I GIVE MY THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING:
Luckystar222
ShoujoAnimeFanatic13
.little silent angel.
babee-angel
mikanxnatsume1228
Mikiramen
Xim-no-writerX
An Identified Nobody
tAnGeRiNe-jUjUbE08
Thanks for your reviews! I am trying my best to become a better writer. Thank you
CHAPTER 11
-MIKAN-
"Are you sure you're not dreaming?" Tsubasa asked me as we had our lunch in McDonald's.
"Yes! They really saved me from a rapist!" I said defensively.
"It's just that, those two guys pushes off girls who sit on their laps, literally! And ignore those around them." Kaname said as he shrugged.
"Really? Girls chase after Natsume?" I asked, clearly shocked.
"Yeah! Most of their fan girls wanna make love with them and practically strips their clothes just to be noticed by them. I'm not exaggerating." Misaki said, taking a bite on her cheeseburger.
Again, my friends ditched me since I didn't wake up early therefore; I ended up having lunch with Digitally Manipulated.
"Mikan, you shouldn't do another stupid thing like that! Does Hotaru know this already?" Yuri asked me worriedly.
"Well, I'm not planning to tell her. Its her fault anyway!" I said as I remembered how they ditched me last night. I will never start a conversation with any of them.
"Aw Mikan. Don't worry, we'll be coming tonight so you don't have to worry about your ride and perverted guys anymore." Tsubasa said happily.
"Really? You'll watch me tonight?" I said as excitement filled me.
"Yeah! Besides, the only reason we didn't come yesterday because we had an interview with Rolling Stones." He said and then he took a gulp of his Coke.
"Wow! You'll be on THE Rolling Stone?" I asked amazed.
"August cover." Kaname said with very gentle smile.
"Wow! I'm dining with next month's cover of THE Rolling Stone!" I exclaimed. And the whole McDonald's turned their heads to me.
"Shh Mikan. Keep it down!" Tsubasa said as he stuffed spaghetti in my mouth to quiet me down. "Anyway, where do you want to come anyway?"
"I can't believe you invited us to search for thanksgiving gifts for your HEROES!" Tsubasa said with a grudge as we walk down one of Manhattan's streets.
"Anyway, if you were Natsume and Ruka, what would you want?" I asked them.
"A custom Les Paul guitar." Kaname said without a second thought.
"I'm too poor for that!" I countered.
"A new bass string." Yuri suggested.
"Too plain."
"A poster of Black Sabbath!" Misaki said with enthusiasm.
"What if they don't like Black Sabbath?"
"A new effects pedal." Tsubasa said plainly.
"Maybe."
I then decided to go a music shop. There I saw guitars such as Gibson, Ibanez, Fender, Martin and many more.
I looked around not really caring if Tsubasa sat on the drums, Kaname and Misaki picked a guitar and plugged it and Yuri picked up a bass and plugged it.
"Misaki, get it on." Tsubasa screamed after he adjusted the screws of the drums.
Misaki then started with a palm-muted C#minor.
Should I write myself out of the history books,
and mark a place in time for every chance you took?
Don't get me wrong I know you've got your life in place -
I've yet to take the hint,
Some day
I'm sure I'll get the picture,
and stop waiting up...
When it all comes down,
to a sunrise on the east side,
will you be there to carry home,
the remains of my wasted youth,
this wasted time on you,
has left me shaking 'n waiting,
shaking 'n waiting for something more.
And then, more and more people went inside the shop just to watch Digitally Manipulated play. I was amazed on how quickly the shop got full.
Tonight is alive with the promise of a street-fight,
and there's money on the table,
that says your cheap-shots won't be able,
to break bones.
I've yet to break a sweat,
I'll make your past regret its future.
Here's to you.
When it all comes down,
to a sunrise on the east side,
will you be there to carry home,
the remains of my wasted youth,
this wasted time on you
has left me shaking in waiting,
for something more.
Make all of my decisions for me,
I've never taken the fall for deceit,
We'll keep a secret if you keep me guessing,
The taste of your lips says we shouldn't have met like...
I should be looking for a gift for Ruka and Natsume. I said as I willed my feet to move and search for the perfect gift. And I found it over the counter.
"Oh my God! This is perfect!" I screeched to no one.
I found a Marshall Mini Guitar Amplifier. Really, it was smaller than I expected.
Make all of my decisions for me,
I've never taken the fall for deceit,
We'll keep a secret if you keep me guessing,
The taste of your lips says we shouldn't have met like this
I can keep a secret if you can keep me guessing,
The flavor of your lips is enough to keep me pressing,
for more than just a moment of truth between the lies told,
to pull ourselves away from the lives we leave back (home)...
I can keep a secret if you can keep me guessing,
The flavor of your lips is enough to keep me here, keep me here
"How much?" I asked the clerck.
"$40." He said.
"Give me three." I said as I realized that I don't have an amp of my own. He gave me a heavy paper bag after I gave him the bill.
When it all comes down,
to a sunrise on the east side,
will you be there to carry me home?
the remains of my wasted youth,
this wasted time on you
has left me shaking in waiting,
for something more.
"And hey, is this compatible with bass? It's Warwick." I asked him.
"Just make sure to lower the volume of the guitar." He advised.
"Okay thanks!" I said as I turned. I realized that Digitally Manipulated weren't playing anymore.
"You chose anything, Mikan?" Yuri asked me.
"Yeah! Look! I got them a mini amp!" I told her as I got one out from the paper bag.
"Wow! I also want one!"
"NATSUME! RUKA-PYON!" I came bursting in their studio. "I have something for you!" I told them as I sat on their studio floor and fished for the amp.
"Here!" I said as I handed them my gifts complete with a thank you letter inside. "Thank you soooo much again! I owe you one. I am in your debt." I said dramatically as I bowed on their feet. "If there's anything you want me to do-"
"Good. We need one. Now carry all these back to my room." Natsume said as he threw me a guitar that was already inside a case. And he dropped the effects board infront of me.
"And also, change the strings. Clean it first before you put the new ones. I want it back by 7 PM or else." he said as he walked out with my present on hand.
"I WILL!" I screamed back. Though I don't wanna be a slave, but this is a way of showing him that I owe him my life.
"Anything I can do for you Ruka-pyon?" I asked him with a smile.
"N-nothing." He said as he followed Natsume.
"Eh Mikan, why do you owe them? Did you destroy one of their cars?" Nonoko asked.
"It's between the three of us." I told her curtly, still mad for ditching me last night. I looked at my watch, it was already past 5 PM, I need to go anyway. And with that I walked out of the studio with the guitar and effects board, a grudge held for my band mates.
"A FUCKING LES PAUL!" I said with a screech after I opened the guitar case. "A FUCKING ROBOT LES PAUL!" I screamed again as I hurriedly took it with me to the couch. I immediately played some songs, savoring the feeling of the strings softness under my fingers. How lovely.
I imagined playing a Les Paul infornt of the crowd. That would be awesome!
I studied its fine finishes. The silver pegs, which has a control for automatic tuning. Its rosewood fingerboard, having those ivory markings on selected frets.
I then started looking for the strings. I searched and searched until I finally concluded that there's none. So I then grabbed my spare Ernie Ball electric strings and the removed the ones attached to the Les Paul, which apparently, is just a press away. I pressed the button for the sixth string and the string immediately loosened.
"WOOOOOW!" I screamed in amazement.
After every string has been removed, I noticed how dirty his guitar was. It looked like its dust was already attached to the paint.
"Natsume doesn't care for you huh?" I said as I hugged the guitar and kissed it.
I cleaned up his guitar. Making sure that the hum bucker pick-ups would be spotless, the in-betweens dustless and the fingerboard as smooth as new.
I then attached the strings. In the middle of attaching the D string, a banging came on my door.
"Wait!" I said as I gently laid the Les Paul on my sofa.
"I told you 7." Natsume said darkly as soon as I opened my door. Am I that short that he needs to look down on me?
"What? Is it 7 already?!?" I asked as I looked at my wall clock. It was almost 8!"
"What have you been doing with my guitar?" He said with a devilish glare as he pushed me aside roughly and let himself in, not really caring if his push landed me on my butt on the floor.
"You alright Sakura?" Ruka (who I didn't notice) said as he helped me up.
"Yes, thanks Ruka-pyon!" I said as I ran to the couch where in Natsume was about to touch his guitar.
"DON'T TOUCH IT YET!" I screamed as I pushed him off. "I'm not done." I said as I sat and resumed my work.
"Tch. What's taking so loooong?" he said impatiently as he sat down on my white sofa, not bothering to take off his shoes.
"Don't you have a gig today, Sakura?"
I almost dropped the Les Paul. I stared at Ruka-pyon and Natsume in horror.
-NATSUME-
I don't believe this. What am I doing taking this road again? TWO NIGHTS IN A ROW? Dammit! I want some sleep!
"Hey you idiot!" I told the girl who was sitting in the back (which was practically the roof of Ruka's Saab).
"What?" She replied, admitting that she's an idiot.
"You can't seat there. We will get busted." I said.
"I don't have a seat." She said as she raised her hand again and screamed her head off like a drunken buffoon.
"Shut up or you'll seat at the compartment!" I screamed at her.
"MIKAN! OVER HERE!" That Sonoh guy immediately ran towards us, as soon as we got in.
"KANAME!" she exclaimed as she ran to meet him.
"I've got something for you." Sonoh said as he handed her an ugly dark brown teddy bear. Tch.
"WOW! THANKS! It's so cute!" Polka dots said as she bombarded the ugly monster with a lot of hugs and kisses.
"Ew." I muttered to myself.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?! Why am I paying attention to them? This is sick.
"Let's go Ruka." I told my best friend as we sat on the bar, waiting for that idiot to play.
As she set up on the stage, I was watching her. I'm starting to develop interest in her. There was really something different about her. I just don't know what. It's like her songs have some kind of hypnosis in it that really makes you want to watch them.
"So this is how it goes," she sang as she let go of her guitar and clutched the mike. She closed her eyes, the stage light adding on her appearance. I felt something in my stomach. Fluttering annoyingly.
Well I, I would have never known
And if it ends today
Well, I'll still say that you shine brighter than anyone
She smiled at us then waved abruptly.
Now I think we're taking this too far
Don't you know that it's not this hard?
Well it's not this hard
But if you take what's yours and I take mine
Must we go there?
Please not this time. No, not this time.
Well this is not your fault
But if I'm without you
Then I will feel so small
And if you have to go
Always know that you shine brighter than anyone does.
Now I think we're taking this too far
Don't you know that it's not this hard?
Well it's not this hard
But if you take what's yours and I take mine
Must we go there?
Please not this time. No, not this time.
She stepped away from the microphone and looked at her band mates. She really looks like she's having the time of her life. Laughing and smiling like there's no tomorrow. Okay, so the fluttering got wilder. This is so sick.
If you run away now,
Will you come back around?
And if you ran away,
I'd still wave goodbye
Watching you shine bright.
Now I think we're taking this too far
Don't you know that it's not this hard?
Well it's not this hard
But if you take what's yours and I take mine
Must we go there?
Please not this time. No, not this time.
Was she like this last night too? I swear, I regret drinking too much alcohol last night. Her voice is high, I noticed.
And I'll wave goodbye
Watching you shine bright
(You shine bright, you shine bright)
And I'll wave goodbye tonight.
Another song followed and I watched her play on stage like it was a playground. Like she makes music for fun. Like making music was natural to her. Like this happy music is just natural for her.
"I think she's great." Ruka said softly.
"I think she's interesting." I countered.
"And to top that, they're brilliant." A voice from behind us butted in.
"Yeah! Where have you seen a chick rock like that? Even Misaki and Yuri do not scream!" said its companion.
"Koko. Kitsuneme." I said blankly.
"What are you doing here?" Ruka asked them.
"Watching our ladies." Kitsuneme said as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "Look, Anna looks so hot today. Damn!" Kitsuneme said with a laugh as he dragged Koko to the front row.
"Looks like Mochu is sucking up to Ibaragi." Ruka said as if Mochu was the most pathetic guy in the world. When I turned to look why, it was very clear. Mochu was in front of the bassist and was screaming, "Nobara, you rock!", "You're the bass goddess" and really pathetic phrases that really stands out above the other's screaming.
"Hey Natsume, Ruka! Wanna come to our next gig? We have, I think, 2 more in some other places." Polka dots said as she came over holding a teddy bear. That guy from that punk-rock band followed her. What was his name again? Sonny? Sunny? Shawny? Sanny?
"Tch. As if, you dragged Ruka here and I have no choice but to come with him." I said blankly.
"Mean! I didn't re- argh. Forget it! If I wasn't in debt to you!" She said angrily as she grabbed the ends of her hair and pulled it.
"Where is it anyway?" Ruka asked. Really, I wanna smack his head. I glared at him. He looked at me with eyes that seem to say I'm bored anyway. If you don't like you could go home and leave me I'll be fine.
I shot him a look, and mentally said to him, "So you're gonna stay with this girl all night with that punk?" And he nodded his head.
"FINE, we'll go. Got nothing better to do anyway." I said as I walked out and headed towards Ruka's Saab.
"Yay! Don't be so mad anymore Natsume, I already found a ride so you can breathe!" Polka dots said as she raced me upstairs to the parking.
"WOOOHOOO!" She screamed as she ran, dragging that Sonny guy to his convertible yellow Eclipse.
"Come on Kaname! Let's rock and roll!" She screamed like an idiot as she sat on the seat's headrest and raised her hand in the air as the car drove off.
I heard Ruka chuckle beside me. "Childish." He muttered as he followed the car.
"I say, completely idiotic." I countered while keeping my eyes on the idiot who was still seating on the headrest of the car in front of us.
"But interesting?" Ruka questioned me with raised eyebrows.
"Idiotically interesting. An interesting idiot." I clarified and he chuckled at my answer. And I chuckled as I saw the idiot fell forward as the Sonny guy hit the break. "Idiot." I muttered under my breath.
The songs I've used:
Coffee Shop Soundtrack by All Time Low (used by Digitally Manipulated)
Brighter by Paramore (used by Technicolor Dolls)
Anyway…
What do you think? I prefer you listen to the songs while reading. It adds atmosphere!