Hiya, this is my first story, so please be nice. Thank you!
~ Phantom Dancer Kaulitz
I know, that in the world, every lonely girl, no matter how old she gets, wishes she's could be something more. Most of them have amazing talent that no one recognizes, or they keep to themselves. Whether it be acting, singing, sports, cooking, or painting, she wishes to show the world that she is more than the world wants to believe. Others, who also have amazing talent, are to scared to admit that they have these talents, because they do not believe in themselves. Me? Well, I was both. There I was, seventeen, almost eighteen, and abandoned, left on the streets of Brooklyn New York. Not exactly the greatest life.
I lay quietly in my alley, my only warmth my old black sweatshirt that was a size too big. Beside me sat my backpack, that contained my brush, a black Metallica concert t-shirt, a half empty bag of Doritos, my black Newsie hat, and the one thing that meant the most to me in this world, my small mp3 player and headphones. It was the only reason I was still sane. Although my dignity and my self-confidence had been beaten to a bloody pulp, my sanity still remained.
I had to steal batteries for the mp3 player to work, which was actually quiet easy, because the store clerk was always busy watching sports on the TV that was placed at his desk. He never watched me. Although I always felt guilty, I kept stealing the batteries. It wasn't exactly the best way to live your life, but that was me until I found something better. The batteries kept my mp3 player going, and the music that came out of it kept me going.
Every night that little mp3 player lulled me to sleep with David Bowie, Metallica, and My Chemical Romance. I mouthed the words to the songs every night. It was my little lifesaver. Without it, I would be nothing. Music was my life, and music was me. No better way to describe me. No music, no life. That was my motto. Those were the only words I lived by.
That night, just as every other, I curled up in my little alley corner, and listened too As The World Falls Down from Labyrinth, and fell into a fitful sleep.
***
The following day at around noon, I woke up, and got ready for the day. I then picked up my backpack, and went out to the streets.
Every day, I went to the corner of a street, and made my living by singing. I took the head phones out of my mp3 player, let the songs shuffle, put the volume up to max, and sang along. I never got much money, just enough to buy food from McDonald's or whatever happened to be around. On a good day. I mean you have to have food. I know it wasn't a lot, but it was enough to keep me alive.
So this morning, just like every other day, I went out the streets and sang. I put my Newsie cap on the ground to catch the money, and started out with one of the many Metallica song I had. I had the lyrics memorized, so there was really no need to worry about messing up.
About eleven people started around me, listening to the songs, and occasionally dropping change into the hat. Every time I ended a song, they began to clap. I recognized some of the people. Most of them were on their way to work, but just stopped by to listen to the strange homeless girl singing her way through life and trying to live off the change that the kind people were willing to give. It's better than nothing I guess.
At around five, I had been singing non-stop all day, so I called it quits. I cut off, and the crowd vanished, leaving me alone once again. I put all of the money I had collected into my pocket, and stuffed the hat in the backpack. Then I began walking down the street toward the nearest place to get food. I mean after all, I hadn't eaten since yesterday at noon, and I was so hungry I could have fainted. I stumbled down the street, feeling extremely light headed. There was a Starbucks right down the road from where I had been singing, and I steped inside. I sighed in relief when I recognized the man at the counter. He was a man I knew very well. I stepped up to the counter. "Hey Austin." I muttered through the hunger pains.
The man looked up. "Oh, hey there Tegan! The usual?" He asked.
I nodded. "Yes. Please." I leaned against the counter, running fingers through my ink-colored hair.
He chuckled. "Alright." He turned around and quickly made me a Caramel Frappuccino like I always got. I dug out the money to pay for it, and along with my Frappuccino, he handed me a Strawberry Yogurt Parfait. When I looked up at him in confusion, he winked. "On the house."
I smiled, my face lighting up like a kid on Christmas. "Oh thank you! Thank you so much!" I whispered back. Austin was three years older than me, with short, curly auburn hair, and cool gray eyes. He was one of my friends. He didn't know I was homeless, but he did know that I was a singer. When he asked me where I was all of the time, I told him singing lessons. But he knew I worked really hard, and he's been like a brother to me since I met him. I sat quietly at the table and ate. It was really good to settle my stomach. I felt happy to be eating. Soon enough, my hunger pains left my small body, and I was perfectly fine.
When I was done, I quickly waved goodbye to Austin, and I quickly headed outside. I stepped away from the wall, and slung my backpack over my shoulder. I looked up and down the streets, quickly deciding which way to go. The moment I was about to walk away, I felt someone grab my bag. I was suddenly jerked to the ground, and my backpack fell from my arm. I looked up, only to find a man in his mid thirties with unruly fair hair, and cold blue eyes towering over me. He grabbed my bag, and began to run. "Hey!" I yelled. "Give me that!" I jumped to my feet, sprinting toward him. "Get back here dammit! Give me the backpack!" But I knew I wouldn't catch him.
Suddenly, a second man stepped out from a music store, and caught the man by the shoulders. He lashed out with his fist, striking him in the stomach, and sending the mugger and my backpack to the street. The second man pick up my backpack, and slung it over his left shoulder. He gave the man on the ground a grave look. The mugger scrambled to his feet and ran away.
I caught up to the second man, my breathing hard and ragged, and I nearly fell. I stopped in front of him. "Thanks." I gasped.
He chuckled. "No problem." I looked up at him. He was tall, about 5'7, (definitely taller than me at my height of 5'1) with jet-black hair with a thick golden streak through the bangs, and a skinny lightning stripe on each side. He had golden brown eyes that help a childish smile, even though he looked about my age. He had the sort of face that couldn't help but be cheerful, even if he was in a bad mood. His face reminded me of someone, but I couldn't figure out whom. He was wearing a black t-shirt with the Linkin Park logo on the front, and tight dark jeans. He was well built, the body of an athlete, and the t-shirt was more like a muscle shirt. He was wearing guyliner. I didn't know who he was, but if he was wearing guyliner, we would get along just fine.
The boy smiled. "Hey."
I smiled back at him. "Hiya. Oh, thanks so much for being so helpful back there. I don't know what I would have done without you. It's not every day I get someone as nice as you around me. I own you big."
He shook his head. "Nah. It's no big. I heard you singing a while ago. I love your voice. What's your name?" He asked as he extended his hand out to me.
I shook his hand. "Tegan. Tegan Knight. Yeah, I remember you. You were pretty friendly. Thanks for that."
"No problem. You're an amazing singer. You have a fantastic voice."
"Thanks." I replied, still smiling. "So, does my kind, complimenting friend have a name?"
The guy laughed. "Toby. Toby Scott." He answered.
I nodded. "Well nice to meet you Toby Scott."
"You too." He paused, and rubbed the back of his neck with his hand in a nervous way. "Listen, I'm meeting some friends for dinner in a few minutes, and I was wondering if you'd care to join us." He asked, blushing slightly.
I did a double take. "What? I've only just met you. I barely know you. And you barely know me." I exclaimed, laughing.
Toby grinned. "Not true!"
I looked at him in a confused way. "What are you talking about?"
He rolled his eyes. "We met like two days ago remember? You were singing over at the corner a few blocks back, it was like pouring rain, and people weren't paying you, which kind of pissed me off because you're incredible. I stayed for the whole little concert remember? I threw some money in remember? After you were done, we talked for a little bit, and walked the streets. I never learned your name. You ran off before I got the chance to ask." After I was silent for a few seconds, he raised his eyebrows. "Oh come on. You have to remember that."
I thought for a second, then my eyes widened. "Oh my god! I do remember! Well, hello again!"
He laughed. "Hello again!"
Two days previous, it was dumping rain, but I was still outside singing. I managed to cover myself under an overhang, and keep dry. Only a few people stayed. Most everyone wanted to get out of the rain. But this one boy had stayed for the whole thing. He was absolutely soaking wet by the time i was done, but he didn't seem to mind. He was busy smiling. About half way through my "concert", the mystery boy dropped ten bucks into my Newsie hat. I had smiled at him in thanks. He stayed there for the whole thing. When someone stopped to listen to me sing, then just walked off, the boy glared at them. After I was done, the rain had stopped, and the mystery guy and I walked up and down the streets, but having a good time. I never learned his name. But now that I look at him, I realize, it was Toby who had been so nice. I smiled. "Thanks again for that. It's not everyday I get someone as nice as you. I owe you big."
Toby shook his head. "No, you don't. You can repay me by coming." He said with an evil, devilish smile. "So what do you say?"
I scoffed. "This isn't going to turn out like one of those 'I picked up a girl at bar' stories is it?"
He laughed. "No. It's a friend to friend thing. It's how I was raised. Don't tell me you've got plans."
I shook my head. "Nope. I'm free."
He nodded. "Well alright then. So what do you say?"
"You really want me to come?"
"Yeah! I'd love for you to come."
I laughed, and picked up my backpack. "Well okay then." I slung the backpack over my shoulder.
Toby extended his elbow in a gentlemanly way. "Shall we?" He said in the fakest, cheesiest British accent I had ever heard.
I giggled, and took his arm. "The pleasures all mine." Laughing and smiling, the two of us walked away down the streets of Brooklyn, toward to now setting sun.
But if I had known what that boy would cause me, the pain, and frustration, I would have said no and walked away. But yet, I never thought about that. And if I had said no, I would have never known the happiness and the wonder that that single boy would show me. I would have missed the best years of my life if I had said no.
And so began my new life with Breaking Midnight.
Please R&R! Danke Schon!