EXES AND OH'S

Band Names and Band Aids

"So what was the name of your band?" I ask Levi, who's already driving me back to my place and has been silent for a few minutes now. It's so not him to not be talking and chatting me up. He looks deep in thought, but then maybe he's just tired and sleepless, too. We both are. I decide to just be the one to break the awkward silence.

"Huh?" He replies mindlessly. Obviously he's distracted, and definitely thinking of something. Not knowing what's going on in his mind is driving me nuts. I kind of have a clue, but I don't want to ask, because I might not like the answer.

"Your band's name? You, Jesse, Isaac?" I widen my eyes at him and raise my brows.

"Oh, that," Levi smiles a little, and takes a quick glance at me. "No, it's really stupid. I promise."

"I know it's stupid, that's why I'm asking." I curl my lips and sneer. "Come on, tell me."

Levi pouts through his smile. "Alright, fine." He groans. "We named our band, Free Beer."

I snort but try not to laugh hard. "Free Beer? That's the dumbest band name I've ever heard. Are you sure you work for Aperture? God, that sucks so bad."

"Yeah, I already told you it's stupid." He shakes his head and just stares out onto the street, and I can see he's trying his best not to roll his eyes. "But there's a really smart reason behind that name, though. So we called ourselves Free Beer, because whenever we gave out fliers and stuff for our gigs, it said Free Beer Tomorrow @9pm, and so everyone will come and see us thinking they'll go to some bar and have free drinks."

I giggle and bite my lip. Well, it actually is genius. No wonder Levi heads Marketing, Sales and Advertising for Aperture. He's the friggin' king of diddle and scam. "And you were doing vocals and guitar?" I ask him, turning curious as he actually sings pretty great too, aside from playing the guitar really well.

"Nah," he scrunches his nose, grinds his teeth together, and goes on to laugh. "Jesse did vocals and guitars, cause he's a bitch diva with tits bigger than fucking Mariah Carey, and you know he likes all the attention." Levi quips, and I chortle at his ridicule towards his best friend.

"Isaac did the drums, cause he's a lame-ass like Ringo Starr," he goes on. "And I did bass, cause I'm just so frickin' cool and chill."

Okay, I really dig guys who play bass guitar — 'cause they have mad fingering skills. Oops.

"Hey, do you want to have breakfast?" Levi changes the topic as he takes a sharp turn on my corner street.

"No, Levi, we're not doing breakfast." I grimace and turn my gaze out the window.

"And why the hell not?" Levi asks, pulling his car over in front of my apartment building.

"Just because." I asserted, glaring at him. "And besides, look at me. I have messed-up sex hair. I'm wearing your friggin' shirt 'cause you fucking tore and destroyed my bodysuit last night. And lastly, the fabric of this shirt that I'm wearing is so thin, and it doesn't help with the fact that I don't have a bra. Shit, I'm not even wearing panties right now!" I whisper-yell at him, though I feel kinda stupid because we're in his car and no one would hear us anyway.

Levi laughs like there's even something remotely funny with what I just said.

"Next time you go all barbaric and try to tear my clothes again, can you at least let me know or ask for my permission first? Like, a perfectly normal, sane person?" I grumble and unbuckle my seatbelt.

"Jesus Christ, Charlie. I just asked if you want breakfast. Why'd you even have to give a full fucking speech right there?" He sighs and removes his seatbelt, too.