These Demons

Chapter Seven

Waking up, I have a headache and I'm running late for an appointment I wish I could skip. All of my vain attempts to reschedule my interview or do it on the phone or Skype didn't get me anywhere, and pretending to be sick wouldn't solve this problem either.

Reluctantly, I put on the baggiest shirt I own with The Damned printed on the front, and combine it with some black jeans that would hang loose on my body without a belt. My usual hooded black leather jacket and a pair of my many black boots complete the random uncreative outfit and I grab some sugarfree chewing gum before I drive to the meeting spot. The thought of entering the cafe already freaks me out, but I couldn't convince the others to change it without appearing too suspicious. I was already asked way too many unpleasant questions when I tried to call it off and can't risk any more of them.

The glass doors slide open so easily as if they weren't the gates to the set of my own personal horror movie, and before I even look for the others, I immediately scan the entire place to be able to feel a little less terrified. When I have a precise overview, I can feel safer and more relaxed because it creates the illusion of having at least a bit of control.
The room is spacious, the decor minimalist and the colors mostly silver and blue, and I like how far apart the wooden tables are because it enables more privacy, but I need to swallow hard when I see the huge breakfast buffet lined up in the center of the dining area.
Waiters keep coming from the kitchen in the back to refill, so everything imaginable for the breakfast most people would consider perfect is being offered. I don't even want to look at all of that stuff, but I can't look away either while standing here, so I try to focus on the reason I'm here for while mentally cursing whoever decided this would be the right place for it.

It's not too difficult to spot the others, though, because a table with four guys mainly dressed in black and covered with tattoos stands out in the crowd of basic bitches instagramming their waffles and annoyed moms with restless toddlers, so I quickly make my way there and try to ignore everyone else.
CC is the first one to spot me and I see his face light up for a moment, but then it suddenly changes into something else that certainly doesn't look happy, and I feel immediately uncomfortable.
Why does he look at me like that? Is he disgusted by the way I look? Can't he see that I've already lost some weight? Isn't it visible? Do I still look as fat as I used to? Is he repulsed by my appearance?
As usual, my thoughts drive me crazy, and shutting them out is almost impossible when I force myself to smile as I approach the guys.

"Hey bro," CC says with his weird look plastered on his face, and the others share the same expression when they see I'm here. Ashley even wrinkles his forehead. Do I look that terrible?
The others mumble their greetings as well and the interview guy introduces himself while I sit down in the corner to be able to oversee the entire cafe. "Michael Carter from the Alternative Press. I'm so glad you could make it as well, Mr. Biersack."

"Andy, please," I press because I hate being addressed with my last name. It's like talking to someone at the bank or court. "Sure. How are you today?" Oh god, more faked concern. I dislike Michael Carter from the Alternative Press already.
"Fine," I lie and fold my hands in my lap to hide my trembling.
"Are you sure?" Jinxx doubts my words. "You look..."
"A little sick," Jake finishes his sentence. Everyone at the table looks at me and I wish I could crawl underneath it right now. Is that how they see me? Sick? Now that's just great.
"Just tired," I use the usual excuse, but the others don't seem to believe me.
"Okay..." Michael Carter from the Alternative Press wants to break the uncomfortable silence. Relatable. "You guys have a new record coming up, don't you?" That's the reason why you're here, genius.
"Yeah!" Ashley happily exclaims after looking at me and realizing that I refuse to speak. "The release date and pre-orders will be out soon. We're really excited." Are we?
"Can you guys spoiler anything?" Michael Carter asks in his fake friendly way while taking notes on his iPad.
"We've been working with John Feldman again," Ash opens up.
I'm curious to see how much he'll reveal. The record label has strictly prohibited the release of any lyrics, parts of songs, dates or any other kind of content, so what on earth is he supposed to say?
"Wretched and Divine was the first time we worked with him and we were really proud of that, and we hope we'll be able to beat that with the new album." We all have such high hopes.
"We've all grown as players and songwriters and tried to wrap up how the last two years went for all of us. The process was both really nerve-wracking and personal, and we hope the fans will appreciate the result of our hard work as much as we do."
Listening to Jinxx makes me register he should really talk more. He's good at it. If I hadn't always blabbered so fucking much, he would have had his chance years ago, but I always drowned the others out with being an attention-seeking idiot.