Amused Aria (2019)- full story

Story is not suitable for younger than 13 years old due to mildly depressing parts. It's fanfiction, inspired with real people but the plot is part of imagination, through some parts actually happened, dialogues and emotions of the characters are strictly a fiction.

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Mid. of July 2018

 Only this warm fire lit the dark Scandinavian night, giving warmness to the people around it. Young men sat around it, making plans for their project not even imagining this night will be the birth of their the wildest dreams, that something they couldn't even imagine could happen; the birth of the most important thing in their life.

 Aatos: "I got an idea, you'll love it!" Vegard (next to him): "To get a beer?" Aatos: "No, to make a band! You know, it would be like music we listened tonight, I could add keyboard harmonies... It can be great!" Vegard: "Can't say it's a bad idea, we could try! Where to find more members? You know, we can't be a band with two members." Aatos: "I heard there is a girl in our school, good singer, I think we could call her." Vegard: "Hmm, you think she'll accept? Not sure." Aatos: "I think she will, no one could resist this opportunity. If not, we'll look for another one." Vegard: "Good, we made a deal! Man, this will be so much fun, can't wait to start with project!"

 They've gone to the girl they were looking for, so Aatos started conversation with her: "Um... hi. You may recognize me from the school play, the saxophone guy." Astrid: "Yes, I do recognize you, not so well, but I think I know. You have something to tell me?" Aatos: "Vegard and I are making some acoustic project, so if you would like to join us..." Astrid (surprised): "Yes, of course. You think I could do that?" Aatos: "Well, you are singing, it would definitely sounds better than my singing. (both smile) So, deal?" Astrid: "Yes, count on me."

 Aatos made composition and lyrics, Vegard played drums and Astrid supposed to get her voice recorded. But...

 Music starts, Astrid starts singing leaving both Aatos and Vegard shocked. Aatos: "Her voice... I expected soft girly voice, but she has a really strong voice! What the hell should we do now? It won't fit." Vegard: "Hmm... what if we add electric and bass guitar?" Aatos: "It would be too heavy then. I don't know, I like her voice but it won't go on this way. Maybe we could try heavier sound later, we'll leave demos on this way. Enough time to find guitarist and bass guitarist ."

 As time passed by they got Elias, a guitarist, and Bastian, a bas player, in their new band. The band was born.

 Aatos liked new singer, in fact he thought she is cute and her voice inspired him to write more magical lyrics... Voice like that shouldn't sing any type of songs, he thought, so he gave his best to make a fitting lyrics for this lady. He even made songs where he could add his voice, even through he was extremely shy to sing in front of audience. Something about her fascinated him - even through she was mild looking she got strong personality, same as him, but she was more opened and friendly to people, opposite of his introverted nature. He even thought that maybe, but just maybe... she could be his love. That thought inspired him even more.

 Presentation of his lyrics to the other members begun and soon after he heard Astrid giggle. Aatos: "What is wrong?" Astrid: "This is a little bit... naughty. (giggle)" Elian: ,,Aatos, haha, why you wrote these?" Aatos: "Don't know, I'm sorry... I'll remove it if you are shy to sing it..." Astrid (smile): "No, I'm fine with them. You are great lyricist." Aatos(smiles): "Thank you. Do you think you could sing them?" Astrid: "Yes, I'll need some time to learn spelling of all these words, tho." Vegard: "When we'll make demos?" Elian: "Next week." Bastian: "Ok, we'll practice with Astrid this time, to make sure we will nail it."

 Band looked so young, so naïve at the first sight - young boys with cute dark-haired girl, not leaving impression of a metal band. Ah, baby steps are both adorable and hard in the same time. Even demos were so raw, so simple compared to later work, almost everyone turned down an idea of metal band with classical vocal. Thankfully, not completely everyone. One label gave them a chance not even imagining how successful they will become. The first album went good, but the second one was a masterpiece people loved. The journey begun, so they done bunch of concerts that year, making themselves even more popular.

 On the other hand popularity brought more attention to Astrid, thus making Aatos jealous. He didn't want her to belong to others, in his mind she was his for now and forever. Unaware of this feeling he wrote it down to the perfect song. She suspected nothing, so she sung it looking him as a friend, same as everyone else in a band and crew. Under the title inspired with "Phantom of the Opera" was the creation made of pain and unbearable feeling of losing something that never belonged to him, but all that people paid attention to was a passion that was sewn in it. Yet, another song was a love letter he never dared to send nor say out loud, it was too hard to be open about it.

 Cold winter embraced the lonely house in the nature, letting the snow covering everything around. Aatos is all alone, with the wine in his hands sitting near the window and writing a new lyrics for the third album. They got a short break, he wanted to use it to make perfect masterpiece. It would go fine until he would think of Astrid again... She has someone, what if this gets serious? Maybe they have already... Oh, no, she is his love! She belongs to him! It will remain till the end of time, she'll belong to him in this song, in every song... Maybe they have broke up already, who knows. Maybe they didn't, whatever, he'll put her in his masterpiece again, he believes they'll be together one day. This is how it has to be, they are always together anyway, he can tell her about his feelings anytime. Nothing bad can happen, she won't fall in love with anyone else.

 He returned back with the most of his works, planning to make more eventually. Elian and Bastian were in the practice room, Aatos joined them. Elian: "Have you wrote some new lyrics?" Aatos: "Yes, yes...We can try it when you have a time, I composed melodies and wrote the words. Where are Vegard and Astrid?" Bastian: "Vegard is somewhere, Astrid is with her boyfriend... It seems pretty serious." Aatos (nervous): "Yeah, just like the last time..." Elian: "I don't know, this time she even mentioned some wedding things, we might have a wedding ceremony soon..." Aatos (shocked): ,,A wedding?! She is planning a wedding?!!! It can't be... She can't do this!" Bastian: "Are you okay?" Aatos(inhales): "Yes... I am fine. Freaken fine. Sorry, I have to go.(leaves)" Elian: ,,Where are you going?" Aatos: "I don't know. Goodbye."

 Northern winds made that dark night even colder, Aatos just sleeplessly looked up at the ceiling. "This time is really over, she is not mine anymore. I feel so dead inside... Maybe I could just get myself away from this world, anything I write won't matter anyway, plus I won't be a burden to anyone. I'll just take my feelings with me into the grave. I'm giving up."

 Evening of the next day - Vegard came to see if Aatos was home. Aatos(opening): "Hey, I'm sorry I skipped the rehearsal. I don't feel like going anywhere and doing anything." Vegard: "You seems depressed, what's wrong?" Aatos: ,,I... I am tired. I am not sad at all. Do you want some beer?" Vegard: "Okay. (seeing the empty bottles) You drank all of this?" Aatos (from the kitchen): ,,Um... yes. I forgot how much I took, so I overcounted..." Vegard: "(seeing a lyrics he wrote last night) Oh my God! Aatos, what is this?! (Aatos coming back) This lyrics... when you wrote this?" Aatos: "Last night... Ignore it, I was drunk." Vegard: ,,Tell me the truth- are you suicidal?!" Aatos (nervous): "Calm down, I was inspired with... some song I heard on the radio. It's not about my feelings at all." Vegard: "Good... You are still strange, tho. You can always tell me if you have a problem, you know?" Aatos: "I know. Thank you, pal. I'll put myself together and we will continue with the next album."

 Somehow they managed to make and promote their the third album, but every Astrid's smile hurted more than thousands of knives. Aatos completely lost himself, he even kicked Bastian from the band because of some small quarrels, regretting it later even he couldn't return him back. It was time to see what's next.

 Elian: "Shall we find a new bass player?" Vegard: "I don't even understand why you kicked him out!" Aatos: "It doesn't matter anyway. This band is dead." Astrid: ,,What? How do you mean- it's dead?" Aatos: "We should forget this whole thing and let go. It's over." Elian: "How could you give up now, hey - we are the strongest ever! Are you aware what kind of thing you want to give up on?" Astrid: "I have some things to do in foreign country but I'll be back; there is no point to cancel this band because of it..." Aatos: "There is no point of anything. If we are done, I would like to leave now." Vegard: "We'll give you a time, then we'll talk again." Astrid: "Take a while and think about it." Aatos (looking Astrid sadly): "Have a good life with Darien, hope he could make you happy." Astrid: "What's that supposed to mean?... Where are you going?" Elian: "Is there some problem again?" Aatos: "No. I just have to go somewhere far away. I need solitude. Take care, everyone. (leaves)"

 Indeed, Aatos packed stuff and gone far away the following days; he gone to his friend Noah, knowing he'll be safe there, which was necessary considering his mental state. That was good for him so he returned back, ready to reunite band and make a forth album. They got Morten, new bass player, Astrid returned back to country, everything was the same again.

 Well... not everything. Darien, Astrid's husband, joined as a crew of a band so Aatos had to see him quite often, which drove him insane. It was tough situation, specially because he felt Astrid was not same as before, not knowing if it's just because of his feelings or she really changed. With that, she became more beautiful than ever, becoming a trademark of a band and gained popularity worldwide. All around the globe people knew for their band, their style was accepted and they were among the best in their subgenre.

 Time for making another album, their fifth one. Feeling like he lost his muse Aatos was completely overwhelmed by darkness, letting it cover his lyrics as well, drowning his sorrow in wine along with that. Unaware of it he made one more masterpiece, a platinum album, with genius songs that became evergreens. Everything was so perfect... but his feelings; they were crushed to hundred pieces.

 Night after concert, when others were busy, Aatos and Astrid sat outside and enjoyed quiet evening. Astrid: "We should use this success, we are one of the most popular bands in the history of our country! Do you know how huge deal this is?" Aatos: "Yeah." Astrid: "We can go even further, I think we should organize even bigger concerts in the bigger halls, in smaller ones is no enough place for all people that want to hear us live!" Aatos: "Yeah." Astrid: "What's the matter with you? You have changed a lot these years, you are not guy from before, even your lyrics became too dark." Aatos (looking at her): "You want to know? Good. I lost my muse." Astrid: "Okay, find another one, there are so many inspirational girls on the world." Aatos: "But, I love this one." Astrid: "Then, what is the problem?" Aatos: "She is married now." Astrid: "So sorry to hear that, but you'll find someone else..." Aatos: "No, Astrid. Without you, my inspiration is dead." Astrid (shocked): "Wait... you love me?! I am married, Aatos, we can no more be together! Why you didn't tell that earlier?!" Aatos: "I don't know, it was enough only to see you and everything would be fine, but now when you are with Darien... I can't stand it anymore!" Astrid: "This story is over - I love Darien and won't leave him, better forget me as your muse- I am married now. I will not be yours. (leaves)"

 Tomorrow Astrid told everything to Darien, so he called Aatos to their hotel room. Aatos: "Wow, she has already told you? Great." Darien: "Listen up -Astrid is mine now, she wasn't your nor she will be. You are not allowed to talk to her with no need, also don't bother her and think of her, otherwise..." Aatos: "What? You'll punch me? You'll force her to leave a band? Don't worry, I won't bother her anymore nor I will talk to her, or look at her, or anything else! Are you happy now? You won, I lost, rejoice now and leave me alone. (leaves the room)"

 There was the only one option left, one very risky option that could possibly ruin the band...

Elian: "What?!!! You are kidding!!!" Vegard: "To fire an Astrid? That will ruin the band, man." Morten: "Why to do such a radical thing, is there some reason for it?" Aatos: "She... acts strange. We need to kick her out of band." Elian: "That is the reason? See, Aatos, I respect you as my brother, but this is a bad idea." Morten: "Think of it, don't rush." Aatos: "I thought enough. In the end of the last concert we'll give an explanation so the audience won't remain curious. That's it." Vegard (inhales): "I don't know, hope you are not making a mistake." Aatos: "I would make a mistake if I keep her close to me."

 Concert by concert, band held their last one in front of a thousands of people. Astrid (after a concert, to Aatos): "What is this press-conference for?" Aatos: "It's for the Queen." Astrid: "What Queen?" Aatos: ,, ... You." Astrid: "What? What do you mean by that?" Aatos: "We are going to tell people that we are firing you." Astrid: "You are firing me?!!! How dare you, it's me who made you famous!" Aatos: "No, I made you famous!" Astrid: "Bastard, you can't fire me, you'll destroy the band!" Aatos: "Good. Still better than to continue like this." Astrid: "You are Judas, betrayer! Go to hell, jerk!" Aatos: "I am already there."

 That evening was hard for both sides, but what was following was even harder. Fans were in shock , thinking that it's over and that band no longer exist, while all five members thought that this time nothing can change.

 Aatos was severely depressed this time, drank even more and gave up everything for a while. Everything seemed like it's over, as the fire crossed over everything his friends and him made whole this years. While he waited for all this to end and his life to be gone forever, fire made him rise again. He was born again, stronger than ever.

 Band got new singer, lovely Viivi, who helped him to bring his innocent side out, thus creating new masterpieces and bringing fame back to band while getting more audience. Thankfully, Astrid didn't give up neither, she also continued to create showing that she is also great cantautor while staying on the throne of the one of the best and the most famous singers in this subgenre. Aatos and Astrid never spoke to each other again, secretly mentioning each other in their works as some kind of music war, even through everything turned out well for both.

 Throught Viivi was good muse, there was no feeling he got with Astrid. He was now sure it was love that created that special feeling needed for such a songs, but he was scared he will never again feel that way. Astrid stayed in her marriage and continued with her life, for him time stopped.

 In all that dark melody wrapped around him red sunshine appeared from nowhere. Like a gorgeous fairy from the legend, she came to him and said: ,,Hi, my name is Aura."

 He took her by a hand, brought her into his soft melody as he planned it to be from the beginning and made her his muse for now and for eternity. This muse belongs to him, muse he's been waiting for his whole life. She is his, and his artistic heart and delicate notes on his piano now belongs to her, the muse of his life.

The End
10.4.2019 (04/10/2019)
Suzana Ristic Suza