Greenwich - Blue Flame

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Luke's fingers were nearly bleeding now. He was seated with his guitar on his lap, chatting to a waitress at the counter while the barista made him another latte. His fourth of the day.

Luke was, mildly put, freaking beat. He couldn't wait for his shift to be over but the tips were good. He loved playing too, so being paid to do his most favorite thing in the world was heaven enough.

But he was still exhausted sitting on a hard stool for the past three hours.

"Just couple more and then we'll start open-mic," the cafe owner chirped at him, a round-faced woman in her mid-forties. Or fifties. Luke didn't know, or care.

The waitress, a cute brunette, smiled at him and returned to wiping tables when the owner walked out from the back kitchen. Luke picked up his guitar and walked to a table, sitting down and pulling out his phone.

Evelyn texted him, telling him she and James and Ashlee (and some others she didn't name) might swing by. Luke gave her the directions and then glanced up at the horrible warbly singing of some guy onstage who was taking over while Luke had a break.

Acting impulsively Luke typed in a swift text to Alexis, recalling her mentioning visiting cafes around here often.

I'm sincerely hoping whatever cafes you frequent have slightly more talented idiots taking the mic than Billy Talent here. XD

Alexis replied sooner than he'd thought. We have soulful, "peace be to the world and acceptance" people every now and then.

Luke stifled a grin and replied:I can be soulful without the hippie cheer!

Alexis: -_- As soulful as a cat on catnip.

Luke: ....how exactly does a guy BE soulful? Sing like Billy Ray Cyrus?

Alexis: Look like a horse like his son, Tracy. Tracy? Whatever. That horse face emo
Luke: I have no idea who you're talking about. o__O

Alexis: Um....Metro Station. The leader singer.
Luke: OH! Um, I hate that band. So no idea

Alexis: After Shake It, you just wanna...choke them
Luke: Well it's Miley's brother, I can't say I expected greatness XD >__> then again, it's not all that hard nowadays to rig up a good, catchy song.

Alexis: Like We R Who We R or whatever...
Luke: Like Ke$ha period. Twenty years earlier, she'd have been laughed outta the music industry. XD

Alexis: Well, she's only big because of Auto-Tune. If I didn't have self-respect with my singing, I'd have to do auto-tune right now to get anywhere
Luke: Well, no, there are audiences who respect anything withotu autotones. Depends on what you mean by "get anywhere"

Alexis: No, I mean like, in the industries.
Luke: Again, WHICH industry, the modern mainstream genre industry wants autotone, the indie rock bands industry wants anything without autotuning XD

Alexis: Yeah but if I go like, indie I could possibly end up like Geogory and The Hhawk and no one will know me xD
Luke: A lot of indie bands have small audiences and it's not much of a money maker but they do get by. Then again, you could go the Taylor Swift route, cry about boys and not have to be autotoned

Alexis: ...No. I'd rather go be like Avril and sing about being a rebel. Over that.

Luke: There's some autotoning and fancy effects in Avril's stuff too though, she jsut has the voice to go with it

Alexis: Yeah but at least she doesn't sound like a freaking robot.

Luke: But again, it's almost mainstream, been-there-done-that kinda deal with most punk rock now

Alexis: Yeah. And Taylor..mom..wahtever is just ridiculous. Who wants to look like a raccoon and slut around in their videos? -_-

Luke: Taylor? I'm starting to hate anybody named Taylor now.

Alexis: Gossip Girl...Um...um..Momsen? Blonde raccoon punk-wanna be

Luke: In case this wasn't apparent - I don't watch Gossip Girl, it's teetering on the line between don't know and don't care XD The name is VAGUELY familiar. But I still don't know who you're talking about, sorry XD *is racking brain*

Alexis: *pulls it up on her phone*

Luke: Also, people named Justin really need stage names. There are too many Justins in the music industry -_-

Alexis: Justin Timberlake, Justin Beaver, Justin...uhm

Luke: Those two are enough x__x

Alexis: Touche but Justin actually had some talent and then he just...

Luke: WHICH Justin? XD

Alexis: ...Obviously not Beiber if I said he had talent.

Luke: Timberlake has talent? Wasn't aware XD

Alexis: I dunno, his music is just typical now but that's just my opinion

Luke was about to reply when the waitress set his latte down by him with a wink. He flashed her a dimpled grin and took a sip of it, returning to texting Alexis as the waitress walked away. IDK, when he was in that boyband (that was him, right?) it just ticked me off. Can't stand boy bands. x__x

Alexis smirked a little and bit at her bottom lip as she replied, leaning back in her seat. He was in N*SYNC. The only good "boy band" is Big Time Rush and I only watch that show if I'm really really bored. -___-

You and boybands? *tsks* That just killed my image of you as a rebel right there., Luke texted, looking up as the owner signaled at him to hurry up. He frowned a little and stayed drinking his latte at a leisurely pace.

College kids get bored rather easy. O_o can you BLAME me? Besides- they may as well belong in the group. Alexis replied, shaking her head. And I am who Avril wishes she could be.

Avril comes off real nice in interviews and shit though Luke replied. The cafe owner clucked at him to signal his time was running out and he hastily started swigging his latte as a gaggle of teenage girls in overly enthusiastic "artist" getups came into the cafe.

...I'm working on that, okay? Jeez! Alexis laughed some and sat up in her seat again, grabbing her pen and started working on the outlines for her painting.

Apparently you're not the only one needing niceness lessons. XD Luke replied, reflecting back on Evleyn's comment on him being more like James every day.

Alexis paused. ...Huh?? I mean, ,I can name a few people but. o__o who are YOU thinking?

Me, he texted back shortly.

Alexis paused and bit at her bottom lip trying to figure out what to say. I dunno. Not like I can say much, no one can be worse then I am/was/whatever. I doubt you'd want these lessons though.

How exactly do you learn niceness? Luek asked her, geting up as the owner made a motion to him ot get his ass back on the stage. He picked up his latte, draining it, and then carried his guitar wiht hsi free hand as he typed in his message and sent it with the other.

He sat himself back on the stool near what formed the stage, just a cleared space with a curtain behind it, a mic, an amp and a stool.

It's not really learning niceness. It's more of a place to go to and vent, get ahold of your stress and anger, and then go on with your day. But mine's a bt different. Alexis replied.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm starting," Luke said to his "boss", and then hastily replied before putting his phone in his denim jacket pocket. How so? Also, Delayed reply 'cause I gotta get back to work. :/

It's kay, I understand. I'm painting anyway. Mine's different because, Alexis paused in her typing and sighed, not sure she wanted to explain it all..it was...shameful to her. we work through issues and I get medication in the end.

Luke's phone buzzed in his pocket but he couldn't see the message right then. He closed his eyes, thinking of a song.

"Excuse me?" said a chirpy voice. Luke opened his eyes. One of the cute girls from the teenage group was standing in front of him, twirling a strand of hair sound one finger coyly. She looked about eighteen, or seventeen, he'd guess.

"Can you play Wonderwall?" she asked slyly. "I mean, if you ever take requests."

Luke under normal circumstances would probably have said no. He thought Wonderwall was highly overrated. But after talking about rebuilding niceness with Alexis, he hesitated.

"Sure." I'm gonna regret this but I can start somewhere.

"Any dedications to someone?" he asked the girl. Her smile widened as she turned to take a seat nearby, just about five feet away. Her friends moved over, giggling and whispering to her.

"To the cute musician playing it, sure," she replied flirtatiously.

Oh hell, Luke thought, even as he flashed her a dimpled grin, starting to strum.

Alexis let out a quiet breath and put her phone down, grabbing up one of her small fine brushes, dipping it in her red back before starting to paint in small details. She didn't like talking about it but it was something in her everyday life now.

[[Seth, Ashlee, Jake, Evelyn, James, Antonio, Ashton, Lola & Jesse from [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]]]

Jake sat down next to Evelyn, while everyone else took their seats watching Luke perform.

"Whoo! GO LUCAS!" Ashlee cheered in the quiet cafe earning her a few glares from some of Luke's fan girls and she just shrugged. James whistled loudly as Luke performed too, Luke had told him that he had been doing this for a bit but James hadn't come down to see him.

Jake looked to Evelyn and said, "I didn't know he could sing, he's pretty good." He said watching Lucas.

Luke's head shot up at Ashlee's and James' voices. He almost stopped singing in distraction but kept going, finishing up the last chorus of the song softly.

The owner of the cafe had noted the huge group come in and Luke raised an eyebrow at her. She turned away as Seth bounded over to the barista to order a coffee.

"Yo, you guys want anything? Come get it yourselves!" he announced.

Evelyn rolled her eyes at this, grabbing her bag that she'd set on the table and rifling thoruhg it for her wallet. "Do everyone a favor and reign Tinkerbell in," she murmured to Jake, getting to her feet. A sting in her hand made her look down.

She'd had the bandaging taken off her hand but the welt was now a reddish patch. She put down her bag and glanced at Jake, Jesse and Ashlee, who were seated at the table with her alongside Seth, who had left his jacket on the remaining chair by Ashlee. "You guys coming?"

Ashton had already headed for the counter, gotten himself a cheesecake slice and some coffee and bought another for Lola, figuring since he'd more or less invited her here, he could go ahead and be a gentleman. Plus, she and James and Tony were sitting at his table.

"I'm good for now, Jes you want coffee?" Ashlee asked her brother.

"No thanks, thanks for offering though." Jesse smiled up at Evelyn.

Jake snorted as he got up with Evelyn to go get coffee, "What do you want?" He asked pulling out his wallet.

Lola took the coffee from Ashton and thanked him as she took a sip, from the warm coffee, and spotted his cheesecake. "Huh you don't offer your date some cheesecake?" She joked with him.

"Uh oh, trouble in paradise." Antonio snorted, nudging James.

"Well, I would if I had a date," Ashton retorted meekly, but pushed his plate toward her.

Luke had resigned himself to two more songs, and now, during his momentary pause (which he regretted), the teenage girls were throwing requests at him.

"Justin Bieber? No, I don't sing Justin Bieber," he said irritably, pulling a face at James and then turning back to look down at the girl who had spoken. "If I were down to my last guitar string and had bronchitis and a broken voicebox, I'd sing Justin Bieber."

Evelyn blinked up at Jake and then shook her head, grinning. "No, I'm paying my own way." She patted hsi arm and went to the counter, amused.

"I was joking." Lola said guiltily, she hadn't meant to make him feel awkward. She pushed the plate back to Ashton. "Sorry."

Jake arrived at the counter stepping in front of Evelyn, "What kind of boyfriend would I be if I let my girlfriend pay?" Jake grinned down at her.

James decided to go save Luke from his new teenage fan girls, before Lucas snapped and hit them with his guitar. "Ladies, only real music is allowed to be requested. So please if you will leave my friend alone before I am forced to use force."

Ashlee had seen James get up, and she followed him to go see Luke. She overheard his last bit and stepped in, "Yeah I'm the queen fan girl around here so all of you bounce! You leeches. Hey Luke!" She greeted him cheerfully.

"Nah, seriously," Ashton said, sliding the plate back. The cheesecake slice wobbled dangerously. "Take it. I invited you out, the least I can do is buy you a measly piece of cheesecake," he informed her, looking over to see Ashlee and James leave their seats.

The girls near the stage looked annoyed and some rolled their eyes.

"How about some country?" one of them asked eagerly.

Luke heaved a sigh, keeping his cool. "Hey," he greeted Ashlee shortly. He glanced at James. "You're singing tonight."

Evelyn punched Jake in the arm with her left hand, which was nowhere near as strong as her right. "No, Jake, come on, you always pay, for once let me get my own tab!" she said guiltily.

Jake put his hand over her face, "Nope I'm paying! End of discussion." Jake said shortly.

"Ha yeah right, and Antonio is gonna be my back up dancer." James snorted, he wasn't singing tonight.

"I'm fine really, have it." Lola said pushing it back, to Ashton watching as it wobbled.

Antonio decided to solve this problem he took the plate from them and took a big bite from it, "There problem solved." He smiled mouthful of cheesecake. "Mmm this is good."

"Jake!" Evelyn said in an angry, muffled voice, pushing his hand off her face. She had a voice, damn it! She shoved him aside and stepped up to the cashier, plunking her credit card down on the counter. "Medium green tea and..."

"Come on, dude, the other patrons here are all old ladies and emo college guys," Luke argued, nodding his head at the room. It as fairly crowded by now, because open mics were generally entertaining for arts students.

"Oh, and I'll bet Ev will too," Luke added, remembering Evelyn mentioning her love of singing. "I've never heard her though."

At this second, Ashton exclaimed in an angry hiss, "Tony!"

Seth, sipping his latte, looked over, stifling a laugh. He walked over and took James' empty seat by , figuring he'd spare himself from having to be too near the lovebirds, who....apparently were bickering at the counter. Classic.

"Ugh," Ashton grumbled, getting up and stalking irritably to the counter again.