Better Off (Lil Peep)

Chapter 15: Tonight

Samara's POV

We entered the venue at 8 pm on the dot, it was filled with all of our closest friends, and the people they were closest to. The only person I didn't see was Gus. I glanced about the club for him, he was nowhere in sight. Without the flashing lights or the normal darkness, the club looked different and I could actually see it's features. Mid sized, the open floor was huge, the long bar off to the right, the soundbooth out to the left. The small area at the back is where everyone was- their usual hangout spot. Wicca was deep in conversation with døves, while my eyes still darted around.

"Hey you." I heard a familiar voice and turned to see Coldy and what must be his girlfriend, Luna in view.

"Hey."

"Luna, this is Samara Hale. Samara, Luna Evers, my girl." He made the formal introduction and I smiled warmly.

"Nice to meet you." We both said, practically at the same time. We laughed at ourselves as Coldy slipped away, leaving us together.

"He's told me so much about you- your photography, how you even made the design for Lucas shirts. Amazing." She emphasized the last word specifically.

"Thank you- the guys mentioned you a lot to me. They said we'd get along." I chuckled, feeling awkward and not knowing what to say.

"Yeah, haha I'm into designing stuff too- I'm not nearly as good as you, but, yeah."

"Pfft. Thanks but I'm not that good!" I gushed. I studied Luna up and down. She was pale and short, with dark brown long hair, and green eyes. She had light freckles across her face and her shoulders, which were exposed as she was wearing a black tube top, paired with burgundy red skinny jeans. She looked hardly 18, but regardless of age she was here for ColdHart tonight and to celebrate.

We talked for a few minutes and I could already tell we were going to be friends. Still in the back of my mind, I worried about Gus. Somehow, I didn't see Goth either. I excused myself from Luna and proceeded to call him from the other side of the clubs where no one was.

"Sami? Hey. I know, were late." Goth answered in a half a second before it even rang.

"What happened?" I asked softly.

"It's Gus- he took too many pills and fell asleep. I'm trying to get him sobered up and showered.

"I'm fine." I heard Gus slur over the phone. Shit.

"Cover for us okay? Tell Wicca and everyone it was...uh, traffic. I don't know."

"Okay...is he gonna be okay?" I asked worriedly.

"Don't worry he will be." Click. He hung up.

There was never a dull moment with the guys. I would keep my mouth shut. All Wicca and the guys would do was worry like me if I mentioned anything to them. I kept quiet, and hung around Luna and Wicca casually.

I hadn't noticed but waitresses were bringing around glasses of champagne. I check my phone. 8:49pm. Had it really been almost and hour since we got here? Wicca handed me a glass of champagne.

"Where's Goth and Gus, have you seen them?" Of course he had to ask.

"They're stuck in traffic. ETA 10 minutes." I explained. He just nodded, eating it up. I felt bad lying but there really was no need.

Funny enough nearly 10 minutes went by and Goth and Gus half stumbled into the club.

Goth cleaned up nice and it was hard to tell that Gus was a mess. Nice, I thought to myself.

The show would start at 9:15, with ColdHart and Goth. Then Horse, Wicca and døves, and lastly ending the night with Tracy and Lil Peep, with the Dj set by Luca of course.

Goth made his way toward me, practically dragging Gus with him.

"Hey I'm on soon, can you stay with Gus?" Goth asked anxiously. I nodded. Up close, Gus looked a little rough but at least he was here.

"Are you okay?" I asked softly.

"I- I'm fine." He stopped himself short.

"Gus...tell me."

"Okay, alright, I just- I'm over Emma. I am. But Goth- as long as we are a part of GBC- once I'm inducted, it's not going to be good for us to be together. It will always be, a secret. The best secret, but a secret." He whispered, looking down at his shoes.

"Hey, you-" I tipped his chin back up so our eyes met. His eyes sad, I continued.

"At least you both are in love- at least you have Goth. At least you guys are together and reunited again. This- being in GBC, is your dream, Gus- and you and Goth get to live that together, even if it is a secret." It wasn't much but it was advice nonetheless. I grabbed his hand and I squeezed it hard to let him know I meant it.

"No, you're right Sami. I'm lucky. I have it all. And I have you for a best friend too. I have it fuckin good right now." He cracked a wide grin and his deep eyes became little slits. I pulled him into a hug and he held me there for what felt like too long as the lights started to go down.

The show began.

I helped Gus stay away from the champagne as he swayed, listening to Goth onstage in front of us. He was again in front of me, this strange sad happy mix that I first distinguished him as when we met.

I had known these people for less than a month and somehow, already, they were family to me. I felt as though I was here this entire time.

Time was going slow, and that fucking scared me.