in his eyes well. They had been friends for a long time and he had seen it before. Something was wrong and Roland was doing his best to act like he was fine. Roland was good at hiding pain from everyone. Everyone but Curt, that is. Curt knew what to look for.

There was the change in posture, slumped over his guitar rather than cradling it. The guitar, Curt knew, was Roland's lifeline. Right now he could see it literally holding him up. He was worrying his bottom lip, pondering some quandary. But the big tell for Roland was his eyes. Even at this angle curt could see the spark of pain. Some untold misery that was getting under his skin and taking him for a ride down Depression Avenue.

That decided it. Curt turned back into the kitchen to put away his glass and make himself a new drink.

"Ok, I'm in! But only if all four of us go." Curt said loudly as he returned back into the room smiling.

Manny looked livid. "Oy, what the hell Curt?!"

"What?" Curt said, sipping his drink.

"You!" Manny rounded on Ian. "You said you dumped the rest you dick!"

"So I lied" Ian said, "déjà vu?"

Manny slammed his cup down on the table and stormed into the kitchen.

Curt laughed and went over to Roland. "Game?"

"Really? You're not going to just let me relax are you?" Roland sighed putting his guitar down on the stand next to him.

"No. I'm not." Curt laughed and kicked his friend lightly with his foot. "It'll be good for you. And it will be good for us. It's all been business lately. It would be nice to be with my best mate again. "

Roland looked up at Curt for a few moments biting his lip as he thought.

Roland sighed and stood up. "If you insist." He said quietly.

Curt smiled and touched Roland on the arm, "I do."

Roland gave a sideways smile and nodded. By this time Manny came careening back into the room to shoot daggers at the lot of them.

"It's gone!" He growled. "Someone share with me."

Curt looked down at his empty cup. There hadn't been that much left to begin with. "I'm sorry Man." He said and put it down on the table to show him.

Ian just laughed and put down his empty cup as well.

Manny groaned. "Great, so I get the nasty old coffee."

"Nope." Everyone turned back to Roland. He was setting down Manny's now empty cup. "Needed the courage." He smiled. A genuine smile.

Ian stopped chuckling and looked at Roland with a puzzling expression.

Manny swore.

Curt just laughed and watched it all unfold. Seeing Roland smile made him happy. He was going to help his friend feel better tonight. He was going to fix it. Whatever it was.