This is a very rough start to a book i had half way completed, then decided to trash as it wasn't good enough.
This is a short snippet of my opening. Keep in mind I just wrote this down and changes will most certainly ensue. Pay no attention to margins and so forth i copy/pasted this and as you can see it got a bit disheveled
Music poured out of the bar into the night air. Familiar guitar riffs and popular lyrics rang out from unfamiliar voices and patrons could be seen dancing wildly and uninhibited from the back entrance.
A curious looking couple sat perched on the open tail gate of an old ford truck in the parking lot. He sat staring through the bars open door with an undefined reverence. She appeared to be elsewhere in thought, eyes closed, letting the music take her away.
Im sorry the new door man wouldnt let you in. Im sure when the band comes out theyll vouch for you His face turned towards her in the light showing his striking blue eyes.
Dont worry about it. Its not the first time this has happened. This place goes through door men like you wouldnt believe. I like it out here anyway. Less idiots. A smirk traveled across her face. Di you know That band used to be a classic rock tribute band? It would have been incredibly lame if I wasnt for Alan. He made the songs his own. He is the only reason I came.
Another light on the building clicked on revealing more of the gravel lot. It also allowed Ian to inspect his companion more closely. Her green eyes seemed to gleam against the olive tone of her skin. Ian had always wondered if Black had been her natural hair color or an attempt to carry on an exotic mystique. Either way it suited her well as her hair fell at the shoulders with a slight curl. She was tiny, barely over five feet he guessed. A chuckle escaped Ians lips as he watched her legs dangle off the tailgate.
What are you laughing at? Her voice held a demanding tone.
Its nothing, really. He searched for change of subject that didnt involve her height. When was it? I mean when were they a tribute band? I dont remember that.
Two, maybe three, years ago and I couldnt stand it. Alan was always so talented it seemed like a waste of his time. I used to come every Thursday night with Eddie. She stopped abruptly, it had been a while since she had uttered that name to another human being.
Eddie? Have I met him? The confusion in Ians tone was understandable. They hung out with a tight knit group. It was odd for a part of that group to go unmentioned.
No.
Oh. The abrupt answer held a thick band of awkward silence. Ian couldnt stand silence. Were you two close or
? He trailed off thinking the question was open ended enough to get her talking again. She stayed silent. She didnt even look in his direction. Anna, are you ok?
He died. A soft quiver surrounded her voice. He died before I met you. I havent talked about him in ages. In fact I havent even spoken his name out loud in nearly a year. Without him, I wouldnt be who I am today. I was an entirely different person then. I was
The girl stopped abruptly again as if her voice had escaped her body.
Wow. What happened to him? Ian realized after saying this that it might not be the best question to ask. In fact it was probably the worst. He shook his head at his own stupidity. Im sorry. I shouldnt have asked. My mouth just works faster than my brain sometimes.
Anna didnt even hear her companion.We sat here, just like this, every Thursday. Back then It was all classic rock cover songs so we never really listened to the band. Sometimes we would come with a big group of people and other times it would just be Allan, Eddie, and I. It was our routine. We were inseparable. The smile returned to her face.
Ian sat quietly, waiting for her to say something else. It was near painful to resist breaking the silence.
You would have liked him She still didnt look in Ians direction.
Oh?
He was something else. Eddie loved to make people laugh, laugh until they hurt. He was my best friend. I loved him. He shouldnt have died that way. Shaking, Anna locked her gaze at Ian. I saw him die. I felt his spirit leave.
Tell me what happened. The familiar silence fell again Anna you cant keep something like that inside. Tell me What happened.
Slowly she moved her gaze back towards the bar. Music still poured out into the parking lot but now it was jumbled and unrecognizable. It was still early in the evening. Ian was right. The last thing Anna needed was more secrets.












