Under The Radar

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 The clock ticked down until the restaurants closed. Vincent watched, and waited as each and every employee left. Every employee except two. Rody, and Lauren. His eyes were practically glaring into her soul. Looking around nobody else was there. "Lauren." Vincent said as she walked to the employee closet. Lauren was practically shaking. Lip quivering as she let out an audible gulp. "How many people know?" Vincent said forcefully as he blocked the door. "Nobody, except that Dot woman." Lauren said quickly as Vincent continued to glare daggers into her soul. Lauren kept her mouth shut as Vincent stood up straight. "If you say anything about this I will actually murder you." Lauren remained silent, shivering behind the mop. "DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" Vincent shouted. "Yessir!" Lauren stammered out as Vincent relaxed. Continuing to stare at her as he walked out and back to the office.

Rody watched as Vincent walked back into the office. He felt pitiful for Lauren. Especially now considering she was on Vincent's bad side. "Hey." Rody whispered as he leaned against the wall. "Hey, sorry for interrupting y'all. But also you two shouldn't be kissing at work." Lauren replied as she grabbed the bucket. Rody helped her with it. "Please say you won't tell anyone." Rody said, the fear stuttering out of his voice. "Don't worry I won't. I'm not that much of an ass. Besides, I don't want Vincent to make good on that threat." Lauren joked. Though Rody had a few doubts she was not joking. Rody felt a little relieved, but still felt nervous. He couldn't trust Lauren wouldn't tell anyone, but he would have to hope and pray nothing would get out. "So did Vincent give you the hickey?" Lauren said as Rody stiffened his pose. Lauren gave him a smile. Before it quickly faltered into a frown, and a look of fear. "Lauren." Vincent shouted, spooking Rody. "Got it, good evening y'all goodbye." Lauren said as she squeezed past the two before rushing out the employee exit. "You didn't have to go overboard." Rody said as he looked over at Vincent. He just shrugged. "You don't go overboard sometimes they don't shut up." Vincent said, causing Rody to look at him concerned, but also quite grateful. Yet that didn't make it any easier when Rody had to go to band practice. After what had happened at work, made his heart pound. Even though he was assured nobody outside of Lauren would know, and yet the fear of everyone knowing still slipped into his mind. "Hey, we're here." Vincent said, snapping Rody out of his trance. "Right." Rody said as he grabbed his case. "Are you still upset about what happened earlier?" Vincent asked, as Rody nodded. "Hey." Vincent said as he placed a hand on Rody's shoulder. "Nobody's going to know. I won't do anything like that again if you don't want to." Vincent said as Rody gave him a small smile. Placing a hand over his. "We won't." Rody corrected as Vincent gave him a smile. "Let me know if I need to spectate again. Rody leaned out to see James approaching. "Probably." Rody said as he got out of the car. "Hey man." Rody said as he got out. "We need an audience again?" Rody asked as he pulled out his case. "You bet." James said as Vincent turned off the car, and exited the vehicle. Though there was some sort of look in Jame's eyes. James had always been very perspective in Rody's opinion. Sometimes he'd just know things other band mates didn't know, or didn't realize. The three men walked up where Richard sat, but another woman. Rody knew her as James's sister Amiel. Though outside of a photograph she looked oddly familiar. Rody was sure it was just because he had seen a photo of her. "Well, well, well, if it isn't Vincent Charboneau." Amiel said. "Never thought I would ever see you outside of your home until the next full moon." She spoke with the same buttery smoothness James did. Though her tone came off as teasing toward Vincent. "Amiel. I didn't expect you to be here." Vincent replied as he sat down next to her. "You two know each other?" Rody asked, looking over at James he seemed a little surprised too. Amiel took one look at him. Before turning back to Vincent. "Isn't that the guy you carried out of Richard's party?" Amiel asked. That's where Rody had seen her. She had been at the table with Dolly, and Richard. "Yes, this is Rody. Rody, this is Amiel. We went to the same university, and she's in the orchestra with me and Richard." Vincent explained as Rody nodded his head. His mouth making an O shape. "Well it's nice to officially meet you." Rody said as he took his spot. "Oh by the way Rody did you move?" Mathew asked as Rody remembered his new living arrangements. "Oh yeah I did, I couldn't make my rent this month so my landlady kicked me out." Rody explained. "Oh god." Dolly said worriedly. "Please tell me your new home isn't a dumpster." Andy said as Rody shook his head. "Nope." Andy let out a sigh of relief. "I just hope you didn't leave behind a mess for your landlady to clean." James muttered under his breath. Rody heard it, but didn't give any comment. "Dolly called us earlier with the number change so we have it in case we need to reach you." Leo said as Rody raised a brow. How did Dolly get his number? He hadn't informed her of his recent move. Then again Vincent could've informed Richard, and Richard could've told Dolly. Either way Rody shrugged it off. "Also Rody, do you think you could play us that extra song you wrote? We are only a few days from the concert after all." Dolly asked. Rody began to internally panic as he glanced over at Vincent. He wasn't quite sure he wanted to play the song right here. Not right now. Vincent was also quite perspective, and considering some of the lyrics he wrote only applied to them it would be a dead give way. Besides Vincent had already been given a small peek, and he did not want the rest to be ruined. "Not tonight I want to save it for the concert date if that's alright." A few of the band members seemed confused, but didn't give any verbal response. "That's completely fine. Now are we ready?" Dolly asked. "Ready." All of them replied before beginning the first song.

This evening's practice went much better compared to the previous. Andy still had a nervous exterior but kept his cool, and didn't have any slips ups. Rody couldn't help but see Vincent smile throughout the performance. Even if he already got the exclusive preview Rody wanted to see if he would show up to the concert. If he would be able to pick him out in the crowd. He really wanted to see how he would react to the song he had written. When their performance came to an end the three audience members applauded. Though Richard was the most enthusiastic out of the three. Standing up and giving a few whistles. "This is just a practice Richard, not the actual concert." Amiel said as she moved a bit away from him due to his unapologetic enthusiasm. "Shut up." Richard said before he rushed over to Dolly and gave her a kiss on the lips. "Awwww." Leo said as he pulled out his ear plugs. Rody rolled his eyes and shook his head. Not really in an annoyed way but in a more loving way. "Now you can't do that at a concert." Dolly said as Richard helped her off the stool. "But I can do it after." Richard said before Rody realized something. "You're not on crutches!" Rody shouted as he pointed at Dolly. Her ankle was in a boot, and it was clear she was still having some issues walking, but other than that she was off of crutches. Dolly giggled and smiled. "Yes I am. Though I will still be in the boot during the concert." Dolly said as Rody shrugged. "At least you're closer to walking again." Andy replied as he heavily tapped at the bottom of the spit valve letting it dump onto the grass. Amiel made a slight face of disgust but looked back at the group. Rody turned back to Vincent. "So shall we be going?" Vincent asked as he dangled his key from his finger. Rody chuckled as he placed his guitar back in his case. "Yes please, I need a fucking a nap." Rody said as he clicked the latched shut before picking up his case. "Bye y'all." Rody said as he walked out with Vincent. "Bye Rody."

Rody was relaxing in the living room. Playing notes on the guitar as he whispered the lyrics to himself. Vincent was in the shower, so he didn't have much fear about him walking in and spoiling the rest of the song. Though something else did. The phone began to ring. Rody was confused, but figured it was because one of his bandmates was calling to ensure it was his number. Rody put his guitar down and picked up the phone. "Hello?" Rody asked. "Hey Rody?" James's voice came from the other end. "Oh James, what do you need?" Rody asked as the phone went silent for a few seconds before James sighed. "Look this is a stupid question, and you don't have to answer, but are you and Vincent dating?" James asked. Rody froze solid. There was no way he could've known. Not a possibility. "What?" Rody said as James sighed. "Look you two act a little less like friends would, so I figured you could be dating. Though I apologize if I am wrong, or I offended you because of it." James said as Rody began to panic. Had he and Vincent really been that obvious? Sure they hadn't made out in front of him, but what could they possibly do? Now he was left with two options. Lie or tell the truth. He could've pushed and dug, but fear gripped hold of him. He couldn't risk it. "No, we aren't sorry if we confused you." The lie dripped off of his tongue and he wasn't sure James was fully convinced of it. "Very well then. Have a good evening, Rody." Rody smiled. "Goodbye." And with that he hung up and let out a sigh of relief. Whipping imaginary sweat off of his brow. As much as he hated not telling his bandmates it just wasn't safe enough. Not yet anyways. Maybe in the future, but right now it is best to keep it as a secret as possible. No matter the risk. Rody looked back at his guitar. He thought back to the song. He would have to recheck the lyrics. Make sure it wouldn't be obvious to the audience who the song was for. Let alone to the rest of his friends. 

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