Monochrome Stories

Crimson's POV

Practice went on just like any other day. Teal and Kuro haven't seem to have said anything yet. It was just... Normal... Shouldn't I be happy? Why do I still have this painful feeling in my ċhėst? 

"Alright, guys. Take five." Teal announced as he took a cigarette stick out and headed outside. 

"That guy is gonna kill himself one day, I swear." Kuro said. 

"Yeah." I chuckled. I looked at Rogue and saw her trying to fix her mic. "You need help?" I asked as I came near her.

"That would be nice. I can't make it lower. I'm too short for this." She replied. 

"You're so cute." I said as I patted her on the head.

"Crimson!" A voice from across the room called to me. I looked to see my best friend and our bassist, Ivory, with our keyboard player, Carnation. Ivory is about the same grade as me. He had short, messy, blonde hair. He had a black piercing on his right ear, and had dark yellow eyes. His fashion sense is a bit... Questionable... But other than that, he looked good. We got close a year ago when I saved him from some bullies. He has a really honest personality and anyone could read him like an open book. Carnation, on the other hand, is a college student like Teal. She had light pink hair in the style of a pixie cut, and had a piercing on her lips, just like Kuro. She has a very aggressive personality, but she doesn't mean any harm most of the time. She just gets carried away by her emotions a lot. 

"Aren't you guys gonna go outside?" Ivory asked. 

"Nope. Crimson is helping me fix my mic. It's too tall for me." Rogue replied. 

"If I can actually fix it." I added. 

"Ivory knows how to do it." Carnation interrupted. "I saw him fixing up your mic earlier, Crimson. He said it was too short for you so he fixed it before you came in."

"Don't tell them that!" Ivory exclaimed while trying to cover Carnation's mouth.

"If that's the case, then can you fix it Ivory?" Rogue asked. 

"Oh, uh sure." He replied. 

"Can I take Crimson for a bit? I just have to talk to him about something." Carnation asked. 

"It's fine. Go ahead." Rogue replied. 

"Aren't you gonna ask me if I wanna come?" I asked. 

"Nope." She replied, pulling my arm until we reached outside. She shoved me onto a wall and slapped me hard. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!" She exclaimed. 

"W-what did I do???" I asked nervously. I mean, who wouldn't be nervous at a time like this? She just suddenly slapped me out of nowhere.

"You-!" She sighed loudly. "I'm sorry for slapping you, and I'm sorry if I slap you again, but would you please tell me why you and Rogue started dating? Wait no, that's not what's important. Didn't you even stop and think about how your best friend would feel about this??"

"I... I didn't know that Ivory liked Rogue..."

"That... Would explain a lot. Did you seriously not know? It's been written all over his face."

"How long has it been, Carnation?" I asked. 

She went quiet and avoided eye contact. "Ever since she joined the band..." She replied. 

So it's been that long... But why didn't he tell me anything? Aren't I his best friend? 

"Crimson, he wants to tell Rogue how he feels, and it makes me so sick that I know how this is going to end."

"Carnation, why did he tell you about his feelings for Rogue?" I asked. 

"I asked him about it, and since he was easy to read, I could tell immediately, but it is strange that he didn't tell you."

"Yeah... Wait! He plans to tell her how he feels??"

"Did it seriously take you that long to react to that? But, yeah. He plans to do it tomorrow after our performance."

"What do I do??"

"I... I can't help you there. I have no idea what you can do either, but you can't tell him about you and Rogue."

"So I just stay quiet while he does it?? I don't want him to get hurt!"

"And you think by telling him about you two he won't get hurt?!"

"....."

"Crimson, I know you aren't dumb. He'll get hurt either way, but you have to tell him at the right time. Jealousy is an ugly thing, especially since the two of you are best friends. I don't wanna see either of you get hurt."

"I understand. I won't tell him..."

She placed her hand on my head. "You're making the right decision." She said. 

"I hope I am." I replied. 

"Let's go back. I'm sure you two are walking home together, right?"

"I-" I stuttered. "Can you tell her I'm going on ahead?"

She looked at me confused. "What about your stuff?" She asked. 

"I'll just come back for it tomorrow. Bye." I said as I waved goodbye and started to head home.

I don't know what to do anymore... I don't want Ivory to get hurt... But is it so wrong for me to wanna be happy? Can't anybody see that I'm happy being with Rogue? I don't get why nobody seems to be taking my side... It's me against everyone. Well, everyone but Rogue...

"Crimson!" A voice from behind me exclaimed. I turn around and saq Ivory running towards me with my guitar strapped to his back. "You forgot your guitar!"

I walked towards him and he stopped in front of me. "I told Carnation I was leaving it behind." I replied.

He sat down on the concrete, trying to catch his breath. "That isn't any way to treat your instrument. It's supposed to be like a child. You treat it with love and care. You aren't supposed to leave it behind. What if something happens to it?"

I offered my hand to help him up. "Yeah, yeah. Sorry." I said as I took the guitar from him. "Thanks for bringing it here. Gonna head home now. Take care, Ivory."

"Wait!" He said as he grabbed my hand. "I actually wanna talk to you about something..."

Shit shit shit. He wants to talk?? Does he already know??? Did Rogue tell him? This isn't good. This isn't good!

"What is it?" I asked.

He pointed to a bench nearby. "Wanna sit down for a bit?"

We sat down on the bench and I could notice him fidgeting a lot with his hands. He looked nervous about something.

"So, what did you wanna talk about?" I asked. 

He looked at me, his face turning a bright red color. "I... I like Rogue..." He said.

He... He still doesn't know, does he? Shit, I feel sick. This is so wrong. 

"What do you wanna do then?" I asked. 

"I wanna tell her how I feel... But..."

He wants to tell her how he feels. Shit, what do I do? Should I support him? But if he finds out the truth, then he'll get hurt even more... Carnation is right. He'll get hurt either way. 

"But what?" I asked. 

"I want you to tell her how you feel too." He replied. 

"W-what?" I ask nervously. 

"Don't you like her too? I won't feel good if I told her how I felt and you didn't. It wouldn't be fair if she chooses me when she could've chosen you too. So let's tell her how we fell and just let fate do its thing."

I... I don't think I can lie to him... I want to tell him... I have to tell him. It's the right thing to do. 

"Hey, I have to tell yo-"

"Ivory!" A voice from afar interrupted me. The voice came from behind Ivory, and I looked over to see Teal heading towards us. "You were taking so long. I thought you got lost or something. What are you do-" He stopped. "Crimson? Are you guys talking?"

"Yeah." Ivory replied then looked at me. "You were gonna say something?"

"It's... It's nothing." I replied. "Don't worry about it. I'm gonna head home now. You guys take care, okay?"

"Thanks. Take care too." Teal said as we parted ways. 

I couldn't tell him. I don't think I can tell him. I don't want him to get hurt, but what can I do? He's the only person I could rely on, but I can't even rely on him now. I don't even have anybody to talk to anymore... It's not like I have any other friends...

It's been so long since I've felt so... Alone again. Ever since Ivory came into my life, I felt like I had a place to belong. I felt like I could be myself again without the constant worries I have in my mind. I want to be selfish for my happiness... But I could never trade the friendship I have with Ivory for anything else in this world.

Black paused the game and placed his hand on my back. "Can you still continue?" He asked. 

"Of course." I replied. "Why?"

He placed his hand on my face and wiped my cheek. "You're crying." He said. 

"W-what?" I asked as I wiped the tears from my face. "Why am I crying?"

"Crimson, it's fine if you can't say any more. Come on, let's sleep." He said as he moved away and stood up. 

I grabbed his wrist. "Wait..." I said. "I can still continue. I just need someone to listen... I've felt like I've been holding onto these emotions for too long, and I need to let it all out..."

He sat back down and smiled. "Then I'll listen."