For What It's Worth..

“Oh. Mia. Mia, stop it! You're going to ruin my masterpiece. Mia, no!”

“ELIZABETH.”

I slowly opened my eyes. They felt heavy with sleep, but I still felt refreshed and well rested. Stretching out my numb limbs, I felt my muscles stretch in protest, then I sighed when I felt a surge of energy to get up and move about after relaxing them again. Looking around my surroundings, I noticed I was Jenny's bedroom. Hm, how did I.. my thought process was cut off, when I heard Jen shout.

“Damnit Mia! That is it! I’m going to go fuck up your maze!” followed by uncontrollable laughter. I swallowed, noting to myself that my throat was still pretty sore. Getting up, I walked out too the bathroom. Quickly using the facilities, I made my way to the kitchen too see if there was any leftovers from the night before. Sadden by the fact that there was not. I poured some tea from the kettle Jen must have made recently, by the fact of how much steam blew in my face as it hit the cup. I grabbed a plateful of fruit that was in the fridge and went over to sit on the couch.

Jen was sitting on her leather chair with her Turtle Beach headset in. I looked at the screen. Oh. She was playing Minecraft with her friend. She looked over at me. “Hey, how you doing?” I flattened my hand and shook it; so so. “Did you take some Advil or something?”

“I will.” She nodded approvingly. I heard a small voice from the headset. “Whose that?” I heard faintly.

“My friend Chris -” she paused and looked at me, as if waiting for approval too say my last name. I looked at her like she grew two heads. “I don’t care.” I shrugged my shoulders. She pursed her lips.

“Chris Motionless.” I could see her eyes look over at me. “No, I’m not lying...I’m serious...You….you shut up…” She trailed off. Her mouth gaping. I raised my eyebrow. This conversation just got interesting. She looked over at me exasperatedly, narrowing her eyes when she noticed the smirk on my face. “You shut up to.” She waved her arm at me.

“I didn't say a word.” Taking a sip of tea. Mmmm, English Breakfast tea. That feels so good on my sore throat.

She sighed, and unplugged her headset. I heard loud and obnoxious laughter come from the tv. Still looking at me, she blew out a breath. “This is going to go on for awhile. Might as well make myself a sandwich.” She got up, stopping quickly too check my temperature. She smiled lightly. “Your fever has finally gone down.”

“Whose fever has gone down?” A loud booming voice came over the TV.
“I got kinect as well. I was just wearing the headset so I didn't bother you.” She looked upset. “Although, it looks like I woke you up anyway.” I shook my head. “Nah, I needed to get up anyway. I am feeling much better now.” She was inches away from my face, trying to keep our conversation quiet.

“Fine then. Be that way.” the girl called Mia chided over the TV.

She looked over and practically shouted. “Oh shut up, you.” I heard a bunch of incoherent gibberish come over the Tv. I looked over to Jenny, to see that she was already putting her sandwich together.

I ate a few pieces of fruit, trying not to stare at the TV with the loud weird noises. “Is she always like this?” I had to ask. Jen turned towards me with her mouthful of cucumber sandwich. She held a finger up too tell me too wait.

I looked back at the TV, as more random noises came from it. “Yes, shes always like this.”

“I resent that!” Mia hollered. “No, you don’t.” Jen replied, exasperated.

“Wait. Your talking too me through Kinect aren't you?”

I could see dread come across her face. “Yes..” She said slowly. “SO, your friend Chris is there right? Can he talk?”

“Oh for godsake, of course he can talk. He does sing for crying out loud.”

I couldn't help but chuckle. Sipping some more tea. “So, that means he can hear me, right?” I glanced over to see a look of pure horror on her face. I set my cup on the coffee table. “I’m getting very interested in this conversation.”

“Good. Because I have so much to tell you. I-”

“Shut it!” Jenny dropped her sandwich on the counter and ran over to the controller and headset. Oh no you don’t. I jumped out of the couch and pounced on the controller. I felt Jenny’s arms come around me, too try too get the controller out of my hands. I put my hand straight up in the air, knowing it will deter her for a moment, knowing that I’m just a little taller than her.

She came around my front and tried jumping for it. “You sonofa-.”

I grinned and stepped back, not realizing the chair was right behind me. My heel cracked against it and I fell backwards. Jenny was holding onto me for support too try and reach the controller, came barreling on top of me.

“Shitshitshitshit.”

We collapsed onto the chair, a tangle of limbs. We lay still for a moment, trying to get our senses about us. Apparently Jenny regained hers faster, and climbed to sit on top of me. I felt her legs squeeze mine together, too keep me from moving. I looked up, slightly disoriented, trying to stretch my hand out in different directions too keep from Jenny get it. She grabbed my forearms and put them over my head. I looked up, to see swirling forest green and partly golden yellow eyes glaring down at me.

God damn, her eyes are beautiful. I almost forgot how to breathe. I heard Jen’s breath catch when I stared back into those beautiful eyes. I quickly glanced at her lips, a nice rose pink; and I realized how badly I wanted to kiss those lips. I closed my eyes. Just breath. I encouraged myself. I felt her hand on mine and the controller. I let her take it. Opening my eyes again, I saw intense, raw unfiltered emotion running through Jenny’s eyes. It made my heart want to leap out of my chest.

“Um, Jenny are you still there? I was only joking.” Mia had broken the spell between us. Jenny let go of my arms and crawled off of me. I got up and went back to the couch. She put her headset back on. She turned to me. “Sorry about that.” She looked extremely upset. I looked at her and shook my head. “No, I’m sorry.”

I don’t think either of us know what we’re apologizing for.




Later that day, I checked my phone too see if I have any missed messages. Two from Ricky and one from Ryan. I looked at the ones from Ricky.

R; Well, I still think you should tell her.

R; Hey, you still conscious?

R; Hey man, so in a week or so’s time, we've been asked to do a show here in Scranton. You up 4 it?

A show, huh? Sounds just like the thing I need. I thought to myself. I looked over at Jen, whose was cooking dinner. I should invite her. She mentioned not being able to come see me and the guys live before. I quickly texted Ryan back too send me the details. I looked back at Jen, she was stirring up some salad, I couldn't tell what of. But it smelled good. So did the chicken she had in the oven. I put my elbows on the island in front of me, getting comfortable. She turned towards me. “So, how did your songwriting go earlier?”

“It’s going very well. I’m really liking the lyrics. Now we just got too get together and get some sound for it.” My phone buzzed, I glanced at it.

R; No specific time and date yet. But its around the middle of October, we’re hoping. Already asked everyone else. They’re all for it. So how about it?

I texted back. Sounds good too me. Also I have some new songs I wanted to go over with you guys anyway.

“I can’t wait to hear it when it comes out.” I could hear the smile on Jennys face. She grabbed the chicken out of the oven. “Mmm, that smells great.”

“BBQ chicken and broccoli salad. Hope you’re hungry.”

I nodded. “Starving, actually.”

“It’s probably a good thing you still have an appetite considering you looked like crap last night and this morning.” She handed me a plate with a chicken leg and some slices of white meat, along with a spoonful of salad.

“So.” I said before I dug in. She glanced at me, skepticism written all over her face. “So?” She questioned back.

“Would you possibly like to come too one of our concerts here in October?” I stared down at my food. God that sounded better in my head.

“Um, sure?” I heard a question in her tone. And most likely confusion. I looked up her, her expression suddenly blank. She sat down at her seat across from me. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but then stopped and shut it again.

There was a long uncomfortable pause. I could hear a clock ticking somewhere in the flat. My phone vibrated, and I glanced back down too hopefully break away from this sudden awkward moment.

“Chris.” I looked up too see her glancing over to the window by the fridge. She sounded cautious. Guarded. “I, um.” She trailed off. I could feel my heart sink too my stomach. She looked at me. “Are you sure you want to invite me? I mean, I know you know that I’m a huge fan of yours and I maybe talk too much about your music, and maybe you feel pressured to invite me.” She let out a breath, and continued. “I mean like,” trailing off. “Damn, I wish I knew what I meant.”

My felt my heart pound in some sort of relief. “No, no I actually just really want you too come and enjoy yourself, and there's probably more bands there than just us. So, please? It would be fucking awesome if you came and hung out with me and the guys after the show to.”

God, I feel so vain. “Sorry, if I sound vain.”

“No, it’s okay.” She smiled lightly. I looked at her, feeling my heart sink again with the words I was going to say. “You are my friend after all, well more like one of my best friends now. And it would mean a lot if you came too the show.”

Her eyes widened in response. “R-really?” I could see her jaw slack, like she lost all of her words. “Well, I. I’m glad.” She beamed at me.

I was about to scoop a fork full of salad when Jenny asked. “Would you like too listen too the radio?” I shrugged slightly, “Sure.”

She clicked it on and I heard Stone Sour come on. We talked lightly over dinner. Discussing, well anything that came up.

Finishing up, I took our plates and started doing the dishes, even after Jen protested. I stuck my tongue out at her. “I’m washing them. Get over it.” She flicked my shoulder. “Ow!” She laughed and walked over to her bookshelf. I turned my attention back to the dishes. I heard Never Too Late by Three Days Grace come on the radio. Without giving it much thought, I started to sing softly along with it.

“Even if I say it’ll be alright, still I hear you say you want to end your life. Now and again we try too just stay alive, maybe we’ll turn it all around. Cause it’s not too late, it’s never too late.” I tested my voice. Seeming too feel stronger, I tried more.

“No one will ever see, this side reflected. And if there's something wrong, who would've guessed it. And I have left alone, everything that I own.”

I gently placed another dish on the drying rack. "To make you feel like, it’s not too late; it’s never too late.” I sang the last part softly. I heard a something fall behind me. Looking behind me, I noticed Jenny had dropped a couple books on the floor.

“Shit.” I heard her mumble as she picked the books back up, putting them in their proper places. I could of swore I heard her voice break slightly when she said that. I hope I didn't say anything wrong earlier.

“Hey, are you-”

Notes