Chasing cars means, according to Gary Lightbody, the writer and singer of the song himself: Being infatuated with someone and chasing after them while knowing that they will never be yours.
I heard this song for the first time in 2008 in a show titled "Hollyoaks." They used it for a gay storyline. This show had many gay couples over the years, but I was only interested in Craig Dean and John Paul's storyline. Keep in mind that this was thirteen years ago. The homophobia was evident in the series then. It has gotten better since then. I think John Paul is still in the show. Yeah, it started in 1995, and it is still running. This song is my favorite song. I often listened to it before going to bed. I wanted to share some information about the song with you guys. I hope that you all liked it.
Zachariel's P.O.V
I had told Peter Elton, my former employer, that he could count on me whenever he needed help. I had never imagined that he would ask me to train his new employees. It took me two weeks to teach the men how to mix drinks and the right methods to serve them. I was looking forward to Friday. It would finally be my last day at the bar. I had noticed that I couldn't take the liveliness of the bar anymore. I drove straight home after my consultation with my psychiatrist was over. I had dinner, then took a shower and got ready to visit the bar. Damion and Jack, the new bartenders, were already waiting for me in the private room when I arrived. I put my jacket away then joined them behind the bar. It was not my duty to serve people, but I still helped the men out when they felt overwhelmed by work.
Peter and his boyfriend Guiliano walked into the private room when we were about to serve the first customers. Peter invited me to his office to inquire about the progress of his new employees. I smiled, then replied to him with, "I'm certain that they will fulfill their duties accordingly, Peter." Peter chuckled, then uttered, "Thank you for your hard work, Zach. I don't know how I would have managed to train them without you. I hope that I can open my second bar soon. It's hard to keep up with things here from the other location." I nodded, then replied to Peter with, "You are welcome, Peter. It was my pleasure to help you. Contact me if you need advice on something."
I left Peter's office when I saw on the security monitor that the bar had gotten busy. I closely monitored Damion and Jack while they served people. We had to be careful because one little mistake could ruin the bar's reputation. I didn't realize that people were trying to talk to me until Jack pointed it out. No good would come of talking to a stranger in the bar for someone like me, so I remained unwavering. I fulfilled my duty and waited for the clock to hit midnight. So I could go home and rest. A cold shiver ran down my spine when I heard Alexei greet me with, "Hello, Zachariel." I had instantly recognized my boss's voice. I couldn't believe that Alexei was at the bar. I had been waiting to meet him for almost two weeks now. I had told the kids that I would see them soon. I was sure that they were waiting for me to fulfill my promise.
I made my signature blend for Alexei when he told me that he didn't feel like drinking. I knew that it was risky for Alexei to discuss matters on his phone among strangers. So I led him to our locker room. The locker room was empty, and the security cameras wouldn't pick up the sound. Peter approached me as soon as I had closed the door behind Alexei. He pulled me closer to him, then asked me, "Who is he, Zach?" I smiled at Peter, then responded to him with, "He's Alexei Marquis, my boss." Peter's eyes widened in surprise. He tightened his grip on my arm, then asked me, "You mean the owner of the Marquis empire?" I nodded at Peter while pulling his hand off my arm. Peter looked in the direction of the door, then asked me, "Did he come here alone? I never expected to see him here."
I looked at my watch, then answered Peter with, "No, he's here with his friends and his bodyguards. It seems like his friends are already drunk. I assume that they'll be leaving soon." Peter looked into the crowd, then uttered while looking at Alexei's friends, "Those men attracted a lot of attention tonight. It's a shame that they won't be visiting us anytime soon." I chuckled then said to Peter, "It seems like you already know who they are, Peter. It's midnight already. I'm going home to have a well-deserved rest. Please, give me some time to get rid of my fatigue before you call on me again." Peter grinned at me, then yelled while pushing me towards the door of the locker room, "Get out of here, you big lug. I won't bother you for a while!" I got anxious when I saw Alexei rubbing his face in frustration. I felt sorry for Bertha. I had never experienced a mother's love, but I knew how hard it was to lose a loved one. Andrew died for me the moment he cheated on me. I had to mourn for him to get rid of his memories.
I offered to help Alexei when I heard that the kids needed a substitute nanny. I finally had an opportunity to spend time with the kids. I came up with a list of activities that I wanted to do with the kids. I wanted to surprise the children. The only way to achieve that would be by arriving early. I texted Alexei that I would be at his house by nine AM. I took a shower and went straight to bed after that. Zavier was still asleep when I left the house in the morning. It took me a while to reach Alexei's mansion. The building looked magnificent. There was a garden with lots of flowers and trees in front of the house. "It must have cost Mr. Marquis a fortune to build this house," I thought to myself while showing the security guard my id card. I felt anxious suddenly. I couldn't believe that I was nervous to see Alexei. I calmed myself down by saying that I was there for the kids.
I drove through the gate when the security guard gave me the clearance. I noticed that there was another gate while I was parking my car. Two guards approached me the moment I stepped out of my vehicle. One of the guards smiled at me, then uttered, "Good morning, Mr. Joseph. Sorry to disturb you. We are here to check if you are carrying any weapons." I nodded at the guard, then let them check the car and my bag. The other guard then said after scanning my body with a handheld metal detector, "Sorry for the inconvenience, sir. You can walk to the other gate. The guard will let you through. One of the maids will open the door as soon as you push the doorbell." I nodded, then grabbed my bag and started walking towards the gate.
The guard uttered while opening the gate, "Welcome to the Marquis mansion, sir." I smiled, then replied to him with, "Thank you, sir." I took a deep breath, then pushed the doorbell. I gazed at the water fountain in the garden while waiting for someone to open the door. A flock of birds was bathing in the fountain. They looked carefree and excited. I wished that I also had a carefree life. I quickly made myself look presentable when I heard someone unlock the door. Ocean threw herself at me before I could greet her. I chuckled while hugging her back. "Good morning, Ocean," I said to Ocean while pulling her away from me. Ocean grinned, then replied to me with, "Good morning, Zach. I'm so happy to see you." I stepped into the house, then asked Ocean while taking off my jacket, "Are the kids still asleep, Ocean?"
Ocean nodded, then answered me with, "Yes, Zach. Mr. Marquis is also still sleeping. Genevieve had a mild fever last night. He had to stay up to take care of the toddler. The child's fever is fortunately gone. She's sleeping peacefully right now." I was glad that Genevieve was feeling better. I decided to prepare a nutrient-dense meal for Genevieve to ensure that her fever didn't return. The meal would keep the other kids healthy too. Ocean looked in shock at me when I asked her where the kitchen was. "Am I not allowed to step foot in the kitchen, Ocean?" I asked Ocean while frowning. Ocean looked in fear at me, then responded to me with, "That's not it, Zach. Mr. Marquis told everyone that you have access to the whole mansion. I was just surprised that you know how to cook." I was just about to reply to Ocean when I heard a woman say, "Welcome to the Marquis residence, Mr. Joseph." Ocean instantly moved out of the way and said, "This is Charlotte, Mr. Marquis's housekeeper, Zach. She's in charge of all of Mr. Marquis's houses. Even of the ones that are abroad."
I smiled at Charlotte, then uttered, "Good morning, ma'am. It's nice to meet you." Charlotte nodded while looking at my bag. She reached her hand out to me, then said, "You can give your belongings to me, Mr. Joseph. You can call me Charlotte, by the way. I heard you say that you wanted to cook for the kids. Like Ocean said before, you are allowed to do whatever you wish while you are here. Mr. Marquis told me that he trusts you. We have chefs who prepare meals for Mr. Marquis, the kids, the staff, and the guards. They also cook for the people who guard Marquis's other properties. The kitchen is busy at the moment, but I'm sure that the chefs will allow you to cook whatever you want." I nodded at Charlotte, then responded to her with, "Thank you, Charlotte. I'll make sure not to trouble the chefs too much. You can call me Zachariel or Zach if you like." Charlotte smiled broadly at me, then said before leaving, "I'm looking forward to spending time with you, Zach."
Ocean led me to the kitchen after Charlotte left. I wasn't surprised when I saw how massive the kitchen was. The chefs were busy preparing breakfast for the staff. They looked in shock at me when I walked into the kitchen. Ocean introduced me to everyone, then explained to the chefs what I wanted to do. The chefs agreed to let me cook the meals. I asked Ocean to watch the kids, then started preparing the ingredients for a nutrient-dense soup. I had some spare time on my hands, so I made fruit and vegetable salad for the kids. The chefs observed me while I garnished the salad. I chuckled when I heard one of them say, "It seems like we have a perfectionist on our hands, guys." I went to freshen up after setting the table.
Ocean ran towards me the moment I walked out of the bathroom. "The children are about to wake up!" yelled Ocean while motioning me to follow her. I ran up the stairs then slowly opened the door. The kids were still lazing around in their beds. The children didn't even look up to see who had walked into their room. They looked cute in their pastry pattern pajamas. I walked carefully towards the window, then yelled while opening the blinds, "Rise and shine, munchkins!" All three kids jumped up in surprise. They squealed when they saw me standing in front of the window. The kids quickly climbed off their beds, then ran towards me at full speed. I took a seat on the floor to make sure that they didn't get hurt. "Uncle Zachariel!" yelled the kids while throwing themselves at me. I groaned in pain when Dominique's head hit my chin. I chuckled then uttered, "Calm down, kids. I want to leave this mansion alive today."
The kids giggled while rubbing their faces against my chest. Jacques grinned at me, then uttered, "I'm so happy to see you, uncle Zachariel." Genevieve placed a kiss on my chin, then said, "We missed you so much, uncle Zachariel." I placed kisses on the kids' cheeks, then said while tickling them, "I have missed you guys too, munchkins. Let's have lots of fun today." Dominique clutched my sleeve, then asked me, "You haven't forgotten about our promise, right, uncle Zachariel?" I shook my head, then answered Dominique with, "Of course not, little penguin. I came prepared." I burst out laughing when the kids started dancing around me. I ran my fingers through my hair while gazing at the kids. I suddenly noticed Alexei. He was leaning against the door with his hands in his pockets. Alexei looked more relaxed at home. I couldn't help but think that he looked handsome in his light blue shirt and black pants.
Alexei smiled at me, then greeted me with, "Good morning, Zachariel." I stood up, then addressed Alexei with, "Good morning, sir." Alexei sighed, then uttered, "You can call me Alexei when we are not at work, Zachariel. I can't let you call me sir in private when you are doing so much for my children and me." I nodded at my boss, then responded to him with, "Okay, Alexei." I then looked at the kids and said, "It's bath time, kids. I have prepared something delicious for you all today, so hurry up." The kids looked in surprise at me, then ran towards the bathroom. Alexei gazed at me while I played games in the bathtub with the kids. He helped me dress the children. Alexei smiled while looking at the kids when I had finished brushing their hair. The kids looked great, but I knew that it wouldn't last for long. Genevieve was already trying to pull out her bunny hair ties. Genevieve instantly stopped when she heard me say, "The bunnies will cry if you stop them from doing their job, Genevieve." Alexei chuckled when Genevieve uttered while stroking the bunnies on her hair ties, "I'm sorry, little bunnies. I won't pull on you anymore."
Ocean helped us bring the kids downstairs. I led the children to the dining room, then said, "Breakfast will get served shortly, little masters." I smiled when I heard Jacques ask his father, "What do you think uncle Zachariel cooked for us today, daddy?" Alexei stroked Jacques's head, then answered him with, "I don't know little Jacques. Let's wait and see." Jacques grinned when he saw Ocean and me walking into the dining room with trays full of food. Dominique, Genevieve, and Jacques gasped when I placed small bowls of noodle soup in front of them. The triplets giggled when they saw the animal-shaped vegetables floating in the soup. Ocean put the fruit and vegetable salad in front of the kids, then said, "Enjoy your meal, kids."
The kids instantly grabbed their spoons and started eating. "The soup is delicious. Thank you, uncle Zachariel," uttered Genevieve while licking her soon. I placed a kiss on Genevieve's head, then said to her, "You are welcome, Genevieve. The soup will keep your fever away." Genevieve looked puzzled at me. I smiled at her, then added," Ocean told me about how you got sick last night, Genevieve." Genevieve smiled at me, then went back to eating. I walked to Alexei, then asked him, "Would you like to eat the noodle soup or something else, Alexei? The chefs are waiting for your order." Alexei ran his fingers through his hair, then responded to me with, "I'll have the soup, Zachariel. I didn't sleep well last night. I don't feel like eating something heavy right now."
I nodded at Alexei, then went to dish out food for him and myself. "Here you go, Alexei. The adult version of the noodle soup," I said while placing a bowl of soup in front of Alexei. Alexei burst out laughing, then uttered, "I wouldn't mind eating animal-shaped vegetables, Zachariel." I took a seat next to Alexei, then replied to him with, "Okay, I'll make sure to add some more cute little vegetables, especially for you, in the soup the next time." I was surprised when Alexei closed his eyes to savor the taste. I suddenly couldn't keep my eyes off of him. It was like I was in a trance.
I regained my composure when I heard the children giggle. Dominique chuckled, then asked his father, "Is it tasty, daddy?" Alexei smiled at his son, then answered him with, "Yes, Dominique. It's delicious. The rich flavor of the soup revived me." The children enjoyed the salad after finishing their soup. I was happy that everyone had liked my cooking. I finished my meal, then asked my boss, "Would you like me to do something particular with the kids, Alexei?" Alexei shook his head, then answered me with, "No, Zachariel. You can do whatever activities you like with the kids. I have a lot of work to do today. I have to attend a few virtual meetings too. I'm very grateful to you, Zachariel. It would be a pain to find a trustworthy substitute nanny on such short notice. I hope that the guards didn't bother you too much this morning."
I could feel that Alexei was tired. I wanted to reassure him that everything was going to be alright. I smiled at Alexei, then said, "I didn't mind the security checks this morning, Alexei. I'll keep the kids occupied with Ocean while you work. You don't have to worry about them. Try to relax and focus on your work." Alexei sighed in relief, then looked at his watch. He got up then walked towards the kids. Alexei placed kisses on the kids' heads, then said while smiling at me, "Thank you for the meal, Zachariel. I'll be in my office if you need me." I had utter respect and consideration for Alexei. It was probably hard for him to run an empire and raise three children by himself. I grinned at the kids after Alexei left. The kids looked puzzled at me. I chuckled then asked the kids, "Who wants to have fun now?" All the kids raised their right hands in the air, then yelled, "I do, uncle Zachariel!"
I grabbed my bag, then led the kids to the backyard. Ocean had already placed a picnic blanket in the middle of the garden. Jacques plopped down on the blanket, then asked me, "What kind of activity are we going to do now, uncle Zachariel?" I opened my bag, then took three kids' scissors and glue out of it. I had, fortunately, asked Ocean to prepare the materials that I needed while I was cooking. Dominique started jumping with joy when he saw the scissors. He knew what we were about to do. Dominique told me on the beach about a video that he had seen on YouTube. The video was about making different kinds of crafts with waste material. His wish was to build a train with his siblings. I had promised him that I would help him achieve his goal.
Ocean brought a bag full of empty perfume boxes and toilet rolls for us. She handed the bag over to me, then uttered, "Tell me if you need more materials, Zach." I nodded at Ocean, then said to the kids, "We are going to build a train with these materials today, kids. It was Dominique's idea to create the train with you guys. Ocean and I will help you guys glue the pieces together. You guys will have to paint the train after you have finished constructing it. You can show it to your father when it's dry." The kids smiled while grabbing a box. I laid down some rules for the kids, then helped them cut the material. Ocean and I made sure that the kids didn't feel bored. The kids diligently followed my instructions and built the train. I didn't even realize that they were taking turns in sitting on my lap. The kids giggled when Ocean mentioned it. It was soon lunchtime. Alexei didn't come downstairs to have a meal with us.
I smiled when I heard the kids discussing which colors they wanted to paint the train. It was naptime for the kids after lunch. I decided to work on a schedule for Monday and Tuesday while I was free. I got startled when Alexei suddenly took a seat next to me on the terrace. One of the maid's instantly brought food for him. "Are you catching up with work, Zachariel?" Alexei asked me while drinking a glass of water. I smiled at Alexei, then replied to him with, "No, Alexei. I'm working on a schedule for the kids. They won't feel bored if they have enough things to do next week." Alexei nodded, then started eating. I looked in bewilderment at Alexei when I heard him ask me, "Why were you disappointed in your friend last night, Zachariel?" I sighed then answered Alexei with, "Peter asked me to serve a V.I.P. customer while knowing fully well that I didn't work there. Bartenders are also not permitted to serve customers in private at the bar. I know that he was looking out for me, but he knows me well. I would have never managed to please the customer. Peter should have rejected the customer immediately."
Alexei frowned, then asked me, "Are you in desperate need of money, Zachariel?" I chuckled then responded to Alexei with, "No, Alexei. I'm not." Alexei smiled while finishing his meal. He stood up, then said while putting his hand on my shoulder, "Tell me if you are ever in trouble, Zachariel." My heart fluttered when Alexei touched me, but I ignored it. I didn't want to waste my time finding out what all these little incidents meant. Alexei walked away before I could reply to him. The kids woke up after an hour. I helped them freshen up, then brought them to the garden. I played games with the kids before resuming our project. We managed to finish the train by six o'clock. The kids wanted to show it to their father, but it wasn't dry yet. It seemed like the kids enjoyed working together. I asked Ocean to do more group activities with them.
The kids dragged Alexei to the garden when he came downstairs to have dinner with us. Alexei was proud of his children. He placed the train on a pedestal in the hallway for everyone to see. The kids were tired, so they were quiet during dinner. Alexei received a call just when he was about to bathe the kids. He apologized to the kids and me, then went to his office to answer the call. I didn't mind Alexei's departure because Ocean was there to assist me. The kids climbed into their beds after getting dressed. They clutched their plush toys close to their chest then closed their eyes. I tucked the kids in, then kissed them good night. I was just about to turn off the lights when I heard Jacques ask me, "Can you sing a song for me, uncle Zachariel?" I looked in astonishment at Jacques, then asked him, "Don't you want to hear a bedtime story instead, Jacques?"
Jacques shook his head, then answered me with, "No, uncle Zachariel. I want to hear a song because you have a soothing voice." I grabbed a chair then took a seat next to Jacques's bed. The little boy grinned while staring at me. I stroked Jacques's head, then started singing the track Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol. Jacques fell asleep halfway through the song. I didn't realize when my tears had started falling. I had learned this song by heart. I had serenaded it to Andrew to make him fall in love with me. I quickly wiped my tears away, then uttered, "I can't believe that it still hurts. I should have forgotten the song years ago." I shook my head while getting up. I decided to go home when I saw that it was almost ten o'clock. I made sure that all the kids were comfortable, then walked out of the room.
I decided to say goodbye to Alexei before leaving. I knocked on his office's door, then waited for him to answer. I walked into Alexei's office when I heard him say, "Come in." Alexei was busy going through his emails. I took a deep breath, then asked Alexei, "Haven't you finished working yet, Alexei?" Alexei smiled at me, then responded to me with, "Yes, I'm turning off my computer right now. I'll be with you in a minute." I sighed then uttered while looking at Alexei, "The kids are sleeping peacefully, Alexei. They won't wake up anytime soon. I have to go home now. I'll see you tomorrow morning." Alexei stood up when he heard that I was about to leave. He walked over to me, then grabbed my hand. I looked startled at Alexei. Alexei let my hand go, then uttered, "Please stay the night, Zachariel. You are a long way from home. It will be midnight by the time you'll reach your house." I groaned while contemplating what to do.
My heart skipped a beat when I saw a framed note hanging close to the door. I could see that it was a copy of the letter that I had given Alexei. I walked closer to the piece of art, then asked Alexei while touching the frame, "I can't believe that you've kept the note that I gave you all those years ago, Alexei?" Alexei looked in shock at me. He rubbed his face in frustration, then asked me, "You still remember me, Zachariel?" I smiled at Zachariel, then responded to him with, "Of course, I do, Alexei. You left a great impression on me."
This is the lyrics of the song. Please read it, so you can find out what Zachariel was going through at that moment.
We'll do it all.
Everything.
On our own.
We don't need.
Anything.
Or anyone.
If I lay here.
If I just lay here.
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
I don't quite know.
How to say.
How I feel.
Those three words.
Are said too much.
They're not enough.
If I lay here.
If I just lay here.
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
Forget what we're told.
Before we get too old.
Show me a garden that's bursting into life.
Let's waste time.
Chasing cars.
Around our heads.
I need your grace.
To remind me.
To find my own.
If I lay here.
If I just lay here.
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
Forget what we're told.
Before we get too old.
Show me a garden that's bursting into life.
All that I am.
All that I ever was.
Is here in your perfect eyes, they're all I can see.
I don't know where.
Confused about how as well.
Just know that these things will never change for us at all.
If I lay here.
If I just lay here.
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
Hi guys, thank you so much for reading. The next installment will be an emotional one. I hope that you guys liked the interactions between Alexei and Zachariel. Stay safe everyone and until Thursday.