FRED'S POV:
Philadelphia, August 14, 1986
"Good job, Babe! Alright, next one. Blue."
"Fuck. I forgot."
I said as I scratched my head a little, trying to remember.
Fred has been teaching me Arabic for some time now. He likes to quiz me at random times, and I'm getting a bit better. But I feel as I understand more than I speak.
But I'm getting a bit better.
So, while we were waiting for the bus to pick us up, we were practicing a bit.
We left our instruments in the studio yesterday so everything could be packed in the bus.
We were both excited about this.
We were going on tour with David Lee Roth and then we have an upcoming tour with Bon Jovi.
We are pretty excited and thankful to be getting the chance to tour with Bon Jovi as we wouldn't be here waiting if it weren't for them.
Hell, Fred and I probably wouldn't have ever met if it weren't for Bon Jovi, so we have to thank them for that as well.
"You know it."
I sighed as I tried my best to remember.
"A something."
I said as I tried to think.
"أزرق؟" (Azrak)
(A/N: I do not speak a word of Arabic, so if any of you do and if you spot a mistake, please correct me. Also, the word in the parentheses are what I believe are the pronunciations.)
"Yes. Good! Ok, green."
"لون أخضر؟" (Akhdar)
"See? You do now your colors."
"I guess so."
I said, I wasn't really sure if I was getting better.
"Why so down."
"I don't know. I feel like I understand more than I speak and I feel like I'm going to stay there forever."
"But you pronounced green properly."
"Yeah? I guess... I just don't want to disappoint you. That's all."
"Eric, we all have learned a new language at some point. And it's hard at first. Trust me. I know. Arabic is my first language, I learned English in school. I was bullied for my accent up until middle school when I finally got the hang of it. I understand your struggle, therefore, you can't disappoint me. In fact, I'm actually proud of you. I mean you're the one who wanted to learn in the first place."
I couldn't help but smile.
I leaned in and gave him a quick peck on his cheek.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
He said with a smile.
"Yellow is أصفر (Al'asfar)
I said.
"Right?"
I doubted myself for a second.
"Yeah. أحمر (Ahmar) is what color?"
"Red."
"Awesome."
We then heard a honk.
"That must be the bus."
I said as I got up to check through the window.
Sure enough, there was a black bus, parked in front of the apartment complex.
"Come on, Doll. We can practice on the bus."
"Ok."
He said as he got up.
We grabbed our luggage and I opened the door.
I quickly checked to make sure I had everything.
Once that was done, I stepped outside, Fred followed.
I looked back at our apartment.
I felt a bit sad to leave this place, but knowing that something big was waiting for me right outside those doors excited me.
"Goodbye apartment. See you in a few months. I'll miss you."
I said.
Fred put his hand on my back.
I know he also felt that emotional connection to this apartment.
We moved in right after he graduated.
This is where I officially proposed to him and we had this apartment when Lori and I officially came to an end.
This apartment, even though we have had it for a few months now, has been with us for quite a few things.
And it felt sad to leave this place behind. This place that we call home.
I sighed before I closed the door.
"Ready, Doll."
"Ready."
Fred and I walked out to the bus where the others were waiting for us.
The bus door opened. Dave, our bus driver hopped out.
"Morning boys! I hope you all had a great sleep, because it's a long ride."
"Morning, Dave. Yeah, someone here didn't sleep very well last night."
I said as I nudged Fred in the shoulder.
"Ah, don't worry, kid. You can sleep on the bus."
Dave said with a smile.
"Ok, bags go in here."
He said as he lifted a part of the bus, exposing more bags.
Fred and I quickly put our bags there before hoping on the bus.
When we walked in, we saw a few people, roadies.
I knew most of them, but there were a few that I think were new.
"Alright, Fred and Eric, you already now Krystal, Sean, and Josh. We got a few new roadies."
He said as he motioned towards them.
"Cindy and Derek?"
Derek. That name sounded familiar.
Where did I hear it.
I know it from somewhere.
Could it be that guy that Fred introduced me to some time ago.
Nah. There could be a lot of Derek's in the world.
Could be someone else.
Yeah. It's probably just someone else.
Yeah. Calm down, Eric.
"This is Cindy."
Dave said as he pointed at a woman in her early 20s.
"And this is Derek."
A man, in his late 20s.
It was him.
It was the same Derek.
