Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2004 12:56:03 -0500 From: joey miller <pandora0071@lycos.com> Subject: 'Learning how to Fly' Chapter 6 LEARNING HOW TO FLY Chapter 6 ~ Rehearsal ~ Hi all. So this is chapter six. As usual, praise, comments, and constructive criticism are appreciated and can be sent to Pandora0071@lycos.com. Enjoy. Disclaimer: Blah blah blah. Does anyone even pay attention to this? Sigh. This is FICTION. I made it up. None of this is true and I do not mean to imply anything about the sexualities of any of the celebrities mentioned. If you can't handle the homosexual content or live in a place where this is illegal, please leave. *** The limo was slowly making its way through morning rush-hour traffic. Tourists were dragging children and beachbags towards the waterfront, determined to be cheerful. People in business suits holding cell phones to their ears were rushing into the opposite direction, hiding tiredness with annoyance. Inside the limo the air was filled with tension thick enough to be cut with a knife. Brian was making a show of avoiding Colin's eyes while Colin was trying to catch Nick's eyes. Kevin still looked embarrassed, almost ashamed and every gesture was a silent apology to Colin and his band. Only AJ and Nicky seemed to be oblivious to the atmosphere. Or maybe their pointless chatter about the weather and college football was merely an attempt to cover uneasiness. They finally reached the stadium and got out. Here their ways parted. While the Backstreet Boys perfected their dance routine backstage with their choreographer, The Dragonflies set up their instruments on stage. It didn't take long to adjust the instruments and match the pitches. Nicky fought with the mike stand, trying to adjust it to his height. Finally the microphone was just right and he turned to face the band. "Can I get the intro to `Bring on the Carnage'?" He asked. It was a brand new song, intended for the next album. Colin had written it, like most of the other songs. He waited for Dave to provide the beat, then found the right key on the keyboard. Nicky held the mike and closed his eyes, concentrating on the music. I am sick of only Getting my feet wet Take me, submerge me I want to feel life on my skin I want to get a taste Of what it means to be Jamie turned the bridge to the chorus into an extended guitar solo and Dave jumped in with the drums. Nicky watched his friends on their instruments. He loved to see them getting into the music like that. It was their shared passion, the thing they lived for. "Wow! You guys rock." They saw Kimmy in the doorway, where she was unloading bags of Chinese take-out on the table. "Thanks." The Dragonflies replied. They jumped off the stage to help Kimmy prepare the food. At one o'clock, the Backstreet Boys arrived from their rehearsal room. A somber mood settled. They assembled quietly and started eating. No one said a word. Kimmy looked around, tying to figure out the reason for the silence. She was met with nothing but blank, empty eyes. Something was wrong. "What the hell happened?" She finally burst out. No reaction. "Guys, give me a break here. I'm the one who has to make sure that everything is going smoothly and right now all I'm sensing is tension. C'mon. What happened?" Her eyes were big question marks and finally Dave gave in. He seemed uncomfortable, not sure how to say things without offending or accusing anyone. "It seems that..." He tried, pausing to think, then resuming. "It seems that one of the Backstreet Boys is having a problem with..." Apologetic look to Colin, daggers from Brian. Dave sighed. "Brian can't deal with the fact that I'm gay." Colin offered. Kimmy rolled her eyes. "That's it? Someone's a bit homophobic and you all hate each other?" "We don't hate each other. But Colin's friends are worried about him and we feel embarrassed about the way Brian behaved." Nick explained. "So Brian, explain to me, what's wrong with being gay?" Now it was Brian's turn to roll his eyes. "That's just it, it's wrong." "How so?" "The Bible says it's wrong. It's meant to be man and woman, not man and man. Being gay is a sin because it just wasn't intended to be that way." Brian sounded as though he was repeating something that should be obvious to everyone. "Oh yeah? There are many things that the Bible classifies as sins. According to the Bible, people who commit adultery should be burned. But this is the 21st century. We don't burn people anymore. The Bible was written ages ago, as a guideline. But times change and people change." "So what you're saying is that things that were wrong back then are right now? Adultery isn't a bad thing anymore? What, a couple of years from now we're gonna legalize murder cause it's okay now?" Brian shook his head, exasperated. "No, what I'm saying is that people are free to live their own lives in any manner that suits them. As long as they don't hurt anyone." Brian was ready to protest, but Kimmy motioned him to wait. She wasn't done yet. "Yeah, yeah, I know. A guy who cheats on his wife hurts her as well, right? But that's life. People aren't always rational. They let their emotions take control. But no one has the right to rule over anyone's life but their own. And that's the point, Brian. You don't have to agree with Colin. But you cannot change him and you have no right to discriminate against him. So leave him the hell alone, alright?" It was AJ who clapped first. Soon, the other Backstreet Boys fell in, then the Dragonflies. Only Brian sat silent, defeated. For now anyway. *** There we go. Lyrics in the story are mine. The full song goes like this: Bring on the Carnage Verse 1: I am sick of only Getting my feet wet Take me, submerge me I want to feel life on my skin I want to get a taste Of what it means to be Chorus: Bring on the Carnage I am ready for the heartache I am ready to bleed I want to feel you Entering my veins I want to be Verse 2: I am sick of Watching from the sidelines So afraid of broken bones That I don't dare to play Well, I don't care anymore I am ready to get in the game It is now my time to be Until the next Chapter ... Much love joey