Page 36 of Broken Chorus

“It is if what you want is someone who is making it very clear that they don’t want you.”

“Yeah, that’s rough man, I’m sorry.”

“You and me both.”

“I’m Cade.”

“Aaron.”

“So do you always come out here when you’re pissed?”

Aaron glanced around and shook his head. “Naa. I usually come here just to enjoy the way everything glows. There’s sometime about it, ya know.”

“Yeah, I do, though it would be nice if the folks who designed it had set it up in a way to be accessible to everyone.”

“It’s one of the few free places in the city,” Aaron pointed out. “Can’t get more accessible than that.”

“So, not what I meant, but okay, I can see your point there.”

“Kids who don’t have anything shouldn’t be excluded from spaces like this, and museums or the damned zoo just ‘cause they don’t have the crazy fee it costs to get it. I get that maintenance along with the upkeep of the animals and exhibits takes money, but there has to be some way to make it fair.”

“I won’t argue with you there,” Cade said. “When I was a kid, everyone in the class had to sell candy bars to raise money for this fieldtrip to the Imaginarium, but not everyone in the class had family that could afford to buy them. Hell, some lived in neighborhoods where going door to door might get you shot. We didn’t make the goal, so we didn’t get to go on the trip, which sucked, ‘cause I think some of my classmates would have benefited from the chance to see how much was possible.”

“My point exactly!”

“Right on man, see there’s something the world needs. Why not write about that?”

“Maybe I will.”

“I hope you do,” Cade said. “Just remember when you start putting pen to paper that it isn’t always a lack of finances thatkeeps someone from being able to enjoy a space. Sometimes it’s that the space isn’t set up in a way where there is room for them.”

“I guess.”

“I better get moving if I want to finish filming tonight,” Cade said.

With a little wave, he rounded the corner, while Aaron picked up his notebook and pen, tapping the cap against the paper while he replayed the conversation in his head and tried to shape it into something someone might one day want to sing about.

In the end he penned just a few lines before he left, but they were words he was immensely proud of.

I hope you find your light

In this place of glowing dreams

And see there are no impossibilities

When you fuel the spark inside of you.

Chapter 9

A Distinct Lack of Grace

Smoky room, strobe lights, the hammering pulse of loud music all around him, this was exactly the break from everything that Aaron needed. Kazzy was up on stage. As a member of the house band, he’d extended an open invitation for Aaron to join them anytime. After yet another rocky practice session with Kelly’s new band, coming and playing with Kazzy had felt like a good idea. Though Aaron preferred to play his own music,he never minded playing covers. Hell, sometimes it was easier, because many of the songs were ones he’d learned to play imitating, and they’d always held a place in his heart. Still, he wanted to get in a game or two of pool beforehand, just for old times’ sake.

Damn, but those bottles behind the bar were tempting, especially the way the light twinkled off the glass. Fortunately, the pool table was across the room, and as long as he kept his back to the bar, he could almost pretend it didn’t exist. Too bad he couldn’t pretend that wasn’t Declan with his chair backed against the wall several feet from the table. Was going to be hell trying to ignore himandthe booze.

“You up for a game?” Aaron asked as he stepped up to a guy who looked vaguely familiar.

“For fun or money?”

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