Chapter Text
“Okay. Open your eyes, Reg.”
Reggie slowly opens his eyes, as if he's afraid if he opens them too fast it will disappear. “Luke... it's a bass.” His eyes flash to Luke. “You got me a bass? How'd you-- When did-- Luke----” Reggie almost drops the bass on the floor as he jumps to hug Luke. Thank you... Thank you.” Soon both boys are sobbing. Luke lifts his head from Reggie's neck and mouths the words, “Thank You”, to Alex. Alex joins the others in an emotional group hug.
After a few moments the boys separate, wiping the tears from their eyes. “I'm not crying, you're the one who's crying.” “Well I'm definitely not crying” Soon the space is filled with the sounds of laughter and joy as Reggie begins to play his new bass. Alex is surprised at how quickly Reggie is learning to play. Reggie is a natural. They begin work through some of Luke's songs, when Alex looks up and spots someone standing in the open garage door. Alex freezes.
“Bobby?” Alex says quietly. The others stop and look over at the boy in the doorway. They notice the guitar case in his hand.
“Hey, Alex. I know it's been a while since you invited me to jam, but I thought I might check it out. But I see you're busy, so maybe another time?” Bobby says.
Alex springs from his seat at the drums. “No, I mean, yeah, I mean, it's cool.” Alex stutters as he rubs the back of his neck. He quickly turns to Luke and Reggie. “Guys, this is Bobby. He helped unload the moving van when we first got here. Bobby, this is Luke and Reggie,”
“Hey, Bro, What's up” Luke says dryly, as he shakes Bobby's hand.
“Hey. I'm Reggie.” Reggie says with a wave.
“So, you play the guitar I see.” Bobby says as he motions to Luke's guitar. Luke nods “I do too” Bobby lifts his guitar to show everyone.
“Rad.” Luke replies.
Alex isn't sure why he feels the awkward silences are his fault, but he knows they are.
After almost an hour-long jam session, Luke decides it's time for him and Reggie to leave. Soon Alex and Bobby are alone. “You're pretty good on that guitar.” Alex says nervously.
“Thanks. But I'm not sure Luke would agree,” Bobby says as he begins putting his guitar back in its case.
“Yeah, so what was that between you and Luke? Do you two know each other?” Alex asked.
“ Yeah, you could say that. We've known each other almost since the day we were born. We were best friends until a couple of years ago. We did everything together. We started taking guitar lessons together. We planned to start a band together. Music became Luke's obsession, it was all he ever wanted to do or talk about. Which was fine at first. But when I started finding other interest, Luke couldn't understand. He told me I was I was turning my back on him. I don't know if you've noticed but Luke can be a controlling person. His way is the right way..... the only way. I started wanting to play baseball, and go to parties,..... and date girls.” Bobby shrugged “He gave me an ultimatum, it was him and music, or my other interests. I chose my own path.”
A few days later Luke came over alone. “Where's Reggie?” Alex asked.
“He said he had to do something with his parents. I don't know what it was, but he seemed okay about it when I talked to him. I'm going to check on him on my way home.”
“You sure are protective of him. You care a lot about him, don't you?” Alex asked.
“Well yeah.” Luke said as he pulled his guitar strap over his head. “Reg is like a brother to me, and he needs protection from his crappy parents. Now, are we going to play or what?”
“That reminds me. I want to show you this.” Alex said as he walked behind his drums and brought out a snare drum, “Now I won't need buckets when we play at the pier again.”
“Dude, that's awesome. We should play at the pier this weekend, and Reggie can bring his bass. We're guaranteed to draw bigger crowds”
“Yeah” Alex said tentatively. “ And I think we should invite Bobby to join us.”
Luke shot a glare at Alex. “What? Why? We don't need him.” He said curtly
“But we have a richer, fuller sound when he's playing. And he is really good.”
“You, me, and Reggie make all the sound we need. We don't a jock asshole for anything.”
“Okay.” Alex said. How about we just play?”
“Agreed.” Luke said.
Alex counted the beat of Luke's new song, Now or Never
(1, 2, 3)
Take off
Last stop
Countdown till we blast open the top
Face first
Full charge
Electric hammer to the heart
…...
The song wasn't finished, But Luke had a good start. They played for 30 minutes before taking a break and grabbing some water.
Alex was hesitant, but he had to ask. “Luke, what's the story between you and Bobby?” Luke stared at the wall. Alex continued nervously. “I know you guys were close friends once, so.....”
Luke dropped his gaze to the floor and sighed, before turning to look at Alex. “Yeah, we've known each for a long time and we were really close, once. Then he changed. He turned on me and told me I was too controlling and he didn't want to play music anymore. He wanted to hang out with his new jock friends and party. He didn't want be seen with me anymore. He said I was to touchy feely, That I embarrassed him. So I told him to get out, and stay away from me.”
“Wow. That must have been hard.”, Alex said, while thinking about how different that was from what Bobby had told him. He had one more person to ask. Maybe Reggie could give light to the true story. The next day Alex called Reggie and invited him over. Reggie excitedly accepted.
“So where are Luke and Bobby? I thought we were going practice today? Reggie asked.
“They're not coming. I thought it would be fun for just you and me to hang out. Is that alright?”
“Sure.” Reggie said with a big goofy grin. “I'd like that.
So they played some music, talked about their favorite bands and played video games. They were just having fun. Alex paused the video game and turned to Reggie who looked at him and asked, “What, why'd you stop?”
“Reg, what really happened between Luke and Bobby?” I know they were really close once and were always together. And their friendship kinda ended when Bobby wanted to do things other that music, but it feels like there's something more. When did you meet them?”
“I met them in third grade. They were inseparable, but for some reason Luke took a liken to me and started inviting me over when they got together to play. I think Bobby was a little jealous of me. But when my parents bought me my first bass... I was in.”
“You mean the bass your father sold for beer money?” Alex asked.
“That's the one, dear old dad.” Reggie said with a sad chuckle. “Then, yeah, when Bobby started having other interests it caused tension, but the breaking point was Monica.”
“Monica? Who's Monica.” Alex asked.
“Monica was Bobby's first girlfriend. Luke was so jealous of her. He had a major crush on Bobby. He and Bobby even kissed once. That I know of that is.”
“Wait, what? Luke is gay? Or bi?”
Reggie's eyes grew wide and Alex could see his panic rise. “What? No.....I mean, I don't mean that. I never said that.” Reggie started to shake. “I should go.” Reggie started to stand, but Alex grabbed his arm and pulled him down.
“Reggie, it's okay.” Alex said as he pulled Reggie into a hug. “Look at me.” Alex said as held Reggie's face in his hands, “Nothing you tell me today will ever go farther than this room, okay?”
Reggie nodded and slowly relaxed. They went back to their video game until it was time for Reggie to leave. Alex had a lot to think about, and to analyze, and reanalyze. Which is what he did until he finally drifted off to sleep. The next morning as he was getting ready for the day he realized what this new information meant to him. He could tell them about himself, that he was gay. It was obvious that they were all open to some level of sexual attraction. Then his self-doubt would kick in and he would think they were open to it with each other, but with Alex, they would reject him and tell him they would never accept it. He would wait, why take a chance.
That Saturday the four of them played at the pier and it was amazing. The crowds and the tips were the best they'd ever been. The crowd got so big that they were asked to leave the main pier. They were blocking too many shops and taking too much attention away from the pier's main entertainment stage. So they packed up and moved off the pier and down the boardwalk. But the crowds followed them. At the end of their last set, a couple walked up to them, a man in a gray suit and a woman with a clipboard in her hands.
“Hello, I'm Parker and this is my assistant, Elaine. We're from the pier business and entertainment office.” The man said.
“Hey, we weren't playing on pier property.” Luke said defensively.
“That's true.” Parker said. “But you were drawing quite a lot of tourists away from the pier shops.”
“Well, it's not our fault your tourists have great taste in music.” Luke countered.
“True again, young man. But we'd like your band to bring those people back to the pier. We're here to offer you a prime performance time on our main stage.”
“Are we talking a paid gig?” Luke asked trying to contain his excitement.
“Yes, a paid gig.” Parker said.
The boys did their best to control their excitement as they accepted the offer. They now had their first paid gig. Parker's assistant, Elaine, took down all their contact information.
“And what's the name of your band?” she asked.
The guys all hemmed and hawed and looked at each other. “We'll get back to you when we have a name.” Luke said
“Okay.” Elaine said with a chuckle. “But you'd better make it quick”.
They all grabbed their instruments and flew on their bikes back to Alex's garage.
“Hey, so there's a garage building at my parent's house that they've told me I can use as my own space. It's a lot bigger then your garage, Alex.” Bobby said “We could use it as a studio space, if I'm in the band, that is.” Everyone turned to look at Luke who was hesitant.
“Well......” Luke started.
“Luke, Bobby is in the band. You are just going to have to accept it and move on.” Reggie said. Everyone was in shock at Reggie's commanding and assertive tone.
“Okay, Reggie.” Luke said, still in a state of disbelief. “Bobby you're in the band. Reggie says so!” The guys all laughed. The next few hours were busy, picking a band name, after a lot of bad suggestions, the group settled on Sunset Curve.
They moved their stuff to Bobby's garage and began planning and rehearsing for their first gig.
It was going to be life changing. Their first step toward becoming the biggest band the world had ever seen!