Jimmy found his way through the crowds in the hoarded room. Everyone was standing so close to eachother, basically breathing in their neighbors breath; it made him sick. He needed some fresh air and space for himself. Or maybe just the second one because there didn't seem to be a balcony anywhere. As he had almost made it out of the rather huge dining hall, something got in his way. Well, not something but someone. And that someone was Mr Becker, the host of the event. Jimmy and Becker usually got along well but right now the guitarist was absolutely not in the mood.

„Ah, if that ain't my dear Pagey!", he exclaimed happily.

Jimmy offered a smile and tried to figure out if this was going to be an entire conversation, because he didn't have the nerve to deal with all those people around any longer.

„Good evening, Becker", he said in a flat voice.

„It's so good to see you", the main replied, „Are you enjoying my little festivity?"

„Mhm yes, it's quite a beautiful arrangement", Jimmy offered.

Becker chuckled. „Oh thank you. I must say, it wasn't easy to find a nice location. I always like those little dinners with a small group of friends and relatives."

„Yes, very small group indeed", Jimmy muttered under his breath, while looking around the room that was filled with tons of people.

Becker sighed. „Well then, would you like to join me for a drink?"

The guitarist shook his head in response. „Maybe later... Will you excuse me for a second? I'll be right back."

With that he made his way past the other man and rushed towards the staircase that led to the upper floor. Becker looked after him in surprise but didn't say anything. A few people were randomly standing on the steps of the staircase, chattering and drinking champagne. Jimmy reached the top floor and looked around. There were less people and the slow piano music was almost inaudible. He started walking faster, feeling released as he was now alone. After trying several times, he finally found a door that wasn't locked. The room behind it wasn't very big and had almost no furniture in it, but there was no one, so Jimmy was satisfied. He closed the door behind him and walked around the room a few times, before he opened the window and breathed in the cold air of the night. One look down showed that the building was very high. The colourful TV screens behind glass and the bright street lights of night life made it look like it was day, when in fact it was long past 9 pm. Jimmy left the window open and sat down on the ledge to watch the busy city and overthink. He wondered where his bandmates were. He hadn't seen them since they had entered the huge building together earlier.

Just as he was thinking this, he heard a gentle knock on the door. He turned around and saw Robert entering the room before he had even told him to come in. The singer was still using a cane to help him walk since he had broken his ankle in a car accident but according to him it was getting better. He sighed in relief when he saw Jimmy.

„Oh thank god you're here. I thought you had left without telling us", he said and closed the door behind him, „But what are you doing here anyway?"

„Just needed a break from all the people"

„Sorry, I didn't know. I'll leave if you want me to", Robert asked and was already turning around to exit the room.

„No, stay!", Jimmy ordered, „Don't go. It's nice having company. Here, have a seat."

He got up from the chair next to the window and let his friend sit down instead.

„How's your leg?", he asked.

Robert shrugged and sat down in the chair, relieved from the pain he always felt while walking. „It's okay. I think it's getting better."

„You always say that."

„Wouldn't make a difference if I didn't."

„But we could help you"

„Carry me around or what?", Robert chuckled.

Jimmy giggled and then climbed up to sit on the window ledge. The wind was gently blowing through his hair. He looked at the streets below, wondering how far it was, how long the fall would take. No, he didn't want to jump. But he remembered very clearly all the moments not long ago when he had actually wanted to. He turned towards Robert.

„You got a fag?", he asked bluntly.

The singer pulled out a pack of cigarettes and handed it to the other man. Jimmy popped one between his lips and lit it, then he handed the package back and took a deep breath, exhaling the smoke out through the open window.

„What are you thinking about?", Robert asked in an attempt to make conversation.

„Where are Bonzo and Jonesy?", Jimmy asked instead of answering.

„Last time I saw them was when we were getting drinks together", Robert remembered.

Jimmy nodded and waited a few seconds, while dragging deeply on his cigarette, as if his life depended on it.

„I wanna leave", he stated after a long pause. His friend offered a wry smile.

„But we can't just leave", the singer explained, „The party has only started an hour ago and it will continue till long past midnight. It would be impolite to leave early, unless we had an excuse or there was an emergency."

The guitarist bit his lip and looked out the window again, sinking into his thoughts. Then he suddenly looked at his friend again.

„Your ankle", he prompted.

„It's fine, you already asked me that; wha-"

„No, I mean what if you ankle hurt so bad, we had to leave?"

„Why would that happ- Oh, you mean you want to act like we had to go home so we can leave?"

The guitarist nodded.

***

Fifteen minutes later they had already left the building. Since they hadn't been able to find their bandmates they had just left without them. Mr Becker had looked worried when Jimmy had told him they had to leave because Robert „wasn't well". The two men had played their parts perfectly; Robert leaning into his friend for support and Jimmy telling everyone that it was going to be okay if they left right away.

And now they were waiting for their taxi outside, both giggling like young teenagers.

„You acted really well", Robert laughed, „All of that dramatic >I just need to bring him back to our hotel!<. Think they believed us. It worked!"

„But your acting was really good as well!", exclaimed Jimmy in a happy tone as he was grateful to finally leave that boring high society party behind, „You actually looked really hurt, I was quite impressed!"

Robert cleared his throat and gave a wry smile. „Well, to be honest it wasn't just acting. It really hurt, especially when you started walking so fast and I couldn't say anything because they would've noticed we were just pretending..."

„Shit, I'm so sorry, I didn't know!", Jimmy said with a look of concern; his voice a bit high-pitched.

„No, don't worry", the singer offered, „It's okay now. And I'm glad we managed to escape that boring festivity."

„Right...", the guitarist replied after a short pause, „Are you sure you're okay now? You don't really look like it."

Before he could answer, the taxi arrived and Jimmy helped his friend to climb into the cab, he closed the door and then entered the car from the other side.

„Where shall I take you?", the driver asked.

„Uhh, we need to get to our hotel...", the guitarist replied, „I don't remember the name but I recall it was just a few streets away from here." The driver nodded and started the car. After some time they found the hotel and Robert handed over the money, including a tip. Jimmy got out of the car first and opened the door for his friend, helping him to stand up.

The two walked towards the entrance of the hotel which was for some reason only lit by the light of the moon. A young woman was standing behind the counter in the lobby, probably waiting for new guests to check in. She watched the men come in and then she raised her voice.

„Excuse me, gentlemen, I must inform you that the elevator is currently unavailable due to construction work."

She said it like some sentence she had had to learn up. They nodded and continued their way, smiling as the woman wished them a good night. As they reached the staircase they saw that the elevator was actually locked so they had to take the stairs. Robert mumbled under his breath: „fuck." He knew that walking on those stairs would be difficult with his still not healed ankle. He tried it anyway and felt a stinging pain creeping up his leg. No, he wouldn't make it on his own. And though he hated to ask for help, he had to.

„Pagey?", he asked in a sweet tone.

The guitarist, who was already ten steps ahead, turned around. „Yeah?"

„Mind helping me?"

„Oh, right", Jimmy mumbled, „So sorry, I really forgot. Hang on a second." He came down and put his arm around the singer's waist to hold him and then bent down a bit so Robert could lean into him for support. They eventually made it to their rooms and awkwardly looked at eachother.

„Are you going to sleep right away?", the vocalist asked.

„Nah, I think I'm gonna read my book, maybe write some lyrics and then go to sleep."

„Mhm."

They looked at each other awkwardly, wondering what to say. Then Jimmy opened the door to his room.

„Well", he said, „Good night. If you need anything you can come to me whenever you want." The guitarist closed the door and left Robert standing alone in the hall.