last song

There was a part of Elliot that wondered if that last song would ever come. Would Amanda ever get the last note sung? His back was killing him. It was as if someone had taken a knife and was griding it from his back side to his chest. And he had a workshop to go to at 8 a.m. sharp at the school in the morning. Elliot closed his eyes feeling the strings on his guitar and the music vibrating through him. His hair fell in his face. Right where he wanted it. Really, playing the guitar was practically a private moment for him. He didn't want everyone watching his expressions. He turned his back to the audience and watched Roger, all puckered up as he smashed his drumsticks from the snare to the the cymbals. Elliot just kept going. He'd look over to Derrick who was making stuff up on his lead electric. Once he got started. There was no telling where he might go. But Amanda squeezed in a moment.

"I want everyone to meet the band." So she started making introductions. She was gushing about her rocking husband. Her amazing little brother and the best friend in the world, Roger. She sounded like some MC from the circus in her double breasted red coat.

Honestly, Elliot felt his neck breaking. When would she shut up? When would Derrick stop playing that damn guitar? Elliot's throat was parched. Possibly a bad sore throat. It was so hard to tell, anymore. Sweat poured down his back. So that's how he kept so skinny. It was taking so much out of him just to stand up. Just a few more minutes, he kept thinking. A few more minutes. If Derrick had to play a damn Van Halen tune, he could do it all by himself.

Finally, when he was done, a good 45 minutes later, it was quiet. Elliot felt as if he didn't know what to do with himself now. As if they were going to send him off in a space ship now where there was no sound.

Naturally, Amanda went right away to pick Rosie up, in her arms, and Kyle was there ready to load up the gear in the bus.

"You gonna sleep in the bus tonight?" Kyle grinned.

"Hell no." Elliot said to loud.

Kyle gave him a pat on the back. "You really showed us, you know that." Kyle told him.

"Showed you what?" Elliot smiled with a wince.

"That you can rock this joint." Kyle nodded.

"Oh that." Elliot sighed. Maybe it was a yawn.

"You know, I kind missed you." Kyle grinned more.

"Yeah, and you're shit'n me, and I know it." Elliot felt like laughing, but it hurt to even laugh.

"No, I'm not." Kyle gave him a serious look then as he shoved his hands in his jeans. "You're really good for Amanda, and I think she's pretty good for you, too."

Suddenly, Elliot felt like crying, but Kyle gave him a hug. They were a bit like family. They always would be.