Love Is Our Resistance

Sunburn

I got to school early this morning, I always like to get there at 8, everyone else usually gets here at 8:30. As usual, I went straight to the music rooms. I walk through the door to see a familiar face, it was Dom. I've never seen him here this early before, he normally arrives at school half an hour late.

"Hey Matt" he smiles to reveal two small dimples either side of his mouth.

"Hi Dom, why are you here so early?"

"Well... I wanted to talk about what happened yesterday." He leans up against the piano, sliding his hands into his pockets.

"Sure, what's up?"

"I don't want people to know about us... liking each other..." He gulps.

"I wasn't planning on tell anyone anyway. Especially with you not being out at school. Everyone just kinda presumed I was gay anyway, so if I officially came out it wouldn't matter"

"Thanks Matty... wait... Matt, sorry." His face turned bright red.

"Haha it's ok... Dommeh" I purr.

We both begin to laugh uncontrollably.

The door suddenly slammed open.

"Oi Dom, whatcha doing in 'er with the fag!" The stocky man groaned.

"Errr... nothing"

"Well it sure as hell looks like somethin's going on"

"Mind your own fucking Mark, plus he's joining Gothic Plague"

"No he isn't-"

"Yes he is Mark, name one person who is actually good at playing guitar?"

The room falls silent for a moment, but it feels like hours.

"Yep, that's what I thought. So Matthew is joining Gothic Plague whether you like it or not" Dom looks reassuringly at me.

"If he's really that good, then play something for us fag!" He picks up an electric guitar and forces it into my hands.

I place the strap over my head and plug the guitar into an amp, I begin to play the solo from Sweet Child O' Mine. My fingers hitting the strings against fretboard and bending them effortlessly. My pick gliding over the strings, plucking them producing a different note each time. My hands working in unison like clockwork.

I finish playing, I unplug the guitar and place it back on its stand. I look up to see both boys looking rather mesmerized. I speak up.

"Was that good enough?"

"Yeah that was amazing, welcome to Gothic Plague." Mark stands there in awe, before slowly walking out the door, leaving me and Dom alone again.

"I told you, you're good." Dom turns and looks smugly at me. He comes closer to me putting his arms around my waist, gently squeezing us together. He places his lips on my cheek.

"Dominic-" I whisper before before being cut off by the school bell. Dom shifts away from me. "We should probably go to registration." I continue.

"Yeah, that would be a good idea. Band practice is in here at 1, see you there." Dom walked out the door, I followed moments later.

First lesson was English, I actually enjoyed it for once. We were studying poetry, specifically Edgar Allan Poe, he has an interesting style of writing. I looked over to Dom, he obviously didn't find the lesson interesting, his eyes slowly closing as the lesson progressed. He looks cute when he's sleepy.

The bell signalling that lunch time had began, rang through the school. Everyone rushed to the lunch hall attempting to get the best food first. Me on the other hand, well I'm sensible and bring my own food. I'd rather not get crushed by a load of ravenous kids. I make my way outside and sit under the old oak tree, at the other side of the football field. It's 12:45, I've got 15 minutes before band practice, I hope it goes well.

Halfway through eating my sandwich, I feel a hand tap my shoulder. I look up to see Dom.

"So this is where you hide." He smirks.

"Yeah, it's the only place where I can actually get some peace and quite." I giggle.

"I don't blame you to be honest, do you mind if I take a look at your book?" He points at my songbook in my unzipped bag.

"Go ahead, it's just full of songs I wrote, they're not really that good." I pass my songbook to Dom.

He inspects each page, while I continue to eat.

"Wow these are amazing, how do you come up with these ideas? I wish I could write stuff like this."

"Inspiration is everywhere Dom, just look around. It might help if you paid attention in English too." I laugh.

"Oi! But seriously, it's like you've been possessed by some kind of muse! This song here, Sunburn, these lyrics are fucking epic:

I'll hide from the world,
Behind a broken frame,
And I'll burn forever,
I can't face the shame."

Hmm, muse...

"Shit! It's nearly 1, we better go to the music room!" Dom hands my songbook back. I place it in my bag, as Dom offers me a hand up. We make our way to the music room, my heart pumping hard. How will my new band mates treat me?