Page 1 of Goodbye Note

PART 1

SUMMER

I’ve loved you for every season of our lives, and after a lifetime apart, I still dream of you in my arms.

ONE

ARIK

Why does it feel like any time something good happens the universe kicks me in the balls? I should be celebrating, but instead, I’m in the bathroom of a club, stalking my girlfriend’s social media.

Ex-girlfriend.

Two years of hard work on this album, and I can’t even enjoy it.

Years of pouring everything I am into this band.

Into this record.

But all I can see is her nails dug into his back.

His lips on her neck.

Her blood moon lipstick smeared across his mouth.

It’s impossible to be part of the Chicago music scene without knowing Nicole. She’d been a scene girl since high school. A fucking starstruck daydream. My nightmare.

The photos were plastered all over every website and gossip page. I can’t un-see them. They were blurry, but I knew they were her.Everyone knew it was her. Part of me felt like she did this today on purpose. She hated the idea of me leaving.

“Will you come out of here and enjoy the night?” Serafin stood behind me, meeting my eyes in the mirror. He was our reluctant backup vocals. The shy guy who never meant to get famous but had the voice of an angel. The only way we got him to sing with me was if I agreed to be the only frontman. Serafin couldn’t and wouldn’t handle being the focus of tonight’s event.

Most of the time, I didn’t mind, but tonight, on the verge of a mental breakdown, I didn’t know how to make myself.

I lifted my gaze to meet his in the mirror. “I can’t.”

“This is the nicest bathroom I’ve ever been in.” Ser did a slow circle. He wore tight leather pants and a black Nirvana shirt. He had his red hair messy styled in that razor-cut emo way. He could be the poster boy for alternative, except for the auburn color, while mine was a different color depending on my mood and kept longer, half in my face.

“It is pretty sweet,”I admitted, still not processing that we were releasing an album with a major record label. This was our life now.

“Pretty sweet. What is this, marble? And there are mints and little individually folded hand towels. Do they have an attendant to come wipe your ass, too?” Serafin pushed his fingers into his hair, making it more sex hair than messy.

“Please don’t subject a poor attendant to your ass. I think that’s assault, even with an ass like yours.”

Ser’s mouth dropped open. “I’ve been told by more than one person today it’s peachy in these leather pants. How do you know he wouldn’t relish in the task?”

“Look at that.” I got a coy smile, knowing he’d take the bait.

“This feels like a fucking trap, but I’m going to bite. What?” Ser asked.

“You’re finally embodying singer energy by assuming everyone wants your ass.” I grinned for the first time today.

He held up his middle finger, then softened. “You can’t let all our hard work go to waste and let her ruin this for you.”

I pressed my hands into the counter and let my head drop forward. “I can’t face all those people, knowing they all fucking know.”

“None of them care what she’s doing.” He came closer and wrapped an arm around me, resting his chin on my shoulder. “Let yourself have a good night. Mourn her cheating ass tomorrow.”

“It’s not just her.” But he already knew the cement shoes preventing me from chasing my dreams. “That’s a good line. I should write it down.”

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