Easy on Eyes Band

I was really excited, I knew Andy would help me, now I had to get Neal, he didn't reply my email, didn't answer my calls, he wasn't home, but I wasn't worried, that was Neal, but I knew where to find him...
He had changed. In a short time, he got 3 more tattoos, another piercing, his nails were black, and now his hair was all blond.
He always liked to be different, and I honestly thought his look was cool, I could see him on stage already.
And there he was, with a cue on one hand, a cigarette on the other, the glass of whisky on the pool table could only be his.

"David! I cannot believe it! It was about time you showed up!"

He held me, despite of the looks, he had a huge heart, we used to kid him a lot, he tried to look tough, but he was a really nice guy.

"Tell me about it... I needed to talk to you..."

"I know, you came to ask for your CDs back, huhw I thought you had forgotten about that…"

"I didn't come to ask for any CD, even thought I could really use the Avenged Sevenfold one… I need to tell you a lot of things."

"Are you buying me a drink? If you are, we can talk."

"It's easier if you buy me one, but let's go."

We sat on the bar, he loved that place, he was always hanging out there, playing pool... I told him the the whole story, with details, he heard me and gave good advices, among them: Party hard!
We laughed and he agreeded to join the band, we decided to meet in the weekend to rehearse, until there I had time to find someone to complete the team.

I got home at night, my car was in the garage, clean. Andrew was in the living room.
In an common day, I'd go in, he'd follow me to my room and ask me how my day was, he'd show me some funny vídeos he had found on You Tube, or a funny t-shirt he had bought, he'd get the guitar and ask me to play something, he'd drink Coke out of the bottle with me, or just sit beside me and make me company.
But that's not what happened. I passed by him, he looked at me but ddn't move, and I missed hearing his steps behind me on the stairs.

I thought it'd be hard to sleep, but I had so many new thoughts in my head, anxious to meet the boys again, produce new things, that I gradually fell asleep, but right before that, I felt an emptiness, a loneliness, the silence on the street, in the house, and the absence of 3 essencial people in my life: Andrew, Matt and Anne.

I woke up with Andy calling me, I was still sleepy when I answered, he was talking loud.

"Come on kid, wake up! How do you wanna be rich and famous sleeping until now?"

"Andy! What time is it?"

"9 am."

Is this a joke?

"Nine? Did you fell out of the bed? Are you crazy?"

"Wake up, I need to introduce you to a guy that can play with us!"

"Now?"

"Actually, I was thinking you could go with me first buy a present to Jennie."

"Nice, what time will you come?"

"I'm at you door, get here soon."

I changed and went downstairs, while I was eating something I heard Andy talking to someone outside.
It was Matt, I was afraid to leave, I remembered how rude I'd been with him a day before, and he definitely knew I had broken the guitar.
But there was no escape, he was not only my friend, he was my neighboor.

I said hello to both of them, and the look he gave me made me feel awkward, Andy got into the car and I was paralysed on the sidewalk, I didn't know how to act, and then he broke the silence.

"If you don't mind, I'd like a word with you."

"Go ahead Matt."

"I don't think this is a good time, I can see you're leaving... and this conversation can take a while."

Could someone bring Matt back? This serious guy was not my friend. He couldn't be.

"A long serious conversation? What, 5 minutes?"

I tried to make a joke, but he didn't even bother to pretend he found it funny.

"If you think everything that happened can be solved in five minutes, okay then.".

He was unrecognizable, and I could see he already knew a lot, but Andy was calling me, so he decided to leave, but left a message first.

"Drop by later, if you can, or want to…"

I got into the car and started thinking, I had no Idea what Anne had told him, I Wonder if she had the guts to tell the truth... And what did he want to say to me? Because if she had told him the truth, he shouldn't be mad at me. Or he was mad at me because I didn't tell him first? My thoughts were interrupted by Andy.

"It had been a while since I had last seen him, he still looks like a fool, as usual."

I laughed.

"Don't say that!"

"You know we never got along well... I preferred his sister, now I have a girlfriend and everything, but she was very hot... what was her name again?

Mary, Julia, Jennifer...whatever. I didn't want to talk about that, or I'd have to tell him everything, but he remebered it himself...

"Anne, isn't it? He was hot, I always thought you two would end up together… you never had anything with her?

I did, so did my brother, what else should he know?

"Remember when I told you about a broken heart?"

His eyes widened (more than usual):

"You were talking about Anne? I can't believe this! I told you, I always knew you'd have something…"

By the time we got to the gift shop, he knew the whole story.
But he was reasonable, and after the shock, he didn't bring the subject up anymore and tried everything to distract me.

"Help me man, what should I buy her?"

"What's the occasion? Consolation, for having you as a boyfriend?"

"Sort of, our anniversary."

I was not good at choosing presents, but I immediately thought about Anne, and what I'd give her, everytime I saw something that reminded me of her, I wanted to buy...

"And it has to be something that shows you really thought about her."

And not expensive, so you can smash it against the wall, if she upsets you.

He got what he needed, and we went to a friend of him, where the guy he wanted to introduce me was, ando n the way he told me a little bit more about him, his name was Joey, he was 28 and from LA, but was spending some time in Tulsa. Although he was knew, he had experience, he had traveled to some countries including Brazil (that reminded me the traumatic experience of going after Anne).

I got along with him, he had a good sense of humor, his hair was funny, and he said he could stay in Tulsa longer to play with us. So, we had a bass player.

On the way home, Andy cell rang and while he was talking, I thought of how much I wanted to get home, to see what Matt wanted...

"So And, can you take me home?"

"Actually, no…"

"No? Drop me at the bus stop, then..."

He laughed...

"I told Jennie I was with you, and she invited us to dinner at her place..."

It would be so funny, Andy, Jennie and me. And maybe her dog, to make me company. But I couldn't say no.

"Cool, but can you take me home then? I have to wake up early tomorrow, to set things up to the rehearsal."

That way I'd have time to talk to Matt, before going to bed.

We got to Jennie, and well... it wasn't exactly the romantic dinner I was expecting.

Instead of flowers, candles and a table for 3, there were beer, pizza, and a lot of Jennie's friends. Very interesting.

She hugged me...

"What's up pretty one! You look so different, you grew a beard!"

"And you're still the same funny girl..."

"Come on in, get a drink, I told the girls you were coming, they are all very excited..."

All? I could choose, then...

I must confess I was a little shy, but I sat on the couch with Andy, while the girls were singing on the karaoke machine, and we started drinking... I told him I had talked to Neal, and we had the same idea:

"Let's invite him to come here!"

In less than 20 minutes he showed up with some friends, and more drinks. I didn't want to drink much, I had to go to talk to Matt, and it would be good if I was sober.

But when I heard Andy and Neal calling me on the mic, I knew I wouldn't get out of there so soon.