Chapter One Carden #2
He sighed, paid for their coffees, and left a bigger tip than he usually would and should, to be honest, what with him being broke, because the barista was cute, and then went home.
He had a self-portrait to paint, and he had only three more months to finish it. It was going to be one-third of his final grade. He was not looking forward to staring at himself again for hours.
◆◆◆
Pearl picked him up. She waited in her car while he grabbed his keys and some money, because the elevator was broken again and he lived on the top floor of the old five-story building. He was sure he would spend a fortune on water alone once summer hit.
“You do look cute.” She said when he emerged from the building onto the street.
“Am I going to stand out? Is this a black clothing type of event?” He wore a tight green shirt, because green always looked good on him, and black skinny jeans.
His blond hair had a bit of product in it just to make it look soft, and there was the slightest bit of glitter on his collarbone. He had always liked his collarbones.
“Did you not even look the band up? On that handy thing called the internet, Carden? It’s not only for cat videos and porn.”
He rolled his eyes at her. “Are you by any fucking chance a fan?”
She twirled a lock of her long hair around her finger. “Maybe?” Pearl wore a lot of black and a lot of silver, and generally she looked like someone who should be on the cover of Gothic Monthly , the glamour version, of course.
“Are you going to ditch me when the singer looks at you just right?”
She laughed. “Oh, Carden. I’m not his type.”
“You’re gorgeous,” he said before her meaning clicked. “He’s gay?”
“Thank you, Carden. Yes, he is and out too.”
“No wonder they’re playing Insider then,” Carden said.
“Maybe he’s kinky too,” she said with a wink.
He crossed his arms over his chest. Carden was decisively not kinky.
She gave him a look and then sighed. “Citizen Clash are fantastic. They will get your blood pumping, and your gloominess will be destroyed in no time. You’re going to have a great time.”
“Didn’t you say they’re a punk rock band? I doubt they sing about sunshine and candy canes.”
“Get in the car, Carden,” Pearl said, sternly.
He got in the car. Pearl put on some music while she drove. It was loud, and it was angry, and it maybe spoke to Carden a tiny bit.
“Is that them?”
Pearl grinned at him like she just won something. “Yes, it’s them. Glad you like the music.”
“Who says I like it?”
“You’re tapping your foot to the beat, Carden,” Pearl pointed out.
“Shouldn’t you be watching the traffic? Jesus, I don’t want to die in your car.”
“You have a car in mind you want to die in?”
“A Mustang or Ferrari?” He answered.
She laughed. “You have to have goals in life, I guess?”
“Not dying in your car is one of them right now.”
“What’s the other, because I’m pretty sure you’re going to meet that one as we’re only fifteen minutes out now.”
“Maybe hook up with the singer?” Carden asked.
“You don’t even know what he looks like.” Pearl was looking at the road now, and Carden found that suspicious.
“He’s the singer. I think I’ll get a clue as soon as he starts, you know, to sing. On stage?”
She hummed.
“What?” he asked.
“Nothing,” Pearl answered.
“Calling bullshit on that, what? Is he a total douchebag? Would you give him your money if he were, just because you like the music and that he’s gay?
” Carden asked because it was hard for Carden to separate the artist from the art.
A lot of artists have been total fucking assholes and horrible to their lovers. Take fucking Picasso for one.
“No, he seems like a good guy. All the guys in the band seem like good guys.”
“So what is it then? Does he not like blondes? Because I’ve changed minds before. I’m everybody’s type.” Carden joked.
“That’s not it. I don’t think he’s yours,” Pearl said.
It was on the tip of his tongue to ask if the guy was totally ugly, but that would sound shallow, and he didn’t want to be that guy.
The truth was that he was maybe a tiny bit shallow.
He was an artist, after all; beauty spoke to him.
All his past boyfriends and hookups were very attractive by conventional standards.
“Fine, keep your secret a minute longer then,” Carden said as they drove into the parking lot. It was pretty full already. People were standing outside the club in small groups and also in line as well. Some were wearing band t-shirts.
“Don’t worry, there won’t be any kids under eighteen here,” Pearl said.
“I don’t hate teenagers. I just think they’re scary as fuck,” Carden replied as he got out of the car. He was a splash of green in a sea of shades of black. He stood out like a sore thumb. Great.
Pearl nodded. “Go and say hi to the bouncer so we don’t have to wait with the scary, barely legal kids.”
“How do you know I know this particular bouncer?” Carden asked as they made their way to the front of the line.
“You know all of them, Carden; don’t even try to deny it,” she answered just as Tom’s face lit up upon seeing Carden.
“Hi, Tom,” Carden said.
“Hi, I didn’t think this was your thing,” Tom replied.
“Well, I was told Citizen Clash sing about sunshine and candy canes,” Carden said with a grin.
Tom laughed. “Go in before someone catches me playing favorites.”
“Wouldn’t want that,” Carden replied and kissed Tom’s cheek. “Thanks.”
Tom nodded. Pearl shoved him inside.
He’s been here before, what felt like a million times really, and most recently and memorably he had danced with Sebastian Winter on this very dance floor.
Had flirted with the handsome actor too.
For the fun of it. Even for a Friday night, it was packed, and pretty much everyone was wearing black.
There was a lot of leather, lace, chains, and silver. Ruffles too, for some reason.
“I’m underdressed,” Carden said.
“Get us drinks, Carden,” Pearl replied, totally ignoring Carden’s comment.
He gave her a look and got one in return. He got them drinks. Bottled water, because anything else would be madness. He could tell by the energy of the crowd that this was going to be loud and sweaty and probably glorious and exactly what he needed to get his groove back.