Lost In the Echo of What Remains

[Cole Kessler]

Cole had kept himself low as of late. He didn't feel the desire to go to work he usually did. Normally he loved playing his music in front of hundreds of people he had come to call friends. His boss had text him earlier in the day, but Cole hadn't taken the time to read it yet. Instead, Cole's phone was sitting on the coffee table in his home. The emptiness of the house surrounding it with Cole's presence elsewhere. No, Cole had left his phone at home looking to escape all o the recent stress. "Goin' a Hundred in a fifty-five and I don't know why I'm still alive. I do what I can but I know I can't take anymore....." He sang along with the radio as he reached down to shift his car to its next gear. There was no lag time between the shift and his foot being back on the pedal and pressing it to the floor. The roar of the engine only grew louder and louder as Cole continued to hold the accelerator down. He didn't care at this point.

He slowed a moment as he approached a curve. He waited until reaching the apex before slamming the pedal back to the floor. Cole could feel the rear end of the car slipping out and so he cut the wheel back into the center of the road and saved himself a spin-out on the mountain road. His heart skipped a beat as he realized just how close he had come to royally messing up. H let his foot lax off of the gas pedal and allowed the car to slow down. As he rounded the next curve he could feel the beads of sweat on his forehead. His body slowly caught up with his mind and realized all at once that he'd just almost likely gotten himself killed. He slowed down even further as he saw the stoplight at the foot of the mountain come into view.

Going through the stoplight, Cole pondered on going home and just secluding himself yet again. But in the end his want for social interaction won out and he turned the other direction and headed toward the mall. The clouds above seemed to reflect Cole's inner feelings. It was just one of those days. Everything Cole thought about today had just been flat out depressing. The worst memories he could have on any given day and they were all hitting him at once. He needed something, someone to take his mind off of all of this negativity.

As he entered the parking lot, he reached behind the passenger seat and grabbed his acoustic guitar. He locked the car door, and headed inside. A light rumble of thunder heard in the distance caused Cole to crack the smallest grin, but it soon faded just as the sound that brought it forth. The Mall was more crowded than Cole had first anticipated. He walked down the center between shops before finally finding a bench and sitting down. He slowly tuned his guitar. Finally he began to ignore the looks, block out the ambient sounds and just play a few chords songs. Cole didn't sing along, at least not yet. Who knew? Someone might come along, recognize the song and sing it as he played. There was only one way to find out.

[Deleted]

It was browsin' day. It was mall crawlin' day. Hell, it was the day where Adam got to chill-ax at the mall and admire the beautiful sleek and shiny curves and drones of the drum set he had his eye on for the past 7 months. Oh, she was such a lovely little sphinx, torturing him with those seductive snares, that sexy high-hat, and a bass drum that shook his very own tender heart.

And, as tradition would serve, it took the about 10 minutes of Adam's ogling and drooling before the store owner stopped his grubby hands from trying to beat her senseless and shooed him out of the store. "Communist!" he yelled back at the man who just shook his head and headed back inside.

Adam shoved his dusty hands in his faded jeans and slouched off like he had a purpose, shoulders back, neck down, and for some reason his legs slightly ahead of his torso. What was wrong with the world, for serious!? Couldn't a guy just window shop in the mall anymore? It was just like that guy at the mattress store who wouldn't let him test drive one of the beds for the night! Anarchy!! Oppression! Power for the one percent!

He really needed a better job. There was no way he was going to be able to save up for that sweet piece of instrumentation working at the convenience store the rest of his life. But at least he was up for a raise! And maybe even promotion to shift leader! Right? He'd been there two...three? years already, he must be getting something soon, right?

Adam trudged through the crowds, moseying and meandering past all the people who were just out there throwing away their money for the Man. Whatever....he rolled his eyes about the time his ear caught the sound of, what is this? yes yes! Music!! Guitar! And from someone who actually sounded like they knew what they were doing!

Breaking through two lovers hand in hand, he ventured over to the bench and sat down next to the player without a word. Shiiiit, naw, he didn't need to ask him anything, nope. Their people spoke with their skillz, not their words! Adam pulled out his drumsticks(which he carried with him everywhere in his back belt loops), and twirled them in his fingers before thwacking against the back end of the bench, arm rest, and nearby trash-can all in rhythm with the dude. Yeah, fuck, he knew the song, heard it a million times.

Of course, the staring mo-fos could just go suck themselves.

[Noa Reese]

Noa had forced herself out of the house. If she hadn't, it wouldn't have been pretty. Her life was a series of ups and downs lately, and more frequently downs. But her goal was now to get out of her room, get out of her head, and get out of her slump. She wouldn't think about any of that shit she'd talked to Dr. Neville about. She would find friends, or make friends, and she would work on Rocky, and listen to her happy playlist. This would work.

So she blasted her music in the car on the way to the mall, blasted it from her headphones as she picked out the lingerie she'd be wearing for Rocky, and blasted it as she walked the floor of the mall, her mood having improved dramatically. Lacy things helped with that. Also, seeing herself looking really goddamn sexy was a huge self esteem boost. Even once she'd purchased the pretty things and changed back into her mall clothes, she was still feeling goddamn sexy (with a touch of badassery thrown in for good measure).

She was actually bouncing a bit on her feet, fingers drumming the rhythm of the song on her thigh as she bobbed her head to it - except... okay, wait, that was what was going on, someone else was playing music. And it was one familiar face and one unfamiliar face.

Noa smiled a devious smile as she popped the headphones from her ears with a tug on the cord, stuffing the mess into the lingerie bag (who's label was quite prominent - which only made her more delighted, to be honest). She wasn't sure if she'd caught Cole's eye yet, so she walked up to them, her 'siren' attitude on full, hips swaying in a way that said 'ha, yeah, you know you can't look away.'

"Hey you." The look was a bit of a smirk as she paused before him, 'unwittingly' angling the lingerie bag so the label was easy to read. She looked from Cole to the blonde sitting next to him. "Who's your friend?" She raised an eyebrow with the question. He wasn't really her type, to be honest, but she was distracting herself, and flirting and teasing made for a great distraction.

[Cole Kessler]

Cole was so lost in the movements of his fingers he didn't notice hardly anything. He became even more lost in the song when he closed his eyes. He envisioned himself on stage at the club. The imagery was so vivid: Sweat covered his body as he jumped around and slammed his head back and forth. He could here the pounding of the drums almost as if they were right next to him as he looked to the stage floor as a bra came flying forth and hooked around his ankle. He leaned down and picked it up with a grin before draping it around his neck. The drum's sounds became even more proactive that Cole could swear someone was playing right next, wait. Cole opened his eyes and looked next to him. Sure enough, someone had actually sat down next to him and was using the bench and trash can as a set of drums.

Cole finished the song before speaking, "And here I thought I was the only one with some good musical tastes." Cole said with a smile. The blonde headed man was unknown to Cole. It was odd to the electrokinetic. He thought he knew everyone in Pilot Ridge by now, but apparently he thought wrong. "I'm Cole." He said, offering a handshake. His hand slid down the neck of the guitar and started playing lightly. He began to strum as well and looked over, "Shall we play again?" Cole smirked. He didn't wait for a reply before beginning to play another familiar tune.

As the played, Cole saw a woman walk up. It wasn't until she addressed him that he looked up, "Hello yourself, Noa. Looking ravishing as always, my dear." Cole told her. He continued to play without missing a note as he spoke with her, "Him?" Cole said looking to the other man, "I have no fuckin' clue. But he sure as hell can drum. And he has good tastes in music." Cole told her. He played even further into the song before catching sight of her bag, "Victoria's Secret gonna be shared? Or are you gonna be prudish and not show me?" The young man joked as he continued to play.

[Deleted]

Adam had been lost in similar imagery of being in the middle of a performance on the stage with crowds and crowds of people just screamed out his name. He didn't even notice when the guitarist noticed him and just kept on drumming like a boss until the score had completed.

Adam twirled the sticks in his hands again and gave the dude next to him a half-grin. "Hell, yeah…they don't make shit like they used to" He was an avid fan of the classics, though nowadays, he could find appreciation for any sort of music with a good drum-line, bass-line, or just an awesome riff. "I'm Adam," he said placing both his hands on his chest to indicate himself. "You can call me Adam." He returned the handshake with a nod. Fucking manners, yeah!

"Play it up," Adam agreed, twirling his drumsticks once more, waiting to hear what Cole came up with.

Unfortunately, Adam wasn't nearly as talented in Cole when it came to conversing and playing at the same time, so he just continued on being like the Mad Drummer(starts at 1:00) and making random faces as he pretended to be on the wide, wide stage.

[Noa Reese]

Noa found it hard to not stare at Adam. And since it was hard not to, she didn't mind staring, her brows raised in skeptical amusement. Was this guy for real? He was kinda ridiculous, and she couldn't tell if that was good or bad. "...Thanks." She responded to Cole's compliment without looking away from the drummer. She couldn't. It was hypnotizing, almost like watching a train wreck, except less catastrophic. But once Cole started talking about him, she was able to drag her eyes away (with a deal of effort).

"Him? I have no fuckin' clue. But he sure as hell can drum. And he has good tastes in music."

Noa made a little 'hm' sound, trying not to be hypnotized by his antics again. It helped that her little baiting had worked.

"Victoria's Secret gonna be shared? Or are you gonna be prudish and not show me?"

With a slightly smug smile, Noa swayed a little back and forth, so the bag swung to and fro gently. "I dunno, Cole, I'm quite the fan of surprises... you may just have to wait until Halloween." She was referring to the show she was putting together, of course, even though she said it with a suggestive wink, completely ignoring Adam. Then she paused. "You are coming, aren't you? To Rocky?" Rocky Horror Picture Show was possibly one of the most fun things Noa had ever attended. If Cole hadn't been to it before, she would be absolutely delighted to pop his Rocky cherry.

[Cole Kessler]

Cole smirked at Noa's reply. He'd be lucky if he got to see it before she wanted him to. But in truth, one never could know what the future held. Cole thought back to his first day of class. Noa didn't seem like the open, flirty, and fun person she had turned out to be once Cole started to get to know her. Cole and Noa, a friendship that never would have happened had Cole not taken the time to talk to her. Which, looking back on it now, would have been easy for either of them to do. However, that was not the reality they decided to live in.

Cole's mind shifted back to the present as they finished yet another song. "Nice work, Adam." Cole took a moment to rest his hands as he looked back to Noa, "I haven't been to one in what seems like forever. You think I would miss one if I had the chance to attend? Especially if you're the one putting it together? C'mon, Noa! I thought you knew me better than that?" The young man laughed. His fingers slid up and down the neck of his guitar as he thought of another song to play. He was debating on singing with this one but he wasn't quite sure of it.

It wasn't the people that passed by that he cared for their opinions. Noa had not, as of yet, heard him sing. A fact which was astounding in its own right considering how much Cole actually sang. Thinking hard about it, Cole decided it was high time to end that little fact's time of existence. However, with no microphone, amp, or electric guitar it would take some clever thinking. He looked around and smiled as he thought of a song. It would be difficult to play acoustically, but not impossible. "Noa, seeing as how you ain't heard me sing just yet. Stick around for this song and let's end that little streak. Yeah?" Cole said as he sat back and began to play, hoping Adam would join in right on cue.

[Deleted]

Adam was in the zooone. But it clearly was a double-edged sword as he was caught between wanting to drum and wanting to hear what all this Victoria's Secret talk was about with the Rocky thing. But if he paid more attention, then the drumming would be off and he's mess up the dude next to him. A conundrum it was.

But blessed be to the grand almighty Lord of Angels, the song was over and there was a break, and Adam could finally put his brain to the conversation with the Hot chick with the Secret.

"Sweet," he nodded to the dude with the guitar, then to the brunette. "Yo," he uttered the greeting with a slight bow. Adam simply sat, listening to the two, twirling on of his stick like a baton idly. "Rocky, huh? Sounds like a sweet gig. I might have to offer my upmost support in your most admirous endeavor." Yeah, Adam had no idea what he was talking about, but it sounded cool. At least to him.

It took a moment for Adam to recognize the song, he wasn't used to hearing it on an acoustic guitar, but once it clicked, he clinked in with the slow intro, snapping his drumstick on the metal armrest of the bench on the 2nd and 4th beat until tempo picked up and ran right into the verse.

Shit yeah. Good music is good.

[Noa Reese]

Noa nodded to Adam in answer, raising her fingers slightly in some vague semblance of greeting, though she didn't bother raising them more than a few inches. It was less of a wave and more like a small gesture of acknowledgment.

"Hey - how was I supposed to know if you had even seen the flyers?" She argued, defensively, though she was still smirking. She was actually quite glad he had - she was pretty worried that no one would show up for the show. Or that no one would show up who knew what they were doing. "Just so you know, I'm going to pose a threat to your career because I need you to be loud for the crowd. I don't know how many veterans are gonna show, it could be mostly newbies." And someone needed to be shouting inappropriate things besides her and the few extra cast members she had. They would be focusing more on the show itself, not the whole talking-back aspect.

"Rocky, huh? Sounds like a sweet gig. I might have to offer my upmost support in your most admirous endeavor."

That drew Noa's attention away from Cole for a moment. "Really?" Her tone was almost warning, "Because if you're serious I will draft you into the show effort." They could always use more Transylvanians or even just helpers with night-of festivities.

And then Cole had her attention again as he requested she stick around while he played. With a shrug, she agreed.

It was impressive. Like... super impressive. She was amazed enough that his fingers could move that fast and keep their accuracy, it just added to her amazement that he was able to sing at the same time. Her look of surprise wasn't even hidden. "Shit, man - that is amazing."