Please pardon my GOD AWFUL writing... It's been a long time since I've written anything and so I'm probably really rough. I'm kind of using this as a warm-up practice I suppose?

Also please pardon any grammatical or punctuation errors. I did not re-read through this so I apologize for the mistakes.

Music Meme Rules
1. Put your music player (iPod, MP3, Windows Media Player, etc.) on "shuffle"

2. While the first song plays, write what comes to mind. When the song ends, STOP (You may finish the sentence you're on)
3. Repeat with the next song, until you've written ten stories or story fragments for ten songs

Easy - Barenaked Ladies

Arthur glanced back behind him, making sure to turn on the signal and merged into the lane next to him. He couldn't believe it. Not again. Not this time. If this is how things were going to go then Arthur needed to take the risk and move on.

He pulled into the driveway after another thoughtful twenty minutes of driving. It was dark there, and he shivered as he exited the car. He could see him at the window, though, and had half a mind to get right back into the car and drive away. He could just forgive him, again... It would make things easier, definitely, but then he thought of Alfred.

Alfred. Alfred. Alfred-

The door opened to reveal the wavy-blonde hair falling and framing a rather apologetic face. A rather fake apologetic face. Arthur had seen this before. Knew the drill.

Not again. Not this time.

"Angleterre... listen-"

"No, Francis, you listen. I may have loved you, but not anymore. I'm tired of you blowing me off at the last second when we have plans, or- or you not showing up at all! Do you know how that feels? NO, I suppose you wouldn't, would you? Because I've always been there, I've always shown up, I've been waiting. But... I'm tired of you manipulating me this way. And so, as easy as it was to love you, it's now going to be as easy to leave you."

"Angleterre... please, let me make it up to you, I promise...!"

Arthur shook his head.

Good Times Gonna Come - Aqualung

"How many..." Sip. Sip. "More...?" Sip. "Ohhh... fuck."

He tossed the nearly empty bottle on the bed, the alcohol pouring out and settling into the sheets. The hotel workers would be pissed. Well fuck them he was pissed too. He was pissed when he stumbled over to find another bottle, pissed when he struggled to open it. "Aw fuck it.."

He stood in the dark of the hotel room and stared over at the window wall.

It seemed like the next moment he was standing by the railing, looking down on the city. It was beautiful, and the wintry winds were helping clear his head. He looked up, head spinning as the sun swirled up into the sky. He knew he'd have to start preparing himself for another day. Another walk into that conference room... another... fuck it.

He'd done so much for HIM, done so much and now what did he have? He certainly didn't have HIM anymore. What did he...?

Well, for starters...For starters... what the fuck was wrong with him? He wasn't like this. He wasn't the small ant people crowding down on the streets. He was the hero. And hero's made sure everything was ALRIGHT.

Shit...

You're Gonna Miss Me - Lulu and the Lampshades

Alfred gave him a hard stare, like the strongest stare that he could muster up, hoping Arthur would feel like he was staring straight into his soul.

"You're...what?" Arthur muttered, looking flustered, confused...

"That's right. You heard me. And I'm just letting you know now that it's your choice, but if you choose not to then you're going to be missing out on a whole lot. I may not have all that much to offer but I promise, I swear to you that you will not regret it. You will regret, however, when I'm not there anymore."

"Yes."

Alfred stared, now the one dumbfounded.

"Yes, git."

A grin stretched across his face.

Once Upon a Time in New York City - Huey Lewis

Arthur sneezed.
"Thirty-two," the guy next to him said, his sky-blue eyes transfixed on Arthur.
The Brit glanced over.
"Would you please stop counting?"
"I can't help it, I've got nothing better to do. Besides, you look terrible," he said, a cheerful smile on his face.
"Oh thank you... I suppose it's so hard to find something to do here in the hustle and bustle of New York..." Arthur mumbled.
The man glanced over at him. "You're one to talk," he shot back. "You've been sitting here for a long time now. Why don't you go do something?"
Arthur didn't respond... This guy was pissing him off, to be honest. He didn't feel well, his head spinning, his breaths shallow... It would take all of his energy just to get up and move. He closed his eyes.
"Hey... hey, you... Aren't you going to say anything? Hey... hey...you're not dead, right?" The guy asked, a concerned-laced voice. He poked him.
"Go away," Arthur snapped, getting upset. What the hell was wrong with him...?
"What's gotten you all eaten up anyway?"
Arthur slowly turned his head to look at him like the guy was insane. "Are you...serious? I'm all alone. I'm going to die because of a ridiculous cold."
"Well you've got me..." The man grinned, scooting closer to Arthur and wrapping an arm around him.
"Oh joy... what a happy ending."
"And I'm not going to let you die..."

With You - Chris Brown

"I hate this..." Alfred whined into the phone, sinking down further into his couch.
"I'm sorry-"
"Don't apologize," Alfred cut him off. He could just picture him, the look on his face as he would have said that. It was maddening, drove him insane. He couldn't stand the thought of Arthur apologizing for something like this. "It's not your fault, boo."
"Boo?"
"I miss you so much."
"Boo?" Arthur repeated.
"Yeah, don't you like it? I think it's cute, just like you. You're the best thing ever-"
"God you're so mushy."
"You like it and you know it."
The other end was silent, and Alfred listened anxiously.
"Arthur?"
"Yeah... I do," he said quietly.
Alfred's heart raced.
"And I wish I was with you right now," Arthur continued. "I wish we weren't so far apart... I want to see you, touch you... Bloody hell now listen to me, I'm getting all mushy too. This is your fault."
Alfred slowly stood up. "Boo, say no more. I'm coming for you now. Stay where you are."
"What! Al-"
"No, this is YOUR fault now... Saying all that stuff. God I've got to see you... Man, I don't need anybody else but you."

Hero - Enrique Iglesias

Alfred took Arthur's hand, pulling him up off the bed.
"Git...? W-what are you doing?" Arthur looked at the rather gorgeous and er- naked American in front of him, then realized he himself too was naked.
"Dance?" Alfred asked, a hopeful smile on his face.
Arthur blushed, but molded against Alfred as the American started swaying them back and forth. He met his eyes, searching them.
"What brought all this on?" Arthur asked, as they swayed and moved in the tight space of the room, the moonlight dancing along with them
"Arthur... I need to tell you something..."
"What is it?"
"You know... Gah..." He let go of Arthur's hand for a minute to run a hand through his hair, then took it back up. "Well... you know how I act like a hero all of the time?"
Arthur nodded, confused as to where this was going.
"Well... it's not just... I don't just do it... I mean, I do, but what I'm saying is I do it for you. I want to be YOUR hero... Kiss away your pain, be with you, by your side... You do this thing to me that no one else can... And I would be anything for you. And... that's what a hero is, right? And everybody loves the hero. Always chasing after them and I thought if I was like that then maybe you'd chase after me. Maybe you'd pay attention to me, want to be with me-"
Arthur cut him off with a kiss.

Once There Was the Sun - Thumbelina

Arthur looked out the window, the tiny window. He looked around the small square room, sighing. He wanted to be free from this place... But who knew how long they'd keep him locked up here. Forever?
He'd be alone... This dark place had started stripping away his sun... He missed him so much. The man that had made everything like the summer. And now he was alone. In a dark, small square room that had taken from him everything but his memories of his sun.

The River - Missy Higgins

Arthur couldn't take it anymore. He just couldn't stand another day, another second, another instance of being in that house. And so he ran and he didn't take anything with him. He didn't need anything where he was going.
He was hoping the river would wash him far away. He was so tired... so... so gross. The smell of angry gin lingered on his clothing. He hoped the river would wash that away too.
Even the numbness of his limbs from running didn't match to the chill of the river. It was icey, but he welcomed it as he sank into it's depths. He didn't even take it slowly, but immediately submerged, eyes wide.
Everything was dark as he floated, everything was beautiful as the current pulled him away. He thought briefly at how his empty bed would be found by an angry brother. And he would tear at the cold sheets and wonder where Arthur had gone.
And all Arthur had to do was let himself be taken into the arms of the river, and swept away to a better place.

Boys of Summer - Don Henley

For a summer day it wasn't exactly... well, summer-like. He frowned, glancing around. A small mute light hit the sand in a very stale way. He supposed it was crazy of him to be there anyway. It was nearing the end of summer. There was no point.
He kicked a rock and headed away. Passing by a row of houses he noticed a familiar face. It was Arthur, standing in his driveway. Alfred stopped to wave then noticed a wavy-haired blonde walk over to Arthur. He kept himself partially hidden on the opposite side of the street, wondering if it was weird to be watching. He watched as the boy tried to flirt with Arthur.
Thoughts passed through his mind.
He waited, glaring slightly.
Arthur didn't seem too interested in him, though.
He waited, a bit more relieved.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, the boy left, disappointed.
Arthur stood there for a moment, watching the boy go. He had a very sad look on his face, but still held a beautiful appearance. He turned and walked back into the darkness of the house.
Alfred kicked a rock and headed away.
He stopped though when he saw the face in the window, looking at him.
He tentatively raised a hand and waved, a beam spreading across his face.
Arthur offered a small smile back and that was when Alfred decided he wasn't giving up any time soon. No, even when summer was over, he'd still be there.

A Thousand Years - Christina Perri

Arthur met Alfred's eyes as they laid in the bed together. He had a knowing sort of smile on his lips as he fiddled around with the bed sheets.
Alfred passed a questioning look on his face to which Arthur responded with a shake of his head. This only piqued Alfred's curiosity.
Finally Arthur seemingly gave in and found Alfred's hand, taking it into his own.
"I'm happy," he murmured warmly, simply, perfectly.
Alfred brought their hands up to kiss Arthur's fingertips.
"I'm happy to be here... I'm happy I don't have to wait for you any longer... I'm happy to have your heart with mine. A thousand years, a thousand years it's been... And this love is still here. I'm happy to know it will be here for a thousand more."
Alfred was quiet after hearing this little confession from Arthur. He pulled him closer, wrapping his arms around him, tucking him up against him.
He knew the feeling, he knew it well. It seemed he'd died everyday waiting for Arthur... waiting for this. And hearing that it was practically the same for Arthur... Well, that made Alfred's heart flutter.

She Will Be Loved - Maroon 5

Alfred didn't know how many times Arthur had shown up recently- no that was a lie. There he was lying to himself again. He knew exactly how many times, down to the hours. But it didn't matter. All that mattered was that Arthur was there again... Even though he was sobbing into Alfred's chest, his small body shaking from each sob. Alfred held him even tighter, glad that Arthur couldn't see the look on his face.
He'd absolutely had it with Francis. How many times had Arthur escaped over to Alfred's just to get away from the bastard? It took every ounce of his willpower not to go over there and beat the shit out of him. It took every ounce of his willpower not to keep Arthur locked up with him...
It hurt every time Arthur left. Every time he said goodbye. Hurt every time he came back.
But... he was happy knowing that it was him that Arthur came back to. That he was the one he could rely on. He'd do anything for him. Do anything to fix that broken smile, to get rid of those tears. He only wished... Well, he wished for a lot. For now, this is how things were, and he didn't want to change them. He could only hope that after a while, Arthur would realize that he was always there for him, and always would be.
He could only hope that after a while, Arthur would realize that he would always be loved.

Annnd here we are.

I must say I was pleased to have "Hero" come on because that's one of my favorite songs... It's really pretty. I think I shouted a "yes!" when it came on. Hahaha.

Feel free to leave any comments. : )