Caroline Rae

After about four hours, I decided the boys had enough torture. I rose from my desk where I'd been writing all the while. I took on poetry just a couple years ago. I liked it. It helped release the tension music couldn't get rid of that twisted inside me.

After walking to my closet and punching in the code, I waited for the click and entered the room. A small smile grazed my face as I could already hear the groaning. I walked around the corner, to the room the boys were in, and let out a soft laugh.

Jack was sprawled out on the floor, awkwardly laying on his guitar in a way that didn't look comfortable. Rian was paled and sitting at the drum set with his hands locked around his sticks.

"My hands...can't move.." he uttered.

Alex was in the corner of the room assuming the fetal position. He rocked back and forth with his eyes close, muttering to himself.

"It's the mirrors.." Zack whispered. "They do things to you.."

I cleared my throat and they all jumped at the sound. Jack peeled himself off the floor, and I had to suppress the gag that rose from my throat at the sight of his full body outline on the floor. He actually sweat so much, that his legs, torso, and face were prominent images on my expensive carpeted floor.

"Sweet, sweet freedom!" he shrieked as he bounded out of the room.

"Myrian has dinner prepared. You guys can go." I said. Zack and Rian stumbled out after Jack, but Alex remained. I carefully stepped over to him and kneed down.

"Alex?" I whispered. His eyes shot open at the sound of his name, and I felt a pang. Maybe locking them in here wasn't such a great idea...

"We can leave?" he asked like a small child. I smirked.

"Yes, you can leave." I said.

"Jack..was so..naked," he shuddered. A light groan escaped my lips. Great. Looks like some sterilization will be taking place in here soon.

"I'm guessing the mirrors didn't help?" I asked him. His eyes only got bigger as he stood up.

"So, how'd it go?" I asked him. He shrugged.

"We tried what you said. The 'one world' thing. It actually wasn't as bad as we thought. You're not crazy after all." I scoffed as we came to the hallway outside my room.

"Go eat, use the bathroom, hydrate up, but meet me out back at the gazebo in half an hour. Zack can show you wear it is. Just follow the trail." I told him.

"Why?" he asked.

"I want to try something."

I made my way back to my music room and grabbed my guitar before going to the back yard. I walked slowly down the winding path, taking in every flower. The sweet smell filled my senses and I wanted to drown in it.

I made it to the white gazebo, secluded by trees, and climbed the steps. I perched on the rail and crossed my legs ignoring the fact that I had on a dress. This was me cutting lose.

Alex showed up sooner or later with a small smile on his lips.

"Make yourself comfortable," I told him. He obeyed and sat directly across from me while eying my guitar.

"Pick three chords." I demanded.

"Wha-"

"Just do it, please."

He sighed heavily but did what I told him. "D..G..and..A?" It came out more like a question but I strummed them none the less.

"I'm going to play, and I want you to just sing whatever comes to you. Don't think about it. Just sing. It doesn't even have to make sense." I offered.

I strummed a couple more times for him to get the rhythm, yet he still wouldn't open his mouth. His face was concentrated, like he was trying to untangle things in his mind.

"I said not to think!"

"Alright! Give me a break!"

I continued to strum and when he finally uttered a word, he stared straight into my eyes.

"Manage me, I'm a mess," I couldn't help but to lightly smile at his words. He was smirking too.

"Turn a page, I'm a book half unread." Oh, Alex. I've got you all figured out.

"I want to be laughed at, laughed with just because," I continued to strum; however his words stopped and he took on a struggling expression.

"I want to be weightless, and that should be enough," I sang back. His eyes lit up at the new line. Like something finally clicked.

"But I'm stuck in this fucking rut, waiting on a secondhand pick me up and I'm over getting older," I winced slightly at his cursing but let it slide. I did tell him to sing whatever came to his mind.

"If I could just find the time, I would never let another day go by, I'm over getting old."

I stopped playing and Alex beamed at his lyrics. I couldn't help but to grin too.

"You have got a song," I smiled.

"I'll probably forget it in five minutes," he said while rubbing a hand on the back of his neck.

"I doubt it. You're an artist..kind of. You won't forget something you're proud of. Something you love." He looked at me then with a strange expression on his face.

"How'd you get so..smart?" He asked.

"I don't know, really. I just..know things." I told him honestly. Alex smiled and bid me a quick goodbye before he ran to the house to share the new song with his band. I perched back on my rail and played the song again.

I even sang the curse word.