Chapter Text
It’s humid, the heat inching towards being suffocating. Alex’s surprised it feels that bad up on the balcony. It’s much less crowded compared to the open space on the ground floor. He can’t imagine how hot it must be in the crowd. Oh well, he shrugs to himself, sucks to be those people. He’s more than content overlooking the crowd. At least it means he doesn’t have to fight everyone for a good view of the stage. Not that he cares on this particular night.
The crowd’s screams snap Alex’s attention to the stage. There’s a group of people walking onto it, waving at the crowd and holding instruments. It’s the band- which Alex has already forgotten the name of. At the head of the group is a tall, brown-haired man, dressed in a white button up and black jeans. He looks unremarkable. But even through Alex’s sunglasses he can recognize Wilbur.
Alex goes to lean against the banister, watching Wilbur’s band set up on stage. For as much as he doesn’t want to be there, he’d like to see how the band sets up. The group plug in their instruments and adjust their mic stands. Alex has to stifle a laugh when Wilbur raises his ridiculously high.
The crowd’s chattering, a few shouts here and there. It isn't until the lights dim that the crowd gets going once again, becoming a sea of hands and screaming.
"Hello everyone," Wilbur speaks into the mic, his mouth practically on it. His voice is low but warm. "We’re the band Lovejoy."
The crowd screams before Wilbur continues.
"Thank you for having us." Wilbur smiles. The crowd erupts once more.
Wilbur steps back from the mic, grabbing his guitar properly. The drums and bass start up. The crowd screams one more time. The drummer–Mark, if Alex remembers correctly–starts counting out a beat on the snare. "One, two, one two three four!" He shouts.
The band bursts into music, the instruments filling the room with a bright and fast-paced song. Alex can't help the way his head bobs along to the rhythm. The crowd is more than enthusiastic. So much energy radiates off them that Alex can feel it up on the balcony overlooking the crowd. He can't help but admire it. He could get lost in the way the bass reverberates in his feet.
And then Wilbur starts singing.
Alex has to strain to hear Wilbur's voice over the crowd’s. But when it properly registers, he’s taken aback. It’s low, and soft, and good . And nothing like what he was expecting. Sure, Alex has heard Wilbur sing before. Never seriously, with Wilbur purposefully making his voice crack or choosing lyrics everyone would laugh at. This was different. This was full of feeling.
Alex got a good look at Wilbur. It was the first one since the band started performing. He was moving around, almost dancing as he played and sang. And the smile on his face was the biggest Alex had ever seen. It looked as if Wilbur was the happiest and most at home he had ever been. Right on that stage.
Alex shook his head slightly, as if it would rid his eyes of this weird, rose tinted view of Wilbur. It worked. It worked better when he stopped looking at Wilbur completely.
The song ends and the crowd cheers. Alex almost joins them. He can’t lie, the song was good.
"That was Concrete." Cheers. "And this next one is Taunt." More cheers.
The second Wilbur stops speaking his other band mates pick right up with the music. It sounds much more funky than the previous song. And the crowd seems even more into this song than the last. Alex doesn’t know how that’s possible with the way they had been yelling up a storm.
Alex can't help but be impressed by the quality of the music he was hearing. As song after song plays, Alex feels himself get more and more swept up in the melodies and drum beats. He bobs his head, taps his hand on the banister, claps along, and stomps his feet. Halfway through a particularly energetic song he remembers the set was supposed to be only ten songs long. And he's surprised he wants more.
"Here’s our final song of the night." Wilbur’s saying, all too soon for Alex’s liking. "Thank you for being here!" Wilbur’s covered in sweat, his hair sticking to his forehead awkwardly. A third of the buttons on his shirt are undone. Alex looks away before he starts staring too hard.
The crowd cheers the loudest they have all night. Alex wonders how he hasn't gone deaf yet. This last song is quiet, but the crowd sings along with energy. As it continues Alex wonders why it’s the closing song. Or why it got so many cheers. But then the song crescendos and he can feel the energy- the emotion. Wilbur’s belting- screaming out the lyrics. The drums hit their beats sharply. The song leaves Alex understanding why the crowd is so obsessed.
The band–Lovejoy–leave the stage the same way they entered. With waves and smiles and 200 people shouting. Alex looks around the balcony, and seemingly everyone is talking about how great the band was. His eyes quickly find Alastair talking to someone. Before he realizes it he’s walking toward her.
"Alex!" Alastair grins once Alex is standing next to her. Alex identifies the person Alastair was talking to as Shelby.
"So, did you like the set?" Shelby asks, beating Alastair to the punch.
Like it? Alex couldn’t even begin to describe how he felt about it. It was beyond mesmerizing. Beyond impressive. Beyond any other adjective in the book.
"Yeah, yeah it was pretty alright. Surprising coming from Wilbur." Alex says before he thinks twice about it. “The rest of the band was good.” He adds. He’s not about to shit on a bunch of strangers who are clearly doing what they love.
Alastair groans, but there’s a smile on her face. "I knew you wouldn't admit he’s good after how long it took to get you to come to one of these gigs."
Alex waves his hand dismissively. "I’m just saying my unbiased opinion."
Alastair practically snorts with how hard she giggles. "Yeah right, unbiased ."
“At least he said he liked it!” Shelby points out, voice bubbly. She and Alastair share a high five, which Alex rolls his eyes at.
"Whatever, I’m gonna go outside." Alex began walking away, heading towards one of the balcony's two staircases.
"Yo, the exits that way!" Alastair calls, pointing in the opposite direction.
"I know where I'm going!" Alex calls back. He sticks his hands in his jeans pockets as he walks down the staircase. He does his best to not bump into people and potentially spill their drinks.
Alex knows this venue pretty well, since he’s been going to it for years. Not just to see the different bands that played, but also for work. Whether it meant spending the weekend mopping floors or the night helping bands move their instruments. He had only been working there for a few months but every staff member knew his face well. It also meant he had access to all the off limits parts of the place.
Alex slips through the door labeled staff only. It leads to the exit on the side of the building, which goes to an alley. It’s where just about every band went after a show to get fresh air. Especially since a couple of dumpsters blocked the average show attendee from getting to the alley.
Alex steps outside, surveying the area. He had beaten the rest of the band to the spot. A small part of him’s let down. He was hoping he could bother a specific someone. Whatever, he needed the fresh air and quiet anyway.
Alex sits down on the pair steps leading from the door to the ground, exhaling a breath. Besides faint shouting and the sounds of cars passing, it's quiet out here. He notices the ringing in his ears leftover from the loud music. He feels the sweat collecting in his hair. He realizes it’s colder out here. A few feet of separation hadn’t saved him from the heat created by the crowd. He’s even more grateful that Alastair got them seats up on the balcony.
The door behind him creaks, and he looks over his shoulder. His view is blocked by a familiar button up and pair of jeans.
“Oh,” Wilbur sounds genuinely surprised. “Hi Alex.”
“Hi Wilbur.” Alex watches Wilbur walk past him. He ignores how his mouth suddenly feels dry.
“So… you finally came to one of my shows huh?” Wilbur asks, going to lean against the wall.
“What, were you searching for me in the crowd every night?” The corners of Alex’s mouth quirk up. He nearly laughs at the idea of Wilbur waiting for him to show up to one of his shows.
A beat of silence. Like Wilbur’s formulating a witty reply. “Not at all. You’re just extremely obvious as the only person wearing sunglasses inside.” Wilbur pauses. “So what’d you think?”
Alex subconsciously pushes his sunglasses up as he answers. “You played a decent set. Your band mates are good.”
“Thanks.”
“Your singing’s shit though.” Alex adds with a smug smile.
Wilbur laughs, throwing his head back against the wall. It catches Alex off guard. And maybe it’s how the light frames him. Or the buzz of adrenaline Alex has left over from the show. Or the way Wilbur’s hair flops around. But Alex has to tear his eyes away before Wilbur stops laughing.
“Thank you for your glowing review.” Another beat of silence. “What made you come?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know.”
“Isn’t that why I asked?”
Alex knows he’s dodging Wilbur’s question. And he knows Wilbur knows. Alex sighs. “Alastair and Shelby convinced me to come with them. And, Tommy said he would wash my car if I did.”
“Tommy-” Wilbur laughs. “Tommy says a lot of things. He’s probably already forgotten.”
“Oh I know.” Alex smiles. “It’s really because he looked super fuckin’ happy when I said I’d go.” He pauses, a thought coming to mind. “Speaking of, where is Tommy? I didn’t see him anywhere.”
“Oh, that dumbass got behind in his college work and had to stay home.”
Alex shakes his head. “I forget he’s still in school. He acts like being your roadie is his job. It’s like, all he talks about.”
“At this point I’m worried he’s gonna drop out to make it his actual job.” It’s Wilbur’s turn to shake his head. “Anyways, what’s up with you man? It’s been ages since we last spoke.”
Alex opens his mouth, ready with a snarky comeback about how long it’s been. It dies on his tongue when he realizes it has been a while since he had last seen Wilbur. He racked his brain trying to remember the last time they had talked. It had probably been while they were hanging out with the rest of their friends. Maybe. The when and where and why were escaping him.
“I’m-” Alex has to quickly shift gears to thinking about what he’s been doing recently. School. Work. Work. School. “I’ve been alright. Mostly getting my ass kicked by school.”
Wilbur laughs, shoulders bouncing up and down. Alex catches himself staring again.
“You don’t get to say shit when you spend your whole time playing music.” Alex says in response to Wilbur’s laughter.
“What?” Wilbur puts his hands up in mock defense. “Playing music is hard I’ll have you know.”
Oh I know, Alex thinks. “Yeah, yeah. Getting a degree is also hard, but you wouldn’t know.”
“And I thank god everyday that I don’t. It sounds exhausting."
Alex rolls his eyes. Instead of answering he shifts his gaze to the ground. Silence settles between the pair as he feels the tiredness catching up to him. It had been a while since the last concert he had actually gone to. And that concert had only half of the energy Alex experienced tonight. He rubs his eyes and ignores the yawn bubbling up in his throat.
“Hey.” Wilbur speaks up. Alex’s embarrassed by how quickly he snaps his eyes up to Wilbur. Wilbur’s already looking at him. He has a certain look in his eyes, as if he’s calculating his next move. He opens his mouth slightly, then closes it, biting his lip slightly. Alex restrains himself from looking down to his lips at the movement.
“Do you wanna do something?”
Alex laughs. “Something? Like what Will?”
“I don’t know.” Wilbur laughs as well, although his laugh is sheepish. “Anything.”
“What, you wanna- you wanna go out on a night on the town?” Alex laughs again. He doesn’t know why but he finds the idea funny.
“Sure. I mean- when’s the last time we hung out?”
Alex’s caught like a deer in headlights with that question. He struggles coming up with an answer. He opens his mouth when he thinks he has one, only to close it. He swears there’s been a time. They’ve hung out together right? He just has to remember it.
“Exactly.” Wilbur interrupts Alex’s thinking. “If I think about it, we’ve never done anything. Just the two of us. Earlier I said it’s been ages since we last spoke and honestly- honestly I don’t remember the last time we talked.”
Alex is relieved his memory wasn't faulty. He weighs his options. Hanging out with Wilbur wouldn’t be too bad, he thinks. He would be able to catch up with a friend he hadn’t talked to in a long time. Were they even friends still? Shit, maybe tonight was the night to make sure their friendship was still there.
A voice in the back of Alex’s mind tells him to say no, listing reason after reason for why it was a bad idea. He presses his mouth into a line before settling on his answer. “Okay then, yeah- yeah let’s do something.”
Wilbur exhales, almost like he had been holding his breath as Alex made his decision. He pushes himself off of the wall with a grin. “Great, let’s go right now.”
Alex’s caught off guard for what must be the third or fourth time that night. “Wh- right now?”
“Yeah!”
“Don’t you have like, band shit you need to do?”
“Eh, I’m sure the guys can handle it.” Wilbur walks towards Alex, stopping right in front of him. “C’mon dude.” He even holds out his hand towards Alex.
Alex looks at Wilbur’s outstretched hand. This is his last chance to change his mind. Last chance to back out. Last chance to walk away from whatever mess he could make.
Alex grabs Wilbur’s hand, letting Wilbur pull him onto his feet. “Alright, let’s go.”