Oliver 14

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It was another week. Oliver didn't know how else to describe it. The same thing each day, with no improvement on his Snickelway bucket list, though he supposed that he wasn't really trying anyway. That list was supposed to be about carpe diem, to live life to the fullest, and what he wrote wasn't related to any of that. At the very least, he was still being sociable, though with the same crowd and not with anyone new. He barely spoke to his coworkers about anything outside of their jobs, and his small group of friends remained small, but that was exactly how Oliver preferred it. When he didn't have to go to therapy after work, he would go to Kara's and watch some trashy TV and eat junk food. That always brought a smile to his face, albeit a very slight one that most people would barely be able to see, but a smile nonetheless, especially this week as Kara had gotten to the season finale of one of her vampire shows and got riled up when a seemingly excellent plot twist got turned bathetically into a joke. Hearing Kara angrily rant was always entertaining, throwing popcorn at her TV and getting some stuck in her hair.

However, the best day was always Friday. It wasn't as great as it used to be, but it was still the highlight, in Oliver's opinion. This Friday was the first performance, including Kal, who was their new lead vocalist and guitar player. The rest of the band had a few rehearsals and worked out songs Kal already knew how to play, making a new setlist. Oliver disliked this change, though he knew it was to help everyone, but he liked knowing what was coming next instead of a surprise. Surprises were the worst. They interrupted things, and Oliver always had a plan in his head, and if it got disrupted and jumbled up, then his own brain and mind would be jumbled up and out of sequence, and he struggled to do anything.

Oliver was like a well-oiled machine as he set up the equipment, relieved that their new band member wasn't changing anything; instead, Kal seemed to want to learn the setup, asking Oliver questions when it was clear he was in charge of this procedure.

"Someone's cautious." Kal smirked upon seeing the excessive use of electrical tape Oliver used to stick down wires and his micromanaging of everything, moving some of the equipment a minuscule to the side until everything was perfect.

"Uptight and dogmatic, that's me," said Oliver dryly as he continued to tape things down.

"Hey, I didn't say it was bad, " Kal said. "To take your job seriously. We're dealing with electronics and heavy equipment and mixing it with drunk people dancing. We mess up on set-up, and accidents might happen. I can see why they hired you."

Oliver looked up at Kal and blinked, pausing from the compliment. "Uh, thank you." All week, he had been preparing for someone new to roll their eyes or grow frustrated with his anxious and overprotective ways.

After the sound check, Rheanna introduced the band, speaking in her low, sultry voice, smirking as she received a few wolf whistles, getting the anticipated result before the band played their first song. Without the crowd and an invasive group of women and sitting at a safe space, Oliver could finally concentrate on the music this time and got to appreciate Kal's vocals. Kal had this unique raspy and dry tone to their voice like they constantly had a cold, nasally and giving a new flair to the lyrics, whilst still possessing that power behind them. There was an air of professionalism surrounding them, the control of their voice, and the almost robot quality of their guitar playing, like they were on auto-pilot, never missing a beat or note, and keeping true to the original piece instead of adding anything unnecessary like some artists overdid. It was the first time Kal was playing live with Common Annomolies, and yet they seemed to have no nerves at all, like it was as natural as breathing, that they had been playing with these people for years. On the rare occasion, there was a mistake, Kal instinctively covered for them, as some of the songs weren't as practised for the rest of the band, to accommodate and fill up the playlist that everyone knew. Oliver supposed it was because Kal was used to floating between groups, filling in spots, and working with someone new all the time before moving on to the next. It was impressive to be able to deal with so much change and inconsistency and lack of routine on a daily basis, something Oliver could never do, but it also sounded rather lonely, to not have a constant group, a friend circle you saw every week without fail. It was keeping Oliver together, this band, and if that was gone...

The first half ended, Rheanna thanking everyone and declaring a fifteen-minute break before the band put down their instruments and headed to the bar. Zeke and Darren got everyone drinks, waiting at the bar, meanwhile, Oliver and Kara went outside to smoke as usual. Kal joined them eventually, vaping a puff of candyfloss vapour.

"Didn't think anyone our age smoked," Kal commented, smirking. "Or are you rebelling? Are you not older than twenty-seven?"

"We're old enough," said Oliver. "We're smoking legally like the well-behaved and upstanding citizens we are."

Kal shrugged and then teased, "I don't know; you got kicked out of a bar last week from starting a fight, I heard."

Oliver didn't want to be reminded of that incident, how he had snapped and lost control something he rarely did, but he tried continuing the joke, to not dampen the mood like he usually did by being so serious. "No one's perfect," was all that he could think of at the moment. It wasn't exactly on the same level of quippy, far from it, but it kept up the general vibe.

Fortunately, Darren came outside with everyone's drinks, and like before, he attempted to suck up to Kal, complimenting their performance a bit too much. Still, Kal remained cool as a cucumber, appreciative and returning praise which made Darren fluster.

"God, just ask them out," Kara whispered to Oliver, jokingly.

Oliver smiled slightly, pretending not to eavesdrop as Darren continued to talk about his favourite artists, though Oliver knew his real ones, Darren named ones that sounded less mainstream and more indie or undiscovered rock bands and more niche sub-genres as if that would impress Kal. However, to everyone's surprise, Kal declared that their favourite artist was Kelly Clarkson, which Kara and Oliver couldn't help but chuckle from Darren's reaction at his attempt to name some Kelly Clarkson songs that he liked. After that failure, Darren retreated back inside, tail between his legs.

"Is Kelly Clarkson really your favourite artist?" Kara asked Kal. "because we can try and learn some of her songs and add them to the setlist."

"Not my all-time favourite, but she's up high," replied Kal. "I just wanted to mess with him." They took a sip of their bottle of beer. "Pretty fun." They put a finger to their lips with a mischievous grin. "Don't tell him; let's see how far he'll go."

Darren came back to give them a five-minute warning before the second half. The show went without a fault. After packing all the equipment in the van, the band remained for a round of celebratory drinks for their first night with their new band member. Darren had seemingly become a Kelly Clarkson expert in a short time, listing off more songs that he liked, and suggested Kal pick a couple they could learn to play and perform a rock cover version of them. Oliver and Kara attempted to hold their laughter, as they watched Kal impressively keep a straight face as they pried Darren for more obscure Kelly Clarkson songs and facts, Darren seemingly struggling and changing the subject as best as he could.

Finishing their drinks, Rheana, Zeke, Kara, and Kal got in the van, whilst Oliver, Darren and Sasha got in Darren's car, heading to Oliver's flat to drop him off.

"You know," began Sasha. "If you want to get new gigs or play for someone famous, you could just ask Kal."

"What! No!" Darren laughed, shaking his head. "We just met; I don't want to be that guy. I want to be their friend, not just use them for their connections."

Sasha winced. "But what you're doing at the moment, babe..."

"It's embarrassing to watch," said Oliver bluntly. "It's obvious what you're doing."

"I-" Darren stuttered. "Was I?"

"Just let me know if you have to sleep with them to get the gig," said Sasha. "Ideally, I would want to join in-"

"Sasha!" Darren recoiled in disgust.

"I just want to support you, babe, anything to help you achieve your dreams. If not, can I at least watch?"

"I am not going to sleep with Kal to get a gig!" Darren huffed.

"If we weren't together, would you consider sleeping with someone to get a gig?"

There was a long pause before Darren yelled, "no!" perhaps a bit too loudly. "Of course not! I'm not selling myself. I... I'd want to get the job with my own hard work."

Sasha gave a look behind to Oliver in the backseat, both of them smirking at each other as Darren continued to defend himself.

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