Devil's Eye

Chapter 8

5' 8"-5' 9"

Noah was really nervous, and he couldn't tell what the reason was: his friends, who were about to perform for the first time after a long break, or Ethan, who agreed to join him. What if he doesn't like it? What if he decides that he shouldn't be here? What if he doesn't come?

Because he was way too nervous, Noah was the first one to arrive at 'I want you deadly!', so he had to go around in circles for some time in front of the main door and smoke one after another. He did try to calm down, but he didn't succeed. His heart was pounding like crazy; he even felt it in his head.

Ethan appeared exactly on time, the hour before the gig, just as they had agreed with Noah. Morgan ran his eyes over him unconsciously and sighed, taking the new cigarette out of the pack. He really wanted to write 'horny' on it, but he was too afraid that Ethan would notice it. So he smoked it just like that.

Noah had his reasons for thinking he was horny. Ethan looked as usual. He had his mask and fingerless gloves on, as usual. He had a big black and red hoodie on. And black and gray camouflage joggers. And some high boots with a thick sole. So, there was nothing going on with his looks for Noah to think about. Nothing! But then, again, he was! The band was also late, which left Noah alone with Ethan for way too long.

"They probably got stuck in traffic, or something," Noah mumbled, being torn by emotions. On one hand, he was unbelievably happy that Ethan did show up; on the other hand, he had no idea what to do next. Ethan didn't say anything, but it felt like the clouds were gathering around him. What if Noah said some nonsense and Ethan thought that he was an idiot?! "Do you mind if we don't go inside for now and wait for the others at the front door? They might need help unloading the instruments."

Ethan just shrugged his shoulders like 'I don't care'. The next ten minutes Noah spent trying to come up with the topic for the discussion, but, finally, he gave up and showed Ethan his collection of pictures, where Peanut and Fluffy were wearing different costumes, that Morgan bought them online too often.

"...And here's Peanut with Spider-Man socks on," Noah commented on every picture while checking on Ethan whether he was bored or not.

"Socks for cats? Goodness," Thomson exhaled, clearly smiling.

"You should've seen his face while I was trying to... Dang, I look like a town crazy, don't I?" Noah caught himself being taken away because he was showing a third dozen photos of his cats. It was the smallest part of his gallery, but it was still too much for a nearly stranger.

"Not at all. You share the things you love. What's wrong with that?" Ethan shrugged his shoulders. "The way society treats animals shows how mature and healthy it is."

"Oh, does it mean I'm mature?" Noah was happy.

"As mature as it's possible for a twenty-one-year-old," Ethan chuckled.

The band was almost half an hour late. The guys didn't just go out; they fell out of Andrea's mom's minivan, swearing back and forth at each other. Noah was sure that Steve, the lead singer, was the initiator of the fight, as usual. He sang well, but he was freaking out way better. He was always driving everyone nuts by giving uninvited advice before every performance. He, on the other hand, thought that this advice was very much needed.

"Your job is to sing. And not poke your nose into drums!" Pete snapped off, confirming Noah's suspicions.

"What should I do if you keep losing the beat and confusing all of us?" Steve spread his hands.

"I messed up only once!" Pete yelled.

"Which is only the beginning! And you, Scott, you need to rehearse more. Every time you're on stage, you look so tense, like you're about to give birth or something."