11 Chapter 11: Is He Sick?

RIGBY'S POV:

I watch him walk away and it hits me that I'm wrong. There's no world in which Creed would leave us.

He loves Saving Creed even more than I do.

Ignoring the others, I follow after him. I hear the click of the door locking when he enters the studio. I watch as he tries to call someone before settling down to the piano.

I lean forward momentarily so that I can hit record. You never know, this could be our next number one.

The music he begins to play is the same tune he was humming last night in the car except it's sadder somehow. Then he starts singing and I'm floored.

Closing my eyes, it's hard to imagine that it's Creed singing. It sounds like him and it doesn't at the same time. It's not a key he often sings in, in fact, I would say the notes he's currently singing might have even been just out of his range last week.

The words are raw and full of emotion.

I open my eyes when he sings a particularly high note and our eyes catch. He's looking right at me and I feel like he's trying to tell me something, although I'm not at all sure what.

This song is far more serious than any of the songs he's written before. In the past we got all our serious songs from Clover, his sister.

I've heard a lot of rumours about her in the nine months that Saving Creed have been together. I don't believe half of what I've heard. But I don't doubt the twins are talented.

When Creed stops playing, I have to remind myself to do something. I can't just stand here and stare at the man, that's too weird. Asking him to let me in, I make my way towards him.

When he unlocks the door, I pull him into a hug surprising us both. I've hugged Creed before, but he feels different, softer.

I feel my forehead tightening with confusion as I pull him away from me so that I can look at him.

Has he lost weight? Is he sick?

His face looks skinnier than it was before... He feels more fragile, even his shoulders under my hands feel dainty.

Trying to clear my mind, I say, "I'm sorry."

It takes us a little while to get past our awkwardness but when we do, it's like we're best buds again. We settle in at the piano to work on the song together. Together, we assign parts and write the music for the other instruments but there's definitely something different about Creed. I just can't put my finger on what it is.

Time runs away with itself and before we know it, the others are dragging us out of the studio to go eat lunch.

"Oi, you two come on," Ziggy says as he pops his head through the door. "We're going for subway."

"Nice," I reply, ignoring the disappointment I feel in the pit of my stomach at having been disturbed.

My shoulder brushes against Creed's and my breath catches. It's an unexplainable reaction. Looking up at the others, I notice Jett giving me an odd look. But before I can analyse it, the look has gone to be replaced with a smile. He comes forward to pull Creed up.

"Come on," he says gently, resting his arm on the other guy's shoulder. He leans on him like he's about to die. "I'm starving!"

Creed laughs softly, in a way I've never heard Creed laugh before and again I feel that strange sense of disappointment at the idea that it isn't me that made him laugh. I've never been jealous of their friendship before and I'm not sure why I'm feeling this way now.

I walk slightly behind the others, trying to work my thoughts out. I'm relieved we're not still fighting but now instead of being full of anger, I'm seriously confused.

Crimson and Nona walk past us and Creed doesn't even glance at Nona. It's Ziggy who asks them if they'd like to join us for lunch. Nona falls into step next to Creed, but he just continues his conversation with Jett as if she's not there.

He's never said it, but I thought he liked her. The others seem oblivious to the fact that Creed's acting weird and I wonder if I'm imagining things.

Untitled Lyrics

Do I need a reason to sing?

Do I need words to say?

Or can I just lose myself in a melody?

This love song doesn't need words

When you hear it you'll know what

I want to say

The notes combined in perfect harmony

Just like you and me

It's untitled

Indescribable

Unbelievable

It's untitled

Inexplicable

Completely magical