Blame

Chapter 2 (Him)

"Come on mate, snap out of it." Kyle snapped his fingers in front of Dan's face, causing him to jump up. He was staring into space again and he knew it was driving his bandmates bonkers. He couldn't concentrate for the life of him.

        "Sorry, sorry. I'm good." Dan cleared his throat and flipped through the sheet music. Kyle looked at him dubiously but gave a thumbs up to the controller behind the glass. The familiar tune started up again and Dan tried as hard as he could to keep his focus on the lyrics in front of him.

"In my left hand there is the familair

in my right hand there's the great unknown

I can see the madly--"

        "What in the bloody hell? Dan, come out here." Bastille's manager, Martin turned off the music before Dan could even finish; he stood angrily behind the glass with his hands on his hips. He motioned for Dan to come inside. Dan groaned underneath his breath and the three other band members stood awkwardly around the room.

        "Do you want to tell me what's going on?" Martin stared with frustration at the exhausted Dan.

        "Look, I'm just having an off day, alright? I'll do better." 

        "If it was only an off day I would let it slide, but you've been this way for over a week. You've got to get your head back in the game." Martin said and Dan didn't reply.

        "I know it hasn't been easy for you recently...," Martin sighed and slowly continued, "and I wish I could grant you time-off, I really do. I'm no monster, but we just can't afford it. The tour is in two months and you know we've got a shit ton of work to do. After the tour, I'll give you three weeks off and you can relax then."

        "Fine, I get it." Dan looked up at him suddenly and gave him a cold stare. Without another word, he stormed out of the room and into the public restroom down the hallway. 

        He didn't understand why he was so shaken up about this seemingly insignificant blimp in his life. He wasn't sure why what Martin had said was making him so angry. Dan turned on the faucet and washed his face, letting himself cool off. He heard the door open but before he could look up to see who it was, he heard Will's voice.

        "Hey, don't worry about what that jackass said. If you need to clear your head, we're not stopping you." Will leaned against the wall, looking dearly at his friend. Dan shook his head and finally looked up.

        "Martin is right. We don't have much time left, and let's be honest, I'm letting down the band." Will tried to interject, but Dan raised his hand to stop him.

        "Maybe it'll be good for me, you know? I just need to focus on my music and try to get over...her." Dan glanced up at himself in the mirror, but quickly looked away.

        "If that's what you want. We have your back either way." Will said uncertainly. Dan offered him a small smile and together they left the restroom.

        Dan really wanted to believe what he had said; he needed to get over her. She was fucking with his head and all of a sudden he was completely losing control of his life. He stepped into the rehearsal room and decided to give it all he had. Whatever it took, he was going to get over Maxine.