Disclaimers: This is not true. This never happened. This story did not originally start with AFI, but instead with original characters. This is total fiction. If you come looking for truth in these words, I, Satan, am simply misleading you. Hope you are entertained. If not, I�ll just keep your space warm in hell. Luv muchly. Much thanks goes to Skye, my sex Kitten. I owe her for several ideas already, the special guest part in this one just for starters. Kitty, I will 4evah luv you like whoa. Fo�shizzle m�nizzle an� up the heazzie fo�sheazzie.
The Story:
Oh, yeah, Hunter thought, this is the shit!
He gave another energetic kick, whipping around in the air like a madly spinning top. He gave his instrument the beating of it�s life as soon as he came down, head tossing frantically as he was helpless to the music.
And it WAS music, this thing they were doing. It was officially music now. There was not only real lyrics, but also some sort of harmony between the vocals and the instruments. Davey�s shouting/shrieking was the counterpoint to their energetic beats and riffs. His vocal force blew away any doubts that any of them might have had about not being able to pull off a life of music.
Here it comes, Hunter thought happily. It was the part they all got in with the singing:
�IN DARKNESS TOGETHER WE�RE BRINGING THE LIGHT/ IN DARKNESS TOGETHER WE ARE FORMING THE FIRE/ TOMORROW IS BORN OF THE NIGHT IN DARKNESS TOGETHER/ WE IG-NITE!!!�
Hunter shouted up toward the ceiling of the garage, every part of his face contorting with his energy and assuming every face imaginable. Jade, however, managed to look up at that same time and see these faces. He couldn�t help himself, he began to laugh.
Davey had no idea this was happening. He sang on until the end. Adam registered the laughter, however, and dared a glance up at the guitarist briefly before slamming his sticks back down again and again. That damn Puget. . .
The song ended, but Jade�s laughter didn�t. If anything, it grew. Davey, coming down from his natural, adrenaline induced high, opened his eyes. They were standing around in a circle, facing each other to get used to playing together, something Tim had advised Adam to try. Davey was facing the drummer, but when he realized this wasn�t the source of the laughter, he looked about slowly. He pushed back wild strands of his black hair and wiped droplets of sweat with his wrist band as he watched Jade fall back against the garage counter. Hunter let his instrument fade out and looked at Jade with surprise.
Jade took deep gulps of breathe in between laughs. �Hunter! Ha ha, Hunt- ha ha ha, making faces. . . HA HA HA HA!!� He clutched his stomach and nearly doubled over.
Hunter turned red. He looked from side to side. �Well. . . so? I make faces. I can�t help it.� when he saw Jade still laughing, he glared. �Man, fuck you! At least I move around! You just stand still, doing shit!�
Jade calmed so fast it was scary. His face was still flushed but his voice was unnaturally calm. PREDATORY calm. �What�d you say?� he demanded.
�Guys,� Adam said, but in a deja vu, he was ignored once again.
�I said,� Hunter said, taking a step forward, �that you�re such a pansy-ass, you can�t break a sweat! Me an� Davey were moshing! Adam�s got to do the drums, but you just stand there looking pretty!�
�Oh, do I?� Jade growled angrily, his handsome features growing cold and hard. �In case you hadn�t realized, I�m trying to focus on the music, not about moshing! You hit about five notes correctly! How the hell are you going to play right if you�re too busy jumping around?�
They met in the middle of the room, the only thing stopping them from going any further was the fact that their guitars were still strapped around them and still plugged in. Well, that could be fixed.
Just as Jade and Hunter both began to unwrap their instruments, Davey broke in, freezing Adam as he was already making his way from around the drum set. �You know,� Davey said softly, stopping the two friends and catching their attentions, �I think Jade�s right. Hunter you DO make faces.� Jade gave a laughing snort. �But I think those faces are good. Shows you�re really into the music.�
�Ha!� Hunter said, pointing at Jade, �Davey, now tell him to move around! He�s not listening to me, but he�ll listen to his boyfriend.�
�Jealous?� Jade smirked, making Hunter blush slightly.
�I can�t do that.� Davey shook his head. �See, we all learn in our own ways. Hunter, you�re learning by multi-tasking. You�re learning to move around as you play, making it easier when we perform. Jade�s learning it by taking his time and making sure he�s got it down completely. Both of you play excellent, so I can�t really tell you to change now.� he shrugged and looked at both with honesty.
Jade and Hunter frowned, somehow feeling cheated out of a fight. Hunter looked at Jade. Jade looked at Hunter. �Well, alright.� Jade said, putting his guitar back on.
�Yeah, I guess,� Hunter put his back on as they walked back to their own spaces.
Adam watched with his mouth hanging open. The look he then gave Davey made the man�s heart flutter and his skin blush.
Thanks Dave, Adam sent him silently across the room.
Davey smiled slyly and winked. Anytime, Ad.
Jade noticed the two silently regarding each other and cleared his throat. �Eh-HEM! If you two are done giving each other mental sex, can we please get on with this?� Hunter broke out in laughter, catching on to what Jade had already seen.
Adam blushed and went back behind the drum set, but Davey smiled. He closed his eyes and began humming. This caught Jade�s attention, then soon Hunter�s. They stopped making aimless noise and listened. Adam looked up, eyebrows raised. �Hey, Davey,� Hunter asked slowly, �what�s that you�re humming?� Instead of answering, Davey simply continued. The tune took on a steady rhythm and he swayed slightly from it. Jade frowned, then looked down at his guitar. He strummed three chords matching Davey�s humming, but the next two didn�t quite feel the same.
�No!� Hunter told him. �Like this!� he hit the same notes, only faster.
�You�re both wrong.� Adam told them softly.
�How do you know?� Hunter asked.
�Yes, Ad, how DO you know? You�re across the room!� Jade said.
Adam tapped one drumstick to his head. �I can hear it in here. Just listen, guys.� he closed his eyes and began humming the exact tune in sync with Davey. Jade looked at Hunter and they shrugged. They both closed their eyes and felt around for the music.
Silence at first, then. . . there! There it was! Not a humming, but actual words. A song, playing in their heads, just outside of their circle of thoughts. It was something Jade and Davey had been writing earlier but hadn�t found a beat to yet. Hunter and Jade both began to hum along with their friends. Hunter whispered the words aloud, in a faint breath. �. . .What if I could go to sleep for days, would you count the hours, or would your restlessness consume fading memories of me?�
When he was done, Davey stopped humming opened his eyes to smile at them. They opened their eyes, also. �Whoa.� Hunter looked at each of them. �How the hell did that happen? Was that you, Davey? In my head?�
Davey nodded slightly. �More like Adam. He has a really strong link with you guys still. Been trying to find music for that. Can�t get it to sound any thing like that, really.�
Hunter looked thoughtful. He stroked his instrument. Jade saw this and did the same, only lighter. They looked at each other, silent thoughts and notions passing between them. Adam smiled. �That�s the idea, I think.� he nodded to them. Left out, Davey watched as all three men started slow, then quickened the pace with confidence. Adam struck the drums furiously and Hunter and Jade went to their instruments of destruction with fervor. Davey�s mouth hung slightly open in awe.
This is it, he thought, this is what it�s supposed to sound like. I think this could actually work.
He then waited for the cue from Adam and began singing, a familiar style they would use for much of their songs yet to come.
***********************
Davey went on ahead of the others. Typical, it was. Just like the guys to get side-tracked by some girls. Two of them, actually, standing right outside the front of the building. Of course, scantily clad and ready to divert male attention spans. But that was okay for Davey. He trusted his Adam to keep his loyalty. He just needed to keep appearances up for the rest of the world so his manhood wouldn�t be questioned.
Oh well, they really didn�t have to go in with him, did they? Just dropping off a demo tape with some of Tim�s people at the record labels� office.
Davey looked down at the five tapes in his hands. This was great. They had spent just two weeks getting all these songs recorded and used much of Adam�s, Jade�s and Hunter�s meager bank accounts to finance the making of thirty of these tapes. If this worked, this would only be the beginning. And Davey would be able to pay off the guys for this.
Hunter had gotten him a job at the packing plant, but Adam made it clear that he didn�t have to work full time. So much of his time was spent cleaning Adam�s house while he was out working and coming up with new songs. Songs that were never actually finished until Jade had one or two looks over, that is. That man was a lyrical genius.
Davey�s attention remained solely on the tapes in his hand as he rounded the corner. He glances up for a split second before he is hurled backward by the figure in black.
�Eee!� the figure made a quick, sharp noise of surprise, too fast to stop now.
�Ooof!� Davey let out. They both landed with a crash to the floor, the tapes scattering as they may. Davey is on his back now, the figure laying on top of him, their face into his shoulder like a lover seeking comfort. Davey groaned as he felt the tape his ass landed on. It wasn�t a good feeling.
The figure laying on him slowly lifted their head, straight black hair falling in their face. No, her face. Two, wide green eyes blinked at him once, twice. The lips stained a dark berry color curved into a knowing, mischievous smile.
�Oh,� Davey gave a small, somewhat pained smile. �Hello. Are you all right?�
The woman was about to answer but was interrupted by two distinct, and somewhat annoyed, throats clearing. They both looked up at the two men glaring down at them with blank expressions. Davey saw one was his Adam, but the other. . . . he didn�t know. The answer came when the man quickly stepped forward and helped the woman up. Adam moved at the same time and helped Davey, rather roughly to his feet.
�Uh, just a, erhm, accident.� Davey mumbled feebly, face already tinging pink by the way Adam was glaring between him and the woman. She said nothing and didn�t look up at the man but distantly off to the side. Two strong but delicate hands reached up to smooth and straighten the black hair that ended just at her chin.
The man glared at her. He opened his mouth to speak but received a quick slap from the woman that shut him up. Strange as this was, she looked at Davey, smiled and winked before walking away calmly, passing Hunter and Jade on the way out. Adam and Davey looked back at the man and saw he was no longer glaring but was now smiling absently as he rubbed his cheek. With a faint smirk, he turned and left to catch up with his companion.
Adam turned on Davey then. �What the hell was that? I leave you for five seconds and already you�ve got some guy�s woman on you in the middle of the hall? What the fuck Davey?�
�I�m sorry, it was an acc�� Davey broke off, then glared at Adam. �Left me for five seconds? Left me to go flirt with girls! That was just an accident!�
�Lower you voice!� Adam hissed, looking up and down both halls. They were alone, the man and the woman long since disappeared. Jade and Hunter were moving about, picking up the fallen tapes.
Adam looked back at Davey�s, still fierce, expression and relaxed. �Yeah, yeah, all right. So it WAS an accident. I saw it happen. But she was on you too long.�
Davey nodded. �She was. But she must have been really upset. I wonder if she�s okay. You think that man was hurting her?� he turned worried eyes toward the end of the hall.
With a small pang, Adam remembered all the times Davey himself was the victim. Of course he�d feel the need to help anyone else. �Could be,� Adam said carefully, �but you see how she smacked him one? You think he�d have any kind of control over her much? If anything, a woman like her would kick the shit out of him.�
�Hhmm, you�re right.� Davey nodded slowly.
�Yeah, come on!� Hunter said, he and Jade already walking down the other end of the hall, �Tim�s friend�s are waiting for us! Lets� get moving!�
Davey, remembering why they were here, gave Adam a brief smile and joined them as they began trotting quickly away.
*******
The man made his way out of the building and found his friend standing on top of a cement parking curb, adding an inch or two to their short stature. They had their back to him, already two thirds through their cigarette.
�Brian,� Stefan said, the faint traces of his accent still heard but getting thinner the longer they stayed in the U.S. �Look, it was��
Brian cut him off with one, quick, smooth hand upward. Stefan stopped talking and simply looked up at his band mate. After one more drag, Brian Molko turned his sharp, bright green eyes to his friend and smiled faintly.
�Don�t worry about it. Let�s forget about it. It�s the past.� he leaned over and gave Stefan a sensuous, soft kiss on the mouth.
He was glad the short terror in lipstick wasn�t mad anymore, but why not? After all that happened between them earlier? Stefan looked carefully at Brian�s profile as he faced forward again. �Bri? What are you thinking?�
He shrugged, smiling once again. �Nothing. Just. . . . nothing, mate. Nothing.�
But Stefan couldn�t let it go, not now that he realized what his friend was thinking. He involuntarily looked back toward the building. When he faced his friend again, he grinned. �You. . . . you�ve got a crush! You LIKE that one? The one you molested?�
Brian scowled at his friend. �Oh, please! I didn�t molest him!� he faced away and mumbled, �I was just sizing him up, is all. . .�
Stefan grinned predatorily. �Ah huh. Sure, Bri. Whatever.� he gave it some thought. �Not a bad choice. I liked him. And that one with the pink t-shirt. Obviously gay. Can you imagine a straight guy with a pink shirt, here in America? Hah!�
�Wasn�t watching that one.� Brian admitted. He looked down at the pavement, his nose twitching briefly. He took a last drag off his cigarette before flicking it away. He looked at Stefan. �You think we could stay in town for a little longer? I�m just beginning to see the fun parts to it.�
Stefan put his hands gently on his friend�s waist and gazed into Brian�s emerald green eyes, his black hair ruffling into their faces with the slight breeze. �You want to stay,� Stefan said quietly, �so you can fuck that one? That the only reason why?�
Brian pouted slightly. He nodded twice, then gave a growl before attacking Stefan�s mouth with his own. Stefan laughed. �Then how can I say no? This, I would like to see, I think.�
�You think I don�t have a chance?� Brian said, teeth catching his friend�s lower lip.
�No.� Stefan said truthfully. �Not with that skinny one haunting over him like that. But, then again. . . . you DID win me over, so I suppose anything is possible.�
�You bitch.� Brian laughed, then pulled away. �Come on, I�m starved. Lets go eat.� he jumped off the pavement and strolled with steadfast purpose to the car they were borrowing here in the states, Stefan following close after. �And on the way, we can listen to some new tunes I picked up.� Brian pulled out one of the tapes Davey had been carrying from a pocket and flashed it to his friend as they shared a grin.
*********************************
�Okay, okay, that�s good,� the man with the suit and clipboard cut them off again for the sixth time they tried playing a song. Davey croaked off, hands adjusting the headphones on his ears instinctively. He glanced around at the other guys and saw them stop playing and shuffle nervously.
He turned back and watched the man going over notes on his clip board outside the sound booth. There were two others with him, another man in a business suit and a woman in faded black jeans and a Led Zeppelin t-shirt. They sat silently, making only sparing remarks to the man with the clipboard. Davey had long since forgotten their names.
Momentarily, the man with the clip board looked up at Davey and said something. What it was, Davey couldn�t hear since the man hadn�t turned on the intercom. The two people behind him nodded together and agreed on something. This was making Davey nervous. He didn�t like not knowing what they were saying. This could be bad. Really bad. He was getting a bad feeling, and he didn�t like bad feelings because they were bad�
Davey�s mind rambling was cut off when the man reached over and switched on the mic. again. �Okay, AFI, you boys, come inside, we need to talk.�
Davey yanked off the headphones and looked around at the others. They were nervous, he could tell, but not as much as he was. As they made their way into the next room, Davey made his way to stand with Adam, hoping to gain confidence from his friend�s calm, steady nature. They walked in and stood about near the door, not much room anywhere else.
The man with the clipboard made a few last notes and looked up at Adam, using him as the head of the band since he was the only one who had spoken earlier. �The band�s great. We think it has potential. Work needs to be done on the instruments, you all need to learn how to read music and how to play the right bars and notes. The lyrics are vague, but that�s good, on the sense of them. Only one problem.� he paused.
They waited. The man flipped through his papers again, then looked up and pointed a finger at Davey. He spoke in a tone that wasn�t judgmental, but brutally truthful. �You�ll need to get rid of the girl and get a male lead. Your band�s tone is too. . . . masculine. A female lead singer will just confuse everyone. And I�m not sure if you have the singing voice for this type of thing, young lady.�
Davey�s only reaction was one raised eyebrow. Hunter and Jade looked from Davey to the man and back and forth in confusion. Adam�s jaw tightened and his eyes glared at the man. To keep from lashing out, he crossed his arms over his chest.
�Davey�s not leaving the band.� he said quietly.
The man stared at Adam for a minute or two. �That�s. . . . wait, which one of you is Davey?� he turned his pencil back and forth between Hunter and Jade. They pointed at Davey. Davey raised a finger, unable to vocalize his presence.
The man blinked. He looked Davey over again. �You�re Davey? You�re a man?� Davey nodded. The man blinked again, then scowled down at his notes. �Why no one bothered to tell me. . .� he mumbled off, making scratches on the paper. The man and the woman behind him glanced at each other, then looked at Davey curiously. He turned pink as he saw them whispering to each other, still looking up at him. He looked away and focused on the man.
He tore off one paper from the board and crumpled it up. He tossed it to the trash can, then sighed. �Look,� he turned back up to Adam, shaking his head slightly, �I don�t think. . .�
�Oh, go on, Mister Johansson,� the woman said, waving a hand at him. He looked around in surprise at her. She smiled. �Go on and sign them. We all know how good they are.�
The guys looked at the woman and were surprised to see the man nod to her in acceptance. �All right. If you want them, Mrs. Hollard. It�s your company.�
�Yes, I do want them.� she smiled warmly at each of the guys. �And it IS my company. Well, my husband�s, so pretty much mine. And now you guys are a part of us. Welcome.�
We did it, Davey whispered to Adam silently, we did it?
Yeah, Davey, we did. Adam sent back, already grinning to match Davey�s. Jade and Hunter were jumping up and down together in joy, falling into Davey and Adam and puling them into a large group hug.
*******************************
Much later that night, after several hours of going over the contracts with scrutiny, they were finally allowed to leave to find their own celebration. All of their other friends were currently busy at the moment, so any partying that might happen that night would consist of only them.
�Fine by me.� Adam said, still smiling faintly as they left the parking lot of the record company and began the long drive down the highway to their own town. �We�ll just grab some beers and head on to my house. Nothing better than our own company, don�t you think?�
�Yes.� Davey grinned happily and continued hugging Adam as he drove back to his house.
From the back seat, Jade cleared his throat. �Uhm, in that case, you think you can drop me off at my place? I�m not really feeling up to partying tonight.�
�What?!� Hunter turned on him. �We finally got that contract we wanted and you don�t want to celebrate with us? What the hell, Jade? You don�t like us anymore?�
�It�s not like that.� Jade said.
�Then what is it?� Adam asked, growing solemn and glancing back at Jade through the rearview mirror. �What�s bothering you so much that you can�t spend the night with us? If you don�t want to drink, you don�t have to. Davey�s not drinking. You two can drink apple juice or something. Sound good?�
Jade looked at Adam�s eyes carefully, then sighed. He looked out his window and gave in. �All right, I�ll party with you guys.�
�That�s it man!� Hunter cheered and clapped him on the shoulder. �That�s the idea! WOOF! YEAH! I feel GREAT!� Eagerly, Hunter rolled down his window by the crank and got half his upper body out before any of the others noticed. Davey laughed and cheered, Adam slowed and cursed. Jade smiled but leaned over, hand hovering just over Hunter�s hip in case his howling mad friend slipped in the slightest.
And Hunter WAS howling now. His hands gripped the top of the window edge as he sat on the door, face turned to the wind as he shouted happy obscenities into the air.
�Come on!� he shouted and pounded the roof, �come on Addie! Rip this sucka! Burn rubber!�
Davey and Jade laughed hearing this. Adam was so far going the legal speed limit, that itself a good thirty-five.
�He�s nuts.� Adam muttered. His eyes narrowed in a frown, but his thin lips curled slightly into a smile.
�Oooh! Me too!� Davey rolled down his window and leaned out, sitting on the door just as Hunter was. Adam glanced over and cursed. With panic, he reached over and grabbed a hold of Davey�s pant leg. It was unnecessary since Davey had his other leg hooked under the seat by his foot, but Adam felt better knowing he had a hold of him, nonetheless.
�You dumb-assess!� He yelled up before coming to a red light.
Hunter stopped howling as he felt the car stop. He looked down from the sky and saw Davey laughing and pushing hair out of his face on the other side of the car.
�Davey!!� Hunter roared happily.
�Hunter!!� Davey returned. Hunter reached forward, succeeding only in hooking his fingers with Davey�s. This done, they both laughed like deranged lunatics.
�Me too! Me too!� They heard and saw Jade following also. He came up on a turn so he had to grip the car frantically, eyes going wide and smile slipping. However, when things steadied again, the three of them laughed. Jade reached across the roof of the car also and touched both Davey�s and Hunter�s hands.
�Whoo!� Hunter shouted into the wind. �Now Adam! Come on! Come up!�
�You dumbass!� Adam shouted, laughing and echoing Jade exactly.
�You dumbass!� Jade shouted across, grinning, �Who�s gonna drive? Ha ha!�
But Hunter stood fast. �He can do it!� he assured them. �I�ve seen it done before! He can! Davey, you get him to come up! Do it!� he nodded vigorously while grinning.
Davey rolled his eyes and disappeared back into the car. A minute later and he came back up, shrugging and shaking his head.
�Awww, come on Addie! You lazy fuck!� Hunter called down into Adam�s open window jovially. He gave the back of his friend�s seat a sharp kick, earning a flip of Adam�s middle finger.
�Then go faster!� Hunter pounded the top of the roof again. But instead of picking up speed, Adam slowed.
�Aw, this sucks ass.� Jade whined. He lay his head on his forearms and rested on the roof. Davey smiled wanly and did likewise, staring back at him. A few minutes passed and there came a jerk from the car. All three grabbed at the car roof quickly as it swerved slightly on the empty road. Hunter looked down and cheered to the two across the roof.
�He�s coming up! Adam�s coming up! Motherfucka!� He grinned and hit the roof again, his hand already red and sore.
There came more swerves, then slowly, Adam�s head appeared out the window. The car was unsteady and it seemed in this new position, Adam�s foot gave the pedal just a bit more pressure than before. They sped down the highway fast and wavering. Hunter shouted happily in a weakening voice and Jade and Davey shrieked manly in delight.
Adam dared a glance across the roof at Davey. He couldn�t exactly sit on the door, but he could lean enough of himself out to peer over the roof. He saw Davey�s eyes narrow, glittering black against the wind and loose hair fluttering into his face. His lips were clasped together, eagerly trying to let loose the laugh that came naturally to his mouth.
Damn, Adam thought, Davey�s hot. Wonder how come he never sees that? I know Jade sees it, he sees things like that. But where Jade�s hot because he�s made himself hot, Davey�s hot because it�s natural. It�s in his nature.
And with that last thought, Adam slid back into the car just in time to be the first one to see the flashing red and blue lights in the rearview mirror. Oh, shit, he thought, but smiled.
********************************
The four of them finally made it back to Adam�s house, tickets in pockets and drinks in hand. Hunter and Adam immediately cracked open beers while Jade and Davey happily went into the kitchen to make fruit smoothies.
�Is that why you never wanted to party with them?� Davey asked quietly as he cut bananas and dropped them into the blender. �Because they drank and you didn�t?�
Jade looked up from the mango he was trying to cut into cubes. He looked Davey over. �Let me ask YOU something, Davey. Why don�t you drink?�
Davey slowed his hand briefly, then hurriedly went back to cutting. �My. . . my mother was drunk most of the time. My father. . . well, my father wasn�t a lot better. And he wasn�t the happy-drunk sort. I�d rather not live like that, stupid and messed up. Pissing all over and puking my guts out all over myself.�
Jade nodded. �Me too.� he went back to cutting the fruit.
Davey frowned. �But that�s not it, is it, Jade? You know, ever since we started playing together, like I mean, REALLY playing together, our thoughts sometimes connect now. I can almost feel you hiding something.� he spoke low and set a hand on Jade�s arm. �You know, you can tell me anything. Anything at all, Jade. It won�t matter, I�ll always be here for you.�
Jade didn�t look up but nodded. �I know. Thanks Davey.� he sighed, then gave in. He looked up and around to make sure Hunter and Adam were still in the living room. �All right, just don�t tell the other guys, okay? Not like you would, just had to say that.� As he spoke, his hands began to cut again.
�It was back a few years ago. It was my real party days. Had one too many, as usual. What the hell did I care? I was having fun, I was out of my parents� house and had one girlfriend after another. Things couldn�t be any better. Then I met this guy at the party. He seemed nice enough. We talked forever, it seemed, but I still don�t know his name. Anyway, the night goes on and I�m so wasted now I can�t even think straight. This guy sees it and takes advantage of it.� Jade paused, hands stilling as he looked blankly at the far wall. �He and his friends took advantage of it. That was my first sexual encounter with another man, Davey, and it was my first and only rape. I learned my lesson. I�m never touching another drop again in my life. I thought they were friends, but I was wrong.�
Davey put his knife down and circled Jade with his arms. It wasn�t until Jade heard him sniffling into his shoulder that Jade finally jerked out of his memories and reacted. �Davey?� he asked softly, looking down and hugging back. �Davey, don�t, please don�t! It�s okay. I�m all right now. Look, that was a long time ago. Things are different now. Davey, please stop crying, babe, please stop.� he petted Davey�s hair back and kissed the side of his head.
�Jade,� Davey said, voice muffled, �I�m so sorry. I�m sorry you were hurt. I love you.�
�I love you too, Davey.� Jade whispered and hugged Davey tighter, releasing a tear or two of his own. Adam was about to walk in then, but saw two of his best friends in each others arms, crying softly. He stopped and was about to inquire silently in Davey�s mind but wisely decided against it.
Whatever was going on in that kitchen, Adam thought as he walked away, is too big to be handled by a third wheel. Hunter will just have to sip some of my beer in the mean time.
************
As the night grew on, other amusements were found and the party REALLY started. Well. . . for the drinkers it did.
Adam and Hunter at some point had decided the better man was the one who drank the most hard liquor. Since neither of them was very strong at drinking, they simply nursed the same drinks, eyeing the level of each other�s glasses.
Davey and Jade slowly grew out of their somber moods and began to find hilarity in their friend�s manners. Jade and Davey laughed themselves red as they watched Hunter and Adam trying, in a stumbling way, to dance to the Brittney Spears song on the radio.
�An� I�m a slut,� Hunter sang off-key, �my name�s Brit-neee! I�m a slut! I bang that hoe. . . . S�tina Agererra!�
Adam wasn�t any better off. He was drinking from his bottle while flailing about, somehow trying to fly while staying on the ground. He succeeded, finally, in falling into the couch, unable to get up again.
Davey and Jade chortled again but clapped. �Yay!� Davey called out.
�Whoo!� Jade clapped, standing and going over to Hunter. �Hunt! You win! Adam dropped!�
�I won?� Hunter grinned blearily at Jade, then hooked arm around his friend. �What�s I win?� he paused, then planted a smooch on Jade�s cheek, missing his mouth only because Jade turned at the last minute.
Davey saw this and laughed. �Hunter! I didn�t know you had a thing for Jade!�
Hunter pulled back up again and peered at Davey, expression skeptical. �Wot? You dinnent know? Jade�s a shexy bitch! E�ERYBODY wanna skrew Jadey.� Hunter looked at Jade carefully. Jade couldn�t help bursting into laughter, along with Davey. Adam laughed, also, but only because he heard laughing. He was currently sliding to the floor helplessly in his attempt to reach his beer that rolled away from him and began spilling across the floor.
Hunter seemed to finish his examination and basically just collapsed into Jade. �Uhmm, hold me.� Hunter said, as Jade grabbed him from dropping on the floor.
�Hunter!� Jade scolded between laughter. He searched about and dropped Hunter to the sofa, sitting next to him also. Davey finally noticed Adam and went to help him.
�Hey, babe,� Adam smiled, realizing it was Davey who helped him back into his seat. �You got a kiss for me?�
Davey smiled and kissed him briefly. �There. Now you going to be a good boy and sit still now?�
Adam yanked at Davey�s arm. �Ony if you shtay wit me.� he let go of his drink again, dropping it surprisingly to the side table without it spilling too much before Davey straightened it again. With him busy, Adam reached up and grabbed Davey to him, sitting him on his lap.
�There!� Adam said, commanding. �Yer not gonna be leavin�! You hear?! You shtay right �ere!�
Davey smirked, eyes going over Adam�s drunk expression. �You know,� he said softly, �you�re cute when you�re inebriated. Your nose gets all red and your eyes make you look so helpless.� he pushed some of Adam�s curling black hair away from his forehead gently, lovingly.
�You know what I want now?� Adam said, grinning.
�What?� Davey asked, ready to get up and get his lover another drink.
�I want,� Adam said, in an unusually loud, drunken voice, �I wan� you ter blow me. Come on! Suck me off!�
Davey�s eyes went wide in disbelief as he saw Adam�s hands going already going to his belt. �ADAM!� Davey scolded and stopped them.
�Oh my god,� Jade said, looking up over to them, �did I just hear what I THOUGHT I heard?� he saw Davey�s frantic glance back and roared laughter. �HA HA HA!! Adam. . . . ha ha ha, Hunter! Adam just told D-Davey to blow him! Ha ha ha!�
In his own drunken state, Hunter grinned. He looked toward Davey and laughed. The only one who wasn�t amused was Adam. He was down right angry.
�Why the HELL not?� he demanded at Davey.
�Because you�re drunk.� Davey whispered to him. �And Hunter and Jade are watching. When you get sober again, you�re going to be mad that you even suggested it.�
�No I�m fucking NOT! I�m not drunk.� Adam pouted slightly, looking at Davey with a hurt expression. �You jus� don� wanna blow me. You want me to fuck you but you don� wan� me ter have any fun. You don� like me anymo�.� he glanced over Davey�s shoulder, seeing Jade laughing harder. �You�d rather blow �im, wouldn� you? �E�s pretty, it�n�t �e? Ya, yer prolly already did.� Angrily, Adam grabbed his beer again and took a long drink, eyes still glaring at Jade.
�Oh, god,� Davey rolled his eyes. �Adam, you are SO drunk if you even think that I�d rather blow Jade instead of you. Come on, give me that. No more liquor for you tonight.� he began plying the bottle from his hands.
But Adam got a better idea. �You drink!� he said, pushing the bottle to Davey�s lips. �You drink! Take a drink I said! You drink or I won�t talk to you again.� he tried making his eyes as serious as his inebriated state would allow.
Davey sighed. �Then I guess I won�t be talking to you again, Adam. Think I�ll go see if Jade�s willing to talk to me.� he began to get up but Adam pulled him back down.
�No wait!� he threw a glare at Jade before turning puppy-eyes up at Davey. �I�m sorry, baby. I just wanted you ter have some wit me. Pwease?� he then began to make whimpering noises that just melted Davey.
�Aw, that�s okay, Adam, my love,� Davey said, stroking the side of his face, �I know you only wanted to share.� he looked at the bottle Adam was still pushing toward him, then sighed. �All right, but only one drink. Then no more.�
He took the bottle and took a mouthful, no more. Across the room, Jade looked up from watching Hunter trying to count the bubbles in his glass and saw Davey drinking. Hundreds of thoughts ran through his mind, so fast none of the others picked up on it.
The one thing that continued to pop up again and again was this: these are my friends. They are my friends and they would never hurt me. If I drank with them, they�d not take advantage of me. One drink won�t hurt. Haven�t had a beer in years. Want to drink one. . . .
Jade watched Adam urge Davey to take another drink and succeed. �Well,� Jade whispered to himself, �if Davey thinks it�s okay to drink, I guess one beer couldn�t hurt.�
�That�s th�spirit!� Hunter smiled at him happily and passed his glass over. Jade took a sip and found that he never really forgot what it was like to drink. Old habits died hard.
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Hours later and it was now Davey and Jade the ones wasted. They laughed at stupid things and staggered about, looking at one thing to another and muttering strange, hilarious and disconnected things.
Davey only drank beer but Jade moved on ahead to the harder stuff Adam and Hunter had been drinking earlier. The first two drunks were now sitting and watching the two new ones, slowly sobering.
�Mmm!� Davey drank more from his bottle and stopped in front of the radio. �I fuckin� LUV this song!� he looked around and spotted Jade at the table pouring more liquor.
�C�mere!� Davey shouted happily, pulling Jade, stumbling, to the stereo. There, the singer then began to dance, body moving slowly and sensuously. Jade saw this and began dancing also, up against Davey.
Adam watched, along with Hunter. �That�s pretty hot, you have to admit.� Hunter said slowly, nodding.
Adam grinned and nodded. To their surprise, Davey was slightly more enthusiastic about the song he had barely heard for the first time a minute ago. He let go of his glass, sending it to burst into splinters across the room, then hopped onto the table in front of Hunter and Adam.
�Whoo!� Hunter and Jade cheered, seeing Davey dancing this way and that, unconscious of where he had chosen to make his display. Adam watched, eyes taking in the movements his hips made going side to side, the flow of Davey�s hair as he tossed it about, and the shape of his rear as he moved about in a circle.
Circle. . . . Adam leaped up and caught Davey just as he was about to crash to the floor, dizzier than Adam had been earlier at the dance contest. �Okay, that�s enough drinking for you.� Adam said, dragging Davey to sit on his lap again on his chair. He wasn�t any better off, but Adam was used to getting drunk. Davey wasn�t.
Davey looked up from resting against Adam�s chest and grinned. �Hee. Addie, you luff me?�
Adam smiled. �Yeah, I luv you. You luv me?�
Instead of answering, Davey gave another, �hee!� and started slipping down to the floor. Amused, Adam watched him fall until he realized what Davey meant to do. By then, Davey had already had Adam�s pants unzippered and a hand inside, slowly stroking.
�You luff me?� Davey asked softly, eyes going low and unconsciously sensuous. �You reeeaallly luff me? You wan� me to luff you?�
Adam looked up quickly and saw Jade busy cornering Hunter against the couch and making out with him fiercely. Oh well, Adam thought, they�re busy, they won�t know. He smiled down at Davey, who was already putting his face into Adam�s lap.
Adam moaned and leaned his head back, hand tangling his fingers in Davey�s hair. Light kisses and faint strokes from his fingertips before Davey got serious and took Adam deeper in lust.
Across the room, on the couch, Hunter heard Adam�s moans and looked up. Jade did also, but only briefly, going back to attacking his friend�s neck. �Damn,� Hunter whispered, �damn if that isn�t hot.� he looked back at Jade, getting ideas quickly.
�No.� Jade told him, reading his mind through their long friendship. He raised up and stared angrily down at Hunter. �I�m not the bitch here. You are. You suck me!�
�WHAT?� Hunter demanded, then tossed Jade down to the couch, laying his body on top of him. �YOU�RE the bitch!� they stared at each other, then went back to making out, both trying to dominate the other with none winning.
After Adam came, screaming a moan up to the ceiling, Davey crawled back up, wiping the corner of his mouth with his fingers. He sat on Adam�s lap and took one last drink of his beer. He looked at Adam like he was about to say something, but simply passed out against his lover. Adam wrapped his arms around him and followed, also.
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In the morning, Adam and Davey will wake up, feeling stiff from sleeping in a chair all night, and still pretty hung over, but genuinely happy. Jade will wake up underneath Hunter, both their shirts off but clearly no sign of anything gone past their making out. Hunter will wake up from Jade pushing him off angrily, hitting the floor sadly since he�ll have no recollection of the night before and will have no idea why he was being treated so hatefully and why he had been on top of Jade at all. But that�s the morning, and we leave before that, keeping the happier images in our minds.
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