Chapter 21

Alone - Marshmello

Great.

Matthew scowled.

What was that?!

"I ruined everything!" He shouted out loud into the empty house. "Now he probably wants to end this all! Dammit, Matthew!"

He felt his face get hot. "You probaby had one chance, and what do you go and do?! You started one lie that turned into this disaster! Damn it, damn it, damn it!" Matthew breathed heavily. He ran up the stairs and into his room. He wriggled underneath his bed to retreive his hidden secret weapon, and hooked it up to his laptop.

Matthew had a weird way of taking out his frustration. He channeled all of his anger through his Midi Fighter, his little launchpad he had used when he was still a beginner. He stored it under his bed mostly because his beginner days were more than a little cringey.

Now, he began to play something fierce. He began with an old Skrillex song he'd heard years ago, and then started deviating from it. Eventually, the sound he created was so far from the original that it had become something of his own.

Matthew knew he was running out of frustration quickly. He crafted an ending to his mix so aggressive he almost blew out his speakers.

When it died down, he noticed his own sobs. His face was hot with tears.

What the hell, cut it out! He wiped his eyes and scolded himself.

"The hell..." Matthew sniffed.

"I guess I have something for the show." It felt cruel to tell himself that his anger was the key to his productivity, but maybe that was just the case. Gil would've told me to cheer up. 'There's no reason to be miserable. Music is a gateway to something greater.' Hah, that's exactly what he would've told me.

Matthew shook his head. He flopped onto his side, not even bothering to turn off his electronics as he fell into a dark, sad, dreamless sleep.

"Are you teling me," Gilbert muttered, "That you knew this all along?"

"Well, I didn't! It was Francis!" Antonio immediately pointed to the Frenchman. "You know that I couldn't deduce that myself!"

"Francis?"

"Well-"

"What do you have to say?"

"I-"

"I could've avoided that entire situation if you would've just told me!" Gilbert yelled. "Now he thinks I want to break up with him!"

"So you admit it was a thing?" Antonio interjected.

"This isn't the time, 'Toni!" Gilbert ran his hands through his hair. "Yes, we were a thing! That was obvious! Now, we might not be, because I got into an argument with him and called him a liar! Do you not understand?!" Gilbert puffed.

"...Ouch."

"Right?" Gilbert grumbled. "I messed up... Gott..."

"You've had some bad experiences in the past. Let's not forget that stuck-up Roderich from Austria." Francis stuck out his tongue. "He was so rude!"

"Right, right..." Gilbert nodded. "Yeah. Sure." He put up a front of I'm-not-frustrated-anymore and stopped pacing around the kitchen. "I'm fine. I'll talk to him later."

He didn't deliver on that promise.

Ms. Celeste greeted Matthew kindly, but he could tell something was off.

She walked as though she was in pain, and Matthew couldn't help but feel bad for her. Knowing her, she probably got herself in too deep with a 'client' of hers.

"How are you doing today, Mister De-la-croix?" Ms. Celeste drew out the syllables of his stage name. She patted his chest. "I'm sure you're doing great."

"Yeah. Just excellent." He rolled his eyes.

Ms. Celeste looked like she picked up on how he really felt, but she corrected her expression quickly. "Well, hun, the stage is set. I suggest you go please that crowd of yours."

"Yeah." Matthew was about to go up on stage, but before he did, he turned around. "How much did you say I was getting paid?"

Ms. Celeste blinked, dumbfounded.

"Keep it." She opened her mouth to say something, but Matthew pointed at her. "Shh! You need it."

Then, he entered the set. "Layden Falls, how are you tonight?" He shouted out.

They all screamed back various responses. "Well, great, because I feel like shit too. Hey, maybe we can feel better together?"

The crowd shouted back a unified, "Yes!"

"Awesome." Matthew slowly turned a knob that increased the volume of the music steadily until it became nearly deafening. Then, the party finally began, washing out Matthew's bad mood like the change of tides.

Well hello!

Thank you guys for the reviews you put out, I appreciate it! It's really motivating!

Also, Happy New Year! Is everyone happy 2016 is finally gone? XD

So here's my status:

Basically, I'm spending, like, the entire weekend with my step-family. I'll be here until Monday, and since I don't have much else to do... I'll be writing the entire weekend! Yay!

Bad part is that I'm on a tablet, so it's a little harder to put out chapters because it's really glitchy. Oh well.

It's been a while since I wrote one of these club scenes! I'm happy to get back to it! Oh my gosh you guys, I felt so so so bas writing Ms. Celeste's part. She's just a poor side character, she deserves happiness! Agh! *sobs*

These chapters felt a little rushed, but I think I can write some better-quality stuff once I eat breakfast.

Anyway, I'll be here checking in all the time, writing like a speed demon, so... see you guys next chapter!

Signing off,

-Red

Behind The Name - Alone - Marshmello

Because Matthew and Gilbert are alone, of course.