Pity The Child

Kristen just shook her head and left for her appointment.

Throughout the day, John had his friend over, who was was Matt Hardy. They.... had some 'fun'. And by fun, John meant he got laid... a lot. By the time he expected Kristy to return, John walking a little... funny and had that glow on him that told you 'I got laid'. He kissed Matt goodbye, though not wanting him to leave, and waited for Kristy to return as he curled up in bed.

Kristen returned almost three hours later after her appointment and running a few errands here and there. The book bag on the back of her chair was full of things and the still had to carry a few bags in her lap. "John I'm back," called when she got inside.

John smiled giddily at Kristen. "Hey big sister." He hummed happily, still happy he had gotten laid. "Now what did you get me? You said you got me something!" He said excitedly.

Kristen chuckled setting all of the bags on her lap over on to the table before taking the bookbag off the chair. "I did, I just have to find it in all this mess."

John looked over all the stuff, nodding. "Hope you don't mind... but I got laid in your house." He giggled.

Kristen rolled her eyes. "I figured you would," she said. "Now let me tell you, what I got you isn't something I bought, it's something someone else had done for you."

John raised a brow. "Okaaay... give it to me, give it to me, give it to me! Stop making me wait!" He said, sounding like a child waiting for his birthday present.

She chuckled and pulled out the long plastic tube from her bag. Inside was a rolled up drawing. She pulled it out. "Amber had this done of you, from memory," said Kristen. "This is the last thing she remembers before it all went dark."

John smiled brightly and took the drawing. He unrolled it and gasped. It was him... it was perfect. Every detail was perfect. "Oh my god..." He breathed. "It's amazing. I can't wait to thank her." He said. He'd have to have this framed and hang it back at his condo.

"She thought you would like it," smiled Kristen. "This is her way of attempting to show you everything you mean to her."

John smiled. "It's amazing. Makes me look more perfect than I actually am." He chuckled. "I don't know how to thank her..." He breathed.

"Be there on competition day," said Kristen. "Let me show you how that girl can shine."

"Of course I'll be there!" Johns aid with a bright smile. "Damn this is the best present I've ever gotten. "I can't wait to see her compete." He said.

"She's been working for a year and a half for this, couldn't compete last year," Kristen said. "Heard about it too late."

"Well that must have sucked. But I know she'll win this." John said.
As the time passed, before anybody knew it was the night of Amber's competition. John managed to get the weekend off to come to this. John walked through the theater and found Kristen. "Hey Krissy, does Amber know I'm here?" He asked with a smile.

"She has no idea," said Kristen. "I was in the dressing room getting her ready for the first round, she's so scared right now."

John nodded. "Yeah, I know how it feels. Should I go talk to her? Or wait till the end?" He asked.

"Wait, if she knows now, she'll freak out," said Kristen.

John blinked. "I'll wait then." He chuckled. "I'll go find my seat." He said, kissing Kristen's cheek before going to his seat, which was in the front row.

Kristen went back to the dressing room. Amber would be the first in her age group to preform throughout the six rounds of competition.

John watch all the age groups until Amber's was up next. The other's were good, buy the knew Amber was better. He bit his lip as he waited for Amber to come out.

Kristen stood back in the wings as they announced Amber was up. She took the stage, being guided to the mic by an assistant.

You're on the air, I'm under ground
Signal's fading, can't be found
I finally open up
For you I would do anything
But you've turned off the volume
Just when I've begun to sing

Come to your senses
Defenses are not the way to go
And you know, or at least you knew
Everything's strange, you've changed
And I don't know what to do to get through
I don't know what to do

I have to laugh
You sure put on a show
Love is passe in this day and age
How can we expect it to grow?

You as the night
Me as the dream
All I've got tonight
Is static on a screen

Come to your senses
The fences inside are not for real
If we feel as we did, and I do

Can't you recall when this all began
It was only you and me
It was only me and you

But now the air is
Filled with confusion
We replace care with illusion

It's cool to be cold
Nothing lasts anymore
Love becomes disposable
This is the shape of things
We cannot ignore

Come to your senses
Suspense is fine if your just an
Empty image emanating out
Of a screen

Baby be real, you can feel again
You don't need a music box melody
To know what I mean

Deep in my eyes, what do you see
Deep in my sighs, listen to me
Let the music commence from inside
Not only one sense, but use all five

Come to your senses
Come to your senses
Come to your senses
Baby come back
Alive

John applauded Amber when she finished, smiling widely. She was amazing. Perfect. He was so proud if her. he knew the other competitors had nothing on her.

Kristen smiled watching Amber dominating rounds two, three, for, and five. By the time the sixth round came Amber was leading her age group by thirty points. Her final performance was the hardest number preformed by anyone in her age group in years. "Nobody's Side." from Chess. When Amber took the stage, she paused, as the darkness that surrounded her for months began to fade. As her vision returned her eyes locked on one person in the front row. John.

What's going on around me
Is barely making sense
I need some explanations fast
I see my present partner
In the imperfect tense
And I don't see how we can last
I feel I need a change of cast
Maybe I'm on nobody's side

And when he gives me reasons
To justify each move
They're getting harder to believe
I know this can't continue
I've still a lot to prove
There must be more I could achieve
But I don't have the nerve to leave

Everybody's playing the game
But nobody's rules are the same
Nobody's on nobody's side
Better learn to go it alone
Recognize you're out on your own
Nobody's on nobody's side

The one I should not think of
Keeps rolling through my mind
And I don't want to let that go
No lovers ever faithful
No contract truly signed
There's nothing certain left to know
And how the cracks begin to show!

Never make a promise or plan
Take a little love where you can
Nobody's on nobody's side
Never stay too long in your bed
Never lose your heart, use your head
Nobody's on nobody's side

Never take a stranger's advice
Never let a friend fool you twice
Nobody's on nobody's side
Everybody's playing the game
But nobody's rules are the same
Nobody's on nobody's side

Never leave a moment too soon
Never waste a hot afternoon
Nobody's on nobody's side
Never stay a minute too long
Don't forget the best will go wrong
Nobody's on nobody's side

Never be the first to believe
Never be the last to deceive
Nobody's on nobody's side
Never make a promise or plan...