Better Off (Lil Peep)

Chapter 3: Club Hell & Meeting GBC

Samara's POV

Three days and I'm already fitting in. Luca and Haylie and Dex especially were good at making me feel at home. I was lucky to have such good roommates and now such good friends. I was a mix of nervous and excited to go to a gig with Luca. He was still a lesser known DJ but the thought of meeting anyone, connecting, actually living out my dreams as a photographer, made my heart race. I was always so critical of my work but Luca and the others praised it whenever they caught a glimpse.

There was something special about a photograph. A moment, captured in time, for forever. In a world where nothing lasted forever, that felt priceless. Deep down somewhere under all of the nerves and giddy, I was homesick.

The thought of "home" wasn't the same anymore, though. Images of Beck and Annie and Landon filled my head and they all looked so different- apart from Landon I guess. I wasn't upset with him. He hardly knew what was happening.
But Annie and Beck looked different. They weren't my friends anymore. They weren't my home anymore. This was home.

"This is home." I reassured myself, as I rinsed my face with cold water. It woke me and I felt chills run up my arms. It was almost time to go, but I lined my eyes heavy with eyeliner and dabbed foundation at my pale skin. I wanted to at least look good.

"Ready to go?" Luca tapped on my door and I nearly jumped as he entered.

"Yeah let's go." He was stuck for a moment frozen and tried to suddenly play it off as though he wasn't staring (he totally was!)

I was wearing a long baggy Eazy-E shirt over black nylons, paired with my three inch Demonia boots. I felt tall and pretty as I finished the outfit off with a dressy yellow flannel.

At least Luca thought I was cute!

"So what's the gig?" We hopped into his crappy little honda stuffed with gear.

"It's me first, opening for the one and only GothBoiClique." He spit happily

"GothBoiClique? Cool." I mused. It sounded like a long show and I was excited to meet whatever friends he had in the scene out here.

We pulled up to the venue right on time. We showed ids and entered the warm glowing world of the club in front of us. I looked around, the venue was open and mostly everyone was off to the side in groups or at tables. We were early so that he could set up and perform of course.

I glanced around nervously while Luca set up his gear and I shuffled over to help, feeling awkward to be standing alone in the club. I couldn't even drink either so that made it more awkward I suppose.

After Luca set up he showed me around. Club Hell. A regular hot spot of his and apparently of GothBoiClique as well. We even toured behind the scenes and backstage.

"Samara, this is none other than the Lil Tracy." He beamed, as he hugged Tracy with wide arms.
"Nice to meet you, girl. So this is the photographer you were telling me all about" he grinned referencing the camera I had on my neck.

"That's me" I chuckled softly, feeling myself go red under the pinky purple lights, I hoped he couldn't see. Tracy was beyond adorable and everything from his eyes to his clothes caught me off guard. He had a warm soft gaze that somehow creeped into my soul as we shook hands and grinned at one another. He held my hand in his for what felt like too long before pulling away.

Minutes later, he introduced me to the rest of the members:

There was ColdHart- he had blue shaggy hair and was of Asian decent (maybe Korean?) he was quiet and mysterious but smiled warmly at me.

Wicca Phase, who had wavy long hair and sharp features. At first glance you could almost mistake him for Luca. He was clearly outgoing and seemed like quite the jokester

døves, who was tall and looked like Jesus somehow, he was friendly and chatty with me.

HorseHead, who had long hair and kind eyes, and complimented me on my hair

yunggoth who had overgrown blonde hair with roots and circle glasses and looked entirely too fuckk dup to be on this same planet. "Call me goth" he saluted me half way. I liked him. He was funny and strange and it fit the entire scene.

And then there was Lil Peep. Skinny little white boy, with tattoos all over, long hair half dyed purple and half dyed black, he introduced himself to me as Gus and something about him felt very sincere. I could tell he too, was nearly as fucked up as Goth.

Each one of them was strikingly different and wonderful and I wondered already what their music would be like.

"Hey Samara- I just chatted with Peep and Tracy, and the clique wants you to take pictures tonight. They wanna give you a shot." He beamed. I was floored for a second and wondered if he was joking. They'd met me hardly a moment ago and they were already interested.

There was no way I was saying no to that.

The show began and Luca bumped through his set- it was electric and charismatic, getting shots of him on stage performing was surreal. The closer and closer I looked at him the cuter he became. His chiseled face, blue eyes and shaggy dark hair. He was covered in tattoos and even had his lip pierced.

I took pictures mostly from side stage. Part of me here tonight felt shy, but I didn't want to disappoint.

His set wasn't long but it got the crowd moving, and my heart racing.

I was finally about to hear them- GothBoiClique that is. And when I did, I think I fell in love a bit.

They were all separate artists but the way they worked with one another was electric. I was beyond floored. Most of the songs performed were all collars of them or of a couple of them, until the end when Lil Peep came on as a solo act. He was clearly head boi and the star of the show. He had the crowd wild. They knew every line without fail. His seemless blend of emo and rap was something I had never heard before. I watched the sweat drip from his brow as he performed and captured only the best moments from the show. I was usually about quality and not quantity but I had still taken a bunch.

I somehow met back up with Luca and the clique moments after the show started to clear out. What a night. I could feel a bit of my own sweat down my back. I hoped I wasn't gross and smelly around all these incredibly hot guys.

"Where to?" Luca asked the clique.

"Hotel my dude. Up the street. Room 239. Let's hang! And we gotta see those pics girl!" Tracy piped up with a grin.

I had been expecting to part ways and move on. And now we were headed to the hotel! This night couldn't possibly get better....