After the unusually long and uncomfortable walk into Kong, 2D walked quickly to his bedroom, despite Murdoc's calls behind him – "Face-ache! Where yew goin'?" – to spend another afternoon in silence.

"Where's tis' comin' from?" 2D questioned, hands covering his face as he slid down his bedroom door. He felt a couple loose pieces of paper and plastic underneath him, but at this point he just didn't care. "Afta' Paula…I have no int'rest in anyone…," his words were accompanied by small pre-breakdown gasps and sniffles, "'specially not Muds…'es my best mate…meh and 'im…no way…," He could feel the tears drip down his face. This was no way to be feeling. You don't have feelings for band members, you don't want to kiss them and hug them, and you definitely don't have feelings for Murdoc Niccals. 2D stopped himself, who said he had feelings for him? He had been lonely lately. Tired, sad, kinda bored with life at Kong. He was just lonely.

"Thas' it! I'm jus' lonely. Thas' all. No feelins' for Muds. None wots so eva'," 2D said, trying to reassure himself. He nodded his head for extra effect, "I'm jus' a lil' confused wit my life righ' now. Thas' it."

2D climbed into bed, even though it was only 9 a.m. He closed his big black eyes, and his mind drifted to the Rock The House video. Back when Noodle was a little girl, new to Kong. Such a long time ago. 2D smiled dreamily at the memory of when Kong was peaceful. For the most part, at least. And Murdoc. How he was sexy in that video.

2D shot up from his bed and screamed.

"No, NO, NOOO!" 2D yelled, gripping his sheats. "GOD DAMMIT!" Angry tears welled up and spilled over, dripping down 2D's rage-twisted face. "Why is this 'appinin'?! Why meh? Why Muds?!"

Tears continued to poor, and after what seemed like hours, his breathing labored and slowed, resuming to normal, and his tears dried up. His throat was sore and his lungs ached. His hands were red from holding his sheets for dear life. He wiped the excess tears from his face and attempted to calm himself totally. He could feel a headache coming on.

"Where are my meds?" He grumbled, searching through his bedside table drawer. Moving past photos, papers with lyrics on them, his anti-depressants, his finally found his migraine pills. He took his time opening the bottle, shaking out two, placing them on his tongue and swallowing. He sat still for a very long time, staring at the walls, feeling his headache mount, until it slowly faded as the medication kicked in. Sighing, he swung his legs over the side of the bed. Changing out of his tear-soaked clothes, he put on a t-shirt and pair of raggedy, worn jeans. He looked at the alarm clock. Six P.M.

"It's six?! I musta slept the whole day away…," 2D mumbled. He picked his feet up and put on his shoes. After pulling his hand through his hair, he decided it was okay to leave his room again. He made his way to the lobby, and the TV was on, sending blue-ish light across the slightly darkened room. No one was sitting on the couch, whoever had been here before didn't turn it off. Written on top of the torn TV guide was a note written in sharpie. '2D, REHEARSEL AT 6:15! –MUDS'. He smiled half-heartedly at the note. Murdoc reminded him. He usually threatened to beat the hell out of him. 2D pulled out his phone. "Shit!" It was 6:12. He ran all the way to the recording studio, tripping over rugs and newspapers and other things left in the hallways. He burst into the recording studio just as it turned 6:15. Noodle and Murdoc were tuning their guitars, and Russel was fiddling with the amps and other equipment.

"'Bout time, mate!" Murdoc said with a light-hearted grin. Seriously, where the hell is the mean, vicious, drunk Murdoc we all know and hate? 2D thought as he crossed the room to adjust his mic. As usual, it was way too low. He was beginning to think that one of the Gorillaz did it on purpose every time, just to tick 2D off.

"'m sorry. Fell asleep," 2D mumbled as he adjusted and turned on his mic. After tapping it and receiving loud thumps throughout the rooms audio system, he turned to Noodle, Murdoc and Russel, "wot song are we doin' first?"

"Russel was wanting to do El Manana," Noodle piped up as she put her guitar strap on.

"That good with you, man?" Russel asked, sitting down behind his drum kit.

"Good as any," 2D said, turning and adjusting the mic once more. As he turned, he realized what some particular lines in El Manana remined him off. More specifically, who.

It was too late. As the music started, the words that he'd sung so many times flowed out of his mouth,

"Summer don't know me no more

Eager man, that's all

Summer don't know me no more

He just let me love in myself

'Cause I do know, Lord,

from you that

Just died, yeah

I saw that day,

Lost my mind

Lord, I'm fine

Maybe in time

You'll want to be mine

Don't stop the buck when it comes

It's the dawn, you'll see

Money won't get there

Ten years passed tonight

You'll flee

If you do that,

I'll be someone

To find you

I saw that day,

Lost my mind

Lord, I'm fine

Maybe in time

You'll want to be mine

I saw that day,

Lost my mind

Lord, I'm fine

Maybe in time

You'll want to be mine

Maybe in time

You'll want to be mine

Maybe in time

You'll want to be mine,"

2D felt better after he sang, he always did, even if the song reminded him of something he'd rather forget.

"Niiiccceee 'D!" Russel said, I think that's the best you've sang lately.
"You up for Feel Good Inc.?"

2D felt a tightness in his chest. No, he was really not up for Feel Good Inc. But to avoid confrontation, he swallowed the rising anticipation in his throat, "Sure. Start wheneva."

Hahahahahahahahaha,

Feel good,

Feel good,

Feel good,

Feel good,

Feel good,

Feel good,

Feel good,

Feel good

2D opening his mouth, breathed in and started to sing.

City's breaking down on a camel's back.

They just have to go 'cause they don't know wack

So all you fill the streets it's appealing to see

You won't get out the county, 'cause you're bad and free

You've got a new horizon it's ephemeral style.

A melancholy town where we never smile.

And all I wanna hear is the message beep.

My dreams, they've got to kiss me 'cause I don't get sleep, no

Windmill, windmill for the land.

Turned forever hand in hand

Take it all in on your stride

It is ticking, falling down

Love forever love is free

Let's turn forever you and me

Windmill, windmill for the land

Is everybody in?

2D breathed deeply, and let the recording of De La Soul take over the rap verse.

Laughing gas these hazmats, fast cats,

Lining them up like ass cracks,

Lay these ponies at the track

It's my chocolate attack.

Shit, I'm stepping in the heart of this here

Care bear reppin' it harder this year

Watch me as I gravitate

Hahahahahahaa.

Yo, we gonna go ghost town,

This motown,

With your sound

You're in the place

Gonna bite the dust

Can't fight with us

With your sound

You kill the INC.

So don't stop, get it, get it

Until you jet ahead.

Yo, watch the way I navigate

Hahahahahhaa

Feel good, ahhhhahahahah [x4]

2D joined back in with a late start,

Windmill, windmill for the land.

Turned forever hand in hand

Take it all in on your stride

It is ticking, falling down

Love forever love is free

Let's turn forever you and me

Windmill, windmill for the land

Is everybody in?

[Chorus]

Don't stop, get it, get it

We are your captain's in it

Steady,

Watch me navigate,

Ahahahahahhaa.

Don't stop, get it, get it

We are your captain's in it

Steady,

Watch me navigate

Ahahahahahhaa.

Feel good, AHHHHahahahaha

Feel good,

Feel good, AHHHHahahahaha

Feel good...

2D, before anyone could see, he wiped away a couple stray tears. That song always made him emotional. He glimpsed over his shoulder as Russel adjusted the amps, and he caught Murdoc with misty eyes. Hazy. Was it because of his singing?

No! Don' let ya'self fink dat way! 2D thought angrily as he turned back to his mic.

Russel wanted to run through a few more songs, which eventually turned into rehearsing most of the Demon Days songs. By the end of rehearsal, everyone, even Noodle, was tired, achy and sweating. 2D had all but lost his voice, Noodle and Murdoc had deep dents on their fingers, and Russel's hands had begun cramping.

"Well," Russel said tiredly as he set down his sticks on one of his drums, "I think that's enough for today. You feel, Muds?"

"Yeah," Murdoc said, wiping his face with his hand, "'m done fo today."

"I'll go get dinner started, then," Noodle said, putting her guitar on its stand and skipping out of the recording studio and down the hallway. She was closely followed by Russel. Murdoc was cleaning up his bass a bit as 2D started for the door.

"'Bye, Muds, see yew at dinner," 2D said as he opened the door and started outside. He heard a clang behind him, a dull thud. Metal again carpet covering a cement floor, nickel strings against metal and each other. Footsteps. 2D felt a hand accompanied by long, thin fingers grip his right forearm.

"Face-ache! Wait!"