With or Without You

**A/n: I don't own the song; that belongs to U2; wish I did though ;) If you're cool you'll R/R :p**

The boy's face was covered by the creeping shadows. The dim light revealed the outline of a dark guitar in his hand, also overshadowed by his hanging head. The small room reeked of teenage testosterone and sweat. The group of mottled young men and women surrounded him silently. The boy's dark head lifted and the muted light glinted off of a speck at the corner of his eye. He clutched the wood in one hand and the pick in the other. Then he began.

See the stone set in your eyes
See the thorn twist in your side
I wait for you
Sleight of hand and twist of fate
On a bed of nails she makes me wait
And I wait... without you

He began quietly; his melodious voice piercing the dark gently. The guitar sang beneath his calloused fingertips and the two breathed in unison. The quiet crowd watched with curiosity as the boy sighed deeply, the guitar sighing with him. They stared in awe as his dark brow furrowed and the wood in the boy's hands hummed louder, more viciously. The song continued.

With or without you

With or without you

Now his voice was more desperate; it struck at the darkness with resentment. The boy's dark, deep eyes closed and lifted his head to the ceiling, tainted by the dark. The crowd shivered in unison in anticipation. They could feel the vigor pour from his sweating brow and wash over them all.

Through the storm we reach the shore
You give it all but I want more
And I'm waiting for you

The teenager attacked the guitar with all his emotion. Rocking back and forth, he began the chorus again.

With or without you

With or without you

I can't live

With or without you

The group caught their breath as they felt their souls join his cries. His voice caught on the last line and looked down at his pitifully untied shoelaces in regret. He could not see, feel, or hear anyone else around him; he was alone inside his churning mind.

And you give yourself away

And you give yourself away

And you give

And you give

And you give yourself away

He screamed the verse to himself, still unaware of his small audience. His eyes opened slowly, the hint of tears glistened around the corners. He caught the dark eyes of another and held them.

My hands are tied

My body bruised, she's got me with

Nothing to win

And nothing left to lose

The teenagers stared in awe at the boy. He wailed the words that they wanted to scream, but never had the chance. He spoke of a hopeless love, which they all felt tear at their hearts. He ripped their souls to shreds and sorted them out mercilessly, but they found themselves wanting more. They wanted him to sing forever. He broke away from the child's gaze to glance at the writhing wood he held. Then, one last time, he threw back his head and screamed.

With or without you

With or without you

I can't live

I can't live

I can't live

His voice quieted and he left the guitar to sing by itself. He strummed it gradually softer until only the soft twanging of the strings disturbed the tender quiet. The crowd dared not to breath. They could feel the magic begin to slip as the guitar quieted and begged it not to leave…but it was too late. The dim light glimmered once more in the boy's dark eyes.

With or without you