Social Norms (Synacky)

Chapter Thirty-Four

The next morning, Brian went to visit his grandfather.

He called ahead to let the nurses know he was coming, and they said it would be fine if he stopped by. Wing D, room 407.

They told his Pops, so he was expecting Brian when he slowly opened the door.

“Pops?” he asked, poking his head into the room. His grandfather was sitting upright in the hospital bed, shuffling a deck of cards.

“Hey, Bri. Come in here.”

Brian stepped into the room, moving to sit in the chair by his Pops’ bed. “Hey.” He said, “How are you?”

“Restless.” He replied, cutting his deck and shuffling them again. “I’m tired of sitting here and doing nothing. You didn’t happen to bring your guitar, by any chance?”

It was a joke, but Brian actually had his guitar in his car, because he was going to practice after the visit. So, he jogged back to his car to get it.

His Pops smiled when Brian handed him the guitar, fingers flitting up and down the fret board. “Your father got it from me, you know.”

Brian rolled his eyes, “Yeah, you’ve told me before.”

“So talk to me, Brian.” His grandfather began to play some Pink Floyd song. The notes sounded quiet and tinny without an amp to give them strength and fullness. “Your parents told me a lot has been going on with you. It’s been a while.”

Brian nodded, not knowing where to begin. “Well, I’ve joined a band.”

“That’s exciting.” His Pops replied, “What genre?”

“Metalcore.” Brian replied, “Really hard, scream oriented. Basic riffs, less shredding.”

His grandfather gaped at him. “You’ve joined a metalcore band? My Brian, who can hardly play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star without tearing it up, has joined a band writing basic riffs and little shredding?”

Brian just shrugged. “They already had most of the riffs written when I joined. I helped the guitarist write them, so they’re not too bad.”

“Oh, yes. Your parents told me you were teaching someone to play. Is that the other guitarist in your band?”

“Yeah.” Brian replied, “He’s not too bad. He’s actually pretty good. Written a solo and everything.”

“He any good?”

“He is now. Wasn’t so much when we started, but now he can handle his own.”

“Well, I’d like to see you guys play sometime. That is, if they’ll ever let me out of this hell hole.”

They both chuckled, and Brian asked, “When are you getting out?”

“I’m gonna need a wheelchair for a bit, but tomorrow is the day.” His Pops replied. “Then it’s back to business. By the way, your parents were telling me about how you’ll be needing a job…”

“I’m pursuing this band, Pops.” Brian interrupted. “I think we’ve got something going, and I want this to be my career. But I don’t mind helping you guys out every once in a while.”

“And I’ll pay you whenever you come. Starting a band is expensive, Bri, you’ll need all the extra cash you can get.”

“Yeah, I guess so…” Brian agreed, trailing off as he watched his Pops play. He was debating whether or not he should tell him about Zacky. His Pops was a great guy, and Brian really wanted to tell him, but he wondered if it would be the right decision.

“So, um, I’ve been seeing someone. After Michelle and I broke up.”

“Oh yes, they told me about you and Michelle. I’m sorry about that, Brian, that’s a real shame. We all thought ‘Chelle was such a good girl.”

“Yeah, yeah, but I’m dating someone else. Someone better.” Brian dismissed. He didn’t like Michelle, didn’t want to dwell on her.

“Oh? Tell me about her.”

Brian felt blush creeping across his cheeks and he looked down, stammering, “Well, um… it’s actually… you see…” he sighed softly. “He’s a boy.”

“Oh, my mistake, I’m sorry. Tell me about him.”

Brian looked up to see his Pops smile at him encouragingly. He was confused. Wouldn’t he get upset? Be surprised? Yell at him or at least rebuke him in some way shape or form? His Pops looked like it was totally normal, like what Brian was doing was totally okay. And it was totally okay.

So, Brian told his grandfather about Zacky. His Pops listened thoughtfully, and Brian told him everything, from hating him when they first started learning, to the fight that happened because Justin called them faggots. He left out the sex, though. He didn’t want his grandfather hating him…

When he finished, he sat back, chewing his bottom lip nervously. His Pops regarded him, then went back to playing the guitar. “Yeah, I could tell you got in a fight. That’s quite a shiner you got there.” Brian knew he was referring to the bruise at the top of his left cheek. “But that’s nice, Brian. I’m happy you found someone who makes you happy. He sounds like a really nice guy.”

“He is.” Brian replied. “He’s the greatest.”

“Maybe one day I’ll be watching you two get hitched.” His Pops chuckled to himself and sighed, “It’s good to marry young you know. That’s what I did with your Gran.”

Brian felt the blush creep along his cheeks. “Pops…” he trailed off, “I’m not sure about that…”

“Well you never know, I married your Gran straight out of high school.” his Pops messed with the tuning pegs on Brian’s guitar. “You seem really passionate about him. That look in your eyes when you talk about him doesn’t go unnoticed. How old is he, anyway? Why don’t you just ask him to marry you?”

Brian’s jaw dropped. He couldn’t tell whether his Pops was joking or not. “What?” he asked. “I’m not sure if that’s a really good life decision…” especially when he recalled that Zacky was angry with him at the moment. What if that anger festered and grew? He wouldn’t want to be tied to that, at such a young age.

But it was Zacky…

“Well, thanks for the advice, but you’re crazy, Pops.” Brian stood up, taking his guitar and patting his grandfather on the shoulder. “Rest up, okay? I’ll come by your place once you’re out. Maybe push you around in your wheelchair.”

His Pops chuckled, rolling his eyes. “I’ll be walking again before you know it. I’ll see you, Bri. Thanks for stopping to visit.”