So the world may eat you.
I can think of ten worse things that could happen?
I could feel the crowd staring at me even though my eyes were closed. I rub the head of the microphone over with my thumb. Wide-eyed and blank-eyed I stare right on back. Kay this is it. Stupid open mic night. Can't believe I got talked into this.
The xylophones began their part. 1,2, 3,4, 2,2,3,4,3, to late I miss the mark. What am I doing?
"Go!" one of the back up musicians urged.
I breathed in hard. Every feeling comes out now. I could see Sokka with his arm around Suki sitting in the crowd. Katara and Aang cuddled in a corner. A short boy with dark brown hair and dark chocolate Hershey's kisses brown for eyes sitting somewhere in between. All of them looking intently at me.
"This I have brought you this you can keep," quiet at first, "This is what I brought this you may forget me. I promise to depart. Just promise one thing. Kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep."
Drums roll right on in. It gets louder now.
"This is what I brought you this you can keep. This is what I brought you may forget me," my throat burns from singing damn high, enough to give. Sharon den Adel to run for her money. Crap I should have practiced more. But high and mighty, that's what my voice is.
"I promise you my heart just promise to sing…" make this next note especially clear, "Kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep."
From here the violins and backups join in and the rest of the band takes over for a few beats. I close my eyes and let my ears take over, letting every beat fill my soul. My every being. My mind. Every worry, every issue, every apprehension melts like ice cream on hot sidewalk. Just me and the music, baby. Who need's sight when you can have music?
My mouth opens, "Kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep," high and overly clear notes again, "This is what I thought I thought you'd need me. This is what I thought so think me naïve."
He is no more helpless than I am. How could I be so stupid? Maybe I just wanted for someone to need me once, instead of the other way around. Yeah, I need other people can't just go all out all on my own. But for once can't someone just need me? Please? Wait. What the hell am I saying?
Kay lay off the piercing lucid notes, "I promise you a heart. You promised to keep," last stretch, "Kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep."
I let out a breath and prepare for the last few lines. Stupid contest. But still, it is a contest. The competiveness dries up the second I spot the look in those chocolate eyes. Worry, sorrow, and anger. My eyes drop to the floor letting long black bangs fall in my face. Please don't let him hate me. "Kiss my eyes and lay me to…. sleep..."
I let the last piece of sonance resonate into the distance. The crowd in the small packed coffee shop erupts like a volcano onto a snow-capped mountain. I grin. So maybe life isn't so bad after all. The boy with two Hershey's kisses for eyes wears the ghost of a frown on his face. He wheels himself out the front doors. I huff. The standing ovation continues on for what seems like eons. Just five minutes.
Little snowflakes dance their way down to earth form the smoky black sky above. Bleak icy wind accompanies them. Little patches of snow have already formed on the sidewalk.
"I'm sorry the song didn't fix things with Teo," Sokka said giving me a one-armed hug. The other arm was still around Suki. Not too happy about that. A small urge to kill her sparks, but evaporates. The Gaang was just walking home.
"Yeah I know. I didn't really think it would."
"Hey," Katara says, "At least you got a standing ovation. I can't believe you didn't win. Your singing was amazing. You should do it more often."
"Thanks maybe I will," I answer, kicking bits on snow around with my boots as I walk.
"OOOH COCA!!!!" Sokka yells out of the blue, as he points rabidly at the sign. The sign belongs to the old Catch and Release Diner.
"Sokka, you just spent two hours in an oven they call a coffee shop," Suki declares.
"I know, but I got cold as we've walked."
"Sokka, it's been three blocks."
"But pleeeeaaasssse, I'm cold."
"Fine," she drones, as Sokka drags her by the arm into the diner, "Guess we'll see you guys later then."
"They left to make-out didn't they?" I comment dryly.
"Yep," Aang and Katara reply in unison.
"Bye, Toph," Aang and Katara wave, as they continue on down the block as I go left.
Aang had one arm snuggled around her shoulders. He lives in the house next to hers.
"Aren't Sokka and Katara's dad out of town on business for the weekend?" I think deviously. I smirk as I mosey my way home, "Wonder what they'll be doing tonight…" Don't ask me where this is going cause I'm not sure. But it's going to go far. Occasional songfic chapter. Send me ideas! Any ideas even stupid ones. How'd you like it? Please review. Constructive criticism welcomed.