P A R T Y
The show had been a success. Carson had to admit, he was happy to have found a few people to jam with. He'd been working at Hole in the Wall for a while, though there was talk of a name change on the horizon, and through his employment there he'd managed to convince the owner to let him and his buddies do a live set. They weren't even a real band - no name or anything.
"Hey man," their drummer said, lifting some of the heavier gear with ease and setting it down in the back of the van they'd borrowed to move all their shit. "I'm so glad that I read your fucking mind, or else I never would have known you were going straight from Brain Stew into Jaded."
It would have sounded weird coming from anyone else, but Jared was a fucking vampire, so naturally, he used his abilities whenever possible. "I'd be inclined to beat your ass if we didn't just kill that shit," Carson said, and it was clear it was a joke. He handed Jared a bundle of cables and looked behind him. "I think that's it."
"Alright," the vampire said, climbing out of the van and shutting the doors. "Let's go find the rest of those faggots. Probably already at the bar trying to spit game at the girls." He wiped his hands on his white t-shirt, leaving little smears of grub from whatever dust he'd gotten on his hands after man-handling the cords Carson had given him. Zero fucks were given.
"Hey guys," Cooper called, hailing them over to the well. "That was pretty good for being really last-minute. I think you made us enough money that I can probably swing free drinks for the band tonight." He grinned.
"
Fuck yeah," Jared said in a high-pitched voice, holding up devil horns. "Put that motherfuckin' vodka redbull in my hand, please, Rook," he added smoothly, turning to the gypsy witch as she prepped cups for the guys.
"Glad you said 'please', Bastian, or I'd have to melt your brain," she replied, flashing him an aggressive smile. "What about you, Carson? The uze?"
"Yeah, just a Bud Light. I'll start off easy tonight," he said, holding his hand up and making a face.
"Cool cool," she cheered. "And for your other members?"
"Jack and Coke, please, oh most fair one," Rowen requested, sliding up next to Jared. "Sup man. Fuckin'
crushed it," he said, tapping knuckles with the vampire. "Seth wants, uhhhhh..." he trailed off.
"The same fucking thing you got, you fucking sped," Seth exclaimed, clapping Rowen on the back. "I
literally said, 'Get me one too,' to you before I went to take a piss. Why is your short term memory so fucking trash?"
"Oh, I know!" Rook offered. "Ding ding ding, weed affects the memory," she said, doing her best 'automated announcement' voice. "You're gonna smoke yourself stupid, genius."
"I'm not high!" Rowen insisted. "I have allergies!"
"Yeah, okay," Rook crowed, setting their drinks on the bar. "Alright guys, enjoy your small-town fame, however short-lived it is. Oh, and Jared - Claire said Kieran
isn't picking her up tonight, so if Ryan wants to come by, he's more than welcome. I gotta go close out some tabs." She tapped the counter with her knuckle, and vanished into the fray of the bar as it steadily became more and more busy.
"Are they still on that bullshit? Carson asked, scratching his brow with his lighter. He was gearing up to go smoke a cigarette - Seth had found his sister and Tristan, so the were talking about
something; what, he had no idea. Whatever it was, it looked intense, but then again, Seth was always kind of an intense dude.
Jared and Rowen followed him outside to the porch. "Yeah man. Ryan is getting all, like, mature and shit, but Camille is still a sore subject, and wolves are fuckin'
woohoo," he said, making the crazy symbol with his finger. "Lemme get that," he added, holding his hand out for the lighter. It was passed between them, and for a while they stood in the comfortable silence as the music from inside the bar played on the speaker outside.
"Alright, I'm ready to party," Carson announced, stripping the cigarette butt expertly and then flicking it into the dirt beyond the wooden porch. "Let's get fuckin' wrecked boys."
"Hell yeah The best part? Bro, I can still fucking drive us home. Being a vampire is awesome," Jared laughed, letting the door slam behind him on the way back in.