The Boy with the Guitar

Hot Tattooed Metal Guy

Ricky:

I take a deep breath and try not to think about whether or not HTMG will like me. I'm nervous to meet him. Thankfully he's with people I know, so I shouldn't be too bad at talking to him.

I make my way over to them and stand awkwardly near the group.

"Ricky!" Hayden exclaims when he sees me.

"Hey," I say. "Who's this?"

"Ah, this is my friend Chris."

"Hey," says HTMG- or Chris, should I say. "I actually uh...wanted to talk to you."

"Really?" I ask. Chris wants to talk to me? Wow... "About what?"

"Just...stuff. You were really good by the way. I liked your original stuff a lot."

"Thanks." Intimidatingly gay, hot, completely tattooed man thinks I'm talented. No no that's not fucking insane. I try my best to keep it together while this attractive man, ten times cooler than I'll ever be, compliments me.

I follow Chris away from the other guys and over to the edge of the parking lot.

"Ricky, is it?" Chris asks. I nod cautiously and brace myself for any "constructive criticism" that may be coming my way. "You were phenomenal," he continues. So he really DOESN'T hate me. Wow. "I really like the way your songs were written. I was wondering--and it's fine if you don't want to talk to me--but is there any way you could...help me out? I mean, I'm trying to start a band and I don't really know how to write. Not as well as you, that is."

"Do you want me to like...teach you? Or tell you what I do when I write?"

"I guess that's what I'm trying to ask, yes."

I give a small but genuine smile and try to figure out how to talk to him. "Well um...I don't know, man. Do you think we could set something up for when we come home and you and I could talk music stuff? Or you could- I mean- no, never mind. Sorry." Ricky shut the fuck up. Stop. Talking. He doesn't want to come hang out with you in your stupid van. I bite my lip, fidgeting with one of my lip rings and look awkwardly up at Chris. Is he really tall or am I just short? Maybe both. Probably both. Gabriel always says I'm short. Everyone always says I'm short.

"I could what?" Chris insists.

"Nothing."

"Oh, come on man, what is it?"

No turning back now. "Well, I was gonna say that you could...come with us for these next three weeks. But it's stupid. I mean I'm sure you have a job, a girlfriend...just don't want to."

"Wait...are you serious?"

"It's- it's stupid, I'm sorry. Forget it."

"No no no, it's not stupid. If it means anything I don't have a job or a girlfriend. Or...a boyfriend. And I would love to."

Chris:

Ricky's face lights up and he looks up at me with a smile teasing at his lips.

"Really?"

"Yeah," I say. "I mean, if you'd have me. And I'll like drive and stuff too. Pay for my own food, gas when I'm driving, all that shit." Calm down, Chris. You're probably not even going. Besides, you would probably stay with Hayden's band in their van. They have bunks and stuff. Power strips, curtains dividing the rooms. Probably a lot more stuff than his van. Ricky probably couldn't even take another person.

"Well, if you want to come, I'd love to have you. And I'm sure my boyfriend and especially his brother wouldn't mind another driver and some company. We're leaving in about two hours give or take for Philadelphia. You can go home and if you'd like, put a bag together, meet us here at 11:30. We're leaving at around midnight."

"Sounds good. I will be here at 11:30 sharp."

"Alright. I'll see you then."

Ricky:

After Chris leaves, I run back over to Gabriel and Reggie excitedly. "That's Chris," I explain. "He's coming with us."

"Babe, do you really think we can fit another person?" Gabriel asks. "And afford to feed another mouth? All that shit?"

"He said he'll pay for his own stuff. He'll drive. Pay for gas when he's driving. It'll be good to have another driver. Some company."

"He looks like he's into that creepy theatrical metal music you like."

"He looks like me. I'm offended."

"You can pull it off." He kissed my cheek and I smiled. "Okay. So we bring Chris. Don't you go finding someone new every show though."

"I won't, I won't. This guy seems...different. In a good way."

"That is exactly what I said to Reggie when I met you."

"What, you think I'm gonna cheat on you with Chris?"

"One never knows. He's handsome, charming, taller than me, has better eyebrows, likes your kind of music, looks like the people you like."

"You get so jealous," I giggled.

"I'm not jealous," he pouted.

"Aw, yes you are." I kissed his cheek softly. "I love you. And only you."

"I love you too!" He wrapped his arms around me, tickling and kissing me and I squirmed around in his arms until I ended up facing him and kissing him passionately.

"Okay, we should probably work on making it not look like I live in here. There's trash bags in the glove compartment, Gabriel, can you clean up all the trash? I'll clean up the...bed area. Reggie, clean up the front seats."

We spend the next hour or more cleaning my van. I can't afford an apartment, or even to split rent with Gabe and Reggie, so I just live in my van. But Chris doesn't need to know that. Not yet at least.

Chris:

**11:30**

I walk into the parking lot with my backpack on my back and another bag in my hand. It's a bit chilly out, so I have jeans and a sweatshirt on. It's late so I've already taken off my makeup and I'm wearing a beanie. I hope Ricky and his boyfriend and his boyfriend's brother don't mind seeing me like this. It'll be my first impression on the other two. Unless they saw me before. I don't know. Why am I worried about this? Just calm down, Chris.

"Hey," says Ricky, turning away from the group of his people and Hayden's band and waving me over. I notice that Ricky has also taken off his makeup, but he looks adorable, unlike me. I wish I was that cute without makeup. He has a beanie on too and it is, adorably, too big for his head. He also has a hoodie on with the hood over it and I think that's pretty cute. On Ricky at least. Stop thinking he's cute. He has a boyfriend. But I can't stop thinking that. Ricky is so cute, especially with a beanie, no makeup, pajama pants, and a sweatshirt.

"Come here," Ricky says, pulling my out of my thoughts and fantasies. I walk over and join the group of people. "Chris, this is my boyfriend Gabriel and his little brother Reggie. Guys, this is Chris." We all said hi and talked for a little while before Hayden says it's time to go. I really don't see why we're leaving now. It's only a 2 hour drive. Can't we leave in the morning? Whatever. Maybe tomorrow. No, never mind. That's a 5 hour drive. I don't really know how this works.