Andrew McKnight's Story

Stepping onto the stage was pure bliss. Seriously, it's unimaginable. I could feel the vibrations as the crowd screamed my name, urging me to sing for them, begging. I was in control and it felt like I was going to barf. My stomach knotted up and I couldn't breath, so I closed my eyes. The sound of the crowd dulled to a faint roar, whispers of excitement. With my eyes closed, I felt as though I could sing, if only for a moment.
Clutching the mic in both hands, I let out an ear splitting roar.

"Are you ready to party?!"

The crowd screamed in response, louder than before. It made a tingle of anticipation dance up my spine. I started to sing, one of my favorite songs, 'Create The Moment.' For once, the crowd shut up. It made the moment more memorable. When I reached the high point of the song, I couldn't breath. I felt faint, but it was good. I started to smile, holding my guitar for it's solo. It urged me on too, sending another tingle up my spine; this one of courage. How could such a small moment in my life mean so much to so many people? I was baffled. When the guitar solo finished and I began to sing again, I felt as though I could do anything. I felt invincible.



Andy strummed the chords a bit, letting his guitar hum as he tuned it. He had named the guitar Claire after his grandmother who had given her to him as a present, an appropriate name. Now, sitting in the town square with the guitar case open, he let his shaggy blonde bangs fall and cover his eyes, the rest of his dark brown hair covered by the hood of his only jacket. He took requests for $5, but for everything else, he just made what he made and moved on, shoving the crumpled dollars and coins into the pocket of his jeans and putting Claire back in the case. On a good day, Andy could make around $10-$20. On a bad day, he'd make $5 at the most from a request that no one wanted to listen to. It was the best living Andy could make at 17 without having to wear a uniform or paying for any replacement, other than a string that may have popped.

Staring at the cement, Andy started playing 'Hey There Delilah', listening faintly to the sound of a nickel or dime clink against other coins as it fell into the open guitar case at his feet. Andy couldn't hear himself singing, but knew that he was. He couldn't hear the sound of Claire as she lit up the morning with her music, but knew exactly what was happening. He accepted his fate as the boy who sat on a dirty block of cement every morning and played guitar for the business men and women on their way to work, and again in the afternoon for girls out with their friends, or children with their parents. He didn't mind that when guys walked past, they'd laugh and point. He didn't mind the extended fingers or whispers behind cupped hands. It was part of the package and was something he had chosen to deal with daily, before and after school.

Alex was sitting in his favorite book store, Anyplace, reading cheasy romance novel #1093021. He had read almost every book in the store, and he loved it. Books were great, they had an end no matter how how it got, it always ended. He was sitting in his usual attire, jeans and a t-shirt that read, "I Killed Surius Black." An honor to his favorite Harry Potter character, Bellatrix.

The book store was rather quiet, as hardly anyone went in it at this time of day. He was alone, save for the owner and his wife, both of whom said that he would love their granddaughter. He didn't have the heart to tell them he was gay, they were kind and simple old people. He simple said he was seeing someone, a complete lie, and they left it alone. He thought about going home, but knew his parents wouldn't be back by now, so he choose the park.

He liked the park, it was nice and one of the few places were he hasn't been beaten up. He had been recontly, and only because his shirt was long sleave, could he cover up the bruises. He was used to it by now, People are stupid his motto for around half the population. As he was making his way to the park, he noticed someone. Andy McKnight, one of the few people Alex would consider a friend. He seemed to be doing his thing, playing guitar, and Alex thought this was a good chance to say hi.

Alex has had a crush on him for a while, but is entirely too scared to tell him, although he is unsure why. He was gay, he knew that, but he just got nervous whenever he would try to ask him out. "Hey Andy." He said, standing in fornt of the guitarist.

Footsteps entered Andrew's view of the ground and he looked up to find Alex Ferron, a quiet kid who always seemed to have his nose buried in a book. Andrew silenced the strings with his hand as he smiled, absentmindedly twirling his lip ring with his tongue. He pulled his hood down and ran a bony finger through his hair to move it out of his face.

"Oh, hi Alex." He really wasn't expecting to end so early, but since the day seemed to be moving slowly, a missed morning wouldn't harm anyone. Shoving the small handful of change into his pocket, Andy put Claire in the case and stood up, brushing the dirt off of his pants before shoving his hands into his pockets.

Alex was happy, he was talking to Andy, it was a start, he thought to himself. He noticed how little money he hadin his case, but he ended, "[i]Guess it isn't his day.[/i" He thought to himself, before realizing he hadn't spoken back to him yet.

"Hey," He spoke softly, still somewhat scared, but he decided that today was the day he was going to ask him out, "D-D-Do you want to get something to eat, it'll be my treat." He spoke, trying to raise his voice, his hands playing with the ends of his shirt, as he looked into his eyes, hoping he would say yes.

Andrew giggled softly when Alex stuttered. He thought it was a cute trait, nervousness. He'd known that Alex liked him, but was also nervous about taking things further. Relationships never worked out well for Andrew, though he'd been a bit of a romancer in the past and experimented with both boys and girls. Those weren't times he was proud of, but he was fond of the memories. They made him feel wanted, even if it had only been for a brief period of time.

"Sure, I'd love to," Andrew replied, "but you don't have to pay for me."

Alex gave himself a mental high-five. "YES!" He thought to himself, before he told himself to calm down, it was only lunch. However, he couldn't help himself from smiling like an idiot.

"I insist, I asked you, it's only fair." He said more confinatly, he worked for his money at a book store, and he wanted to, "S-So where do you want to go? I think that cafe a block down is empty, or maybe get a hotdog or tacos, whatever you want." He laughed somewhat nervously, he was talking like an idiot, but he couldn't help himself.

"Well, since you offered, you pick. Anywhere is fine with me." Andrew smiled a charming, toothy grin, happy to be in the company of someone other than his guitar, who he did consider a person, or siblings. His hair fell back into his face and he casually shook it away, once again fooling with his lip ring with his tongue.

Picking up his things and stringing them onto his back, Andrew started to walk, pausing for Alex to catch up. He held his hand out, offering it to Alex to hold. Alex was cute when he was nervous. It made Andy blush like a fool and caused him to look at the ground, letting his hair cover up his bright red cheeks. The color was a contrast to his naturally pale skin tone.

Alex caught up to Andy quickly, he didn't get that far. He was, however, a tad thrown whne he offered his hand. It took him a moment to know what to do, his nerdiness made him awkward when it came to gestures with others. He reached for his hand, and held it in his own.

WHne Andy said he didn't mind what place, and he should pick, Alex had to wonder where to go. "What would he like? He looks skinnier than usual, maybe a buffet? No, I KNOW!" He thought to himself as he lead Andy down the street. "I know a place, they have good pizza. Do you like pizza?" He asked.

They made it to the parlor quickly, everything in this town was close. It was a place where you sit down and then someone comes to you. Alex choose a booth near the side of the restuarant, and sat down oppisite Andy. "I h-hope you like this place." He smiled at him, still nervous, he noticed he was blushing, which he found cute.

As he sat down, placing Claire's case against the wall beside him, Andy let his eyes casually fall upon Alex, transfixed. "I love pizza." He said after realizing the silence. It was true. Pizza was his favorite, though he didn't eat it much. Nervously, he looked around the parlor. It wasn't very full, though few people were seated here and there. "Thanks for bringing me here."