Volcano Rock's Worst Kept Secret

Chapter 2

Author's Note: Here it is, after a year, chapter two.

I'm sorry it took so long, I do have an explanation, but I prefer opening notes stay brief, and be reserved mostly for content warmings. So I'll explain in the ending note. That said:

Warnings: The first chapter ended with the beginnings of a panic attack, and that continues here. I based it off my own experience with them, and anxiety in general. While not extreme, there are also a few instances of self harm.

XxXxX

For not the first time in his life, Branch was completely baffled at another troll's behavior. 

It wasn't just him.

They all watched with various mixes of confusion and concern as Barb disappeared into the crowd. 

One minute everything was fine, and the next it was like she couldn't get away fast enough. 

He may not have known The Queen of Rock for very long, but it didn't seem like normal behavior for her. 

Even stranger was how familiar it felt. It was almost like— 

No, he shouldn't make assumptions like that. He just met Barb. He knew next to nothing about her. It was just speculation about something that was most likely none of his business. 

Still, he couldn't shake the feeling...

“I don't understand,” Poppy said, bringing everyone's attention to herself. “I thought everything was going so well, Barb seemed like she was enjoying herself...”

”She was,“ Carol said.

”Then why did she leave?“ 

The blue rocker quietly regarded Poppy, a single finger tapping a slow beat on her forearm. Her silence stretched into a minute, and Branch wondered if Carol might not answer. Then she said, ”It's complicated." 

And gave no further answer than that.

XxXxX

T

he walk from the stage to the dressing rooms was not a long one. The performance area was built so that bands could go back and forth as efficiently as possible. It took five minutes at most.  

So would someone please tell her why this pathetically short little stroll felt like it was stretching. Into. Hours.

Barb struggled to keep her expression neutral as she made her way through the crowd. Her heart was pounding in her ears and her mind buzzing like a disturbed hornet nest.

She could feel the warning tingling in her fingertips. It was only a matter of time before it made its way up her arms and to her chest. She could already feel her muscles tightening in anticipation of it. 

It was so very stupid. 

People kept looking at her.  

Some tried to be subtle about it, others didn't bother. At least it was still mostly members of her tribe — tiny blessings, she supposed — but there were others in the mix. 

A group of classical trolls whispered as she passed by.

A funk troll stared at her.