Title: Life As We Know It
Songs: I've got all this ringing in my ears none on my fingers/ Champagne For My Real Friends Pain for my Sham Friends
Artist: Fallout Boy
P O V: Peyton
"Screw the book the musical is where it is at!" Solan's passionate defense of the musical against the book was adorable. "There's blood, there's pain, there's destruction, depression, poverty yet the score is so powerful you feel hope you feel anger you feel the need for the kids to be vindicated" "Les Miserables isn't about hope though Solan it's about pain it's about the fact these people live such miserable lives, their dying in the streets in the middle of the night no one hears their cries, their fighting for a future they will never see, their kids! Kids shouldn't have to fight for their rights they should always feel loved protected needed wanted"
Ellie was laughing across the room listening to us arguing I glanced over at her as she turned to the driver of our Rv her long time friend Ellis who is Solan's dad. "Ah teenage passion" "Remember when we were like that Ellie?" "We still are passionate just add the ache of old age"
Solan and I laughed now as he added another few olds to his dad's statement which earned him a watch it buddy or I'll leave you on the side of the road threat. Solan of course challenged him to do it which is how we found ourselves along the side of the road. I'm not sure how I ended up in this challenge yet here I was sweating along the dirt road in some old Tennessee highway. "Thanks dude" He shrugged a welcome damn he is adorable how could I be mad at him. We watched as the RV kept rolling I waited for them to stop at any time. I think he did to cause we kept cranking our necks out as the RV rolled further and further away.
"Come on lets scare the shit out of them" Huh? He took my hand startling me as we ran deep into the woods. Squeaking as I jumped over a log that had long ago fallen now decaying little creatures having made it their new home. "Where are we going?" "Shh trust me" Trust a word I never found easy to say never mind actually give. We ran for a few more minutes. Till he grabbed me pulling me to a tree my eyes widened as I laughed he looked so silly crouching down eying the road now a good distance from us. His blond hair pulled back into a ponytail his big blue eyes resembled that of a little boy at Christmas seeing the fully loaded tree for the first time. "What are you planning?" "An attack" "An attack?" "What are you a parrot?" "Ah how dare ya I am no bird!" "Actually babe you are see a girl is a bird" "I am not just a girl I am an extraordinary unforgettable creature" "Yes You are parrots usually are unique and clever" "Stop calling me a parrot even though I am unique and clever" "See repeating me again" "So Parrot repeat after me I want to kiss Solan" What did he just say he wanted to kiss me? My throat felt thick my lips dry. Did I want to kiss him? My heart was racing. I couldn't find the words to reply so I closed my eyes willing my body to decide. He was cute funny smart passionate musically gifted. Everything I always wanted except he wasn't the one I wanted. It would be wrong to kiss him if I didn't want to make a commitment wouldn't it?
My eyes closed my body felt stiff yet I gave in to will warmth cinnamon sugary goodness filled my mouth as his lips made contact with my lips. Did I just kiss him? No my feet hadn't moved. His hands were around my waist as he pulled me to him. Still his lips felt right warm amazing. There was no fireworks no explosions in my heart but I felt warm safe.
Dizzy when we parted looking into his eyes which were dancing with joy. "Did I move ya?" "Like a comet Peyton" "Good boy I still have my touch" "Here they come get ready" He took my hand we watched as the RV slowed down Ellie and Ellis got out calling to us about 100 feet down left we quietly went right hiding behind trees. "An attack?" "Yes like thee attack on the Rue Plumet follow me" "Peyton! Solan!" Where are you come on this isn't funny" "they sound worried" "They weren't worried when they left us here lets give 'em a taste of their own medicine"
Ellie and Ellis had come into the woods now so Solan took my hand and raced out of our hiding space the wind blowing at us as we charged to the RV. "There they are Ellis!" "Run Peyton Run!"
I did fast as I had ever run before laughing. It felt amazing I felt free rebellious and dangerous I felt awesome! I never looked back not till I was on the steps of the Rv Solan inside. I saw our parents racing to us breathing hard. I saluted them as Solan started up the Rv. Closing the door I sat by the window as he pressed on the gas looking out the side mirror. "Come here Peyton" Laughing so hard I almost pissed myself I ran up sitting on his lap he grabbed my hands placing them on the wheel. "What no way I'm not even old enough!" "Neither am I" "How old are you?" "Same age as you Peyton" I took the wheel trying to maneuver the huge RV into traffic which thankfully was minimal. We skidded we turned the whole time laughing as he stepped on the gas than the break cars honked as we watched Ellie and Ellis fuming on the side of the road us cracking up. After a few minutes we pulled over he pulled me closer kissing me in between fits of giggles.
Grabbing my hand he pulled me into our bedroom we locked the door laughing as we heard them come inside pissed off. Falling onto my bed laughing he fell on top of me. Our kiss deepened as our arms locked around each others shoulders. "You have to come out sometime when you do you're both dead!"
Comet
Omg what a wonderful week Nashville was amazing! So many awesome music venues Ellie, Ellis Solan and I spent every night preforming on stages, some in tiny bars that were so packed the audience was right up against us, some bigger more colorful. All rowdy but awesome the energy was epic! We make an amazing little group.
We visited the Grand Old Opry which was breathtaking,We saw the Country Music Hall Of Fame and Museum. I learned Ellie favorite artist are Terri Clark, Garth Brooks funny how we both have a Brooke that we fell in love with. We got to walk on the stage which was out of this world. One day it was pouring rain so we took a drive down the row, she pointed out all the awesome places like RCA Studio B where so many amazing artists got their start. Elvis did over 200 songs there Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Chet Atkins, Eddy Arnold to name a few others.
When it stopped raining we went to Centennial Park which was beautiful we saw the world's only full-scale reproduction of the ancient Parthenon in Athens, Greece. The Parthenon houses a gallery and museum. Ellie and I sat by a water fountain eating lunch while Solan and his dad explored it was nice to get to spend time with her.
"You're father and I met in Nashville right over there" She pointed to a stage about 200 feet away I could barely see it. "It was a songwriters night" Her eyes held a far away glance as if she was remembering, my heart swelled was I about to find out about my dad? "I was young only seventeen he was older wiser more sophisticated, he smiled I melted" "When we were called upon to sing, I looked right at him he smiled and I sung my pretty ass off"
"What song did you sing?" She smiled looking down was she embarrassed? Nudging her I tried to get her to talk she seemed to shut down. "Ellie, Peyton want to heck out the Mother Church of Country Music?" "Heck yes!" "Come on Ellie tell me" "Tell you what?" "Well she was going to tell me what song she sang the first time she met my dad, than she calmed up" "Dirt girl" "Ellis!" "What She's fifteen not 11" I laughed hard "What did he say?" "Nothing lets go guys Nashville ain't gonna wait for our slow asses"
"I don't know what to do Comet some days I feel like we're making great strides than the next we take a step back. Now I know how a baby feels trying to learn how to walk uh so frustrating!"
February 13th
"Today we recorded a song at Ryman studio it was out of this world, Ellie is amazing she is teaching me so much, like how to write a song properly, so many tricks on my guitar. When we were singing Ellie opened up to me a little more. I learned that she got pregnant with me after a one night stand with the guy from the park, she was high, when she found out she was scared, she felt alone she never got his name, I don't know how to feel about this, I mean it sucks knowing I am a product of a meaningless one night hook up, yet I also can tell it was a hard choice for her to make"
"Sucks P. Sawyer I am so sorry for you" Smiling at Brooke through the webcam I knew she meant it, she sounded sleepy pained yet she gave me her full attention. "I wish I could take it away form you, you don't deserve to hurt" "Aw you're sweet babe, thanks" "Thank you for sharing it with me Peyton I know how private you are, it's cool that you still keep a journal to" "I know it's dorky but we started it together when we were kids" "I remember P. Sawyer I still have mine" "I know I sneak into you're room and read it sometimes" "WHAT!" "Kidding oh my god Brooke you should see you're eyes!" We started laughing hard tears rolling down our eyes.
February 14th
It's Valentines day omg Comet I can't believe how sweet Brooke is she sent me four tickets to see my favorite band Fall Out Boy! I am freaking out I am so excited! They are awesome and so hard to get tickets for! I couldn't believe it when I saw my email today she is just unbelievable!
"My dearest P. Sawyer They say Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses. Friends show their love in times of trouble, not in happiness. I hate being apart this was always our holidays eve since that night in the ocean "Hoe's Over Bro's right" Well times change I guess you're in Venice now with that hottie Solan and I'm well.. here stuck in eternal damnation. One of us should be happy right I want it to be you babe, you deserve a lifetime of it.
I know how much you love these dudes and I have to say they are pretty awesome I love their songs. Thanks for making me listen to them. Anyway enough of me whining, Have fun Peyton with whoever you chose to take. Please take some pics or vids if you can would love to share in it anyway I could.
Love always P You're BFF Brooke
"She sounds depressed Solan I am so worried" "You look beautiful Peyton"
I smiled at Solan as he took my hand leading me outside the weather here is amazing. "Well as you saw in Memphis Hospitals no matter how well aimed are just lonely empty" He was right before we left we visited St. Jude's in Memphis Ellie wanted to do a little performance for the kids. We got the tour it was a lively wonderful place but so sad seeing all the kids so sick. I hated every minute of it. Even though they worked so hard to make it a happy hopeful place.
Ellie drove to the venue as I looked out the window. "I wish there was something I could do for her"
"Maybe there is" "What? How I'm halfway across the world" "Well we live in a very technical age why don't you chose a song each day record it maybe do a little message with it, send it to her, like a personal playlist" "Oh my god you are a genius!" I threw my arms around him he laughed taking me in his kissing me.
"You're a canary, I'm a coal mine
'Cause sorrow is just all the rage
Take one for the team, you all know what I mean
And I'm so sorry, but not really
Tell the boys were to find my body
New York eyes, Chicago thighs
Pushed up the window to kiss you off
[Chorus]
The truth hurts worse than anything
I could bring myself to do to you
The truth hurts worse than anything
I could bring myself to do to you
Do you remember the way I held your hand
under the lamp post and ran?
This way, so many times I could close my eyes"
Dancing throwing my hands up in the crowd I felt free I felt young sexy boys were eying me up girls were eying me down. Solan's hands slid on my waist as I shock my hips. Love is complicated it's painful but tonight I wasn't thinking about any of it I was just listening to the shred of the guitar the pounding of the keys on the piano and keyboards, the rhythmics of the drummer. The powerful voice of Pete Wentz.
We danced through out the whole night we kissed we flirted we drank we laughed we danced and danced. We sang shouted till we were hoarse.
Later that night after everyone was asleep in the house I went outside under the moonlight I practiced for about an hour on my guitar before taking my video camera after a quick check to make sure my hair and face looked alright. I went to the beach finding a perfect spot on the sand overlooking the ocean. Pressing play I took a deep breath.
"Brooke tonight you made me the happiest girl on this earth Fallout Boy was extraordinary I can never repay you for this. Pete smiled at me he threw his pick at me I held it up for her to see.
"I can't help but hear the sadness in your voice, I have no clue what's going on but I just want you to be happy healthy safe, so Solan came up with this awesome idea about sending you a song a day" "Some days they will be original ones, tonight however since it's late I will honor Fallout Boy I hope you like this song"
"I love you Brooke always know that I hope you know you can confide in me don't be afraid I won't break, the truth will never hurt as much as a lie"
Taking a deep breath I started to play singing softly at first than getting into it my voice rising as I played louder looking into the camera. Wishing it was Brooke's eyes.
"You are a getaway car, a rush of blood to the head With your backless black dress soaked to the skin Strike us like matches, cause everyone deserves the flames The sounds of this small town make my ears hurt
But me, I'm just the covers on top of your bed
You steer away in a rear view mirror you make my head swim
I keep you warm and won't ask you where you've been
When it's said and down they're all scrambling
And we're friends, yeah we're friends
Just because we move units
We only do it for the scars and stories, not the fame
At least everyone is trying, everyone else is shining
Everyone deserves the flames but it's such a shame
Such a shame
Oh yeah, you caught me. But I caught you way worse
They say, "You want a war? You've got a war."
But who are you fighting for?
The tides out, the ship's run aground
We drown traitors in shallow water"