The Hiatus
After 21 years of touring and rehearsing, CE went on a hiatus. Doing whatever the heck they want.
Aswad and Aiman go back into hiding in their rooms to waste time and energy. They don't rehearse on their guitars when they are doing this. It's mostly time consuming and worthless.
However, they find it very "entertaining". I don't know what did they mean by that, but what they do is what they do.
I, myself, have continued supporting the people who love us. I am the only one who thinks about the fans while on the temporary break. I suppose I can't upset the fans without a bit of existence.
I signed a few arms and t-shirts for them, as well as the basic scrapbooks of bands. It felt like a good deed I was doing. Seeing these people again just after the hiatus was a feeling I could never let go of.
Lillian said she was going to work at a Hot Topic, wherever the nearest one was. She said it also fits her environment with the skulls and ripped fashion. She surely loves the place.
And finally, Aiko. She told all of us she was going to work at a university as a professor. I mean, that is pretty understandable; she's really smart and, obviously, she's the smartest out of all of us.
She told us she was enjoying the job when she got back from the establishment. I wonder how will that turn out after a few more weeks?
Now back to me. I have been doing great. I went to get some coffee from Old Town White Coffee. It was nice having a sip of their coffee. It was way better than Starbucks.
30 guys came up to me and said they watch us -Clueless Emotions- on the Warped Tour every year since 1999.
They even asked me a few questions about the band:
Guy 1: What will you guys be doing later?
Guy 2: Have you planned on recording an album?
Guy 3: When will you guys be touring again. I can't wait to see you guys on the stage.
Guy 4: Have you sold any merch?
I answered all their questions with one answer.
Me: We're taking a break. We won't be doing anything together for the next 2 years. Sorry. We just need time off from touring. Also, we don't know about the idea of recording original songs yet?
They were a bit disappointed but they understand. Everyone needs a break from the spotlight sometimes, but that doesn't mean we have to stay away from our fans.
5 minutes later, after discussing about our band and anything else, the guys left, leaving me alone with silence and my coffee.
Let's just leave my brothers out of this, because they rarely leave their rooms to do anything else. They only leave their rooms to go to parties and get snacks.
I visited Lili at the Hot Topic after just one day of her employment there.
Me: Hi, Lilly.
Lillian: Hey, you...
It sounded like she didn't recognize me. That's impossible. We went on tour with her every year. How could she not remember me?
Me: How have you been since working here.
Lillian: I guess you can say I'm doing great.
Me: Doesn't sound like you are. You seem a bit bored of this.
Lillian: That's just me. Remember?
Oh yeah. Lillian has always been this way since I met her back in high school.
Lillian: Can we talk about this later? I'll be busy hanging clothes soon. As well as leather pants. Eww..
Me: Well, I came here for a good reason: I need to buy some new t-shirts. I'd like a black one with a Green Day logo on it, please?
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Lilly looks for the shirt I suggested and placed it on the counter.
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Lillian: Here it is. That will be ten dollars.
Ten dollars? Not a big deal. I brought extra cash just in case.
Me: Not a problem. Here you go.
Lillian places the t-shirt in a bag and gave it to me. I gave her a wave as I walked out of the store.
Lillian: Bye, Farndee. Have a nice day...if you can.
Me: You too, Lillian.
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After buying the shirt I needed, I went to visit Aiko, who is sitting on a nearby park bench. She looks stressed. Didn't expect this. I went and talk to her. However, the world went a bit weird for a second and when I looked at her, it felt like some kind of "when I look at you, it's like the first time" cliche.
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Aiko: Hey. How are you?
Me: I was just gonna ask the same thing.
It was weird how a sudden pressure was in the air.
Me: Did you feel something a few seconds ago?
Aiko: Sort of. It felt like something was gonna explode around this place.
I have the sudden urge to say something stupid.
Me: Aiko, f*ck these birds, am I right?
Aiko bursts into laughter. Something I haven't seen in a while. She was startled to here this.
Aiko: No, I like the birds.
Me: Sorry. That came out of me for no reason. I don't usually say something like that.
Aiko: You don't?
Me: No.
Aiko: Well, it was funny. I can tell you that.
I had to be a bit honest with her.
Me: Funny is not my thing. It never was.
Aiko: Bummer.
Me: Anyways, I have to go. It was nice seeing you, Big Brains, but I gotta get home and shower.
She was not pleased with her nickname but she will accept it anyway.
I left the park and got into my car to head back home. Aiko felt betrayed when I got into my car, as if I cheated on her with somebody else.
Aiko's thoughts: How could you just leave me like this?! Can't you see I'm hurting?! I need someone who understands and not leave me here like I'm a piece of sh*t!
I finally got back to the house and what do you know, my brothers are still in their rooms. Their lazy butts just won't leave their boxed-in place to get some fresh air.
My phone started ringing so loudly.
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"I heard you're doing okay, but I want you to know. I'm addict, I'm addicted to you..."
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Me: Hello?
Lillian: Hey, bro.
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It was Lillian and wait a minute?
Bro? Did she just-. Nah.
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Me: Hey, Lillian. How are you doing now?
Lillian: Kinda good...Do you have anything going on?
Me: Not really. However, I do have to shower. It's been a long day. How about you? What are you doing tonight?
Lillian: I heard Pierce the Veil will be at The Fonda Theatre.
Me: PTV? Are you serious?
Lillian: I'm f**king dead serious! So you wanna go?
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I paused a bit to look at my brothers.
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Me: Could my brothers tag along?
Lillian: Yeah! That's why I bought five tickets, Emo boy.
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Hold up! Five? I'm not sure if Aiko wants to tag along after seeing her in the park looking all depressed and anxious.
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Me: Lillian?
Lillian: What?
Me: I think you're gonna have to forget about the fifth ticket.
Lillian: Why?
Me: I don't think Aiko is in the mood to go.
Lillian: Don't be ridiculous. Of course she wants to go. She needs something exciting to get away from her work.
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How does she know about Aiko stressing out from her job? Do they text each other every second or something?
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Farndee: Ummm...okay. I'll call her up.
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After that, the line went dead. Lillian didn't leave a single sound before that, either.
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Aiko is just taking a stoll in the park now and is looking at the beauty of nature, wishing she could be one with it.
Her phone starts ringing, which startled her a bit.
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"Save your breath, I'm nearly bored to death and fading fast. Life is too short to last long..."
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Her phone nearly fell out of her hands when she reached for it in her pocket.
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Aiko: Hello?
Me: Hey. Lillian just invited us to a concert and she wanted you to join along.
Aiko: Let me check my watch.
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Aiko looked at her watch to make sure her time is right.
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Aiko: Sure. I could go tonight.
Me: Wow. Lillian was right. I guess you do need something to get away from work.
Aiko: What?
Me: Nothing. I'll see you soon, Aiko.
Aiko: Bye.
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The line went dead.
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Aiko is now calling a cab to get back to her house. She has had a long day, too.
We all got ready and went to the Pierce The Veil show. Aiko dressed up in some kind of formal outfit. The rest of us wore gloomy black t-shirts with band logos on them. We were surprised she wore that instead of her old clothes which were darker and more "Emo".
They performed every single song from their album "Collide with the Sky". It was one hell of a night. We left the show with a lot of PTV merchandise; bracelets, t-shirts, posters, etc.
Just like 20 years ago, Aiko and Lillian stayed over due to exhaustion. I bought extra blankets just in case if we have guests or relatives. Aiko sleeps with me on the master bed, while Lillian sleeps on the guest bed in the guest room.
Sheesh. What a day. And to think, we would have done our own things on our own. We just couldn't stay away from each other even if we tried.
The End. Part 2 possibly happening.