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GOTHAM CITY; DRAKE’S APARTMENT
Drake Lance
I open my apartment door and walk in dropping my heavy bags of clothes down by my door but keeping my backpack. I drop my keys on my table and hang my leather jacket on the coat stand. I yawn as I’ve just got back from Paris and walk around my apartment and look around it seeing photos of my albums on the wall, photos of Sara and I, and old photos of Laurel and I.
I ignore those photos and walk into my white room with vines growing on the outside of my window to keep privacy from my fans and from any psychos. I see my closet open with all my clothes hanging and then see my phone laying on my desk with my notebook of unreleased lyrics.
I sit down on my desk and pull out my computer from my backpack and lay it on my desk. I then take out a thick case from my bag as well and lay it next to my computer. I open the case and take out the photo that Curtis took of me and Oliver dancing together in Russia 3 years ago. I stare at the photo and smile lightly about it and then put it in a frame and stand it up on my desk.
I stare at Oliver’s face knowing how proud he would be of me now. My greatest love, became my greatest sorrow the day he died. “I wish we had more time.” I hear his voice in my head and I then look at my wedding ring he gave me placed in my ring finger. I close my eyes and see him in my head from that night. The memory is clear as day.
I remember how red his face was. How sad he was to let me go. The tears that were in his eyes, his redemption to save the city he loved so much. My heart feels the same way it did that night, broken and alone. I open my eyes and stop remembering Oliver as it’ll make me feel more vulnerable. I never got to say goodbye, thank you… or that I loved him. We never got the happy ending we deserved.
I clean my eyes up and wipe them away with my hands. Not how I wanted to spend my Sunday night. I open my notebook and laptop at the same time and then see an email from Bruce Wayne again. I open the email and read it, ‘I know how much he meant to you. I’m glad he’s back home now.’
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GOTHAM CITY; RECORDING STUDIO
I walk into my studio and see the band getting ready in the audio room as they sit on their phones drinking their Starbucks drink. I see my assistant on her laptop typing away as she must be getting my schedule ready for my future events.
“Hey.” I say walking into the room and lean against the doorway with a black shirt and a green bomber jacket over it.
“Hey Drake. Friday night was sick man.” My drummer, Jordan, says and I smile.
“The show wouldn’t have been complete without you guys helping me.” I say and they all chuckle and smile. I continue to stand around then walk in. “We have any ideas for future music?” I say sitting down in the couch taking my phone out too and going through photos of myself.
“No, we’re empty right now man.” I hear Jessica, my electric guitarist speak and I turn my head to her and she shakes her head. “How was your weekend Drake? Did you meet anyone?” She teases me as she sits on a stool with her long pastel slick back high pony hairstyle.
“Nothing fun, I just took a nap in the hotel and spent some time in Paris alone.” I respond to her being the liar I always have been to keep my identity as Black Canary safe and undercover.
“How can someone like you live like that? Don’t you want to go out? Meet someone?” I hear Diego, my bass guitarist speak. I hear my assistant’s phone buzz and she looks at it and gets up walking away. She walks out of the studio room and I let her not really caring.
“Trust me, my life is boring. It be a shocker if anyone was interested.” I say relaxing and sitting back in the couch resting myself and then closing my eyes. I lay there as I hear everyone talk to themselves about their lives, their relationships, family, dogs, etc. All that normal people stuff.
“I told him, ‘I just don’t see a future between us’ and he got red and mad.” I hear Jess talk and then I hear Diego chuckling to himself.
“You’re one of a kind Jess, seriously.” Jordan says and then sighs. “No recently, Izzy and I have found a good place right now. We’re thinking about getting this new loft by midtown with all the hipsters and stuff. She’s thinking about starting this cafe there.” Jordan says and I smile lightly as I’m proud that they’re finally finding their compromises for themselves.
“-Drake.” I hear my assistant’s voice very quietly. Almost as if I was imagining the voice in my head. I open one eye and stare at her and see her standing by the doorway. “Someone is here for you.” She says and I cross my arms trying to find my comfort spot again and close my eyes again.
“Tell them I’m busy thinking.” I groan not wanting to be bothered by an undercover journalist trying to get the scoop out of me. Those tricks get old.
“You mean busy sleeping?” I hear a thick street accent voice and it sounds familiar. Sounds like home. I open both of my eyes slowly and see one of Team Arrow’s old members. Rene Ramirez also known as Wilddog. I see Rene standing by the doorway blocking the hall light coming in making himself look like a god figure, or some miracle. “We need to talk.” He says and I clench my jaw softly seeing him back in my life.
I get up from my comfort zone and walk out of the studio and head out through a back door. Rene follows me and we enter an alleyway with a garden growing of just flowers and vines. I close the door behind me and stand in the alleyway and Rene stands in front of me with his hands in his pocket. He’s dressed in a suit like he always is and stares at me ready for me to begin. He’s scared of me. No. Intimidated.
“It’s been awhile?” I say laying myself against the wall starring at Rene waiting for him to speak.
“It has been when you disappeared and shut us all out.” Rene snaps trying to be defensive but I do not take it personal.
“Relax Rene, I don’t bite and I don’t hurt my friends either. What do you need to talk about?” I say being calm to calm him down and he sighs beginning to get calm. Always works.
“You’ve been gone for almost 3 years Drake. Star City needs you to come back. We’re struggling without you.” He says and I stare at him knowing that part of my life is gone. I’ll never return to Star City. Gotham is my home now. “Star City needs Black Canary again.”
“You want me to help you guys?” I say and chuckle knowing that they have their own Green Arrow running around. Diggle and his silly crossbow. I always found it disrespectful of Diggle to take on that mantle, but if Ollie wanted it, then I’m fine with it.
“Listen, Star City is not a part of me anymore. That’s gone Rene. If I go back it’ll only bring the pain back.” I say not having moved on from the loss of Ollie. I abandoned everyone in Star City, I let them all down. I let my father down and he shut me out. “I’m sorry but Gotham is my home now.” I say and walk away from him, going back inside.
“It has to do with Oliver.” He says and I pause from going inside. I turn around softly shaking a little being weak now. “Just come back. I know he would want you to come back home.” He says and he’s right. If Rene were Ollie right now, begging for me to come back home, I’d go. Ollie would want me to and if it’s about him, I’m going.
“Let’s go.” I say to Rene and he smiles lightly.
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