Chapter 21: Rebel Heart
Mark's POV
(2 months later)
I held my camera and grabbed my scarf, "Rachael, you almost ready?" I opened the door to see she was arranging little toys in the crib that her Dad had given us last week. Her belly was peeking out a little from underneath her shirt, at 8 months pregnant, her stomach was larger than ever.
She turned around with a smile on her face, "I'm almost done." I walked to her side and looked down at her handiwork. She kept rearranging the toys in a different way every time.
"I know, but we have to get started if we want to make it to the show on time. And we probably shouldn't be late, unless we want Roger to murder us." I remarked as I took her hand.
She giggled, her jovial laugh filling the room. "Okay okay. My mum said this was natural though, it's called nesting apparently. I just want everything to be sufficient enough for the baby."
I kissed her forehead, "It will be, trust me."
Turning out the light I helped her towards the door, then down onto the sidewalk. I filmed her occasionally as we headed towards CBGB's. I knew that as the baby grew inside her she felt more uncomfortable with her appearance, but in my opinion pregnancy agreed with her. She always seemed to be glowing.
Although Rachael was a slower walker now, we made it to the club in good time. "We should stay near the back of the club, I don't want you too inhale anything that could be bad for you." I recommended protectively
She simpered sweetly and sat down in one of the chairs. Her face showed relief as she settled into her seat. As I took my place next to her, the lights dimmed and the band came on stage. I felt a rush of cold air as the door opened behind us and Collins came in muttering, "Damn that was close, right on time."
I snorted and turned back to the band. Roger was front and center with his band mates Dave, Bobby, Steve, and Erin behind him. He was in his old red plaid pants that I forgot he had, a tight black tank, and eyeliner traced the edges of eyes. He looked like his old self, the original rocker Roger Davis and as usual the girls in the crowd were going wild. But he was ignoring them, by the look in his eyes I could tell he was pissed off for some reason.
"Hey everybody, we're Rebel Heart. We'll be performing some songs my band mates wrote, then some we wrote together, and-" He turned around and muttered something angrily to Dave, who just nodded with an empty look in his eyes. "and then to finish I'll be singing a song I wasn't really ready to perform, but it's a song I wrote myself for a very special person."
He bit his lip, and looked down at his guitar, plucking some chords softly before growing louder until the rest of the band joined in. It was hard metal at first as Roger mostly screamed lyrics into the mike but as the show went on it gradually got to some softer rock with some beautifully worded lyrics: which only made the girls in the front row fall even more in love with him. After about 2 hours, he took a sip of water and wiped his forehead as his sweaty blond hair stuck to his skin.
"This is the last song of the night." He said softly into the microphone, his intensity lost as sadness started to fill his green orbs. "I-I dedicate," He took another sip of water as he struggled to speak, "I dedicate this song to my Mimi, I love you so much. It's called Hear You Me."
I turned to Collins as we were both filled with dysphoria as Roger prepared to pour his heart out on stage, his broken heart.
"There's no one in
town I know
You gave us some place to go.
I never said thank
you for that.
I thought I might get one more chance.
What would
you think of me now,
so lucky, so strong, so proud?
I never
said thank you for that,
now I'll never have a chance.
May
angels lead you in.
Hear you me my friends.
On sleepless roads
the sleepless go.
May angels lead you in.
So what would you
think of me now,
so lucky, so strong, so proud?
I never said
thank you for that,
now I'll never have a chance.
May angels
lead you in.
Hear you me my friends.
On sleepless roads the
sleepless go.
May angels lead you in.
May angels lead you
in.
May angels lead you in.
And if you were with me
tonight,
I'd sing to you just one more time.
A song for a heart
so big,
god wouldn't let it live.
May angels lead you in.
Hear
you me my friends.
On sleepless roads the sleepless go.
May
angels lead you in.
May angels lead you in.
Hear you me my
friends.
On sleepless roads the sleepless go.
May angels lead
you in.
May angels lead you in."
Roger finished, his voice quivering as tears pouring down his face. The club was immediately filled with clapping as the band left the stage. It was almost unreal as the club was in a frenzy of excitement over Rebel Heart, while we stood frozen at the back of the room very shook up.
I helped Rachael up, who herself was crying too. She leaned into me as we silently walked back to the loft.
Rachael's POV
I sat down at the table, I never knew Mimi, but I knew Roger. Up there on that stage, he, he was just so distressed. I had never seen that much pain in his eyes and it scared me.
They sat down next to me. "That boy has been through so much." Collins said softly.
Mark nodded, "He's always pulling through, he's stronger than anyone I know."
The door opened suddenly and to our surprise Roger came in and set his guitar down angrily. He normally stayed out after gigs.
I put my hand on the table and lifted myself to stand and went over to him. "What's the matter?"
He paced back and forth through the kitchen, "Those, those stupid kids. I can't believe them." Mark stood up too, confusion written on his face," Roger, what is it?"
"The band's over." He said before resuming his pacing. "Why?"
"Erin's going to college. But that's not the only reason, oh no. After everything I told them…I guess The Man is more convincing than I am." He spat angrily.
We were all silent at that. Mark sat back down and eventually Roger stopped pacing and leaned against the sink. "They told me right before we went on, that I should play my song because it would be out last show."
"It was a beautiful song." I remarked gently
"Thanks."
"It sounds you like you loved her very much. I bet she liked the song too."
He looked up at me, "I did, so much." Then he turned his eyes towards the ceiling, "I-I hope so she did."
"Do you think you'll ever love again?" I asked him meekly, not knowing how he might react to such a question.
He looked like me might cry, "I don't know. At this point, I doubt there's still time for that to happen."
"I'm sure there is still some-"
Without warning he came towards me, "For you it's all simple. You don't understand! I'm dying, there wont be anymore chances for me!" He yelled.
Eric's face loomed over me.
I backed away, terrified as Eric's face seemed to stare down at me from Roger's body. I tripped fell to the floor as I tripped over his guitar case. Pain shot up through me as I landed hard on the floor. "Ahhh" I whimpered.
Roger's face appeared again, his eyes no longer angry but scared. Guilt flitted across his face as Mark came over to me. "Are you ok?"
I shook my head as I felt the baby move. Mark looked up at Roger, "God Roger..."
Roger reached out to me, "I'm sorry Rachael, I-I didn't mean to-"
"Its ok Roger, it was an accident." I said, trying to focus as the pain continued to spread.
Mark tried to help me up but I shook my head fervently, "I can't move, it hurts too much."
I felt the baby move again, but this time in a severely uncomfortable downward motion. "Mark, I think the baby, the baby's coming."
Collins ran over to the phone and dialed 911.
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Cliffhanger- I'm evil I know I know. Only 2 more chapters left and I will write as soon as I can but I have finals soon. I hope you enjoyed it. The song in this chapter was "Hear You Me" by Jimmy Eat World. If you don't know it, I highly recommend it.
Please Read and Review! Criticism is always appreciated