Aurelie's Rented Room

[Rafe Hitchens]

*Nods sadly*

It is a right good song, wish th' masses shared your opinion, eh?

*Stuffs some more food into his mouth, without any ceremony*

I'm definitely on my own, 'ave been for awhile. I only got my OWLs at 'Ogwarts and started traveling wi' th' band until the w***ers threw me outta their lives. A fifteen year old whelp replaced me as lead singer, can ya believe tha'? He 'as spiky hair and eye makeup, tha's all he has!

*Heaves a huge sigh*

You're on ya own, also?

[Aurélie Benoit]

*listens to his story with interest*

*nods*

Yeah... I finished school last spring and don't really have much to do now. I guess that I had planned on being married by now. At least, that is what my family had planned for me.

*laughs bitterly*

Kind of silly isn't it? Well, like I said... I'm all alone. My lover left me for another man and I'm afraid to say that I've not yet gotten over it completely. I just feel like I have no direction... no purpose, you know?

[Rafe Hitchens]

*Makes a sympathetic face*

For another man, ya say? Tha's rough. 'Appened to a friend o' mine and she kept blaming herself. It wasn't her fault though, ya understand. He always 'ad those tendencies and there was nothin' she could 'ave done.

*Smiles*

Aurelie, ya wouldn't wanna be married. You're so young and vibrant. Marriage would 'ave sucked the life right outta ya. Tha's wha' I think. Dun't tie yourself down.

[Aurélie Benoit]

*smiles appreciatively*

Might be so... I guess that I was just one of those little hopeless romantics as a child and never grew out of it.

*laughs lightly*

Though, I have to admit... even without marriage, I feel only half alive.

*shrugs*

You must think me terribly depressing. Life isn't all bad. There are always new people to meet.

*nudges him*

[Rafe Hitchens]

Tha's right. People similar to me, I would think. Right freaks wi' crushed dreams and all.

*Lets out a chuckle*

You're not th' only depressed one, babe. I'm no pocket o' sunshine. We could look less pathetic together, whadda say?

*Wraps his arm around her back*

[Aurélie Benoit]

*nods silently*

Sometimes, just finding somebody that understands not being happy can make one a bit more cheerful.

*gently lays her head on his chest*

Sounds like a good arrangement to me.

[Rafe Hitchens]

It is a good arrangement. Just fair warnin', I do wha' I like wi'out thinkin' sometimes.

*Squeezes her arm*

So, wha' was he like? I love hearin' stories. It's where I get my ideas for songs. I can tell ya about th' best love there is after you go.

[Aurélie Benoit]

A person should be free to do what they please... with reason, of course.

*sighs heavily*

Well, his name is Sebastian. We met in school and, what can I say? I fell really hard for him. Do you know what it's like to be with someone and not care if you are bored or busy or if the world ended right then... because you have what you want? Well, needless to say, I guess that he didn't feel exactly the same way. I had to leave for awhile when my grandmother got sick. When I came back, he had a secret lover... as I said, a man. I didn't really get mad. What could I do? I loved him and I guess that I just wanted him to be happy.... It still hurt, though. A lot. And the worst part? I still can't find anything wrong with him... other than the fact that he is rooting for the other team, so to speak.

*laughs nervously*

Well, now that I have talked your ear off.... I could go on forever about Sebastian, I'm afraid.

[Rafe Hitchens]

Merlin, I know tha' boy. He's Lucretia's flatmate, yeah. Small world, eh? Sounds like a right interesting story if nothin' else.

*Still grasping her arm, his other arm gesturing out into the air as if he's preparing for a flashback*

Now, I may be th' uneducated sod with th' long hair, but I always fancied th' unreachable girl. Th' girl ya couldn't 'ave. Tha' way, no matter wha', you have this pristine image tha' never fades. 'Course, you're dying inside, but when th' magic in a relationship fades then you're dying inside. Wi' the unreachable image, ya got it all. I 'ad a thing for my best mate's little sister and she was my dream for a year at least.

[Aurélie Benoit]

*laughs*

I think that most people know Sebastian... he gets around in his own way.

*listens with interest, still sitting close to him*

*frowns*

What happened after that year?

[Rafe Hitchens]

*Closes his eyes, the hand on Aurelie's arm stiffening*

I slept wi' her, tha's wha'. I got real sloshed after a small gig and finally got my wish. I dun't really remember much and I think I may 'ave unwittingly given her a bad drink. Th' problem was she was engaged to my other mate, who also 'appened to be in th' band, too. Two against one so I was outta there.

*Sighs*

She was so fresh and lovely. She used to sing all th' female back up vocals if we needed 'em and I loved her being there. Voice like an angel, so pure. I would stay up late listenin' to her parts o' the songs while everyone assumed I was listenin' to myself.

[Aurélie Benoit]

*furrows her brow, quite sad herself now*

*licks her lips, thinking*

But, couldn't you have just told her how you felt... I mean, before...

[Rafe Hitchens]

*Shakes his head violently*

Never. Best mates can never date or snog th' other's fiancee. Tha's an unwritten rule. You wouldn't date your friend's boyfriend, right?

*Smiles sadly*

It wouldn't 'ave worked out, Aurelie. She was my image, which in my mind was much better than th' real thing. I would most likely be disappointed after five minutes alone wi' her. It was my mistake to make and pay for.

[Aurélie Benoit]

*nods*

I think that I understand. Deep down, you know that they aren't really what you want. But, you want to love someone so much that you'll fool yourself willingly. It's somehow better than thinking that there is nobody out there.

[Rafe Hitchens]

Tha's exactly wha' I mean. And I can't compose love songs wi'out being in love, eh? Can't be an artist wi'out loads o' pain, all o' tha'.

*Sniffs discreetly, looking down at Aurelie and acting random again*

Do ya 'ave any clothes for men around? I think I tore up my best pair o' trousers last night and I 'aven't th' slightest idea how.

*Stands and walks curiously around the rented room*