muse_shuffle | December Greatest Hits
Track 05. Do you know what it's like to fall on the floor // And cry your guts out 'til you got no more // Hey man now you're really living
(The Eels - ‘Hey Man (Now You’re Really Living)’)
Co-written with drcampbell
[Follows THIS and THIS]
Lachlan looked like shit, and that was being kind. Riley had expected his friend to make an abrupt exit as soon as the comp was over, and it did seem that he tried. For the last twenty minutes, however, Riley had been trying to catch Lachlan’s eye to tell him Tara and Pat would wait at the car for him to avoid the wave of people leaving. But Lachlan had been speaking to this guy in a suit the whole time and although he looked about ready to keel over at any moment, he continued to carry on the intense conversation.
Riley frowned and glanced at his watch. Tara was going to start panicking that something was wrong with her husband again. Aiden had already filled them in on Lachlan’s close call to pull the plug before he took the stage. As it was, no one really expected Lachlan to go through with it and it had been such an adrenaline rush to see the wayward Scot step up onto the stage like he didn’t have a care in the world. It was evident he was no sub-par Karaoke singer. He engaged the audience enthusiastically, though Riley could see that Lachlan wasn’t really looking at anything beyond the edge of the stage. It was probably a good thing, because the crowds were huge. Lachlan’s post-shooting phobias would never have allowed him to go through with it if he absorbed just how many strangers with thick coats were standing in the sea of faces before him.
Lachlan and Tab’s performances had been flawless and the win was well-deserved. The $20,000 prize money was brilliant, too. They both deserved it. But why the hell was Lachlan not making a polite escape from this guy? Riley took out his phone and keyed in a quick text message to Tara to tell her they were coming but Lachlan was talking to someone. Inevitably, a return message came through asking if her husband was okay. Riley told her that he ‘seemed to be’ and promised they would be there soon.
It was only a little bit longer before Lachlan finally shook the guy’s hand and looked to be accepting a business card off him. Riley handed him a bottle of water as he approached. “Who was that?” he asked.
Lachlan glanced at Riley as he accepted the water. He was debating as to whether to say or not. He handed the card to Riley with an indifferent shrug. “Manager for some record company,” he admitted, watching Riley for a reaction. “Scouting.”
Riley’s eyebrows shot up as he read over the expensive looking business card. “A-fucking-gain? You’ve been talent scouted again?” he cried. “What are you going to do? You were talking to him for a long time.”
“I was being polite,” Lachlan explained and took a long drink of the cooling water. “Can we go now? I need to get out of here.”
Riley couldn’t, for the life of him, read how his friend was reacting to this. Lachlan was shielding really well. “What was he offering?” he asked hesitantly.
“Three album recording deal with the works.” Lachlan started to head for the exit. He wasn’t reacting because he didn’t feel anything either way about it. Or maybe he felt strongly both ways and just couldn't think straight? “He wants me to meet with him in the New Year.”
“And?” Riley said in exasperation.
Lachlan stopped and turned around to Riley with a deep set frown. “And what?” he bit out. “My bairn is born in the New Year. And nothing. I dinnae want to be a recording artist. I’m a doctor. I want to be a husband and a father. That’s it.”
“But this is-”
“Riley! Goddamnit!” Lachlan snapped, cutting his friend off. He put a hand up to rub over his face, eyes closing tiredly. He let out a heavy breath to collect himself and met Riley’s eyes again. “Nay today, aye? Just… nay today. I’ll think about it tomorrow. I cannae think about anything today.” He shook his head and then broke the gaze to make for the exit, this time not letting anything prevent him retreating.
All muses referenced with permission
Word Count | 684
(The Eels - ‘Hey Man (Now You’re Really Living)’)
Co-written with drcampbell
[Follows THIS and THIS]
Lachlan looked like shit, and that was being kind. Riley had expected his friend to make an abrupt exit as soon as the comp was over, and it did seem that he tried. For the last twenty minutes, however, Riley had been trying to catch Lachlan’s eye to tell him Tara and Pat would wait at the car for him to avoid the wave of people leaving. But Lachlan had been speaking to this guy in a suit the whole time and although he looked about ready to keel over at any moment, he continued to carry on the intense conversation.
Riley frowned and glanced at his watch. Tara was going to start panicking that something was wrong with her husband again. Aiden had already filled them in on Lachlan’s close call to pull the plug before he took the stage. As it was, no one really expected Lachlan to go through with it and it had been such an adrenaline rush to see the wayward Scot step up onto the stage like he didn’t have a care in the world. It was evident he was no sub-par Karaoke singer. He engaged the audience enthusiastically, though Riley could see that Lachlan wasn’t really looking at anything beyond the edge of the stage. It was probably a good thing, because the crowds were huge. Lachlan’s post-shooting phobias would never have allowed him to go through with it if he absorbed just how many strangers with thick coats were standing in the sea of faces before him.
Lachlan and Tab’s performances had been flawless and the win was well-deserved. The $20,000 prize money was brilliant, too. They both deserved it. But why the hell was Lachlan not making a polite escape from this guy? Riley took out his phone and keyed in a quick text message to Tara to tell her they were coming but Lachlan was talking to someone. Inevitably, a return message came through asking if her husband was okay. Riley told her that he ‘seemed to be’ and promised they would be there soon.
It was only a little bit longer before Lachlan finally shook the guy’s hand and looked to be accepting a business card off him. Riley handed him a bottle of water as he approached. “Who was that?” he asked.
Lachlan glanced at Riley as he accepted the water. He was debating as to whether to say or not. He handed the card to Riley with an indifferent shrug. “Manager for some record company,” he admitted, watching Riley for a reaction. “Scouting.”
Riley’s eyebrows shot up as he read over the expensive looking business card. “A-fucking-gain? You’ve been talent scouted again?” he cried. “What are you going to do? You were talking to him for a long time.”
“I was being polite,” Lachlan explained and took a long drink of the cooling water. “Can we go now? I need to get out of here.”
Riley couldn’t, for the life of him, read how his friend was reacting to this. Lachlan was shielding really well. “What was he offering?” he asked hesitantly.
“Three album recording deal with the works.” Lachlan started to head for the exit. He wasn’t reacting because he didn’t feel anything either way about it. Or maybe he felt strongly both ways and just couldn't think straight? “He wants me to meet with him in the New Year.”
“And?” Riley said in exasperation.
Lachlan stopped and turned around to Riley with a deep set frown. “And what?” he bit out. “My bairn is born in the New Year. And nothing. I dinnae want to be a recording artist. I’m a doctor. I want to be a husband and a father. That’s it.”
“But this is-”
“Riley! Goddamnit!” Lachlan snapped, cutting his friend off. He put a hand up to rub over his face, eyes closing tiredly. He let out a heavy breath to collect himself and met Riley’s eyes again. “Nay today, aye? Just… nay today. I’ll think about it tomorrow. I cannae think about anything today.” He shook his head and then broke the gaze to make for the exit, this time not letting anything prevent him retreating.
All muses referenced with permission
Word Count | 684