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Unspoken Change
Back to: Sweet Distraction Next: A Better Sound : Part I
Unspoken Change


There was always something just so calming about music. Orion was playing guitar, trying out Nick’s part of the music they were going to play for Battle of the Bands before practice. It was an original song he had written, the one with a unique drum solo that Cypress had practically mastered not even a minute after seeing the sheet music for.

It was unavoidable to think of Cypress; his drummer had been a constant thought on Orion’s mind ever since he saw the bizarre sight of his best friend out on a date. Not bizarre in the fact that Cypress could get a date; Orion was positive Cypress could have if he wanted – he was catch, and his admirers were not in short supply. It was just bizarre to Orion because Cypress had never given one inkling that he was interested in anyone enough to go out on a date.


Knocking sounds interrupted his flow of thought and rhythm. He set the guitar down and followed the sound until it lead him to the front door where he saw Cypress waiting to be let in. That was curious. Cypress was earlier than usual.

Orion opened the door and greeted him but it was apparent there was something very much changed between them by the thick awkward silence as Cypress played with his hair, seeming to look for something to say.

“You’re early,” Orion finally noted just to break it.

“Yeah, I figured I’d come so I could…” Cypress started, pushing his hair out of his eyes, “Tell you I’m sorry for blowing you off at the Starboard Lounge.”

Orion raised his brows, not expecting that admission. Not from the way Cypress had been acting all week.

“You see, I was on a date and…”


Orion clasped his hands together, raised them and interrupted, “I’m going to stop you there. Look, it’s clear you’ve been avoiding me and I’m sorry I made it weird between us, okay?”

Cypress visibly tensed.


“So…let’s just…go back to how we were before,” Orion said this, thinking about how incomplete he felt when Cypress kept making lame excuses to avoid hanging out.

Cypress actually seemed relieved and tucked a piece of hair behind his ear, “Yeah, I think that’d be great.”

It was a step in the right direction to repair whatever had happened between them. Cypress looked him in the eye and smiled. Orion’s gut twisted in frustration because he knew he felt something more for Cypress, even now, but to do anything about it–admit it or act on it–would be the end of their friendship. Was he to live in this kind of emotional torture until he went mad or could he convince himself not to feel?

Orion turned his back to hide his internal dilemma from Cypress.



That’s when Nick sauntered through the front door, for once, on time for practice and pointed at them accusingly, “You give me grief for always being late but you’re just standing around!”

Orion and Cypress turned to look at him. He was carrying his guitar case over his shoulder which was a little odd considering they were at Orion’s house for practice this time and Nick had his fair pick of guitars to play. Yet he brought his own.



They hooked up some amps to their instruments and practiced their song in the estate’s music room. Orion even sang this time. He had a pretty good voice and the lyrics were decent.

Orion also had made a few adjustments on guitar riffs after trying Nick’s part and so Nick changed his playing accordingly but not without some disgruntled mumbles. Orion was their leader, the most knowledgeable of the instruments, and the most talented at writing music so whatever Orion deemed necessary the rest of the band went with him on those decisions.

“I have to go a bit early,” Nick unstrapped his guitar when it became dusk and started packing it away, smiling mischievously, “Have things to do.”



“What do you mean?” Orion asked a bit alarmed, “The competition is this weekend, we need all the practice time we can get! Especially since you've missed so much!”

“Don’t sweat it, bro. We’ve got this,” Nick assured.

Cypress took a stand, “Don’t be going and getting in trouble again. We can’t afford to have you grounded for another week!”

Nick smirked, seemingly amused that his cousin was for once, taking this competition seriously.

“Like I said, don’t worry about it. See you guys later,” he stuffed his hands in his pockets and saw himself out, leaving Orion and Cypress behind. They looked at each other with expressions of wonder of what 'things' Nick had to do that were more important than practicing for the competition.


“I guess if worst comes to worst and Nick can’t play - we can carry it. I’ll just switch to his part and leave out the bass. The White Stripes did it,” Orion decided with a thoughtful frown after they had watched Nick leave.

Orion moved toward the kitchen and Cypress followed.

“Want anything to drink?”

“Nah, I’m good.” Cypress shook his head, and then asked “Hey, did you get any new albums?”

“Yeah the new Glass Animals album,” Orion smiled, pouring himself a cup of water. He drank it, his throat had gotten a little raspy from singing during practice.

“So…want to listen to it?”

Sharing new music was an old pastime of theirs. They’d usually throw a record on Orion’s player and appreciate the different genres ever since Orion dragged out his father’s old vinyl collection from the attic when they were kids. They’d often talk about how to incorporate styles into their own music.


Orion slowly stopped drinking and set his glass down. The last time they listened to music together it ended badly. Cypress’s presence was too distracting and as much as Orion would have loved to go back to the way they were before, it was seeming more and more like it wasn’t going to happen no matter how much they pretended it was the same.

He crossed his arms and responded in a tired voice, “Not tonight, I’m not feeling it.”


Cypress’s hopeful expression crashed into disappointment. He brushed some of his hair from his neck and said softly, “Oh, okay.”

“Maybe next time?” Orion shrugged one shoulder.

“Yeah, maybe,” Cypress sighed, “I'd better go then.”

When Orion heard the front door slam closed, his chest buckled and threw his hands over his eyes, trying to keep the despair from spilling out of him.

Click Next: A Better Sound : Part I to continue...

 
Back to: Sweet Distraction Next: A Better Sound : Part I
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