Winter Lights
"Oh, Matt!" Amy Dumas warbled.
"Oh Amy!" Matt Hardy bellowed back.
Oh, my achin' head, Thought Steven Richards, staring through the pitch-black night.
Damned snow. Damned weather. Damned blizzard. Damned gimmick. He grunted, rolling over onto his stomach.
"Fuck my ass!" Paul Levesque bellowed.
"Yeah!" Grunted Duane Johnson.
Damned paper walls! He tried to flick on a lamp, but the power proved to be out.
In the room adjacent to him at the right, a guitar began to wail.
That did it.
He kicked off his blankets and stomped to his feet. With one hard yank, he pulled the connecting door open.
"Though it may not seem to be the thing to do," He barked, marching into the darkness, "Somebody's TRYING to sleep in this hotel!"
The sound of a lighter igniting broke the silence. It's light cast a pattern over a tattooed arm before it lifted to light up a familiar face.
"Richards?" Brian asked.
Steven chewed his bottom lip, then crossed his arms over his chest. "Yeah. Shut up."
Brian chuckled, shaking his braids, "You can sleep through this racket?" He asked.
Steven struggled with a lie for a few moments, then came forth with the truth, "No. I defy anyone to."
Brain slipped his fingers down the throat of his guitar, "Exactly." He began to play something lighter. Steven recognized it as the "Morning Blues."
Quite a strange experience. He could not see his lips move; only some vauge light that illuminated his teeth and the strings as they vibrated In the frozen air.
I used to fly high like a turtle dove
And I've had these blues for just the longest time
It's just some boy on this poor boy's mind..."
Steven settled down on the floor, at Brian's feet. "Who's the boy on your mind?"
Brian finished the chorus and sighed elaborately, "You know who."
"It's Billy?"
"Of course."
"Where is he?"
"With Joanie."
"Oh." Ouch, thought Steven.
"Here," Brian said, passing the guitar to him, "You try it."
"What makes you think I can play?"
"You have the hands of a guitarist.
Steven sighed and began:
But the women 'cross the river, well, they knew that all along.."
"Where's Kwik?"
"He decided to make an overture to Bradshaw tonight."
As if on cue, a throaty moan cut through the haze of muffled sex around them. "Rrrgh! John!"
"Ouch," Steven finally said. "You need this now." He said, handing the instument back.
And I've been nothing these days
But I'll come back, time will see
If I'm wrong about you, right about me.."
A concierge banged on the door. He blushed nervously. "This seemed to be the only room that was...quiet." He held forth a baggy for them, "These were leftover from our Y2K emergency packs on New Year's Eve," He explained, "There are glow sticks, tea light candles, flashlights, energy bars, and thermal warming blankets. Oh, and dinner will be served at regular time; we're cooking with gas tonight." He read woodenly from the list before him.
Steven half-smiled. "Thanks," He said, palming him a tip and closing the door.
Brian handed the guitar off, "Your turn."
And how long I've felt so low
If you knew how I wanted someone to come along
And change my life the way you've done..."
"Do you really mean that.?" Cannily he asked.
"Hmm.." Steven rested his chin against the fretboard. "Maybe."
"Gimmie that!"
Make me want to lose myself in your arms.
There's something in your voice makes my heart beat fast
Hope this feeling lasts
The rest of my life."
"Hah," Steven retorted weakly. He crawled a bit closer as Brian sang,
Feels like home to me
Feels like I'm all the way back where I come from
Feels like home to me.."
It pulled at his nerves and heart. Steven sat on the bed, close to him, and slipped close to him and ran his lips over his forehead. The strings vibrated through his body, pulling muscles taut.
"Oh!"
"Yes!"
"Fuck!"
"Coming!"
Shrikes echoed through the building, not even disturbing their hovering lips in their path.
Another brushing, of slick lips on his. The lights then flickered back on.
And the hotel seemed to sigh in relief. Sheets rustled; snores echoed.
Everything that was frozen melted. The ice machine down the hall flicked on. Hearts accelerated in the winter light.
All was right in the world.