Invisible String (BoyxBoy)

Chapter 2. Bad Blood

(Author's note)

Hey guys! Just woke up this morning with some new reads on the story and rankings already???  #762 in 'book'? That's insane, thank you all so much for supporting and reading this story. 

Thought I would explain a little bit more about the use of songs in the story. Most of the songs mentioned and attached to the chapters are Edvin's songs unless stated otherwise and are part of the story, so please listen to them! 

Don't forget to like the chapters and please comment! I love hearing your thoughts about the characters and where this story is going!  Now back to the story...

You see, Edvin was all about the game plan. He was a master of scheming, a mastermind if you would. And let me tell you, that skill was like his secret weapon. It's the reason he's soaring high right now, maybe a dash of talent sprinkled in. But it was that meticulously crafted strategy that launched his music career and made waves back home in Serbia. That same determination and hawk-eyed attention to detail scored him a ticket to represent his country at the ESC (that's Eurovision Song Contest, in case you're not in the loop) back in 2012. Oh, and guess what? He nailed it, clinched the crown at the world's grandest song showdown.

But here's the twist: he wasn't about to kick back and chill after that triumph. Nope, not even a bit. For a solid 11 years, he had been pushing boundaries, grinding like a machine. The guy just didn't know how to quit. So, you can imagine the total freak-out mode he slipped into when he rolled back home to his house in Burbank, California, fresh off a chemistry test that went south.

His schedule? Pfft, it was cleared for the next half-year or so. The big plan was all set, until it wasn't. That role he had his heart set on? Poof! Vanished into thin air. What's a guy supposed to do now? Oh, the turmoil, my friend. The turmoil was real. He kinda-sorta wanted to believe it's all for the best, you know? Toss that role, forget that character. Playing queer on-screen? Well, that was a can of worms that Serbia wasn't ready to pop open just yet. Even in 2023, homophobia had its ugly grip tight back home.

Now, let's backtrack a smidge. Edvin wasn't just a celebrity. Oh no, he was practically royalty in his homeland. His fame put Serbia on the map in a way GPS couldn't dream of. He took it upon himself, you see, to wave that flag high. So he'd been living this double life, fronting these very public, straight-as-an-arrow relationships, all the while keeping his real deal locked tight in a closet.

And then, the movie came along. This was gonna be for him. Not Serbia. Not his fans. Just. Him. But, as you might have guessed, life doesn't exactly stick to scripts. Cue the dramatic entrance of Mr. Tall, blond hunk named Adrian. Chemistry test, huh? Well, it was more like a nuclear disaster. Two minutes of verbal abuse thrown back and forth, not a single line from the script. Nada in the spark department.

Okay, here's the kicker. The movie? Yeah, it's like 75% bickering and squabbles between the leads. Edvin's closest friend, Katy, is all like, "Yo, isn't that like, their whole deal?" Katy's onto something, you see, but Edvin? Edvin's wallowing in his own pool of despair, dreaming of writing a sequel to "Bad Blood" dedicated to you know who.

So, back to reality. Two bottles of wine later—yeah, you heard me right—Edvin's sitting there, chatting it up with Katy.

"Come on, spill it! You're totally bummed 'cause you won't get to lock lips with that sizzling blond heartthrob," Katy teased, winking playfully.

Edvin let out an exaggerated sigh, his eyes going into overdrive. "Oh, please. You've got it all wrong. I'm seriously devastated that I won't have the chance to give him a good, old-fashioned slap across the face." They were both sprawled out on the floor, the music cranked up a notch too high. They had to practically shout to hear each other over the beats.

Katy didn't miss a beat, mimicking a slap with an overdramatic flourish. "Oh, girl, I would totally go for it!" She punctuated her declaration with an enthusiastic, very inappropriate hand gesture, her eyes wide with mischief.

Edvin burst into laughter, his cheeks a bit flushed from the wine and the hilarity of it all. "Hold up, babe. Remember, you're a happily married woman."

Their laughter echoed in the room, a harmonious blend of joy and camaraderie. It had been a while since they'd had a night like this, just letting loose and being utterly ridiculous. Edvin knew, deep down, that his bond with Katy was the kind that could weather any storm. Months could slip by without a word, but when they reconnected, it was as if no time had passed at all. Their friendship was a treasure, a romcom-worthy connection that made life brighter and more colourful.

The next thing Edvin remembers, he's waking up to his phone blaring.

Morning? No way. Way too early. Edvin's got a bone to pick with whoever's on the other end.

"Yes?" He picked up the phone, without glancing at the screen.

"Hi, good afternoon, is this Edvin Markovic? This is Matthew Moore speaking"

"Hi, yes, that's me, good afternoon. How are you?" Edvin jumped up in his bed, which he shouldn't have done because his head was very much still pounding from last night.

"What's going on?" A head popped out of the sheets. Edvin realised Katy never made it home last night. He covered her mouth with one of his hands to shush her.

"I'm very well, thank you. Is there any chance you could pop in the studio tomorrow morning?" His thick English accent was more prominent through the phone.

"Absolutely, I'll be there." Edvin could hardly contain his excitement.

"Great, we'll see you at 10 am. Have a lovely day." Before Edvin could say anything, Matthew hung up.

"Did you get it?" Katy couldn't force herself to lift her head from the pillow to show her excitement, but Edvin knew it was there.

"They invited me back to the studio tomorrow." Edvin literally squeaked. Maybe not all has been lost.