Chapter Six Marius #2
Armin smirked and got the vegetarian breakfast special with two rolls, assortments of cheeses, veggies, jam, and a coffee. Once the waiter was gone, Armin grinned at him.
“What?” Marius asked.
“Do you want to spill now or wait until we’re done eating?”
“I have no idea what you are talking about,” Marius replied. “How is vacation so far?”
“Fine. I think yours is better than fine. I mean, you didn’t have time to do laundry. That makes a boy wonder what you have been up to. Writing new songs? Hunting for a new apartment?” He hummed as Marius kept silent. “Or maybe doing that lovely painter?”
“Armin.”
“I bet you were doing the lovely painter.”
“His name is Carden,” Marius said and sighed. He was losing this little battle of wills fast, and at this rate they would be talking about Marius' sex life before he even had any food in his stomach.
“I know his name, Marius. Should we expect a song about him anytime soon?”
Marius groaned. “Just shut up.”
“Nah,” Armin waved it away. “You know you want to spill about your lovely painter.”
“He’s not my lovely painter. He is a lovely painter,” Marius replied just as the waiter brought their order. He took a sip of his juice and then started on his pancakes. They both knew he wasn’t off the hook, but Armin fell over his breakfast special like he hadn't eaten in days either.
Once there were only fruits and veggies left on their plates, Armin snagged a piece of apple from Marius and looked at him expectantly.
“Yeah, okay. You guessed right. I couldn’t do any laundry because I spent the whole weekend with Carden.”
“Naked in bed,” Armin supplied.
“Yes,” Marius admitted.
“Good for you. I am glad this thing is turning out okay for you both. He has some balls propositioning a rock god.”
“I’m not a rock god. And you aren’t a rock god either,” Marius pointed out.
Armin stole another piece of fruit from Marius’ bowl.
“Yet. It’s just a matter of time. That is why I am single again, my friend.
” He tried to make it sound like it wasn’t hard on him, but Marius could see right through him.
They had known each other since they were teens.
Armin and Bennett lived in the same apartment complex as Marius and his parents.
“I know it’s only going to get crazier from now on,” Marius said.
“Just make sure that Carden knows it too. That he is prepared to be followed and asked for details about you by random strangers. Make sure he doesn’t spill anything that could bite us in the ass.”
“It’s not like any of us has a drug habit or likes to party it up with prostitutes,” Marius said.
“I know. It’s not what I mean. I mean, the sob stories that sell so well, about how you were bullied in school because you’re gay or because you’re chubby.”
“Fat,” Marius said. He wasn’t fat now. Chubby was right.
He had lost some weight since they started touring because a two-hour-long show under hot lights on tiny stages in crowded rooms was hard work.
But he had no illusions about ever looking like a men’s magazine cover model.
Not that he thought he needed to look that way to deserve respect, love, and decency.
“Okay, fat then,” Armin said. “You know that people want to paint you as some kind of role model, right? For all those gay, fat, weird kids out there?”
Marius made a face and snagged a cherry tomato from Armin’s plate.
“I know. I’m not sure if it’s a good thing or not.
I want kids to know that there is nothing wrong with them.
That people are shitty and that it’s not their fault, but I don’t feel like I have my shit together either.
I mean, I’m only twenty-three. Fresh out of school.
It’s not like I studied anything useful or learned a useful trade.
If this music thing doesn’t work out, I’m screwed and will have to ask my parents for money. ”
“You’re being overly dramatic here. This music thing, our band, is working out.
Our songs are being played on the radio.
Our album will drop in less than a month, and then there will be another tour.
A longer tour. With a better tour bus. We are nearly there.
Fame, fortune, all that jazz. Everything we dreamed about when we were still stupid kids.
Don’t worry. This is your life now, Marius, and it’s only going to get better from here on. ”
“Really? Because you just said I need to be careful from now on who I sleep with or who I have a relationship with or fall in love with.”
“Love, yeah?” Armin asked.
“It’s not like I’m in love with Carden. I mean, it’s too early for love, right?” Marius asked, but when he thought about Carden, then the word love in one form or another stole right alongside Carden’s name.
“My grandparents knew they were meant to be after their second date,” Armin said.
“It’s not that common. And we are a skeptical generation when it comes to love and love at first sight as well, but it’s not like it never happens.
Some people just belong together. Until death does them part.
” He looked at Marius, his eyes serious. “Do you feel that way about Carden?”
“Fuck,” Marius said. He had felt something for Carden the first time they met. He was pretty sure it had been something more than lust.
“I take this as a yes. Just make sure he feels the same way and that you two really are soulmates and then sit him down and talk all that show business shit over so he doesn’t run away screaming like Bea did.”
Marius nodded. “How are you holding up?”
“Because Bea left me?” Armin asked.
“Yeah. You were a mess right after, but now…well, you seem better.”
“We weren’t soulmates, but I loved her and thought we were good together.
She planned a whole life for us where I wasn’t a rockstar god because she never believed in us, the band, or me.
And once we got signed, her whole plan for our life came crashing down, and she was not willing to make a new one.
It fucking sucks, but we weren’t meant for each other in the long run.
Because we wanted, always wanted, different things.
That’s why I think you should make sure that Carden knows how important Citizen Clash is to you, to us.
That it will be our life for a long time.
That he won’t see you for weeks or maybe months once we start touring overseas.
That there will probably be rumors about you hooking up with groupies or starlets on tour.
And maybe Carden is fine with that; maybe you’ll come to an arrangement that suits you both, who knows?
But hashing these things out beforehand is important. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Thanks, you’re a good friend,” Marius said.
“The fucking best. Better than Bennett.” Armin grinned. “You should bring Carden over one of these days. We want to meet your lovely painter.”
“Will do,” Marius said and stole another cherry tomato.