“I guess it comes to… where… Miriam has to decides who she loves more,” says Matt, Pat nods in agreement, “and then…”
“But are you sure Brian and Miriam are in love with each other, Rivers?” Pat suddenly asks, he just has to make sure.
“Well, at least… I think so.”
“Ah.”
“But the thing is,” Rivers starts to think, “When Brian was talking, he seemed more like he was joking, I mean, haha, why would Brian like girls like Miriam.” Rivers explains, “She’s not his type… and HE’s not HER type.”
The three together let out a sigh.
“Rivers, why don’t you just ask Brian about it?”
“Yeah, Matt, like that is going to work.”
“Yeah, Bri would probably go like, ‘no way, dude. I mean like… like… HER?’, something like that…”
“hmmm… Brian probably doesn’t want to ruin our friendship and shit anyways, right?”
“Exactly!!" so then either way… he’ll denies that fact that he’s in love with Mim,” Rivers stands up from the chair and walks to the other side of the room.
“But Rivers, maybe he really doesn’t like her!”
“There’s always that possibility…” Rivers looks up and sees Brian entering the room. “Hey Bri.”
“What possibility?”
“Nothing,” Matt replies abruptly, “like… just with the second album and stuff.”
“So anyways…” Brian says as he waits for one of the guys to say something.
“Hey, um, why don’t we go get something to eat, Matt?” Pat asks.
“Right, I’m fucking starving.”
“Why don’t we all go together?” Brian offers.
“No Brian,” Rivers says, “I need to talk to you, man.. like with… Mim and stuff.”
“Oh okay then.” Brian looks at Rivers in the eyes. –Man, those eyes are… giving me a feeling… quite… indescribable—
“Anyways, um… like…” Rivers stares at the carpet, trying to figure out the pattern of the wool on the carpet. He isn’t even thinking of what to say to Brian. He is off to his world…
“Dude, are you alright?”
Rivers freezes as another melody floats into his head. –Please, I think I’d be good for you. Mim, I… all I could do is write stupid songs, and to the most, maybe make an album with the songs. Maybe you just don’t know what is going… but… I’m falling for you… I…—
“Rivers!! Rivers!!” Brian screams at Rivers as he violently shakes his body.
“Brian,” Rivers looks at Brian directly into the eyes, “don’t you dare taking Miriam from me.” Rivers gets up, he looks at Brian one more time in the eyes that are filled with wrath and envy, “Don’t Brian, just don’t.” Rivers says as he picks up his favourite blue strat.
“Rivs, dude, I mean… like… like… HER? I…” Brian doesn’t know what to say, and Rivers isn’t even listening. “I’m going. I’ll talk to you again later.”
Rivers starts to shred and shred and shred on the guitar. He shreds like there’s no tomorrow, he shreds like he has just learnt the coolest KISS solo.
* * * * *
Brian is now just walking home, “man, Rivers was blowing some motherfuckers away with that shredding and shit. I’ve never seen him like that before…” Brian then remembers how Rivers looked at him in the eyes, telling him to stay away from Miriam. “Jesus fuck, I can’t like her. That would just…” Brian tires to stop thinking about it, but the image of Miriam kissing him in the car keeps on coming back. “god dammit!”
* * * * *
Miriam cools herself down with a splash of icy cold water. –I’ve GOT to stop thinking about him— Yet she cannot control herself… The way he speaks, the way he walks, the way he smells…
Ch. 7