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“It’s real?!”
“Yeah, I got it from my uncle when I was younger.”
“No way! That’s so cool!” Aya cooed over the record player on the messy floor between her and Koga. She’d never actually used one before, but here it was, sitting in front of her, begging to be touched. Well not exactly, but she was sure that if she didn’t get her hands on it, she was going to collapse. “How many records do you have?”
“Mmm…” Koga mumbled, facing away digging through a basket. “Around 200, last time I checked.” She grabbed one and brought it down to her, slipping off the cover and handing it to Aya on the floor. “This is the most recent, Gun’s N’ Roses, Use-”
“Use Your Illusion I, you were looking at it at the store.” She gasped, “Can.. Can I put it on?”
Koga laughed, “Of course, but I may have to put the stylus on, if you’ve never done it before.” That was alright in her mind, maybe when they did it their hands would touch and- No, no! Aya nearly slapped herself. Do NOT let your mind race here! This is strictly a friendly demonstration of a shared passion for music! This means nothing!
She carefully grasped onto the record, “It’s so smooth!” She accidentally exclaimed, though Koga didn’t seem to mind, “Are you sure I can… Touch it? What if I break it?”
Koga laughed, “It’s basically just a big cd, you won’t break it unless you actively try. I can do it for you if you wa-”
“No, no it’s alright!!” She wasn’t ready to lose this once in a lifetime opportunity! With shaky hands she placed it down, almost jumping when it didn’t break, “Ahhh, that’s such a rush of adrenaline!!”
“Wait till it plays!” She picked up the needle and placed it onto the record, one song ending, and leading into the first cords of…
“Midnight Rain!” Aya all but squealed, before clasping her hands over her mouth embarrassed, Koga laughed, fiddling with her beanie.
“A classic, isn’t it? Not my usual pick from the album, but it’s great.” It really wasn’t her usual pick. Koga had a clear favour for heavier rock pieces, instead of more ballad driven ones. But she was right, it really was a classic, the progression was iconic to say the least, the length was truly justified, as a work of story more than anything.
Then the first lyrics began.
“When I look into your eyes
I can see a love restrained
But Darlin, when I hold you
Don’t you know I feel the same?”
…Her poor heart nearly exploded.
These stupid romantic lyrics! Putting ideas in her head where there really was no space for them. She pushed out any… Similarities to current events or feelings from her brain and focused on the music. Koga certainly was, head tilted up, eyes shut, purely enjoying it. It was kind of a calming sight, if not a bit charming. She followed suit, but her eyes shot open again at one part.
“If you want to love me
Then Darlin don’t refrain
Or I’ll just end up walkin’
In the cold November Rain”
Scratch that, these lyrics weren’t stupid and romantic, they were downright cruel on her poor heart! She loved this song when she was on her own, but next to Koga? That was too much man!! It really didn’t help that it was a song she put in her playlist for Koga before she realised who she was! Jeez, she better not be doing this on purpose!!
…….Was she doing this on purpose?
She listened closer to the lyrics, all but ignoring the melody, as the bridge began.
“I know it’s hard to keep an open heart
When even friends seem out to harm you
But if you could heal a broken heart
Wouldn’t time be out to charm you?”
Oh my god.
……….WAS SHE DOING THIS ON PURPOSE?
LIKE COME ON, IT HAD TO BE, RIGHT? THIS WAS LIKE, THEIR EXACT SITUATION. RIGHT???
Oh my god what if she was reading too much into it. She did that often. But what did people say all the time! ‘Trust your gut!’ Should she trust her gut? SHOULD SHE TRUST HER GUT???
She didn’t mean to, she really didn’t mean to, but she found herself staring at Koga, like she often did. Koga seemed to notice, as she slowly opened one of her eyes, flashing her a tiny grin.
…………………..Holy fuck, kill her now.
The outro began, and she wayed her options.
…Well she didn’t have options. She had a long outro, her crush next to her and a once in a lifetime opportunity.
So basically. She had one option.
The song faded out.
“Don’t ya think that you need somebody?
Don’t ya think that you need someone?
Everybody needs som-”
“KOGAILIKEYOUSOMUCHITSNOTEVENFAIRYOURELIKETHECOOLESTPERSONTOEVERGRACETHISEARTHANDTHERESSOMETHINGABOUTYOUTHATJUSTMAKESMYHEARTEXPLODEINTOLITTLETINYPIECESANDIWOULDLOVEIFWECOULDBELIKEGIRLFRIENDSIDONTKNOWIMSORRYICANLEAVEIFYOUWANTIAMFULLYWILLINGTOLEAVELIKEIWILLLEAVETHECOUNTRYIFYOUWANTIMSOSORRYISHOULDVENEVERASKED-” Aya stopped in her tracks to take a large breath in, as her eyes darted to Koga. And she realised in a moment of pure overwhelming redness..
She didn’t do that on purpose.
Oh FUCK-
“I mean…” Koga’s smile grew, and back she had fallen into that handsome persona she first fell in love with, “You’ve never been very subtle about it.” She let out a laugh, that of her shyer self Aya had never realised she would be so encapsulated by, "But yeah… I’d like that. I really would.”
Her poor heart, as Koga rested her hand against her cheek, leaning in, and-
“You know you’re all alone
Your friends, they aren’t at home
Everybody’s gone to the garden.”