Karaoke Dreaming
Alec learns the lyrics to a song, does some karaoke, and Max...well Max has an epiphany.
Disclaimer: roses are red, violets are blue, me no own, you no sue.
~~
Alec walked down the filthy side streets of Seattle, which were thankfully empty. He didn't like to be around too many destitute people, it made him feel sorry for them, and then he would try and hide the feelings, which would bring back memories of Manticore, which would...
Or he could just start thinking about what would happen, and that would set off the memories. Better just to stay alone, and continue on his way, than be plagued with painful memories of the past, and some from the present.
But Alec didn't like to be alone, it made him think too much. But, instead of going to Crash, like he usually would, he headed in the other direction. He knew that Max and O.C and Sketchy would be at Crash and he didn't really want to be in their company, particularly Max's. Instead, he looked for a club, any club that he could entertain himself in.
Looking around, he saw a few flashing neon lights, illuminating a sign that proclaimed that the club was holding a karaoke contest tonight. This could be fun he thought to himself.
Walking in, he quickly found himself a place at the bar, and ordered a glass of beer. He would order a pitcher, but that would be suspicious. So, instead, he sat and watched as girl after girl pathetically attempted to sing their favourite song. Some were actually really good, others really bad.
After a while, the stream of girls, and a few guys, trickled down, until there was only a few acts left, and another hour of the contest left. The manager was walking around the club, personally looking for more entrants. Eventually, he came to stand next to Alec.
"What do you say, friend? Would you care to join in the festivities and grace us with a song?"
"I can't sing."
"Sure you can. And even if you can't nobody here cares. They're either too drunk to notice, or so used to it that it doesn't bother them anymore. If you've been listening to wannabes for years like I have, you get used to it. So what do you say? I'm sure we can find you a song to sing. Or if you have one in mind, we'll see if we have the CD and lyrics."
"Well..."
"Come on. You can win $50. If you're really good, you could even win more in tips from the crowd. Doesn't happen often, but it does happen."
"Well... I guess I can at least try."
"Good on you. Now come back here and I'll help you find a song. Or do you have one in mind?"
"No. I don't really know any songs."
"Well I'm sure we can find one for you."
~~
Max had been at Crash for more than two hours, and was now bored out of her brain. O.C. had gone home, Sketchy was plastered on the floor, and Alec hadn't even showed up. So, to kill some time, she went up to talk to the barkeeper.
"Hey, keeper, how about a beer?"
"Sure, anything you want missy."
When he brought it over, he stood and talked to her for a while, cleaning the bench as he talked.
"So, what brings you to be here on your own at 11:30 at night?"
"Don't sleep too much, and all my friends are either dead to the world or asleep."
"Is there a difference?"
"Only the next morning."
"Well, you looking for some action? Because one of the nearby clubs, 'bout a mile north of here, has a karaoke competition on on Thursday nights. Always fun watching people going up and making a fool of themselves."
"Sounds like a laugh, what's the place called?"
"Can't remember sorry, but you'll the place when you see it. Just head on down the next road on your right for about a mile, and you'll come to a cross street. If you turn left there, you'll see it. There'll be lights trying to flash and everything."
"Thanks for the tip. Here's your money."
"Anytime miss, anytime."
Max headed out of the door, and began walking down the street toward the club the guy had talked about. Sure enough, it was where he said it was, and she could see the neon lights attempting to shine. Walking in, she took a seat at the bar, and ordered a beer.
Watching, Max wondered to herself how a person could get up on a stage and sing to an audience. She certainly couldn't. Grabbing her beer, she decided to sit in one of the corners near the stage, where she would be out of sight to almost everyone, including who ever was on the stage.
~~
Back stage, Alec looked through a pile of lyrics, looking for a song that he could sing. Finding a potential one, he pulled it out and showed it too the manager, who was helping him.
"Now that's a song we haven't heard her for ages. Last time some one did it, the whole place nearly drowned in tears. That's a sad song sir, I don't know if you want to sing it."
"Oh I do. But, do you mind of I change some of the lyrics? Not a lot."
"That's alright. The guy who wrote is probably dead by now anyway."
"Alright. Can I listen to it once through to see what how it goes first?"
"Sure. Just go into that room over there and find the CD. It should be in alphabetical order by title. The CD player's in the corner, headphones are next to it."
"Thanks."
~~
(Ten minutes later.)
Max applauded as yet another girl finished her pathetic attempt at a pre-pulse song, A Thousand Miles. She watched as a male walked onto the stage, and stood behind the microphone. With a start, Max realised that it was Alec. I didn't know Alec did karaoke she thought to herself as the music began playing. It was haunting music, soft, slow and sad.
Before he began, he whispered to himself, so softly that Max only just heard him, "This is for you 452." Startled, she looked up at him in confusion, wondering why he would dedicate a song to her.
Alec began to sing, shakily at first, but then with more confidence. His voice was amazing, so soft and sad, fitting in with the tone of the piece so well. The audience came alive, caught up in all the emotions that Alec was able to convey through his voice to them; loneliness, sadness, despair, heartbreak.
And now I'm alone again
No where to turn, no one to go to
Without a home, without a friend
Without a face to say hello to
And now the night is here
And I can make believe she's here
Sometimes I walk alone at night when every body else is sleeping
I think of her and then I'm happy with the company I'm keeping
The city goes to bed
And I can live inside my head
On my own
Pretending she's beside me
All alone I walk with her till morning
Without her I feel her arms around me
And when I lose my way I close my eyes
And she has found me
In the rain the pavement shines like silver
All the lights are misty in the river
In the darkness the trees are full of starlight
And all I see is her and me forever and forever
And I know it's only in my mind
That I'm talking to myself and not to her
And although I know that she is blind
Still I say there's a way for us
I love her
But when the night is over
She is gone, the river's just a river
Without her the world around me changes
The trees are bare and everywhere the streets are full of strangers
I love her
But everyday I'm learning
All my life I've only been pretending
Without me her world will go on turning
A world that's full of happiness that I have
Never known
I love her, I love her
I love her, but only on my own
Finished, Alec looked up at the audience for the first time since he had walked on stage. Every face he could see was tear streaked, many were still openly weeping. Some one started applauding, and, once started, it took a long time to stop. He saw the manager come up, and accepted the prize money that he handed over, all three hundred dollars of it.
It was only as he walked off the stage that he noticed a face in one of the corners near the stage. Where they were sitting, it would have been impossible for him to see them while on stage. But, now that he had gotten a good look, he turned and ran out the building, tears running down his own face. He should have felt her presence, should have know that she was there. But he hadn't and he had just made the biggest fool out of himself for nothing, in front of her, whom he had sung the song for.
Max.
~~
THE END.
(Unless you like it and want me to write more, which I am actually willing to do. Please tell me if you think I should continue or not.)