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III closed the door with a sigh. He knew that objectively their last show was maybe their biggest success, but between II's silence, Vessel's coldness and the whole stress of touring, he didn't feel successful. Vessel and II went all the way back to when they were just teenagers. They constantly hung around each other, telling some antics here and there or reminiscing the old times, like when they stole a bottle of vodka while high of their asses.
Before, it was kinda fine because he wasn't the only one who couldn't add to the conversation. But when II started dating IV, suddenly it changed. The guitarist was let in on all the jokes, and they spent their evenings laughing together while III didn't get it. And with each day passing, he felt like they were distancing themselves more and more. They still had moments together on stage, but they've become a lot rarer. And even though III tried practically everything, their closeness during performances never transformed into anything more than a strictly professional relationship.
And now, with the end of the tour everyone would be going back home.
Vessel and II were practically neighbors. IV moved closer to them a couple months ago, but III was also close by.
Nevertheless, he was never invited to any casual hangouts like the other. And it wasn't for a lack of trying on his part. He texted often, asking them if they had time and wanted to meet up, but time and time again he was left on read or declined.
An even bigger jab was that he knew that they hung out, when they told him, 'They didn't have time'.
He's seen a posted story of them once after II said that he had an appointment he couldn't miss that afternoon. And though the blonde tried to tell himself that it didn't bother him, the sickening pit in his stomach begged to differ. Every time one of his bandmates talked about how great that one time was, he wanted to crawl out of his skin. Why was he never invited? What's wrong with him?
III bit his lip. No point on dwelling on it further.
Instead, he looked around the green room he was in. It was decently sized, with a large TV on one wall, facing it was a worn leather couch that probably had seen more things than he did. On the other side were some show announcements. Absentmindedly, he noted that their poster was on there too, as well as some other bands he vaguely recognized. There was also a carpet covering the middle of the room, although at this point it could've also been an art project with the amount of stains and other discolorations it had.
Before he could look around more, a loud banging ripped him out of his thoughts.
"What's taking so long?! The next group will be here in ten. We need the room free by then!" Looking at his phone, III noted that it was well past 9 and the rest of the crew probably already went home.
Looking indecisevly between the bathroom and exit door, III decided to shower when he got home, one of the perks of ending the tour in his hometown.
Pulling off his mask and grabbing his jacket, he opened the door and got ready to leave.
The venue wasn't big per se, but between avoiding fans and other interactions, it took him almost 20 minutes to get out.
Breathing in the fresh air, after hours upon hours of being in the stuffy building, felt divine. The small breeze and the setting sun also added to the feeling, but this time instead of feeling giddy and full of energy, he felt spent.
Pulling out his headphones, he decided to walk the distance home.
It wasn't that far away, just far enough that taking the bus or car would be a lot more convenient.
"It's not like someone's waiting for me," III thought bitterly, but before he could think about it too much, another song starts and sweeps his thoughts away.
And as expected the walk didn't take long with some good music blasting through his headphones and not leaving room for any other thoughts.
Arriving at his apartment, the scent of home greeted him. Normally, it would've comforted him. Tonight, it didn't.
He had spent months on tour with some of the most talented people he knows. He remembered how he couldn't sleep the days before the tour and how exciting it all seemed.
Now, all he felt was tiredness.
Resigned, he took off his jacket and shoes, looking around the empty apartment and deciding that there's really nothing better to do than to go to sleep. He looked at his phone one last time, seeing no notifications. He opened Instagram, his eyes searching for something, anything from Vessel, II, IV, anyone really, but there's nothing.
His heart sank. Why was he always forgotten?
III closed his eyes for a second. Praying that this was all just a really bad dream, but nothing happened.
Resigned, he buried himself under his blanket, waiting for sleep to come. But it didn't come as easy and when after hours the darkness finally came to take him. It only took him to a land of restless dreams.