Novel Treatments / Rock Star section 3 (Analysis)

Shadow Play sat in the living room of the small apartment, beer bottles scattered about, a joint going from one to another, curtsey of their current guitarist- a boy who seemed to put himself into this band unlike their previous one who left directly after he witnessed a scene between Mikal and August.  This one, not only didn’t mind the close friendship, but had even participated into three way kissing orgy just days before.
        “We have an interview Saturday.”  Wesley offered after a prolonged silence, his eyes only partially leaving the sheets of the newest song, a piece written and composed by Josh- the only one with any writing skill.
        “Saturday we’re going to Shannon’s, aren’t we?”  Mikal took drag of a nearby cigarette and blew a shotgun into August’s mouth, only to have the smoke released back into his as August’s lips closed possessively over Mikal’s soft ones.
        “Yeah, well her boyfriend is friends with the guy who’s going to do it, so it will be done there.”
        “Pictures too?”  The new guy, DJ, questioned and August smirked.
        “Oh I’m sure.  You’ll need something to wear.”  He frowned slightly at the boy’s clothing, his opinion clearly visible to the band.
        “Have anything I can borrow?”  He leaned towards August and breathed gently against the August’s cheek and smiled.
        “I believe so.”  August returned the grin silkily and Wes shivered, knowing that smile too well and wondering how long the guitarist would last after he ended up in August’s room.
        “I’m glad you’re hitting it off so well, but this is important.”  Wes sighed, handing the music back to Josh, who took it and considered the markings on it before passing it off to August whose features instantly settled into August mode instead of predator.  “This could be our break.  I spoke with the guy a few days ago at dinner and he seemed interested.  If he writes us up well, we could definitely get bigger.”  Wes’s eyes sparked as Mikal shoved another beer into his hands.
        “Drink and worry about hitting it big later.”  Mikal took a swig of his before the joint was passed to him.
        “You know, this is a good piece, but it seems soft at parts.”  August spoke up, his voice still perfectly calm despite the five beers he had consumed in the past hour or so.
        “Soft?  Well yeah, even bands like ours have to have some slower songs.”  Josh defended and leaned back on the couch.
        “No, not slower, it’s just wimpy.”  August scoffed and offered a slight grin towards DJ.  “Here, you read.”  He handed the paper over and than ran a hand through his hair, the jacket pulling taut to his shoulders and his tongue running over the hoop on his lip.
        “It’s not that bad, though definitely leaning on the sissy side.”  DJ handed the paper back but flashed a dark grin at August and he felt the sense of understanding and power as August traced his fingernails over the back of his hand.
        “Fine.”  Josh put the papers up on the counter and grabbed another beer, taking a long swig of it.  “I’ll fix it.”  As always the process went the same and he fluffed it off, making mental marks to change phrasing, but outwardly he beamed under the general praise.
        The band lapsed into silence, Wes picking up the remote to flip through the channels, his finger hesitating on each channel to see if anyone would object before he changed it again.  Giving up he turned it to TV Land and muted it, sliding from the recliner chair and sitting on the floor, taking another drink.  “You know,” he smirked, turning his attention fully on August, “he was interested in you.”
        “Me?”  August laughed.  “Who isn’t?”
        “Fuck if I know.”  Wes stalled, considering.  “Still he was thrown off by the fact that you fool around with other guys.  That should definitely be something you do on Saturday.”
        “Doesn’t that defeat the idea of a good write up?”  Josh questioned, turning his attention away from the silent tv.
        “If he’s a good reporter than no, he won’t put his opinion in the article.  He’ll report it, but you’ve seen the high schools today, it’s in to be bisexual.  It’s the new pink.”  Wes smiled softly, calculating.  “That will in turn make it ten times better for us.”
        August laughed.  “Well I can arrange that darling.”  He drawled in just a hint of an accent Wes attempted to place for a moment but couldn’t quite figure out.  He studied August carefully, wondering if anyone knew his true story.  Ever since he had met August in high school he couldn’t figure out where the other boy got his black humor and dark personality and only when August got drunk could he get a few tidbits out of the dark haired, pale keyboardist and even those scraps of information weren’t much in the way of knowledge.
        “Good.  We’ll need your expertise.”  Wes grinned and leaned backward before standing and stretching.  “Eh, Shannon will be pissed if I wake her up when I get in, so I’ll see you guys tomorrow at three?”
        “Sure thing.”  August smiled silkily as Josh stood to join Wes, excusing himself to his room.  “DJ, I hope you don’t have to go yet.  I need to see if I have any clothes you could use for Saturday.”  August stood, the black star on his belt level with the sitting boy’s gaze and he offered on long fingered hand which DJ accepted.
        Mikal smiled as they left to August’s room and Wes sighed as he closed the door behind him, wondering, for the second time that evening, how long DJ was going to last after that night.

August closed himself in the bathroom he shared with his roommates, his body shaking all over as it had several times this week, and this time, this time it was the worst.  Two days from now would mark the day and he heard the angel voice in his head against and again and he fought the giggling reassurance of little girls with angry slashes across his skin and drowned the pictures with sour beer and marijuana.
        It was the worst it had been in awhile and he struggled to regulate his breathing, glad he didn’t have the phone within his grasp because this time he knew he would have dialed Kristal’s number and told her everything which he had kept closed up forever.  And without the phone in his easy grasp he turned his fear and invisible tears inward, focusing them, channeling them into creation and energy he could release on another body, a body who willingly dealt with his administrations and cruelty.
        Still, August Gale, didn’t trust himself to call Brian’s cell just yet and hoped he didn’t have too, afraid he would speak instead of inflict, and he turned on an icy shower, stepping into it after a hasty shedding of his clothes.  The water burned him and with his left hand he grabbed the razor and ran it sideways against his thigh, relishing in the sting that accompanied the trickle of blood.  And again, and again he ran that blade against his thigh, opening and reopening flesh long since used to the assault.  He didn’t dare touch his wrist or his chest this time, vanity keeping him away from the only area he ever unclothed in light and he sunk down in the shower, shuddering against the freezing porcelain.
        Silly Auggie, he can’t take you too.  He said it’s a special trip just for me.

Chapter 6

        Saturday morning saw Cat McAllister fretful and he rose early, slipping from Gabi’s embrace and taking refuge in the shower, hot water scalding and he envisioned John the Baptist washing away the sins of the people, his mind wandering to the safe niche of Sunday school classes he had attended as a young child while he hummed Gloria’s under his breathe.
        He was prepared for this- overly prepared perhaps- and he hated the worry and question in his mind.  Cat knew this was just another interview with a group of young kids and he had already met the singer, the one who he would deal most with anyway, but his nerves were pinched and tied, and he squirmed in the shower feeling all too much like a kid in a formal suit for the first time.  “Damn you McAllister, get yourself under control.”  He fumed to himself as he turned off the water and dried off, stepping out of the bathroom and smiling softly as he saw Gabi still sleeping.
        “Rise and shine Gabbers.”  He whispered in her ear, the towel wrapped about his waist loosely and he stroked her hair as she turned over.  “We promised Dave and Shannon.”  He reminded her, keeping his voice gentle.
        Gabi moaned and he grinned again, straddling her.  “Get off you lugg head.”  She grumbled and he began to tickle her.
        “Lugg head?  I was unaware that we were still in second grade.”  He arched an eyebrow and pulled her up, kissing the tip of her nose lightly.  “Well Miss Gabriella Gordon, we must get ready, because it’s nearly eleven o’clock and I told them we’d be there by twelve.”
        “No it’s not, it’s not even ten yet.”  She grumbled and lay back down.
        “Is that the lark I hear?”  He tried for Shakespeare and she convulsed into giggles.
        “Close but no cigar, now get off.”  She gave him a slight push and crawled out of bed, making her way to the shower.
        He watched her for a moment and smiled, realizing how lucky his was, and unbidden his thoughts went to the fiancé Wes had mentioned and wondered how any girl could stay with a boy that seemed a connoisseur of cruelty.

You need to log in to urbis or create an urbis account to review this writing.