Author's Note: WOAH, WOAH, WOAH! Woah. I'm updating before my deadline, and I'm attempting to make a multi-chapter story~? Say whaaa? Well, I'm obvious infected with insanity~ :D Aha, nah, I'm actually currently on a TRS fix. TRS= The Ready Set. Cool hair and electronic nonsense, my version of happiness~ So, why am I telling you this? Well, I was inspired, of course! So, this shall be a story inspired by The Ready Set songs~! 8D ...I'll try to work it out. /x Sooo, in favor of ignoring Rhythms of Love at the moment, I'll be working on this~ The song that inspired this whole sha-bang was Unender by TRS, apparantly it's not on a CD... I found it on Youtube, actually. c: And this chapter was kinda meant to be short, it's sort of an opening of sorts? Not a prologue.. just.. an opening.. thing.. yeah. Imma go get some sleep nao~ :D Kbai, have fun lovelies~!
Disclaimer: It's called fanfiction for a reason~
She stared out at the crowd from the side of the stage.
It was almost pitch black, there were only figures, no definite shapes. It unnerved her, to be seen but not being able to see the watchers. She sighed, staying in the shadows, her mood as dark as her surroundings.
She was at another gig, something set up by her manager, which happened to be her father. It was a rather nice bar, something one didn't see often, and she would know.
The 20-year-old blonde had had her fair share of traveling. One didn't worry about dust when beer bottles and spilt alcohol posed a much larger threat.
Her main stages were usually music nights at bars like this. Large for a bar, small for a club, homey and many, nice locals. It became a standard for her. After three years of traveling, this became a luxury for the young star. Things always seemed to change. With the few exceptions of her wardrobe, performance, and close friends. Even those seemed subject to change lately.
See, Maka Albarn (the mentioned blonde, 20-year-old), used to be a rather large performer. A C-lister at one point, actually. She was popular for small-town gigs and did covers, though still wrote her own music from time to time. Maka was a fan of pop and trance, singing pieces from the "Top 40*" often. Though, these days she had strayed to alternative, still softer than rock but matched her darkened feelings.
Maka had begun to lose her love of singing. Well, it shouldn't be put that way. She had become tired of the lifestyle that came along with it and the toll it took on her free time and relationships. She had once been the middle of a large collection of friends, accomplices, acquaintances, and the few people she could actually confide in, the ones who she had known before her 'famous-ness' and were truly trust-worthy. Only four people held the last title, for Maka was rather reserved and embarrassed by any type of intimacy, those four people realized this and had stuck by her nonetheless.
This 'embarrassment' stemmed from her broken family. She had never truly forgiven her parents for what they both did, for both were at fault. Though, she did love both of her parents dearly, for giving her a home and raising her, and supporting her when they could. Of course, they didn't have to know that, she was one to enjoy holding grudges.
Maka raked a hand through her curled hair, courtesy of one of her closest friends, Tsubaki. She had spotted another of her close circle, Black Star (who had also recently become Tsubaki's boyfriend), by the brightness of his blue hair. It glowed even brighter than usual under the white strobe lights. Yes, white strobe lights, apparently they existed in the oddest of places.
The pair, Tsubaki and Black Star, was being followed by the only other two members of her closest circle, the Thompson sisters, Elisabeth and Patricia. They had told people multiple times that they preferred Liz and Patti, though. Many times had one been corrected by a slap or a joyous kick in a male's balls. The latter usually administrated by Patti, that girl and her overwhelming exuberance, it was literally insane.
The lights flickered and she looked over at her over-emotional, well, father. She didn't like referring to him as that though, so, manager was usually his title. He gave her a thumbs up and her heart tightened slightly at the tears welling in bright blue eyes that she didn't share. This happened every time. No matter how badly she treated and disowned him, he was always there, supporting from the sidelines. Of course, that is what his job description called for.
The petite girl sighed, the movement shaking her frame. She hardly ever got nervous, one thing she wasn't feeling at the moment. A mental list of the songs she had picked out for tonight ran through her head and she went over the lyrics of songs she had learnt recently.
The list used to contain female stars, divas and 'things' made of plastic. Recently she had switched to darker things, though she still loved more upbeat rhythms, her heavy heart just couldn't handle it. Britney Spears moved over for Hayley Williams and Ke$ha was trashed in favor of Lacey Sturm*. It greatly helped her heart lighten in the moments she was forced on-stage. It made her feel almost, happy, in a twisted sense. That feeling had become more and more foreign lately, hence the change in playlist.
It only returned, the feeling of 'happiness', when she shared a fun moment with her close-knit group of friends. Most of her older, so-called 'friends' had left her when she had left the larger stages. Groupies became strangers, not that she had really known them in the first place. Those people seemed to only want sex, and she was happily still a virgin.
Maka tucked a sand-blonde piece of hair behind her ear and left the hand trace the curve of her chin before falling back to her side. Her enthusiasm had long since abandoned her, though the feeling of adrenaline remained, the feeling that kept her going. Though, she could feel the urge for a long break. The end of her current career was nearing. This routine was becoming torture, and she wasn't a machinist nor a sadist.
The lights flickered once more, the band members coming onto stage and getting situated at their instruments. The only one she knew was Black Star, for he played the drums at all of her gigs. He was utterly passionate about his current profession and she would never allow anyone else to have the job. It was the least she could offer him. Liz and Patti would play back-up guitar and bass, respectively, if needed, and the same applied for Tsubaki if a keyboardist was required.
She gathered her wits and walked leisurely out onto the stage, smiling slightly when the small crowd cheered and whistled. Maka had been here before and had acquired fans, though they appreciated her attitude, not necessarily her selection of music or appearance. It was refreshing and appreciated. She smiled politely, before smirking at Black Star as the band started playing.
The dark rhythm flowed through her as the opening lyrics played through her head. She prepared herself, swaying slightly and clearing her throat as the first notes ended.
One more glance at the dark mass of meshing blobs and she was ready. Her mouth opened, the time of heartache had arrived once again.
-"Top 40" refers to the "American Top 40" which airs every Sunday on my local radio station and is usually hosted by Ryan Seacrest.
-Hayley Williams is the lead singer of Paramore and Lacey Sturm is the lead singer of Flyleaf.