"Gefoff!" groaned Vince as Bollo dabbed him with a damp towel.
"Make feel better." Bollo insisted dabbing Vince's forehead again. God knows where he'd found a damp cloth on a flying carpet but Vince wasn't impressed.
"Bollo! My hair! It'll go frizzy. Stop it" he mumbled lying helplessly against Bollo's side.
'Typical Vince' thought Howard sighing deeply. 'Only he could be on the brink of death and be worrying about his hair.'
Vince looked like some kind of Gothic angel. His eyes were closed and he looked a little like he was trying not to be sick but somehow he still managed to look serene and beautiful, his ghostly pale skin shimmering in the early golden sunlight. Howard could barely bring himself to look at the small man, every time he winced or held his head Howard felt a pang of guilt. To distract himself Howard had taken to looking over the edge of the carpet and nursing his own bruises.
"Howard." Naboo said. "Where's this publishing office?"
"I don't know." shrugged Howard, sighing deeply.
"I swear to god." snapped Naboo suddenly "If you sigh one more time I wont be responsible for my actions."
"Sorry." Howard whispered failing to suppress the sigh that followed.
"Howard." Naboo growled "Stop feeling sorry for yourself! You're no use to anyone like this. Especially not Vince. Which way have we got to go?"
"I don't know." groaned Howard "I just don't know."
"Look, I know you feel guilty but you've got to snap out of it or we'll never find the publishers."
"I want to help Naboo," sighed Howard "But there's nothing I can do. I've killed my best friend."
"Howard. Snap out of it!" Naboo barked angrily "We're running out of time. It'll be open soon it's almost eight." Naboo remarked, looking at the young sun.
"Come on Howard." Vince murmured almost inaudibly from the back of the carpet. "I th-thought you were a m-man of action." At that Howard snapped into action shouting.
"I am a man of action, sir. Let's have a look, where are we? Ah yes. Naboo turn left. We'll be there in no time."
Naboo smirked to himself. Had Vince just been extremely clever? Or just extremely lucky? Naboo didn't care, all that mattered was that they were heading in the right direction, finally.
--
The carpet was soon swooping down into the car park of a large building shaped like an open book.
"Quick." cried Naboo leaping from the carpet with a surprising amount of energy. "Bollo bring Vince. Come on!"
Bollo picked Vince up gently and placed him over his shoulder and charged towards the door. "Uh Bollo." smiled Naboo "Better get Howard as well." he said watching the northerner staggering slowly after them. Bollo grumbled loudly but went back grabbed Howard and roughly threw him over his other shoulder.
"Go." Bollo roared, charging into the building roaring loudly.
"Bollo." groaned Naboo slapping his forehead with his hand. "What are you doing? You're a gorilla you can't just go barging into an office block."
Luckily, there was only one girl in the reception area. She was sat behind a desk twirling chewing gum around her finger and looking decidedly unimpressed. She was dressed all in black; black hair, lots of black make, black cross round he neck and skulls on her rings.
After looking from Bollo to the shaman and back again she asked Naboo in a bored fashion. "Am I high?"
"Ummmm," Naboo pondered. He looked at Bollo who was still roaring in the middle of the room and smiled "Yes, You're high."
"Cool." she said completely nonchalant. "Is he dead?" she asked looking at Vince hanging limply over Bollo's shoulder.
"I really hope not." Naboo said "For both their sakes". He dreaded to think what Bollo would do to Howard if Vince actually died.
"He looks dead." she drawled.
"Yeah. Look, where is Hamilton Cork's office?"
"It's down this corridor on the right."
"Great, thanks." said Naboo taking off down the corridor.
"Mr Cork's not there though" she called after him.
"What!?" growled Naboo, running back to the desk.
"He's in a meeting. Some new sentence, he's really excited about it. It was quite cool actually I snuck a look. Like this beautiful… death, it was kind of sweet. Life ebbing away. Blood draining away, soul draining away…"
"Wait, you read it?"
"Yeah, I wasn't supposed to but, meh, I always have a look… makes my job almost bearable. Don't tell Mr Cork though. He'd probably fire me or something."
"Right." Naboo said. "This meeting, where is it?"
"I can't tell you that. I'll be sacked."
"Where meeting?" bellowed Bollo. Naboo thought he'd seen a flicker of fear in the girls eyes but on reflection it may have just been the lights because she remained in her completely unaffected state.
"Look, whatever." she sighed, studying her nails. "I hate this job anyway. It's up the stairs there's only one room up there, it's huge. There's like a hundred people there to hear this sentence revealed."
"Oh no!" gasped Howard "Come on Bollo. Up the stairs."
"Don't tell Bollo what to do." roared Bollo running up the stairs allowing Howard's arm to hit the hand rail repeatedly as some sort of petty revenge.
--
The odd party came crashing through the door just as Hamilton Cork was finishing reading. "if only things had turned out differently, if only." The last two words hung in the air for a second before the whole room burst into enthusiastic applause. Bollo set Howard and Vince down. The Goth leaned heavily against the wall. Howard stood rubbing his arm resentfully, then despite himself, he felt a grin spreading across his face as the crowd shouted things like:
"Brilliant." "Excellent." "Best sentence ever." "So much potential." "Fantastic."
"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much." smiled Howard, waving his arm around in acknowledgment walking on to the platform come stage that Hamilton Cork was stood on.
"Uh, who are you?" asked Hamilton Cork a look of complete confusion on his face.
"I'm Howard Moon. I wrote this sentence."
"I don't think so." came the loud booming voice of the ex-zoo owner Dixon Bambridge. "I wrote this sentence, just like I wrote the Charlie books and every other book this company has ever published."
"You can't do this!" yelled Howard stepping threateningly toward Bambridge before being distracted by a strangled voice from behind him.
"Howard?" Naboo called quietly from the door way. "Howard. Quickly."
Howard span round to see Vince slumped to the floor, he wasn't moving, he was hardly breathing.
"Oh god Vince." Howard breathed rushing to Vince's side. "Vince, speak to me. It's okay."
"Howard." Vince rasped "I don't wanna die."
"You're not going to Vince." Howard said, reassuring himself as much as Vince "Just hold on."
Vince curled up into a ball. He started to cough violently, retching and throwing up blood. Howard rubbed his back soothingly. "Come on Vince, be strong." begged Howard "You can't give up. Just hold on. Vince, come on. I need you."
"Touching." Bambridge's voice boomed from the front of the room.
"Shut up!" yelled Howard, hunching over Vince and fighting back his tears.
"No. Get out of the room so I can continue plugging my book."
"It's not you're book!" screamed Howard the emotion pounding through him, "I wrote that sentence! I wrote it! It's my book!" Howard, without thinking, launched himself at Bambridge. Both men crashed to the floor and a very one sided fight ensued. It didn't take long for Howard to be flat on his back with Bambridge sat proudly on his chest taking a gun from his back pocket and pointing it at Howard.
"I've been waiting for this moment a very long time Moon."
"You can't shoot me." Howard said bravely "There's too many witnesses"
"What witnesses?" Bambridge chuckled looking around the empty room before cocking the gun. It seemed the people in the room didn't want to witness anything that may result in them taking a trip to court and had scattered as soon as the first punch had been thrown.
"Me and Bollo will see." Naboo said angrily. "We'll be witnesses"
"There's three bullets in this gun, Naboo." laughed Bambridge "And he doesn't look like he's going to last long." he said indicating Vince, who was still coughing and spluttering on the floor. "Prepare to join you're ugly girlfriend in hell Moon." sneered Bambridge putting his finger on the trigger.
"Nooooooooooo!" cried Howard knocking the arm holding the pistol.
A gunshot rang out through the building. Naboo dropped to his knees. Bollo roared. Dixon Bambridge's face drained of all colour. Howard looked at his outstretched arm joint holding the gun with Bambridge. His terrified gaze followed the direction of the gun's barrel to reveal it's victim. He tried to stand up but his legs wouldn't carry him so he crawled shakily toward's the body.
"Vince?" Howard whispered hoarsely.
The small man was sprawled out on the floor, his raven black hair matted with the pool of blood gathering by the gunshot wound in his head, his big blue eyes dull as the life drained out of him - if only things had turned out differently, if only.
"I'm so sorry Vince." Howard sobbed, the tears rolling down his cheeks as he scooped the smaller man into his arms.
"It hurts so much." gasped Vince, clutching at Howard's shirt like a terrified child.
"I know, I know." Howard said rocking Vince slowly in his arms. "Hold on Vince."
"H-Howard."
"Yes, Vince?"
"I didn't s-say it before" Vince coughed violently "I lo- love you." Vince whispered, his eyes closing slowly, his head falling limply and landing softly on Howard's chest.
"Vince. No! Vince stay awake. Vince. Vince! Please." Howard begged shaking Vince's thin shoulders gently at first, quickly becoming more and more frantic. "Vince! Vince! No! Vince, you can't die! What am I gonna do without you? Vince! Please Vince" Howard wept. "Wake up." Naboo and Bollo watched in silence as Howard mourned his dead friend, neither noticed Hamilton Cork and Dixon Bambridge escaping out of the open window.
Eventually, Naboo walked over to Howard and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Howard." The shaman said quietly. "I think it's time to go."
"Wait, Naboo." cried Howard "We can bring him back right? We'll erase the part where he dies. He'll come back, right? I can change the ending. I can erase the ending. There's got to be something I can do. Right Naboo. Right?" Howard begged, sobbing hard.
"I'm sorry Howard." Naboo sighed. "I don't think it'll do anything. This was where the story ended. It's all over."
"PleaseNaboo."
"I'm sorry Howard." Naboo said softly, shaking his head.
"No" sobbed Howard pulling Vince even closer to him. "I can't give up on him. This is all my fault."
"Yeah." Bollo growled "Naboo say don't go near gun. Naboo say don't use his stuff. Howard ignore. Vince dead."
"Bollo." Naboo warned the ape, who's fur was wet with tears. "You're not helping."
"Sorry." Bollo said quietly. "Sorry Howard. I know this hard for you too." With that Bollo dragged Howard up from the floor and, in a rare moment of tenderness between the two, pulled him into a big hug.
"I think we should go." Naboo suggested after a while. Bollo nodded picking up Vince gently and allowing a distraught and blood covered Howard to lean against his arm as they followed Naboo silently back to the carpet.
--
Howard sat on the sofa in the living room. He studied his clothes, black suit, black shoes, black tie. He was angry about the clothes he was wearing. He was sure that Vince would have hated all this black at his funeral. Vince would have wanted bright colours and glitter. He knew Vince was vain and would have loved the idea that everyone was devastated by his death but he was still pretty sure the sea of black would have insulted his love of bright colours.
Howard had wanted Gary Numan to be played at the funeral but the funeral directors had chosen some hideously depressing Morrisey song. Vince would be bitterly disappointed if there was one thing he hated more than jazz it was Morrisey.
"Howard." Naboo called gently from the top of the stairs. "It's time to go. Are you ready?" Howard nodded. He'd hardly said a word since that day at the publishers. Partly because he couldn't think of anything to say but partly because he was unjustifiably blaming Naboo. He was angry at the shaman for not being able to bring Vince back but also for stopping Howard from calling the police. Naboo had pointed out that Howard's finger prints were as much on that gun as Bambridge's and Howard had found this difficult to accept. Naboo gave the tall man a watery smile and said gently "Come on then."
Howard got up steadily and followed the shaman out of the flat. He was surprised to find that the day was just like any other. The sun was still shining and birds were singing and children were playing happily. Howard wasn't sure what he'd expected to see, maybe no sun or something. Howard thought that would be a fitting tribute to Vince. To Howard, Vince was the sun, the centre of his universe and if his sun had died why should anyone else get one? People didn't deserve to be happy. Vince was dead. How could anyone be happy? No one should ever be happy again!
The tiny church was overflowing with people. It seemed the whole of London had turned out to show their respect. Howard even spotted Bob Fossil sat in a pew crying loudly and blowing his nose in an old lady's hat. The funeral was sweet and the vicar was very sensitive to the situation, choosing not to go into detail about Vince's tough childhood or how he'd died.
"Now, does anybody have anything they'd like to add?" the vicar asked the congregation. Howard moved to get up.
"You sure?" Naboo hissed under his breath.
Howard nodded fiercely "I've got to do this Naboo."
Howard made his way slowly to the front of the church. He could feel everyone staring at him and usually this would have made him uncomfortable but he wasn't thinking about it. All he thought about was saying goodbye to Vince properly.
"Umm, hi" he said clearing his throat as he reached the pulpit. "Hi. I'm Howard Moon. Some of you probably don't know me but I was Vince's best friend. I was going to write a poem or some nice words about him but I thought if Vince was here he'd moan so loudly at the thought of a poem that it just wouldn't be right. So, I found this instead." he said taking a folded piece of paper out of his pocket "It's 'Empty Bed - Empty Heart' by Gary Numan. Don't worry" he chuckled weakly "I'm not going to sing, I just thought this summed up my feelings at this moment. Okay, here goes" Howard took a deep breath and began to read:
"How cold love can be
I've nothing more to loose
I'm trapped inside and dying
I don't sleep without you
Empty bed-empty heart
And I'll wait for you
Years and years and years
How strange love can be
It bends and tears and screams
I'm lonely here inside my head
I don't live without you
There's nothing I can do
I'm waiting always waiting
I'm waiting always and old
I'll leave you now
Alone forever
You're now gone
You're now gone forever"
--
"That was very beautiful." Naboo said to Howard as they left the church. "I know he meant a lot to you Howard." Howard nodded tearfully. "And I'm sure he loved you too."
"What?" asked Howard the tears shining in his eyes.
"I'm sure he loved you, the way you loved him."
"I didn't love Vince." Howard lied.
"Come on Howard. What's the point in lying anymore?" Howard went to speak but quickly closed his mouth.
"Naboo," he said quietly "I don't think I can face the burial. I'm going to go home."
"Okay." Naboo said rubbing his arm sympathetically "I'll see you later."
"Okay." Howard nodded.
--
Howard led on Vince's bed. It still smelt of the electro-Goth and for a while Howard pretended this was just any other day where he'd lie on Vince's bed whilst the the younger man was out shopping or clubbing. Howard liked Vince's bed, not only because it was Vince's, though undoubtedly that would have been enough, but this bed was cosy and had always made him feel somehow safe and comforted. It didn't work though Howard felt completely lost the light that guided his way had gone out and he couldn't stop the tears from falling down his cheeks. He cried and cried until he felt sick. He slid his hands under the pillow to pull it closer to him and was surprised to find his fingers brushed a piece of paper. He pulled it out from under the pillow and opened it up smoothing the paper out. He dried his eyes so he could read the scrawly writing. It read:
I read somewhere that secrets are easier to keep
when you write them down. So here is my list of
things I can never tell Howard...
I broke those records in the zoo - not Bollo.
I never once took rubbish to a designated whatchamacallit.
I sent him into that Kangaroo boxing match convinced he was going to die.
I always want to make him proud of me but it never works.
I love how he doesn't dress fashionably.
I love how he still thinks Jazz is cool.
I sometimes watch him when he sleeps because he looks so gorgeous.
I love him.
Okay, I don't really really know what to do next...
I do have another chapter but I'm quite tempted to leave it here because the evil, twisted side of my brain wonders if perhaps this is a better ending, where as, the nice half (well, I say half - in reality the nice side is much smaller) is tempted to finish it differently.
I'd love to hear what you think and your opinions will be very much appreciated and help me with the possible continuation of the story. I suppose ultimately I'll do what most people want.
I like to please :D lol
Sisi…xx