Praying to the Sky

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"I lay my head and rest in peace," I scream out, tears rolling down the sides of my face. It's only seven in the damn morning and already it's started off horrible. You would expect someone you've been with for a solid two years to have the decency to at least dump you in person instead of over the phone. No, scratch that, through text. Tyler had the balls to send me a meagre message saying that he didn't want to be with me anymore and that he had been seeing another girl behind my back for the past three months. Best morning text of the year. The rivulets of tears seep into my ears past my earbuds making them slip out. "Get it together, it's a guy. It's not the pope. Get up, get dressed. Go to work, and quit your pity party," I say sternly to myself, wiping away the stray tears from my eyes.

Looking inside my closet I grab the first garments I can find; a bright red oversized turtleneck and a pair of black jeans. I slip on some pink converse that completely clash with the outfit but I really can't be bothered to find another pair of shoes. Downstairs my mother is perched on a chair at the kitchen table drinking a mug of coffee, a lit cigarette in her hand. Smoke coils from the lit end. "Morning mum," I say to her, heading towards the fridge for my coconut water bottle. "Good morning, Rebecca," she says never looking up at me. "I work until two am today, clean up after an after party," I say, sipping my drink. "Oh? That's nice. Pretty hefty check coming your way I suppose. Still planning on visiting your father in London once you have the money?" She questions as she takes a small drag from her cigarette. "Yeah, only have over a thousand, but this job pays well so I should have enough by September or sooner." She nods in approval and I take that as a sign to go on my way to my first job.

When I was fourteen my parents separated. Nasty divorce; my father cheated on my mum with her sister. Sounds like it should be in a soap opera but I guess even things like that happen in real life. My father married my aunt, me and my mother moved from good old smoggy London to Los Angeles, California. It's been six years since then and if I get the money, it'll be the first time I get to see my father since the divorce. My mother prefers to leave him in the past; 15 years of marriage goes down the drain when you get played. I can relate.

I walk glumly down the sidewalk, earbuds blaring my favourite deep and moody melancholic tunes. I'm not typically a happy person and so even my music tastes reflect it. The walk to my first job is swift and soon I'm wearing my name tag and stupid cat ear headband, ready to sell gothic apparel to people. I don't even work at a hot topic, I work at a wannabe store called Emotion and really it's just filled with clothes and accessories that look like they were dug up from late 19th century.

Ding ding! The front doorbell sounds off announcing the arrival of a customer so I perk up from my original slouched position so I can look more hospitable. Inside the store is three men. All of them sport plain white t-shirts exposing their tattoos. One of the guys is very pale with a bowl style hair cut bleached white and wearing what appears to be black sclera contacts. Another is tan with a scruffy beard and glasses, also with bleached blonde hair. The last man is tall and lanky, hair split into two colours; pink and black, and has multiple facial tattoos that compliment him quite well.

"Good morning guys, how can I help you today?" I ask plastering a smile to my face. "Woah, Bex you hear that? She got that 'Ye ole English' thing!" The man with glasses says, smacking the bowl cut boy in the chest. "Would you shut the fuck up Goth?" He hisses, rolling his eyes before addressing me. "Yes, we're looking for some stylish black outfits. We got a show later tonight and we wanna look a little creepy," he says with a smile. He's got killer teeth. "Well you got the perfect eyes going on for that already, but I'm sure I got some good clothes around here," I laugh as I step out from behind the counter and go to the men's section of the store.

"So what's your name?" Bex asks whilst I hand him a few garments from the racks. "Rebecca. My friends call me Becca," I say, standing on my toes to retrieve a pair of ripped black skinny jeans with vivid red paint splatters on them. "Ah really? My names Bexey," he grins. "Bex stop flirting with her and hurry up, the guys said we gotta hurry or else they're finishing the pizza," the two toned haired man calls out. "I'm going Gus, calm down. So, Becca, are you coming to the show tonight?" Bexey asks as he follows me back to the counter. "I wasn't aware that there was a show here tonight but sadly even if I wanted to go I can't. I got a second job," I reply. Bexey nods. "That's a shame, would've been nice to talk more with you, you seem quite nice." Goth steps in and wraps his arm around Bexey's neck. "What he means to say is that he fancies you and wants to shag you, isn't that right bruva," he laughs, faking an English accent. "Oh fuck off. Ignore him, he's stoned and doesn't know which way is east," Bexey says with a rosy tint fanned across his cheeks. "It's no problem. Anyways, I really wish you guys luck at your show, I'm sure you'll all be outstanding." Gus smiles at me when I say this. "Thanks Becca. Have a good day," he says and once they pay they're all out the door leaving me alone in the store.

After my shift I make my way to my second job, already hearing the sounds of performers on stage even from downstairs. The building is a little odd: when you first walk in all you see is the massive stage but behind that is a large white corridor that leads down to another two. Take the left one and you get taken to a few dressing rooms. Take the right one and you're taken to an open room with speakers all around. That's the room I'm in, setting up food, cleaning floors, putting up decorations, setting up a stage for a dj to play at. By the time I have everything spotless and organised it's a little after eleven. "Hey Becca you can go enjoy the last bit of the concert if you'd like. When it's all done just come back over here," my boss says to me kindly and I nod, giving out a thank you. I make my way up the corridors and stand near the edge of the stage, making sure to wear my Stage Crew badge so security doesn't throw me out by accident. The stage is empty for a bit, smoke all around and that's when I hear someone hype up the next performer.

"Are you guys ready? Scream and give it up for the one and only PEEP!" Cheers echo all around in excitement as the beat begins to play. My jaw drops to the floor when I notice the two toned hair man from earlier in the store. Holy fucking shit... Gus? The intro to his song Yesterday begins to play and I find myself singing along, belting out the lyrics. Gus points the microphone towards the crowd for us to sing along with him and sure enough everyone screams out the words in time to the beat. "I know I did a little blow and I never wrote back to you!"

"Hey you came," a voice says from behind me giving me a startle. I turn around to be faced with a smiling Bexey. "I work here, stage crew. I didn't know you guys were... well..." Bexey laughs at my loss of words. "That we rap for a living? Yeah, sometimes even I'm shocked." I shake my head. "Not just that. I listen to you dweebs all the time. I didn't know you guys were You because I'm an idiot and don't put two and two together." He laughs at my confession and wraps a long arm over my shoulders. "Aww that's actually really sweet. It's always refreshing to meet people who don't know us from the get go," he says to me, pressing me closer to him. "Bex you're on in five!" A stage hand announces to the bleach blonde boy next to me. He looks down at me with his pitch black eyes and gives me a wide grin. "I'll see you soon, love. Enjoy the show."

I watch him walk away gracefully up to the stage, joining Gus. Star Shopping begins to play and the crowd, myself included, roars in anticipation. In sync the two men begin to sing, their voices drenched in bittersweet tones. Peep glances my way, smiling when he sees I'm all but screaming the words he's singing along with Bexey. My heart catches in my chest, beating fiercely, stomach knotting in delicious ways.

Members of the group join on stage as the show progresses, all of them never missing a cue or beat. "Thank you guys for coming out to see us. Your support is what keeps us going and we love each and every one of you!" Peep says into the microphone, running a hand through his damp hair. The crowd cheers, some demanding one more song, as the guys begin to disperse from the stage. "You liked it?" A voice says from behind me. I turn around to be encountered with a sweaty Gus. "It was beyond my expectations. You guys are truly a sight to see and hear," I say truthfully, my smile widening when I see Gus's eyes light up.

"Shall we go to the party?"

Ive been inspired by so many peep stories on here that I decided to write my own. I'm going to try my best to not make it suck. I'm going to make it as I go. I love you guys🖤