A Fiend as a Friend

Chapter 17

After minutes of glaring at me, Mike handed the manuscript to us. "It's titled complicated and it's a really  complicated song. Scott, you need to practice hard to get the beat. Thomas, you too. As for you, elf, you'll need a lot of practice. I just hope that you get the song."

I scoffed. Who did he think he was?

"Felicity is good, Mike. I mean, she's very good. The public approves of her and I also do approve. I guess we have no problem with her", Thomas said.

"Well, if I were to rate her on the scale of one to ten, it would be minus one. She's really bad. I'm the singer here. There are key stuffs she doesnt put into action."

I laughed. "What key stuffs?"

"You'll find out as you work with me. Now, this discussion is over. Let's start with practice, now."

I chuckled dryly. "Yeah."

He eyed me before continuing. "I'll sing it, you listen attentively." He eyed me again before he sat on a stool. I just rolled my eyes.

He picked up the guitar beside him, placed it on his laps and held it in a diagonal position. He cleared his throat and looked at me again, this time, with anxiety in his eyes. Maybe I was imagining things.

  Complicated
  I hate complications
  Lovely complications
  Lies that keep eating me away
  Complicated
  I hate complications
 
  Series of complications
  My love for you is complicated
  So complicated
  I can't confess my feelings
  Oh, complicated
   I hate complications

   Complicated
   You're complicated
  'Cos of you, I love complications
   My love is complicated
   You may not understand
   'Cos I'm complicated
 
    Complicated
    Elf, you are complicated
    I love complicated...
    Oh, complicated.

The moment I heard the last verse, a cough erupted the silence, causing Mike to stop singing.

"Felicity, you should go to the hospital. You cough a lot these days", Scott said, rushing to my side. He patted my back gently, but that didn't make that feeling at the pit of my stomach leave. Mike just said something about an elf and that was what he called me, right?

Right.

"We'll stop here for today",Mike said firmly. He wasn't even looking at me anymore. Every time I tried to catch his eyes, he just seemed to look away quickly.

Thomas as usual, left first. Scott tried to convince me about going to the hospital, but I declined, telling him that I was okay. After several minutes of persuading me, he finally left.

"Can you repeat the last line of that song?" I asked Mike who was busy getting things arranged.

"No. You can leave now."

I walked towards him and folded my arms across my chest. "Really?"

He finally turned to look at me, then. "Wait, did you enjoy the song to the extent where you have to--"

"Okay. I enjoyed your song. I liked your voice, happy?" I noticed something flash in his eyes. I couldn't recognize it though, because it left as soon as it came.

"Everyone enjoys my song. Of course, you wouldn't be an exception."

"Nonsense."

He laughed. "I understand your jealousy, elf."

I placed my hand on the table beside me and gave him a look that said "really." He just looked away, carried some books that looked very bulky and heavy.

"Do you read books?"

"Yeah. I have other things to do apart from singing, you know."

I nodded. "So, you like me?"

His face turned pink immediately. The tip of his ears turned red too and before I knew it, the books he was holding, fell from his hands and landed on the table where I placed my hand.

"Ouuuuch!" It was as if my fingers were being ground. What sort of books were that much heavy?

He quickly removed the books and held my hands with his own trembling fingers. "Oh my God, I'm sorry. Shit, sorry. I...I didn't intend to drop it on your hand, sorry."

I almost laughed at the way he spoke with so much contrition. "It's okay. I only screamed because it was just so sudden."

He looked at me for a while before looking back at my fingers. "Are you sure you are okay? I mean, will you be able to hold a spoon now? What have I done?"

This time I laughed. It was as if I was seeing through his facade. He was someone different and cool. "It's okay, really."

He dropped my hand and looked away. "Study the song well", he said, using a gruff tone. He was trying to go back to his scary self. Nah, scratch that, his annoying self.

"Mike, just now, I noticed how soft and wonderful you can be. Don't hide it." I smiled at him before turning to leave. When I got to the door, I turned to see him staring at me with an expression I don't really understand. "I like your other soft side."

*****
That night, during dinner, Michael never showed up and that made me really uneasy. Who knew what he was doing. Probably venting his anger on his poor staff or drinking himself to oblivion. I imagined him driving in that state and then colliding into a wall or a tree. I shuddered and dropped my fork.

I looked around at the others who were busy digging into their food hungrily as if there was no tomorrow. Mike's face looked a little bit calmer and I felt very tingly when he licked his sauce-stained lips. Well, that wasn't what I was supposed to be thinking when Michael was missing.

"Collins?"

He raised up his head to look at me and nodded since his mouth was full.
"Do you have any idea of where Michael could have gone?"

He looked at Michael's seat as if he was just noting his absence, swallowed his food and shook his head. "No. He's probably busy with work."

"Felicity, you worry too much. Michael has missed many meals for you to start bothering about him. Why not worry about me instead?" Scott said, putting his hand on my shoulder.

"When did you become this touchy, Scott? Last time I checked, you and Elsa were still together, so?" Mike said, surprising me.

Scott laughed and put his arms around me, drawing me closer. "Should I just break up with Elsa? At least, that would grant me the access--"

"Shut up, Scott. I'll make sure Elsa hears of this", Thomas said, removing his hand off my shoulders.

I looked at Michael's seat again and fear enveloped me totally. I stood up from my seat immediately. "Please, kindly excuse me. I have to be somewhere."

Mike dropped his fork noisily on his plate and stood up. "I'll go with you."

I frowned and folded my arms across my chest. "Do you know where I'm headed to?"

"Yes. You want to look for Michael. It's obvious, elf. "

I blinked at him repeatedly. Was it that obvious? I used my hands to frame my cheeks before turning to leave.

"Wow! Felicity, that's really cute. First, it was you rolling your eyes that got me attracted. Now, your cuteness is pinning me down", Thomas said.

I sighed deeply before leaving the room. Guys and their sweet words. Well, not every guy. Some people like Mike didn't have any sweet word for anyone.

*****
Yeah, just my usual chant again. Vote, comment and share.

Lots of love from deo.