Prologue
Written by:
Potential_Hero
Fuck you firefly
Have you lost your light
Now I hate your ways
'cause they're just like mine
So you lost my friend
Such a sorry end
And I don't know why
So I choke and smile
The rest of the band played out their pieces of this cover as Liam stared off idly into the crowd of pub crawlers, while their set was coming to a close for the evening. Liam was quite an interesting young man; strong, kept well in shape, very artistic, and the cherry on the cake was how musically inclined he is. However, Liam wasn't a content man, and never gave himself much of the credit he deserved. Always seeking to better himself or for one reason or another, impress those around him, no matter who they may be, or what they may have meant to him.The pub cheered thoughtfully as Liam sounded off his band, with a 'thank you'. As the band was packing away their gear for the evenings show, Liam had long since packed his guitar and microphone away, leaving him sitting at the bar of the pub talking to the owner. A rather dapper looking older man, from Russia, who always dressed to the teeth no matter what the occasion in a tailcoat with accommodating accessories.
"Y'know, one of these days I'm going to catch you in a hoodie old man." Liam chimed out jokingly to the pub owner.
"Well perhaps one of these days you'll play a good old classic for me, and I might just decided to wear something a little more lax, perhaps with some suede shoes." The man retorted eagerly, looking to just bring a smile to his pubs best interest.
"Naw. You and I both know the people in this pub don't appreciate the finer music like we do." said Liam with hint of distaste.
"Indeed." the owner said. "It really is quite a shame. You sang so beautifully at my wife and I's anniversary last summer." The older man said with a bit of despair to him.
" Well tell ya what, you two love birds make it through another year, and I might just play the next one for free." Stated Liam, matter-of-factly.
The older man simply chuckled at Liam's intent, and carried on wiping some of the finer glass mugs for beer, before the last call rush would in sue. "So tell me young lad, will you be having a drink in celebration of this evenings success?" the man asked.
"I don't think so Jim." Liam, stated. "I do believe I am just going to walk 'er home, and go straight to bed."
" I doubt if I will ever understand you m'boy." Jim drawled, sounding almost disappointed. " And just how do you mean?" Liam asked.
"Well, you come in here every damn night, so long as you aren't sick, band mates or not, and play your heart out." said Jim. " And each and every time, everyone goes completely off the wall for your music!".
"This is true yes, but I hardly see what your getting at." Liam stated inquisitively.
" Oh now come on! You and I both know you don't do anything else. You come here, you play, you get paid, and go home. You need to get out there and interact with people! Go see the world, instead of being cooped up in that tiny apartment of yours." Jim said dejectedly.
At this Liam went silent with a look of despair on his face. "You and I both know there isn't a damn thing, or soul out there worth seeing." Jim simply looked down at his hands, which were now splayed across the surface of the bar. " You realize someday you will have to move on, and get out to see the world. If you don't it will come knocking on your door, surely." Jim said in a sage like manner. "Furthermore, if you don't think there is anyone else other than my wrinkled old face worth seeing, then why do you always push yourself so hard to do so much better?" Jim said rather crudely before noticing the errors of his ways. Before he could even speak to apologize, or make a change of topic Liam had already looked dead at him with an almost lonely look.
"I do it for her." With that, Liam stood from his spot at the bar, said a faint goodbye, and walked out with his equipment.
Jim simply stared after him for a moment with a ranged look of emotions spread across his face, before shouting "Last call!".
~
Liam walked the streets of Fredericton, with a look of deep quizzical thought splayed across his face. He had his guitar case holding his precious instrument in one hand, and a rather lavish velvet bag that held his microphone and stand in the other. He walked, and he walked. Eventually falling upon his apartments front step where he sat, and pulled out a pack of cigarettes appearing worse for wear. He popped it open revealing one single stick of white and brown to amuse himself with. "Tch, figures as much. Guess I'll have to buy more when I wake up. Oh how I hate waking up." He announced to no one in particular.
As he sat enjoying the last of his cigarettes, he contemplated amongst himself as to what Jim had said before he left. Why was he going so far to prove his worth to others? He already knew he was a well accomplished artist as it were, and could easily apply himself to a lavish college lifestyle. One where he could branch out and learn how to apply his talents to better his life. Yet here he was. Stuck in his dead end rut of a life.
Yet in the midst of it all, there was this tiny part of him that just didn't care for that, this part of him that didn’t approve of where his life had led him. He sighed heavily and went to take a final drag off his smoke only to realize the cherry was already down to the butt, close enough to burn his lips. He coughed and sputtered in distaste. He jumped up quickly and grabbed his equipment, proceeding into his apartment. Once having made it inside, Liam set his equipment of choice for the evening down next to the front door. He threw himself onto his bed, without so much as changing, as he so often did and promptly passed out after only a few minutes.
As Liam slept soundly through the night, unbenounced to him he received a text message from his sister Natalie shortly after passing out. It read; ‘Hey, its Natalie. I don't know if you still have my number or not, but I am hoping you reply to this.’.
~
A stirring. The fundamental spark of awareness shot into Liam's head, with a nasty vengeance.
“I feel like shit today." Liam groaned in obvious distaste as he rolled over to his left side to inspect the alarm clock to see what time of day it was. "11:30am? What the hell am I doing up this early?". After a moments hesitation, the burn on Liam's lips, reminded him he had to get up to make it to the corner store for more cigarettes. He stumbled somberly from his bed, and made a beeline straight for the bathroom. Wasting no time he stripped down and hopped into the shower, spending more time leaning against the the wall than actually washing. After a few minutes of rubbing himself clean, he jumped out, dried off, proceeded to half-ass his 'look for the day', and lock the door behind him on the way out.
The city was just as busy as it had ever been. The hustle and bustle of everyday life was complemented by the bright sunny and amazingly beautiful day, it all went unnoticed by Liam however as he made his way lazily to the corner store in search of his prize. He passed all sorts of people, businessmen, and buskers alike, all fighting at the proverbial carrot while trying to put bread on the table.
He could compare his strife to the occasional busker, as from time to time, he could recall a time and place where he was on the streets playing for a few measly bits of cash to pay for his next meal. He was actually quite happy, not to mention proud of himself, for finding a suitable stable lifestyle to live by. It might not be a lavish living, but he knew it was something, to say the least, and he often ‘enjoyed’ it. Or for what he considered to be enjoyment. More a sense of contentment than anything else.
As he continued on his way he could clearly see his goal in sight now, as he turned the last corner to his destination, while he approached the little corner store he was contemplating to himself how he should address the clerk inside. Perhaps a simple "Hey" with his preferred choice of smokes, or maybe make a conscious effort at small talk. However, using the cliché "How's the weather?" or such, wasn't exactly what he considered a commendable conversational topic.
When he entered the store a small ding went off to inform the stores occupants of his arrival. From behind the counter he seen a small Korean woman popped up from whatever she was doing to address him. He recognized her, as usual, it was her manning the till, or so to speak anyways. Her name was June, at least thats how Liam believes it to be spelled, and pronounced. There is certainly a mild language barrier, but that never once stopped them from having a cheerful conversation, even if a short one.
"Oh! Hello Mister Liam! Its so good to see you again, its like you have been good, yes?"
Liam could only give a light chuckle and half ass smirk at her effort of communications, but that didn't mean he didn't appreciate it by any means. "Hello, June. Yes, thank you, I have been good as of late I suppose. Well, other than burning my lip last night that is." At this June got a rather concerned look across her face. She was like that, y'know? Always caring on others behalf, and showing great interest in others lives. Liam appreciated this. It was nice.
"Oh no! How did you manage to that Mister Liam? Are you ok?". Once again, Liam could only chuckle at her intent. "No, no I'm fine honestly. I just burnt it last night on a cigarette. I wasn't paying close enough attention and I let the cherry get too close to my mouth is all." Liam stated simply enough. "Oh? What is cherry?" June asked inquisitively. Remember that small language barrier? Yeah, the small things. "Uhm, the red part of the smoke, the hot part y'know?" Liam did his best to explain through layman's terms, along with some incomprehensible hand movements which he was trying to dictate as the end of the cigarette. "Oh, Oh yes, yes. Ok I understand now. I suppose that is why you're here today then isn't it?" June inquired.
"To burn my lips?" Liam asked jokingly. June laughed a hearty chuckle, and Liam was simply thankful that she understood his joke. He recalled trying it once before only to deeply confuse the poor woman. "No, silly, I mean to buy more of the smokes!" She chuckled again. "Yeah, thats it. I would like the usual Number Sevens Red, but two packs today. I got another gig tonight, and I would like to be well prepared for the worst, or the best case scenario." Liam said. "So two packs? Those are still king size right?" June asked simply.
A few more words were shared between the two before a man came in behind Liam, and he took note that he would be holding up the man from whatever priorities he may have. So he said a simple goodbye, grabbed his packs of smokes and left off to his home.. 'Home..' Liam, thought to himself. "Yeah.. Sure.". Liam traversed his steps back to his front step easily enough, where he opened up one of his packs, and viciously stuffed its wrappers and foil packaging into the complexes "Butt Stop", as they are so crudely entitled.
He assumed his usual sitting position on the middle of the three steps and continued to light a cigarette. As Liam sat there, enjoying the fruit of his labour, he contemplated as to what exactly he would be playing tonight at the pub. He had decided upon himself to bring his acoustic, versus having to carry his mic, electric guitar, and amp as the rest of his bandmates had other engagements to attend to in their own lives. Sure he could cab it like any sensible person would, but he liked the walk. The crisp city air he'd inhale as he made his way to the pub, just as the sun starts to set. It was nice to him, something, if not one of the very few things he enjoyed these days full heartedly.
After finishing his cigarette, Liam walked back into his apartment to collect his thoughts, and to make a sort of game-plan for the evening to come.
"Alright, then.. Let's see here. I suppose I could always do my cover of 'ain't no rest for the wicked', so I will have to make sure I got my slide with me". Liam walked over to his guitar case where his acoustic laid dormant inside, awaiting someone to let loose beautiful music upon its chords. He effortlessly flipped open its latches and checked the inner compartment after removing his guitar, and gently laying it on his bed.
"Alright, got my slide, my tuner, and a few extra pics, just incase. Hmm, I suppose thats all I will really need. Oh!" Liam stated to the emptiness of his apartment, "Almost forgot my capo, just incase!". He sounded almost enthusiastic about it. Liam, couldn't quite place a reason behind it, but he had the intense comprehension that tonight was going to be unlike any other he had experienced. How right he was.
Liam double checked his belongings that he was bringing along for the night, Iphone with his charger, his wallet, keys, guitar and all its needed accessories for the evening, and he had also decided to sport his fake glasses with his ensemble for the evening. He was wearing an older pair of dress pants from Volcom, sporting a Eastside muscle shirt he got from the first city he had ever moved to. Along with that his glasses, and a metal wrist cuff he had bought a while ago online. After double checking everything and grabbing his packs of cigarettes, and zippo he was off, locking his apartment and heading off to the old pub he saw as a second home.
~
There ain't no rest for the wicked
Money don't grow on trees
I got bills to pay
I got a mouth to feed
Ain't nothing in this world for free
No I can't slow down
I can't hold back
Though you know I wish I could
Oh no there ain't no rest for the wicked
Until we close our eyes for good.
The crowd let loose a mighty roar that honestly took our protagonist by complete surprise. He gave a happy grin to the audience while scratching the back of his head "Thank you all! And goodnight!", the crowd gave another round of applause in acknowledgement, and a few choice members of the audience let out a few cheerful cries and whistles. Liam stood from the bar stool he was perched on, on stage, and continued to pack up his guitar and microphone. He gathered his belongings and headed towards the bar to chat with Jim, who was looking at Liam with a big goofy grin made up of one part enthusiasm, and two parts impression.
"Liam my friend, you never cease to amaze me or the crowd. That was a hell of a show tonight. I don't think I've seen you so eager to play in months, ha!" Jim let out a hearty laugh after his praise, which led Liam to blush faintly.
"Well thank ya kindly. I don't really know why, but I am very excited for some reason tonight." Liam stated with a nonchalant manner, raising an eyebrow from Jim. "Oh yeah, I can really tell from that!" Jim let go another bellow of a laugh which made him seem like a full on stereotypical Russian. At that thought Liam couldn't help but have a laugh. "What's so funny?" Jim said with another infamous raised brow. "Oh nothing, I just like playing Black Ops too much for my own good I suppose.". Jim looked to Liam in a perplexed way,"What is Black Ops?", at that question Liam laughed even harder, and proposed a rather new idea given his standard reputation at the bar scene. "How about a drink?", Jim stood for a second seemingly dazed and confused before laughing out yet again. It would seem as if he was quite well enjoying this evening as much as Liam was. "Thats my boy!"
The cheerful banter between the two of them went on like this for a while longer before Liam started to get tired (be it from exhaustion or his ninth Keiths), and turned to the wall clock above an assorted wall of liquors. "Oh wow. Its already that late?", Jim looked over his shoulder to read that the clock was positioned for 1:53 am. "Aye. I suppose it is, isn't it? Perhaps you best be off home to get a good nights rest before coming back tomorrow, eh?" Jim grinned at Liam who replied simply with "Yeah, if I will be able to manage getting out of bed tomorrow."
Jim laughed as Liam stood and fumbled around a bit trying to pick up his guitar and mic, whilst at the same time trying to get a smoke in his mouth for the short walk home. "Well you take care of yourself friend, don't walk down any dark alleys, and make sure to drink water before you sleep." Liam gave a grunt and nod of acknowledgement and stumbled out of the pub, as Jim laughed after him.
"I really don't drink often. But it was nice. I mean, I did spend most of tonight's pay on beer, but hey. I had fun right? I wonder where beer comes from.. Like.. is there a huge beer pool somewhere, that segregates to different flavours the deeper you go? In that case the deeper you go, does that make the beer better?" This, and other such nonsense filled Liam's head as he was fast approaching his apartment, save for the yard light above the entryway, there is a good chance he would have just kept on walking till it was too late. As he stumbled to his apartment door, he let slip a few choice words and finally managed to unlock it.
Checking his phone he seen it was twelve after two in the morning, "Ugh, I feel exhausted~" Liam chimed out in a sing song voice. He set his microphone and stand down by the door and stumbled over to his bed guitar case still in hand, feeling rather faint he promptly collapsed on his mattress. As he laid there motionless, it seemed that the room was spinning around at high velocity. It almost felt like the room was really swirling around.. As a matter of fact Liam could've sworn he felt wind rushing through his hair, just before his drunken mind slowly faded from existence and he promptly passed out.
