Disclaimer: Ain't mine, never was.
Ray's week had continued the way it had started, he had gone to a couple of the bands gigs and spent the majority of his time propped up against the bar trying to look like he was enjoying himself. Trying to dismiss the annoying little noise in the back of his head nagging that he had come here to think and not drink.
He had booked his return flight for two days from now with absolutely no clue as to what he was going to do.
Despite Brett's not to subtle hints that Ray's replacement wasn't ideal the band played well and were very popular in the bars and clubs that they played in, To the point that even Ray's meagre acquaintance with the band had earned him several less than subtle invites from girls that he would have once enthusiastically excepted.
Instead he would always smile and decline instantly aware that they were nothing compared to the woman that had insinuated herself into his soul.
It wasn't until he had gone back stage to congratulate the band on another great set when he witnessed what Brett meant about the new guy.
He heard it all before he saw anything, loud anger voices carrying along the dingy hallway in the back.
"I get it so it's my damn fault we're still gigging and not in a recording studio somewhere" The unfamiliar voice yelled enraged.
"That not what I said, I just said that they were interested in us in Chicago" Brett argued back, there was the sound of something being knocked over and Ray reconsidered entering choosing instead to linger and wait for some calm.
"Ahh now I get it that's why your buddy Ray is here isn't it, he's my replacement" The voice was lower now, cold and enraged.
"Ray's just visiting" He heard one of the others say in defence.
"Yeah sure he is, screw this I'm outta here" and before Ray had a chance to move the door had slammed open and Ray was caught eavesdropping.
Dark eyes eyed him suspiciously before offering "you're welcome to them" and storming past.
Ray stood open mouthed unsure of what to say, He just stepped past and into the tiny little room that the band had claimed as theirs.
"Wow" He said to Brett as he passed and perched on the corner of a ratty looking couch.
"Damn it" Brett cursed hitting his fist against the wall.
Their planned partying soon dwindled into sorrowful reminiscing about the good old days in Chicago and then Ray made a decision he knew was the easy way out, the cowardly answer to his problems.
"Hey man I need a fresh start, maybe I could stay and fill in for a while?" He suggested to Brett casually hoping that his desperation to get away from his pain in Chicago was not too obvious.
"I'd like that…" Brett began and Ray could see a but in there somewhere. "…But look at you man, you've been here all week and you haven't really been here" He looked at Ray pityingly.
Ray was about to ask him what the hell he was talking about when Brett elaborated. "You need to tell Neela how you feel man, everybody knows you've got it bad, if you run away from your problems they aren't gonna just disappear"
"What the hell.." was as far as his denial got before Brett's disapproving look silenced him.
"You can to lie to us as much as you want but you can't lie to yourself" When the hell did Brett turn into Lockhart, with the knowing advice and all.
"It's complicated, she wouldn't understand and besides she doesn't feel the same way" He sighed downing the remnants of his beer.
"How do you know that if you've never actually told her," He chastised handing him another beer from the pack at his feet.
"I can't, what if she tells me to get lost I couldn't handle that. I'm just her friend' He struggled to keep the dejection from his voice. He didn't want to seem weak in front of the other man.
"So you'll happily run out on her but haven't got the balls to tell her why, if you're gonna go anyway you may as well just do it, She might surprise you" Brett reasoned easily.
He was right and Ray hated him for it, if he was going to leave Chicago anyway he had nothing to lose from telling Neela everything, nothing except the last of his pride.