A cerulean river rushed beside him, churning wildly before falling from the bluff and crashing into the lake beneath erupting into a cascade of white, releasing a constant deafening roar. Hands buried in his pockets Nero stood at the edge kicking in a pebble; watching it follow the same path he would in a few moments. As his foot pressed down onto the outstretched ground, letting his toes gently lay atop air, he thought how unrealistic things had gotten.
And all for a pretty face.
Nero let himself chuckle at that. But the humor left him with one single thought. That he was about to jump from this cliff into the roaring beast of a current, its jagged grey fangs sticking out from its foaming maw. Its nothing special, just a bunch of rocks and water, he reminded himself growing irritated that his emotions chose to show themselves now.
Just like sky-diving, he told himself before leaning his weight forward. Eyes open he casted himself off the peak. Air rushed past him, going everywhere but his lungs. His black hair waved about as if flame. Everything seemed to be happening quicker than he imagined though. It only felt like instants before the white flume rose up to meet him.
Panic filled his chest, squashing his pounding heart. his mind shreiked.
Nero's eyes snapped shut and for a moment he felt the cold spray of the water.
Air rushed into his lungs and fabric clung to him as he sat up quickly, raising his hands to his face. Nothing wet but the layer of his own perspiration. Nero cursed under his breath, sliding his legs to the side of his bed and yanking away the black bed sheet sticking to his bare chest. Again Nero swore as he stood up peeling his eyes open. They clamped shut again, stunned by the brilliance bursting from the open window.
Today is damn set on fighting me, he snarled silently; yanking the beaded cord beside the glass panels. Eyes still cautiously pulled into slits he stumbled through the choking darkness of his room to the glass closet doors yanking them aside for his clothing. An odd assortment of skinny jeans, trip pants, tight tees inscribed with his favorite rock bands, and girl’s hoodies stared back at him awaiting his divine decree. Moments passed by without any outfits jumping out at him.
Then a minute.
Another.
Then another. Nero just stood there attired in his silver and black checkered boxers staring into the closet blankly.
All of them seemed bland and fasionless today. For a reason he couldn’t understand his favorite pair of baggy trip pants seemed to frustrate him, the sapphire colored strips of fabric agitating him. Reaching his limit he yanked them down, snapping the hanger and let them fall to the floor. Cursing them he dug his heel into a leg while pulling a pair of black jeans off a hanger and swinging a hoodie that was small on him over his shoulder.
His emerald eyes drifted to the baige carpet as he trekked thoughtlessly through a hallway turning into the vividly colored bathroom, deep blue tiles faintly reflective. Nero swore only out of boredom and his hatred for silence as he slammed the door and jabbed at his speaker system with a bony finger jousting in the play button.
Stripping off his bit of clothing while the song began blaring he stepped towards the shower pushing aside the curtain. Still plagued by his reasonless annoyance he yanked the shower knob so a light massage of warm water would caress his back, still clammy from his cold sweat. For moments he stood with his hands wrapped in his hair rocking his head from side to side with the beat singing along. Then he reached for the conditioner and lost his need to sing.
Anger ignited again. He snatched it from a row of soaps letting enough for a small puddle fill his hand. Nero gazed blankly at the small pool of gel like fluid before working it into his scalp trying to get the feel for the newest beat.
Twenty minutes of an odd mixture involving singing and conditioning later; Nero found himself standing in front a mirror. His hair in long black tendrils reaching his bottom lip. After clicking the next button a number of times to avoid songs with any lyrical merit he clicked the hair iron’s on button tapping his foot impationatly. Watching the little red light blink. Cursing again he skipped the next song remembering it said the word “waterfall”. Last thing I want to hear, song isn’t even that good. Nero tried to convince himself he wasn’t lying while he pulled at the marble covered drawer under his sink.
Nero went through a daily regiment of brushing his teeth, straightening his hair, taking about forty minutes to style it, and stopping to grin at the attractive figure smirking at him in the mirror before journying out the door skateboard in hand. Just as he made his get away from the apartment complex this day he heard a farmilliar voice call his name.
With a sigh the boy about-faced and put on the shy smile he was known for. The tall busty strawberry blonde woman stood beside him introducing him to a girl about his age of petite size. At least he thought she was introducing him, everything was a dull muted blur. Instead of hearing words of any sort he glared through the corner of his eyes at the deep indigo of the girl’s. She stood with one arm holding the other over her stomach with her gaze to the floor. Something is so farmilliar about her, Nero pondered for a few moments before realizing that what was so farmiliar wasn’t something related to anything living. Something that was earthly. A pulse and a voice…a body but nothing with a heart.
“isn’t that right Nero?” Maddy asked.
“Yeah…sure is,” he hesitated without knowing what was right let alone if it was true. Slowly he dragged his gawking eyes away from the girl. Maddy stared at him annoyed for a few moments until their eyes met. His gemstone eyes clashed with the sparkling ice of hers, and for a moment he almost broke the piercing stare but she spoke first.
“So,” she said crossly without looking from him, “give her one.”
Nero tried to avoid confessing he hadn’t been listening. Unable to figure what “one” was he asked, “Of?” quietly.
Maddy’s head shook. Her eyes closed, and then her lips parted in a sigh.
“I’m sorry I’ve got a lot on my mind,” Nero confessed forgetting the silent girl was there. Remembering her existence he fixed the bangs of his hair nonchalantly waiting for Maddy to speak.
“A flyer,” she said pressing two fingers and a thumb to her forehead “for the band Nero.”
“Oh those…yeah sure let me get one,” he recovered by grinning Maddy’s way. Instantly she softened up, her lips losing the disappointed scowl for their usual attractive curve. She put her arms in front of her entertwining her fingers and pulling her shoulders inwards.
The way she stretched. Nero considered making a comment about what the movement did to her bust but sided against to keep from any complications and get to Riku and Rush.
Finally catching what he’d been fishing for her gave the seemingly mute girl a fold out pamphlet showing him with a microphone the cord behind his neck, it hanging down like an odd fasion accessory. Most people would agree he was the most widely attractive member and he’d lost a bet so his picture had been put on the band’s main form of publicity against his will. Across his face was painted the near famous crowd-pleasing grin.
“Tru-U4ya-4-U?” the girl asked sounding out every letter and number singularly. Nero was caught off guard by the girl’s soft tone.
“Yeah band name,” he concentrated to keep from stumbling over his words.
“Kinda unique,” she flashed a light smirk before looking back at the paper, opening it to a drawing done by a fan. It pictured all of the members in adorable cartoon forms reminiscent of anime.
“That’d be because you’re saying it wrong, hun,” Maddy said walking behind the girl. “It goes ‘True-Euphoria-For-You.” As if divine enlightentment had been given to this girl she grinned pleased with her new knoledge.
“I get it now. Thanks…” she drew a blank her depthless eyes holding a light taste of forgetfulness.
“Maddy.”
“Madison,” teased Nero wagging his hips in time. Playfully sticking his tongue out he smiled at her fidgeting with the skateboard under his foot.
“And you’re Nero?” she pointed at the black haired boy.
“Yes.” He nodded exgerantly once as if this were the final question of a test. She lightly giggled before looking back at the paper. “Yours,” he waved a hand toward the spacing girl.
“oh yeah I’m Reis. You can call me Rei.”
“That’s cute,” he summed up minorly sarcastic as his arm reached out to hers.
“Nero.”
“Maddy,” he repeated back mimicking her tone and retracting his arm.
“Why don’t you invite her to the skate park. That is where you’re going isn’t it?”
“No I’m not going.”
“Then where ya headed?” Maddison looked at him a bit surprised. The skatepark was a staple in his day.
“Rush’s party.” He admitted glaring at her through the emeralds swimming in his eyes.
“Even better! Invite her!” Maddy demanded wrapping her arms around Reis affectionatly. Reis looked like a small animal ensnared in the grip of an overly affectionate toddler, her blue eyes wide and pleading for an explanation as to why she was being hugged randomly from behind. Nero smiled warmly before hiding it. Maddy was only 17 but cared for Nero like a mom or aunt, though they didn’t avoid the chance to absently flirt. She was caring and kind, traits Nero liked in a girl.
“I’d hate to be a bother,” Rei said sincerely, shaking her head while looking at the band’s advertisement intently. Maddy’s arms slowly pulled from around the girl and Maddy stood to her full height.
“I’d hate for you to be a bother too. No offence,” Nero’s shoulders bunched up innocently in a shrug, “but Rush is picky about who comes and what not. Such a poser.” Reis giggled again staring at the side Nero knew was for lyrics.
“Who writes these?” she asked looking up at him. To avoid the staggering power of her gaze he looked at artwork strewn across the bottom end of the skateboard; flipping it over and back again a number of times.
“Yours truly,” letting out a mixture of a growl and sigh he dug in his back pocket feeling the vibrations of his phone. “I should take this. The poser. Bye Maddy,” he waved while raising the phone to his ear, “Bye Rei,” turning his back to them. Both girls said their good byes as Nero pushed the door open and picked up the skateboard walking out, chatting childishly to his friend about why he couldn’t have shown up for the prior night’s part.
“What kind of a loser has a party at 3:00 anyways?” he reasoned stalling on the balconey. “Nah dude I’m gonna pass on this one.” Nero’s hand jerked from his ear, holding his phone a foot from his ear. Cautiously he returned it against his temple while tapping the tail of his skateboard against the ground “You’re an ass man. Why? Because only an ass would invite me and my newly made ex to the same party. And let me find out about it on top of that…” he face crunched into a scowl, “still man. Quite lame of you... Its not like there aren’t any songs I can sing that you can’t…..That doesn’t matter. Do a band’s looks really matter?... Why would you want a bra on stage?... They would want to with me, not you…,” his face turned to one of twisted disgust and livid annoyance, “Only you…” Nero growled before snapping the phone shut. Stepping through the door again he flashed a powerful grin like a officer flashing a badge. “Would you look at that the party got cancelled!” Reis watched with a faint smile as he rubbed at the back of his thighs, leaning forward a bit.
“His posture?” Maddison surprised her.
“Yeah just a bit cute I think,” Reis whispered. Maddy let out an airy laugh, “You don’t have to be all quiet if you find Nero cute. Just about everybody will agree with you. Like me,” Maddy flashed a kind smile before hugging Nero who stood idly as her arms squeezed around his small figure. Nero’s face stayed the same dead pan expression for the entirety of Maddy’s embrace.
“I’m still tired,” Nero complained randomly in a slightly whiny tone. “I’m going back to bed,” he shuffled from beside his long time friend and around the enigmatic Reis. “Wait what’re you doing here…not to be rude,” he pointed at her drowsily, his mention of sleep made his desire that much stronger.
“My family just moved in. Right here,” her arm extended, letting her hand point towards a door across the hall from Nero’s.
“Coolies,” he said facisously and kept walking. Nero was annoyed that she hadn’t looked at him while she spoke. All girls looked at him while they spoke. Whatever, he settled while walking to the oak door.
Why do I want to sleep so bad? What could it be? There has to be a reason…his thoughts echoed within him, like screams in a deep canyon.
Maddison stared at him with a worried spark in her eyes, “Nero honey, are you okay?”
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts he sputtered out, “Yeah just got a lot on my plate. And I’m not one to eat much,” he’d used this metaphore before with her.
“Like what?”
Nero didn’t really know what to say. He just felt dragged down, like his thoughts weighed more than his flesh. “I don’t” he raised his eyes from the floor meeting Maddison’s gaze. Now her eyes were molten ice. As impossible as it was that was the only way to describe them, warm and gentle but solid and beautiful like a crystal. “Really know,” he finished again having to clear his thoughts with an odd shake of his head. Fixing his hair he figured his dream might have contributed. “I’ve been dreaming. A lot.”
“About what?” she walked over slipping between him and the door. No escape now. Nero remembered his skateboard and walked over soundlessly, the only noise filling the three story hall being the sound of his skate shoes clomping onto the ground.
“Its personal…” he said wheeling the board in half circles on the tail end.
“Nero…you’ve told me who you’ve slept with,” she countered. Nero looked up his green eyes soft but still covered with a glaze of defensive fear.
“Just some weird stuff,” he confessed popping the board into his hand, “But I’m sleepy. Please move.” Reis moved as he stepped by, sitting down on the carpeted stairs.
“Nero…” he couldn’t tell if her tone was one of worry or warning but disregared it as well as her words. Softly shoving past her he pushed open the door with the familiar kerchunk of the dead bolt unlocking.
“Bye you two,” he said while yawning and tossing his board across the room. Before they could answer the door fell shut.
