But I still stay focused, through good and bad times
Compare your worst fucking day to my best fucking night
Bet my last red cent that you couldn't stand the sight
From loss of loved ones to a life of drug funds
They counted me out, for what? I'm not done
Give me a chance to shine, and I'ma blind the world
Take a stand and be the voice of those who cannot be heard
"DJ DJ," The Transplants
Sighing, I threw my trademark trenchcoat, the one that December had made me, onto the chair. Squall frowned and picked it up, neatly and anal-retentively placing it on a hook behind the door of our apartment.
I'd never been so happy to see a place I called home. Never. Just Cause had just finished a whirlwind tour and we'd just flown into Esthar that night. Squally-boy apparently had an in in Esthar; it just figured that Squall's father was the dopey President. Anyway, we had a really nice place near the Presidential Palace. Zell lived in Balamb, Selphie in Trabia.
The group had been halfway through the recording of their first album when the whole Rinoa/Quistis thing happened, almost a year ago. I know it was a year because I had just gotten my one-year chip. My former sponsor, Ron, had flown all the way to Tears' Point, where we were on our tour, to give me that chip.
Well, Squall and company had offered me a permanent place in the band, once Quistis formally split. Last I heard her and Rinoa were living near the Centra ruins, doing research. Well, Quistis was doing research, she's the smart one of the pair. Rinoa's just her bimbo.
I'm still a little angry at them.
We scrapped the album as it was, half-finished, and started over. Between the four of us we had some awsome lyrics, and when put to song they, plainly put, rocked. Sixteen tracks, three months, and a million hours later, our first album, December Promise, hit the shelves.
In the nine months since the release our album has gone platinum several times. People really seem to like it.
Unfortunately, this has caused a huge demand for tours. We've done two so far, but we're taking some time off to work on our next album. Squall and I have a few songs we're hoping won't be so bad.
Last time we played in Dollet, we played Diablos. It was the only place we'd play, and not only did the concert sell out, but there were people crowded around for blocks trying to hear us. December made a ton of money that night.
She's doing good. She's dating a guy named Ken, one of her bartenders. He's a nice enough guy. The night of the concert he proposed. She said yes; as far as I can tell she's pregnant, too. She may or may not sell the bar.
Squall was staring at his computer, reading through an email. "Think we could squeeze in one more concert before we go on break?" He asked, dragging me back to the present. I groaned; Squall's always been a workaholic, even when he was just a SeeD.
"What now?"
Squall pointed to his screen and I walked over and looked over his shoulder.
I smirked. "Hell, why not? Anything for a friend, right?"
Squall nodded solomnly. "Right."
December did not wear the traditional white gown at her wedding. Considering her past, that was probably appropriate.
Instead, she wore a pale blue that looked absolutely gorgeous on her. Ken did not wear a tux; he wore nice slacks and a button-down black shirt with no tie. It looked nice, I guess. I couldn't see myself wearing a tux to get married in, either.
I looked at Squall, who nodded and counted out the beats. As December was led down the aisle (her father is long dead, so Kashmir, the bouncer, led her out), we struck up the wedding march. I must say, it sounded pretty cool played with a rock ensemble.
Jake was there. Remember Jake? He'd been clean for a little over a year, too. He'd chopped his hair real short and joined the Dollet Army. He was there in his dress uniform, with his girlfriend, a woman he'd met in rehab.
Jez was there, too, only her job had brought her here. She worked for a caterer in town; while I'm glad she's got a job and is doing alright by herself (her parents paid for rehab but pretty much disowned her), she still gives me dark looks every now and then. Ah, well. There was nothing I could do about it.
Squall, Zell, and I were wearing tuxes. Squall's tux was normal, but mine had red crosses (my trademark symbol, known pretty much world-wide at this point) on the arms, and Zell's pants were cut short, like the surfer shorts he normally wears. Selphie was wearing a tux getup, too; a black jacket with coattails, a tux shirt with a cummerbund, and a bowtie, with a black poodle skirt (with awhite petticoat underneath; I thought it made her look like an umbrella, and had no compunctions about telling her so. She told me to get bent)and knee-high gogo boots. Irvine, who was our stage manager, was also present, in a tux with his trademark cowboy hat.
December reached the alter. I watched as Ken took her hand, mesmerized (she did look pretty, stunning really, so I could see why he was). They listened as vows were recited, exchanging long, searching looks. Before long they chanted their I Do's and kissed, and then everyone erupted into cheering. Selphie jumped and clapped, Zell let out a whoop. Squall applauded politely.
And me? I just stood there, smiling. Ken had got himself quite a woman, one of the best. He was a lucky man.
I looked over at Squall. He was standing there, a polite expression on his face as he clapped for the newlyweds, who still hadn't finished kissing. He caught sight of me and smiled.
I was a lucky man too.
I stepped up to the microphone and started singing; we were the band for the reception, and several people were looking at us expectantly.
Desperate for changing
Starving for truth
Closer to where I started
Chasing after you
I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I've held onto
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you
Forgetting all I'm lacking
Completely and complete
I'll take your invitation
You take all of me
I'm falling even more in love with you!
Letting go of all I've held onto
I'm standing here until you make me move
Just hanging by a moment here with you
I'm living for the only thing I know
I'm running and not quite sure where to go
And I don't know what I'm diving into
Just hanging by a moment here with you
There's nothing else to lose
There's nothing else to try
There's nothing in the world
That could change my mind
There is nothing else...
There is nothing else
Desperate for changing
Starving for truth
Closer to where I started
Chasing after you...
I'm falling even more in love with you!
Letting go of all I've held onto
I'm standing here until you make me move
Just hanging by a moment here with you
I'm living for the only thing I know
I'm running and not quite sure where to go
And I don't know what I'm diving into
Just hanging by a moment here with you
Just hanging by a moment...
Hanging by a moment...
Hanging by a moment...
I'm hanging by a moment here with you
Squall caught my eye. He knew. I knew. I considered proposing, but I shook it off. Why bother? We had the rest of our lives to consider something like that.
And yes, it would be the rest of our lives. No matter how long or short they were. An hour, a minute, a moment...I'd be there for him, he'd be there for me. And that's all there was to it.
I'd come a long way from a homeless drug addict, but I guess one thing never changed; I always loved Squall. I know now that I always had, and I always will.
Old habits die hard.
"Hanging by a Moment" is copyright Lifehouse.
I'm really sorry that was so short and anticlimactic. I just sort of invisioned it going here anyway. I hope you liked it. Sorry it took so long!
Tasha
