"Oh my god! It's starting!"
"Aaah! I see Gilbert~!"
"Francis is so hotter!"
I roll my eyes. These are the shouts I hear as the lights onstage come on, revealing Antonio Carriedo at the drumkit (which has a tomato on the base drum), Francis Bonnefoy at the keyboard, winking at random girls- he's single, yet again- and Gilbert Beilschmidt- my Gil- with his electric guitar, standing at the front microphone. wave so that he can see me, even though I'm near the back. And he blows a charismatic kiss. The girls around me, in their short skirts and sheer shirts, swoon and scream. The idiots don't realise that the kiss was to me. Gil would never even dream about doing that to someone else. Aside from the main three, The Bad Touch Trio, there's a few random people on other instruments, but they get switched out every so often.
Toni counts them in on the drums, and Gilbert shreds his Prussian blue guitar. Francis starts singing, and surprise, surprise, his song is in French. He always writes his songs in French. (And maybe that's a good thing.) The song goes on for a few minutes, and from what Francis has taught me, it wasn't so innocent. Hey! It's not like I intend to learn bad things in French! It happens when you hang out with Gil and Francis. Toni... not so much. I don't know how he became friends with the others... they always use him for prank bait, which isn't really nice, but he's fine with it.
The concert goes on for another two hours, when Gilbert ends the song with an exaggerated bow, and the crowd goes wild. I hear girls screaming "I love you, Gilbert!" "I love you, Francis!" and "I love you, Antonio!" Yeah... shut up. Gil's mine, and Toni's got Bella. They can all go for Francis. And he'd probably have them all. That man would even flirt with a pole, if no one else was within talking range.
"Excuse me! Excuse me!" I find myself shouting repeatedly, pushing through the crowd. I need to get backstage, and say goodbye to Gilbert. The guys are leaving for their tour of Europe tomorrow. They'll be gone for a month and a half. What'll I do without Gil for that long...? I spend practically every day with him. "For god's sake, move!" I shout, pushing past two giggling teenagers. They glare at me, obviously seeing the backstage pass around my neck. Not that I even need one; the security guards all know me. Lovi nods and moves aside as I reach the doors.
"Hola, Erzsi!" I hear a familiar, Spanish-accented voice call. Antonio skips up to me and gives me a friendly hug. "Did you like the concert, chica?"
"Igen, Toni, of course!"
"It's a shame you can't come with us to Europe."
"Yeah... but you know Roderich."
"Si... Ill tell Gilbert that you're here." He walks off, humming. He wishes Bella were here, I can tell. After a minute or so, Gilbert comes out of the dressing room, sweeping his white fringe out of his face.
"Hey, babe," he saws, wrapping his arm around my shoulder as he kisses me. "Glad you came."
"Well, I had to say goodbye to my gorgeous boyfriend. I've got work tomorrow, so I can't see you then."
"Ja, ja, you told me." Does he sound... bored?
"I know, but sometimes you forget things." Well... I hope that's what happens. I know he pays attention.
"Hey, want some beer? I got Ludwig to drop some off before the café meeting."
Café... meeting...? "Shit! Sorry, hun, I gotta go! Oooh, Roderich's gonna kill me..." He gives me another kiss, and I pull away quickly. He gives me a hurt look, but I don't have time for this. I push past people once again, as soon as I step outside the backstage doors. Getting out of the car park in my little crappy car was a nightmare, as well. People were still hanging around, some people smoking and drinking, even though there were signs warning penalties for doing that.
Fortunately for me, there's little traffic, once I get away from the concert hall. I pull up at the little café. The 'Das Edelweiss Café' sign is packed up insdie, along with all the chairs and tables. But the light's still on inside, and Roderich's weekly staff meetings last for hours. Sure enough, I hear yelling coming from the building, only confirming that people are inside. I gulp nervously, knowing I'm going to be yelled at too, as soon as I step inside.
"Oh! I'm so sorry, Erzsébet!" Lili shouts, standing up. I didn't know she was able to speak so loudly. I'm about to say something when she winks at me. "Play along," she mouths.
"What is the meaning of this, Erzsébet?" Roderich asks, from the front of the room, already pissed off. Judging by Ludwig's expression, I'd say that the two got into an argument. Again.
"I-" I begin, but Lili cuts me off.
"Bitte, Herr Edelstein, it was my fault. I sent her a text message saying that the meeting was cancelled."
"Und why would you do that?"
"Because that's what I heard. But I had no credit left to tell her that I was wrong when big brother told me to get ready."
"So this is your fault?"
"Ja."
"Then it is you who shall face the punishment for tardiness, not Erzsébet. Sit down. Both of you." I walk to the seat behind Lili, putting my bag under it.
"You didn't have to do that," I whisper to her. "You don't wanna wash dishes, do you?"
"It's okay. It's what friends do. And I don't mind."
"Are you sure?" God, I feel bad.
"Ja! Besides, it's my turn in the kitchen tomorrow." Ah, crap. I have to wait tables tomorrow. Some of the customers, I swear...
"Stop talking!" Roderich shouts, hitting his pointer on the portable whiteboard. "We are running behind schedule as it is, thanks to Misses Zwingli and Héderváry. Now, about the new menu change..."
No one pays attention to him, honestly. I think he just likes to feel important. Roderich's alright, really, once you get to know him. Just a little stiff, and a little snobbish. Really attached to that piano of his. Actually, I was wrong. Lili pays attention, but that's because Lili pays attention to everything. Sometimes, I think she's too nice for her own good. No wonder Vash protects her like she's a fragile crystal or something, like she's going to break. Can crystals even break?
An hour or two later, I don't know when, I lost track of time, we're 'dismissed', as if we're back in school. I wait with Lili out the front of the café. She's waiting for Vash to pick her up. (He works here at the café, too, but he's sick, so he didn't come to the meeting.) I can't just let her wait out in the dark alone. We chat about trivial things, like always. I guess, when Gil goes, I could spend my days with Lili until he gets back, but... Lili's more the type of friend you play chess with, or drink tea with, or talk to about problems. I don't like tea and I suck at chess.
"Will you miss Gilbert?" she asks out of the blue. Wow, it's like she read my mind.
"Of course! He's my boyfriend, and he'll be gone for six weeks..."
"It's going to happen more, you know, if the Bad Touch Trio gets more and more popular."
"Yeah... I know. But maybe by then, I'll have enough money to come along." She looks at me. Is she worried? "What's up?"
"Oh, um... nothing..." A small car pulls up in front of us, and I give Lili a hug goodbye. "Call me if you need me, ja?"
"Ja," I say, imitating her, and waving. She gets into the car, and Vash, who has the same haircut as her, drives off. I walk over to my car, and of course, like usual, the key gets stuck for a second. Finally, it opens and I drive home. Fortunately, Edelweiss is only a few minutes drive away from the apartment I share with Bella. It's a small, crappy apartment, but it's okay. I'm barely home anyway. And when I am, Bella gives me leftover waffles. She makes really good waffles. Like, restaurant quality.
When I get to the apartment building, there's a red car parked in my spot. I'm not saying that to be like Sheldon Cooper, but it is literally my spot. It says 136. Mine and Bella's apartment number. Bella doesn't have a car- oh. That's right. Toni parks there sometimes, when he comes to visit.
I park on the side of the road and head up the stairs. We live on the second floor, so I have to climb up some stairs. At least my bag is light today.
"I'm home~!" I call, opening the door. Toni says hola again, from the table he and Bella are sitting at, next to the window.
"Erzsi, Erzsi, Erzsi!" Bella shouts repeatedly, jumping up out of her seat and dragging me into her room. "Be right back, mijn liefde~!"
"What's happening?!" I ask, her excitement rubbing off on me.
"Tonisaidsomethingaboutpoppingthequestionineurope!" she whisper-shouts, all her words jumbling together.
"Calm down, and repeat." She takes a deep breath and starts again.
"Toni said something about popping the question in Europe!" she says, jumping up and down.
"Oh my god!" I jump with her- this is so exciting! And to think, it was me that got them together in the first place, back in high school! Gil and I have been together since high school, too... I wonder...
"I know, I know, I know!"
"Wait..." Something she said floated into my mind. "Y-you're going with them to Europe...?"
"Ja!" she shouts. Her smile is so wide now... "Toni's paying for my tickets! Wait... you're not...?"
"No..."
"But... Gil...?"
"No."
"Oh my god... I-I can stay if you like..."
"No, no, no! You go!" I give her the same excuse I give everybody else. "I asked Roderich. He said no. No time off, so... no Europe."
"A-alright..." she walks back into the living room, back to the table, and I notice she has a new headband in her hair. Another gift from Toni. There are also flowers on the table. Gil never gets me gifts, or flowers. "There's more salad on the on the bench if you want some!" she calls to me, sitting down.
"Nah, it's okay. I snuck some cakes at the café. ANd besides, I have to call Gil." I walk into my room, and that's when I realise that I have a message.
gnight babe concert tired me out c u 2moz
Argh! His grammar always gets to me. So... no calling Gilbert then. I can't see him tomorrow... I swear I told him that...
I told you before, hun. I can't see you tomorrow. I've got the early shift at work.
I sit at my laptop, looking over a story a friend emailed me that I saved to my computer. A few minutes later, my phone buzzes again.
unawsome c u wen i get back then
See you then~! Have fun! I'll Skype you on Tuesday, okay?
k
I'm filled with the urge to give some smartass reply, but I can't be bothered. It's almost eleven... maybe I should go to bed. I have to be at work by eight... I call out goodnight to Toni and Bella and change into my pyjamas. I check my phone again and go to bed.
Tomorrow's the day that my boyfriend, my handsome, 'awesome', funny boyfriend will leave for a month and a half. And one of my closest friends, too. I'm sure I'll be fine. And who knows? Maybe, for once, Gilbert will get me something.
Translations-
Chica- Spanish for 'girl'
Igen- Hungarian for 'yes'
Bitte- German for 'please'
Mijn liefde- Dutch for 'my love' (at least according to Google Translate)
Hello! I know I should be working on my other stories (I'm still trying to figure out Chapter Two of Not Lonely Anymore...) but this idea came to my head, and I planned out the entire thing. And I feel proud of that fact. I was originally going to write the whole story, and then upload it, but... Today is Hungary's birthday, and she's the main character, so I decided, "Eh, why not?"
Updates for this story should be a bit more consistent. (I'm already up to Chapter Five)
This is testing out a new pairing that I've started to like... only one person knows what pairing that is... and it's also testing out first-person writing. I need to practice that.
So, what do you think? Is it good? Is it crap? Are there mistakes? Please tell me, so that I can work on it. I write fanfiction to practice writing skills/techniques, after all. Aaand I have no idea what I'm on about now.
Oh, and I realise this may be very cheesy. But I like cheesy romance. ^-^ (And sorry for the title... I could think of nothing else... and it's a quote from somewhere in the story.)
Happy birthday, Hungary! (and everyone else, have a good day~ :))