A/N – Just wanted to let everyone know, this is a collection of song-fics, so each chapter will be a new piece that is completely unrelated to the last, unless otherwise mentioned. This is sort of a different setting for a song-fic… but it's what I had in mind, so enjoy.
Tonight was the big night: The Sludge's first ever public performance. All five of the girls were psyched, but Ryan, the bass guitarist was the most excited. Not only was this her time to make herself known to the portion of her small college's student population that showed up as an accomplished musician, but it was also going to be her chance to really get the attention of the guy she had been trying so hard to impress the whole year: James.
The show was in one of the multiple conference rooms on campus that people often held small concerts and dances in. The band was backstage listening to the underlying hum of the crowd getting louder and louder as show time progressively got closer.
"Well, this is it," Emma, the guitarist, said.
"It's now or never," Michelle, the keyboard player, agreed.
"Right. Let's hit the stage and get this one under our belts," Ryan said checking to make sure her bass was tuned for the third time.
They walked out on stage to an amazing crowd; the place was packed! Ryan turned towards the drummer, Sam, and mouthed "wow" in her direction. Seconds later, drumsticks were being smacked together to count off. The Sludge had begun their musical career.
Please just don't play with meMy paper heart will bleed
This wait for destiny won't do
Be with me, please…
I beseech you
Simple things that make you run away…
Catch you if I can
Searching through the crowd while belting out the words with her entire heart, Ryan found James over towards the side of the room by himself. She flipped her currently green hair out of her eyes and winked at him. He smiled. It was the same smile he gave her the day they first met.
Tears fall down your faceThe taste is something new
Something that I know…
Moving on is easiest when I am around you
Ryan had been in an incredibly serious relationship that ended abruptly during the summer between her senior year of high school and her freshman year of college. Her siblings were both at a summer camp that she had gone to for as long as she could remember, but had been too old to attend that year. Not only was she upset about that, but she also had no one at home to get her mind off of things that were bringing her down.
After crying for almost twenty-four hours straight, Ryan's parents made arrangements for her to attend the camp under the pretense that they needed extra help running a few things. Ryan was thrilled and set off that night.
The next day, Ryan attended all of the activities and was back to herself, having pushed her ex out of her mind. Late that afternoon, she met James. She was bouncing around excitedly and spreading enthusiasm and he was leaning against a wall, hidden in shadows, and smiling at her actions.
So bottle up old loveAnd throw it out to sea
Watch it away as you cry
Now a year has passed…
The seasons go…
Ever since that day, almost a year ago now, James and Ryan had been great friends. The bond was immediate and Ryan just simply wanted more out of their relationship now.
Please just don't play with meMy paper heart will bleed
This wait for destiny won't do
Be with me, please…
I beseech you
Simple things that make you run away…
Catch you if I can
There wasn't a lack of boys she could be with, either, since she had gone to a few frat parties through the year. Her loud and crazy personality never failed to attract friends left and right. She had gone out with a small number of them, but most only lasted one night. Patrick, however, always took Ryan out on Friday nights for nearly all of first semester. That stopped abruptly after one night in Patrick's car when things started getting a little heavy and leading to other things. The next morning, Patrick decided that it was time to let Ryan in on a little secret, he had a girlfriend back home and had said girlfriend this entire time.
Ryan looked out into the audience again and saw Pat having a great time, near the front of the crowd. Ryan smiled at him so he knew she appreciated it; they were still friends, after all.
After that occurrence with Patrick, Ryan decided that she wanted something real again, someone she could count on to be there for something more than dinner, movies, and making out on a Friday night. Someone she wouldn't feel weird just sitting around and enjoying nice weather with; someone she could do homework with, even if it was for completely different classes; someone she could call when she was bored, just to say "I miss you."
Waiting day to day it goes throughMy lips are sealed for him
My tongue is tied to a dream…
Of Being with you
To settle for less is not what I prefer…
To that day, Ryan had yet to crack James, to show him what she could do, and would do, for him, but just when she thought she was starting to get somewhere… she dyed her hair green and James started to shy away. That was almost three weeks ago and Ryan was starting to get disheartened. Things had been getting better and better for more than a month, but then… they just stopped abruptly and started going in reverse. Ryan was on her way to giving up when she decided on her band's set list for that night's show.
So bottle up old love
And throw it out to sea
Watch it away as you cry
Now a year has passed…
The seasons go…
My paper heart will bleed
This wait for destiny won't do
Be with me, please…
I beseech you
Simple things that make you run away…
Catch you if I can
No one noticed the lyrics of the songs the band was playing, however. At least, they didn't act like they did. Ryan hoped that maybe James would since they were all sad songs directed towards him. Every song except the very last one they played, however, was up-tempo and hid the meaning well, but the last song was obvious. James wasn't there for that song; he snuck out early to 'beat the rush.'
Ryan noticed and kicked herself mentally for not putting the most important song earlier in the program. She had to fight not to cry after she realized that she didn't even mean enough to him to stay through something that meant everything to her, when she'd give the world to him if she only could.
Summertime, the nights are so long
The leaves fall down…
And so do I to the arms of a friend
Winter nights…
My bedside is cold, for I am gone
And spring blossoms you to me
Summertime, the nights are so long
The leaves fall down…
And so do I to the arms of a friend
Winter nights…
My bedside is cold, for I am gone
And spring blossoms you…
To me…
Lyrics to Paper Heart by – The All-American Rejects
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