Shego quickly opened the door. What the hell just happened? She walked over to the coffee table and noticed that everything was tidied up. She peered at her laptop and noticed that the chords on the screen were probably the reason why Kim started sobbing. Well, that song is sad... She sighed. She proceeded to go back to her bedroom when she noticed that Kim had forgotten her guitar on Shego's couch.
Will she come back and get it? I could always call or text her to let her know that it's here. She thought for a moment. Nah, she probably wants some space right now.
Shego picked up the guitar. It was a beautifully crafted Taylor guitar, one with a tobacco sunburst pattern that reminded Shego of Kim's fiery red hair. She strummed a note and listened to it. Princess' guitar produces a nice sound, it's sort of earthier than any of the acoustics that I have. She put the guitar back down on the couch - if Kim was anything like Shego (which she might or might not be), the redhead would definitely not like other people touching her guitar without permission. Ah well, looks like Princess won't be back tonight. Might as well go shower.
Slipping off her t-shirt and shorts in the bathroom, Shego took a very hot shower and gave herself some time to think about the situation she was in.
What are you doing, Shego? The girl has a future. You're just being a roadblock in her path to success. But what kind of success will that be if the kid follows her parents' orders and isn't happy with doing that?
Your motto was to always do whatever you want. That's how it's always been, my parents don't really give a crap about how I've ended up.
But Kim's parents have dreams of their daughter doing something big. Something better than just chilling at your apartment and wasting away by playing guitar. We're not wasting away playing guitar... If she doesn't want to do this, then she can just up and leave me.
Yes, she can, but admit it, Shego, you like playing guitar with her. I do.
You want to keep playing the guitar with her. Yes.
But it begs the question, why do you like playing guitar with her? I don't know why.
Isn't she just like Rachel? No.
What makes Princess so much more different than Rachel? I don't know.
Is it her voice? Maybe.
Is it that she reminds you of yourself? What? Where is this coming from?
At one point in your life you, you were probably just as confused as she was. After Viridian split, you felt like you needed to get out of the industry. It was like you were crushed by the hand of fate. Success doesn't come easily, but it can easily slip away.
That wasn't anyone's fault.
Oh, really? Rachel's laryngitis didn't develop overnight, you know.
You know what, just shut up. I don't dwell on the past.
Then make a future with this girl.
A future? She has more of a future than I do. She has a degree that she can actually use. I can't go around forever doing nothing but collect guitars and the odd composition job every now and then.
That was what you were doing before you met Kim.
I'm just teaching the kid how to play the guitar properly.
Seems like you have different aspirations for her than just teaching her how to play guitar.
No. No way in hell do I have any aspirations for the brat. I don't have musical aspirations of my own, damn it!
Oh, really? Then why do you keep collecting guitars? Why do you sometimes spend countless nights composing songs that aren't even going to be sold to production companies for their movies? Why don't you make more television or radio jingles? Why do you continue to make your own music as if you had no care in the world? Why do you keep teaching Kim how to play? Why do you even bother if you claim to have no musical ambitions?
... Why the fuck do I want to go back in the biz? There are too many pop bands and their autotune crap. Very little people know what good music is.
Oh, so apparently you make good music.
Damn right I do.
And you don't want to go back into the industry?
Fuck no.
You're lying. Those dreams of making it big never died after Viridian, Shego. You still want to make music for the rest of your life. Why not make it with someone who's trying to do the same?
How do you know she's trying to do the same? The kid's just as confused as any other college graduate. Give her some time and she'll clear her head. She'll realize this path leads to nowhere.
It led you somewhere at one point in your life.
I was a reckless teenager, fuelled by angst, who poured her soul into playing guitar.
What's to say Kim isn't like that right now?
She's an adult who just hit a brick wall in life. She'll overcome it eventually.
The kid composed her own song for that talent show. You know she has talent.
Shut up.
As much as you'd like to drown me out, Shego, you know I'm right. You want to keep making music. She might not know who you or Viridian are, but she knows that you know a hell of a lot of things when it comes to playing guitar. She'll stick around for a bit because you're the best person to teach her, so don't you worry. She won't be going anywhere. Not away from you, anyway.
Fuck you, whoever you are...
I'm you, Shego. Don't you forget that.
Shego's train of thought was interrupted when the hot water ran out. The sudden change in temperature brought her back to her senses. Gah, where did all of that come from? I don't normally space out like that. Maybe the kid is affecting me a bit, but she sure as hell doesn't remind me of myself.
Before she knew it, Shego started shivering from the cold water and decided it was time to get out. She put on her bathrobe and heard someone pounding on her apartment door. Quirking an eyebrow, she made her way over and shouted, "Stop breaking down my door! I'm coming!"
She opened the door to a sea of red hair and...
"Huh? Kimmie?"
Author's Notes: Shego's internal soliloquy makes a presence! No, she's not crazy, but I think this sort of encapsulates how our thought processes can go around in circles and sometimes make no sense. I might have more of these later on - I might try writing from Kim's point-of-view, but I feel like I'd do a terrible job... I'm more comfortable getting into Shego's head, I suppose.
If you're wondering why we're still in the past, it's mostly because I'd like to flesh out the characters a bit more before going straight ahead to the duo's gig in Go City. (Because of this, this story is becoming much longer than I had originally planned. 'Much' being about twice as long as I had planned.)
As usual, please read and review!
