A Thousand Words -
Chapter 5

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"Ugh...this back is KILLING me!" Daniel complained as he got out of the familiar black van that drove him and the band to the Newcastle Entertainment Centre. He cringed and rubbed his tailbone.
“How the hell did you do that?” Anna-Maria asked. Daniel shrugged.
“He’s probably been banging with Michelle too hard,” Darren muttered as he walked past the group. Daniel clenched his hands into a fist and scowled at his former best friend’s back. Anna-Maria and Nicole exchanged looks.
“Someone’s in a poopy mood today,” Nicole commented. Daniel rolled his eyes.
“He’s been in a poopy mood since this whole tour started, Nicole. It got worse when we decided to break up. He’s such a baby.”
“How did you expect him to feel? Happy?” Ben asked.
“No. But I DID expect that Darren would be a bit more mature about this. It’s been a hard time for ME as well. But then again, he always only thinks of himself, anyway. He wouldn’t have noticed.”
“Oh, leave Darren alone, will ya?” Lee jumped in. “He’s not handling this any better than you are.”
Just as he said that, Darren turned and walked back to the group of musicians and overheard Lee’s comment. To Daniel’s surprise, Darren didn’t blow up in his face. He just looked down at the ground and shuffled his feet.
“We’d better get inside before it rains,” he finally said. Daniel looked up at the sky in confusion. No clouds were in sight.
“It can’t rain, Darren. There’s no clouds,” Daniel pointed out. Darren ignored him and turned to the rest of the band.
“The crew’s waiting for us to start soundcheck. Come on, let’s go in.”
He glanced up at Daniel, then quickly turned away and started walking into the soundcheck. Daniel sighed, gently put his bag over his shoulder and began following the rest of the band, who were a few metres in front of him. His eyes were to the ground and did not see anyone rushing after Darren, who had suddenly dropped his bag and broken into a run. When Daniel got inside, he put his bag in a corner of the room and turned to John, who had just entered the room.
“Can I have silence, please?” John asked. Obediently, everyone shut their mouths and sat around the room. John looked around the large area of space and noticed that one very important member of the band was missing.
“Where’s Darren?” he asked.
“He’s in the toilets,” Lee replied, glancing over at Daniel. “He’s upset about something.”
“Is he alright?” Daniel asked, concerned.
“We don’t know. He’s locked himself in a cubicle and wouldn’t come out when we asked him to. I think he just needs to calm down. He should be out soon. He’s probably just having a nervous breakdown or something.”
“Just a nervous breakdown?!” Daniel exclaimed. “God, and you just left him alone in there?!”
He got up out of his chair and started walking out the door.
“Daniel, where are you going?” Nicole asked.
“I’m going to see just what the hell’s wrong with Darren!” he said over his shoulder. The people in the room exchanged glances, then John changed the subject.

The toilets were empty except for the stall at the other end of the room, where the door was closed. Looking under the stalls, and keeping one hand on his back as the pain increased, Daniel saw that Darren was sitting on the tiled floor. He walked up to the stall and gently knocked on the door.
“Darren?” he said. He could hear Darren move a little bit.
“Who is it?” Darren’s voice came from inside the stall. His voice sounded quiet, with a shaky edge to it.
“It’s Daniel.”
“Leave me alone.”
“No, I can’t. Is something wrong?”
“I’m alright. Why do you ask?” Daniel knew that Darren was lying.
“Well, if you’ve locked yourself in a bathroom stall and sitting on the floor, and if your voice is getting really shaky, then something’s obviously wrong.”
“What could possibly be wrong?”
“You tell me. You’re the one who’s just about to break down.” He paused for a few seconds, then continued. “I know you don’t want to have anything to do with me. But while this tour is still going on, i’m still going to be here. And if something goes wrong, you have to expect me to be there for you. Now something is obviously making you upset and I want to know what it is.”
“Well, i’m not going to tell you. It’s not your business anymore.” Daniel could tell that Darren was trying to put on a brave tone of voice, but he knew Darren too well. Inside, he was dying. And he wouldn’t feel any better until he told someone about it. Darren wanted to tell Daniel so badly, but he couldn’t. Not while they were still trying to avoid each-other. He unlocked the door, opened it slightly and peered out.
“Are you still there?” he asked.
“Of course I am. Are you going to come out now?”
“...I can’t. I don’t want everyone to see me like this.”
“See you like...what?”
Daniel peered inside the stall. Darren had his face in his left hand, while his right hand was wiping his red, puffy eyes.
“Darren...” He didn’t know what to say. He just stood there as Darren tried to calm down. Finally, he sat down beside Darren on the fairly clean floor and simply stared at Darren. What could he say? “It’s going to be alright”? He didn’t even know what Darren was upset about.
What happened next surprised Daniel even more. Darren fell back and collapsed into Daniel, burying his face in his shoulder. It seemed that Darren had momentarily forgotten that he and Daniel were supposed to be hating each-other. After he had gotten over the brief shock, he did what any friend would do for a friend in need of some TLC - he gently wrapped his arms around him and held him. They sat there for two minutes, but it seemed like two hours as these two minutes were filled with silence. Finally, Darren lifted his head and sighed. Then he let out a short laugh.
“God, i’m pathetic,” he said.
“What’s the matter?” Darren heard the seriousness in Daniel’s voice. He took a deep breath and exhaled, then shrugged.
“It’s all become too much,” he replied. “You know. The pressure of the tour...losing so much sleep...our fight...Daniel, i’m getting really sick of this fight. I didn’t want this to happen.”
“I know you didn’t. But I just have to quit the band. I don’t want to hurt you, because my reasons for leaving have absolutely nothing to do with you, but you took it too personally.”
“I have a habit of doing that. Taking things personally. OK, we’ve been avoiding this way too much, and it’s driving us insane. You can see what it’s doing to me. Daniel, how are we going to live through the rest of the tour without killing each-other? I’m sick of putting on a happy face for the public and pretending that everything between us is going the way they should be.”
“There’s an easy solution - we can make up.”
“But how long is that going to last? When you leave the band when this tour is over, i’m just going to hate you again. Especially because of the fact that you’re leaving me to do this all by myself.”
“Darren, this isn’t very easy on me, either. Do you know how hard it was to make that decision to leave the band? It was torture. I even lost sleep thinking about it. But it’s just come down to this, Darren. I’m sorry, but I can’t think of anything else to do.”
“Look, whatever’s making you want to leave the band, we can sort it out, we can.”
“No, it has nothing to do with you. It’s just all this pressure that I feel from being in the band.”
“How do you think I feel?! I’m the lead singer of the band! I’m the one who has to act as a bullbar for us! I have to lead the band, take all the knocks for us...”
“There you go, only thinking of yourself again! You never stop, do you?”
“I’m not. I’m just trying to to work out what I can do to change and to get you to stay in the band.”
“You can stay just the way you are. I told you, it has nothing to do with you.”
Darren was beginning to sound desperate. “Then what do I have to do to get you to stay?! Just tell me! Whatever it takes, i’ll do it!”
Daniel gently held Darren by the shoulders. “You don’t have to do anything. I’m reconsidering my decision, anyway.”
Darren looked hopeful. “Are you serious? Are you going to stay? Come on, you have to!”
“I don’t know, Darren. I told you, i’m only reconsidering it. I might decide to stay with my first decision. Then again, I might not. Like I said, I don’t know. It looks like neither of us are ready to do any amount of reconciling in the near future.”
Darren couldn’t reply. Despite what was happening, he couldn’t forgive Daniel. Especially for choking him during The Drum taping and acting like a jealous little brat. Still, he missed having Daniel to lean on. Maybe that was why he was breaking down like this.
“We’d better get back,” Daniel said, standing up. “Are you coming, or are you staying on the floor all night?”
“I need to clean up. I’m not going to go out there tonight looking like I do now. You go ahead.”
“Are you sure you’ll be alright?”
“Yeah, it’s not like i’m going to die or anything.”
Daniel nodded, then walked out of the bathroom. Darren walked over to the sink and washed his face, which made him feel a little better and much more refreshed. While he was doing this, he suddenly had a good idea. One that could possibly save their friendship, and the band.

“Are you sure you won’t get into any trouble?” Kirri asked her friend Melanie as they walked into the foyer of the Newcastle Entertainment Centre. Melanie nodded.
“I have a Press Pass, remember? They know that we’re interviewing Savage Garden. If they ask you why you’re backstage, just say you’re with me. They’ll understand.” She looked over at Kirri and smiled. “Are you nervous?”
“I have to admit, it’s not every day that I get to see Savage Garden in the flesh!”
“Well, make sure you stay calm and composed while we’re interviewing them, alright? Because this isn’t just a meet-and-greet. This is for your Work Experience. I know you’ve always wanted to meet them, but just remember that. OK, we may as well figure out where we’re going to be for the show, for starters. As far as I know, we’re up on the right-hand-side, but since you and I are working as members of the press we can go where-ever we want. I think so, anyway.”
“We’d better find out soon - the show starts in 10 minutes. I wanna go to the loo before the concert.”
“Why didn’t you go at McDonald’s?”
“I couldn’t be bothered! Come on, let’s go before my bladder ruptures!” Kirri started literally dragging Melanie in the direction of the nearest ladies’ toilets. “Hey, did I tell you I heard them doing soundcheck?”
“No, you didn’t! What happened?”
“You know how I told you about this fight between Darren and Daniel?” Melanie nodded. “Well, I watched them doing Soundcheck, and I noticed that they were trying to avoid each-other. They were even trying not to make eye contact.”
“This could be even more serious than it sounds.”
“But that’s not it. I saw Darren talking privately to the other band members while Daniel was gone. I think they’re planning to do something.”
“What could they possibly be planning?”
“I don’t know. But I figure it’s something to do with Darren and Daniel’s fight.”
Suddenly, the siren went off to warn everyone to get to their seats as the show would be starting in a matter of minutes. Melanie and Kirri rushed to the front of the stage and took out their cameras (hey, they had a priviledge) as the show began. As any normal fan would, Kirri screamed her lungs out as soon as she saw her idols onstage, and danced and clapped with everyone else around her. Occasionally she stopped going crazy to take some happy snaps, and Melanie, who was standing back a bit, did the same thing. So far, everything seemed to be going fine. At least, there was no blood being shed and fists flying everywhere. She took that as a good sign, but she wasn't so suree. After the performance of “Fire Inside The Man”, Darren turned on his stool to face Daniel, who was looking out into the audience. The band began playing a song that seemed unfamiliar of Savage Garden. As Darren began singing, he looked at Daniel, who was turning back and giving the band a look of confusion. Darren gently poked Daniel on the shoulder and continued singing...
“It must’ve been cold there in my shadow,
To never have sunlight on your face
You were content to let me shine, that's your way
You always walked a step behind
So I was the one with all the glory
While you were the one with all the strain
A beautiful face without a name for so long
A beautiful smile to hide the pain
Did you ever know that you're my hero,
And everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle
For you are the wind beneath my wings...

Daniel finally got the message that Darren was trying to send to him. He smiled at Darren, picked up his guitar and joined in. Darren’s heart filled with joy - everything was going perfectly. The audience was getting into it, swaying their hands side to side in the air and singing along. When the song ended, the audience roared like it never had before. Even the people on the stands, right up to the very back of the venue, were on their feet going wild. It was concert they would never forget.

“Good show tonight, hey?” Darren asked Daniel as they reached their hotel rooms. Daniel grumbled a response and got into the elevator.
“The audience loved that little trick you pulled out there,” Daniel said in clear speech.
“What trick?”
“You know what I mean. ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’. Just what did you think you were doing?”
“I was trying to reconcile our friendship, that’s what I was doing! Didn’t you get the message I was sending to you?”
“Yeah. I got the message all too clearly. Nice try, Darren.”
The elevator doors opened, and Daniel stepped out and started walking towards his hotel room, but was stopped by Darren pushing him against the wall.
“Don’t you get it, Daniel?!” he asked, trying to remain composed. “I didn’t do that song for just a little thrill. I did it because I wanted you to know that you’re appreciated around here. Do you realise what you’re doing to me? To US? You’re f**king up my life, you know that?! This band is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Do you really want to take that away from me?”
“There you go thinking of yourself again!” Daniel burst out, pushing Darren away. “That’s all you ever did! Did you ever stop and think about how other people felt? It’s always just ‘you, you, you’, isn’t it, Darren? You don’t know what friendship is! True friendship is when you consider how your friend feels. True friendship is when you share things with your friend. But when we became famous, you totally forgot that this band is a team effort. Yeah, you took all the credit and you claimed Savage Garden to be your own creation! Well, you know what you are, Darren Stanley Hayes? You are the biggest son of a bitch that I have ever met! Now stay out of my life!”
The next few minutes were a complete blur. Who shoved who? Who punched who? All Darren and Daniel could think about was totally thrashing the other guy’s arse. People peered out of their hotel room doors to watch the action. Finally, security showed up on the scene and tried to pry the wrestling duo apart. But they kicked the security guards away and continued their violent outbreak.
“DARREN!!”
“DANIEL!!”
Colby and Michelle rushed up the stairs and they, too, tried to break apart the two squabbling men in front of them. Darren pushed Daniel up against the wall and kicked him in the groin. Daniel cried out and bended over, his face scrunched up in pure agony.
“Stay back, ladies,” Darren said breathlessly. “Someone’s going to get hurt here. I don’t want it to be any of you.”
“The only one who deserves to get hurt here is YOU!” Daniel shouted, and pounced at Darren again. He lifted Darren up and threw him over his shoulder. He heard a shout of pain, a few loud thuds and finally silence. Then all the screaming began. He wondered what all the fuss was about. He turned around and almost fainted at the sight. Without realising it, he’d thrown Darren down a flight of stairs. Darren’s body was twisted in a strange way and was motionless. A large crowd of people rushed down the stairs and crowded around Darren. They were pushed aside by the security guards, who called for an ambulance on their walkie-talkies. Daniel walked slowly down the stairs as though he were in a daze and made his way through the crowd.
“Nobody move him!”
“He’s knocked out cold!”
“Somebody get an ambulance here!”
“Darren, if you can hear me, please try and respond to us.”
Colby turned to Daniel and slapped him on the face. Daniel put his hand up to his cheek and winced. This was the first time he'd ever been struck by someone like that. Not even his parents would turn to violence like that. Darren...he would sometimes, but he wasn't a slapper. Colby was ENRAGED.
“You idiot!! You stupid, stupid idiot!! How could you do this to him?!” she screamed.
“How could I do this to HIM?!” Daniel burst into Colby’s face, looking like he’d lost his mind. “Did you ever stop and think about what he’s doing to ME? Darren is all anyone cares about! This is why I want to leave the band! Cause i’m never appreciated!”
“Why should I appreciate you throwing Darren down the stairs?! You could paralyse him for life!”
“You know that? Maybe throwing him down the stairs is the only way any of us are going to shut him up!”
“I don’t like you talking about my husband that way,” Colby said through her teeth.
Daniel shouted out in frustration, turned his back to Colby and repeatedly threw his head against the wall. Michelle tapped him on the shoulder.
“Daniel, calm down!” she said. When he didn’t stop, she forcefully peeled him off the wall. He untangled himself out of Michelle’s grasp and ran up the stairs. Michelle and two of the security guards ran after him. As he ran towards the hotel balcony, he continued looking behind him and shouting at him to leave him alone. Michelle realised what he was running to the balcony for, and she started running faster as he got closer and closer to the door that opened out to the balcony.
“Daniel, come back here...Daniel! DANIEL!!! NO!!!...”

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Chapter Six
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