Stand Up and Shout

Chapter 2

Only after yet another lusty round of heated animalistic shower sex was Ashton finally able to face the music. Placing a kiss on Chloe's rosy cheek, he gave her a playful smack on the ass before he left her in peace. With one last lingering glance at the smile on her face, he finally felt ready to take on that world.

He put on his faded blue jeans, grabbed a white t-shirt from the closet, draped it over his shoulder and made his way downstairs. Since he had no plans to leave the house today, he simply combed his long fingers through his shoulder length blonde hair, slicking it back away from his clean shaven face.

Arriving in the living room, he found Jay, his shirtless young prodigy, sitting on the couch watching that movie yet again. The kid didn't even attempt to turn it off anymore. Ashton used to tease him about it at first but now he realized watching it was Jay's twisted form of therapy. He didn't quite get it but he understood everyone had their own way of dealing with things.

Throwing himself into his armchair, Ashton gave into the moment. Even he couldn't help but get sucked into the climactic final scene. No doubt about it, Stand Up and Shout was an awesome movie. There was something undeniably magical about how the main character, a kid from nowhere, standing right up front at a concert for his favorite band, saves the day when he is called up on stage by his idol, the frontman of the band. After singing a few lines together, unable to handle the lifestyle any longer, the famous road weary singer hands the kid the reins in the form of his mic. Having lovingly memorized the entire setlist, the stupefied kid grabs the mic, starts to sing in the most incredible voice. Boom! The crowd loves him and he steals the show.

"Man, why do you torture yourself?"

"Quit bustin' my ass," Jay sulked, avoiding eye contact with the all-knowing Ashton Wright, singer-songwriter of the SSLs. The second he spoke, Jay regretted his tone. As it stood, he owed Ashton everything even if he couldn't help but hate him just a little. Okay, hate might be too strong a word. Envious, alright, he was envious of his unshakeable confidence. Not only was Ashton rock star perfection in every sense of the word, from his flawless good looks to his mesmerizing stage presence, the guy had the patience of a saint, especially where he was concerned and Jay was ever grateful for that. Even still, he wondered how long before Ashton finally got fed up and kicked him out.

God forbid he return to Texas. As much as he missed his small town, he knew there was nothing there for him. His dream was to become a famous rock star in a metal band, not a country singer, or a football player. As far as the folks back home were concerned, those two career choices were the only two worthy of setting your sights on.

"You imagine that's you." Ashton ignored the snark in Jay's voice. "In fact, that is you, isn't it? Up in your mind."

"That is not it!" Jay insisted. "I just happen to like the movie."

"Come on, look at you." Ashton sat back, gesturing at him. "You're not just watching it. You're living it, in your head. Problem is, you're wasting your time imagining when you could be doing."

Totally unaware of his posture, Jay had watched the entirety of the movie from the edge of his seat. Even now, as the credits rolled, he was still sitting there with his elbows on his knees, his knuckles clutched under his chin, his muscles rippling with tension. It's a good thing he wasn't a nail biter otherwise, he wouldn't have any fingers left.

Frustrated, Jay lowered his head and raked his fingers through his shoulder-length sandy brown hair. "I don't know why you bother anymore," Jay huffed, too upset to look his mentor in the eyes. "I just keep messin' up. I keep letting y'all down!"

He hated that Ashton had once again been forced to rescue Southern Jackass from making fools of themselves. He could still see it in his mind. The audience waiting, the bright lights in his eyes, the disappointment on the faces of his bandmates.