The Gap Year Chronicles

Chapter 1: The Highest of Lows

10 minutes.

10 minutes until Cameron was free of this god awful shift.
Until tomorrow night obviously. When he'd probably have to it all again.
Ugh.
He couldn't even bring himself to think about it.

"Oi! Did you hear me mate? I said three Midnight Dooms."
"Ah, sorry. I'll... get to it"

Cameron turned round to face the many syrups and mixers. Well that's what he was told they were anyway in the extremely brief crash course, Uncle Tyrone gave him. It wasn't his fault it was so fast obviously.

It was the woman who decided to start drinking way to early's fault. She now had Tyrone occupied with the sick that missed the toilet bowl - which from what he'd heard was a lot. All her fault.

Cameron picked up a syrup, hopefully. It was blue. That's a midnight colour right? Sure.
He picked a glass up and poured it in followed by a lot of improvisation.

Bit off lemonade here, bit of rum there.

Chucking it all into a mixer and shaking it - only to go all over his shirt ......as well as the customers rather suave looking get up.

"Shit"
"Fucking hell! Who the fuck put you on bar?"

Cameron froze before scrambling for a cloth to wipe up the mess.

He only got put on the bar shift because Jake pulled out last minute. Ever since he got this new girlfriend he's been so hard to reach not to mention a different person. He'd gone from this cool guitarist only focused on music to a party craving maniac who started smoking and boozing. This new lifestyle made Cameron really worry about his once best friend that he might be going to a bad place and for all he knew, he was already there.

"Forget it, you dickhead. Never wanted such a pussy drink anyway"
"Wait! Mate I can- re..... make..."

Cam watched the man swagger back to his table before throwing a dirty look and insult at him to his friends. They got up and left, leaving no tips on the table and a huge mess -including a purposefully smashed glass. Great.

His uncle was usually a chill guy but they looked like big money buckets that Cam just lost for the business.

7 minutes.

"Fuck this"
Cameron signed under his breath and headed to the back room.

What a fall from grace. He and his three closest friends should be making it big now. They should at least be making a good amount of money off the band. But no. Cameron was stuck in a great place to work but a crap job, Harri was still around but gave up on the dream like the others, Maggie had moved away and due to the long distance broke off with Jake causing his spiral.

Cam fell back into the brown leather sofa. It had seen some sights. Jake had definitely been up things in hear. Dear god.

He sighed.

What has my life come to? I'm literally staring at my best friend spunk.
"Jesus!"

Cameron stood up abruptly, scratching the back of his neck. Something needed to change... and quick.

Staring around the room he saw indie posters and legendary band memorabilia Tyrone had kept from years ago. He always knew his uncle loved going to festivals and gigs back in the day. He was the one who bought Cam his first guitar and taught him from scratch. He also was the one who suggested the idea of a band. If only he could make it all happen again.

The truth was since the bands split just after Year 11, Cam didn't know what to do with himself. He didn't apply to many colleges as he thought the band would make it. Tyrone offered him a guitarist gig every Friday night at the club but, that wasn't enough. So he picked up shifts, serving the customers drinks. The already made ones of course. We all know what would happen if he made one.

He was constantly asking himself: What next?
It was very clear the band won't pick again. But Cam knew it would. So he kept waiting and hoping...

A red gleam caught his eye; it was his uncles guitar. Signed by Blur. Blur!
He carefully picked it up and strummed it cautiously. It was still usable and in tune. Cam looked over his shoulder before putting the leather strap over his shoulder and naturally set into position.

As Cam finishes playing, it was bittersweet as he knew the band would have smashed that in its time. He signed, putting the guitar back slowly- trying to savour every moment touching it.
....................................................................................................................................................................................................
"Tastes like strawberries, on a summer evenin'
And it sounds just like a song"

Harri was sat on his floor, singing while doing his second love. A secret and newer love. Makeup.

"I want more berries and that summer feelin'
It's so wonderful and warm"

To be honest it was only a matter of time before he used makeup as more of an expression. He already had his own style and music obviously but this was a 'passion'?

"Breathe me in, breathe me out
I don't know if I could ever go without"

Harri always was at terms with the fact he was gay. Not everyone in his life was supportive though. Well, to be honest he wasn't completely out to everybody in his life but he already knew his dad would never speak to him again if he told him.

"I'm just thinking out loud
I don't know if I could ever go without"

People already judged him for his 'different' dress sense. He loved wearing bold and bright colours, over sized shirts and rolled up jeans, nails painted with alternating colours. Harry Styles was his number one crush of all time, he really loved his style and was trying to be influenced a lot off it. And his music made Harri's serotonin rise like hardly any other artist.

"Watermelon suga-"

BANG

"Oi! Don't just brush past me like I'm some rubbish to burn or unwanted letters on the floor! Jacob Owen you come right ba-"
"Fuck off, man!"

Harri quickly cleared his things away. It was sort of routine now.
Because the twins shared a bedroom, chances are their dad would barge in to yell at Jake again. This happened most nights and became quite normal to Harri. He shouldn't really be up either. Their dad was really strict now their mum had moved out.  10:00 was their curfew and 10:30 their bedtime. Obviously they both HATED this.

Jake had said before how he was desperate to move out but Harri never understood why he then proceeded to spend his savings on drinking, partying and smoking.

"Use that language again and you'll be moving in with your mother permanently! And I mean it!"
"Whatever", speaking under his breathe.

Jake swung the door open and stood still. Not making eye contact with Harri.

"Alright."
"Yep. Yeah. Fine.... heard dads not happy...ha"
"Never really is though is he. Ever since he chucked mum out. He's just a sad old man."

The house went quite.

Harri was in for a long night...