While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Zak’s Outfit // Daemon’s Outfit

-

Zak had his guitar slung over his shoulders and his eyes focused on nothing in particular as he allowed Fallyn to lead him into the little café. That night there was an open mic, one scarcely populated by Salem High students. It was rumored some talent scouts frequented open mics around Metric, so Fallyn had encouraged Zak to participate. He was reluctant to listen to them – his prior experience with performing was zero. But they had encouraged him to go up on stage, where no one they likely knew would be. It was terrifying, it was nerve-wracking, but there was a part of Zak that was excited. Excited, to maybe see some encouragement for his dream.

He ensured his parents and Nicolette weren’t going to be coming to this, of course. No need in them finding his guitar and banning him for having yet another ‘feminine’ hobby.

When Fallyn asked him if he wanted a drink, Zak shook his head, staring at the crowd. Maybe... maybe this was a bad idea. He looked at all the people, people who could judge him, and think his singing or song were bad. He always poured his heart into his music. The very thought that someone could hate it, or make fun of it, made him tremble and his chest tighten. He had to be brave and put himself out there, but that didn’t quell the anxiety he was feeling. His wrists throbbed. He tried to ignore the feeling and played with the warmers on his wrists slightly.

Zak watched as someone took the stage and began to sing with ease. ”...how do they make it look so easy...” he said, glancing at Fallyn. ”...if my dad knew I was here, I’d be so dead.”

–

Daemon shrugged his shoulders and took a long sip of his drink. At the moment he was dressed in leggings, shorts, and a crop top – his feminine figure and posture confusing a few patrons. Daemon didn’t mind, he quite liked making straight men question their sexuality. He rested his elbow on the table and grinned at Boaz.

”Ain’t seen nobody,” He said, glancing around the room. It was crowded and he rose his brows at the girl playing. ”She’s kinda cute, though. Maybe I’ll hit her up after the show. Shame she doesn’t have a cute boyfriend for you to snag.”

Daemon shrugged his shoulders. The girl on stage was chubby, with a smaller chest and wider hips. He grinned, adjusting the glasses on his nose. ”Maybe you’ll snag someone when you’re up on stage singin’.” He said, ”People love a good singer.”

Daemon leaned back in his chair and rose his brow at Boaz. ”Not very enthusiastic, are ya?” he asked. ”Somethin’ weighin’ on your mind?”

–

Zak looked at Fallyn and admired their determination. It got a ghost of a smile to rise to his cheeks. It was rare he actually smiled, usually Fallyn was one of the only people who could gain one from him. They really were a great friend. ”I can’t help it, Fallyn. You know that,” he said, eyes downcast. ”But you’re the only reason I’m brave enough to do this, so... I’m going to. Even if you have to inevitably punch a bitch.”

He looked at the stage as the girl on it began to finish her song, enjoying the music. As nervous as he was, Zak had to admit he loved hearing the live music.

Daemon watched as Boaz walked onto stage to sing, shrugging his shoulders. Boaz not feeling himself? Maybe he was on his period or something. Daemon snorted at his own thought. Clearly the dude just needed to get laid.

He looked around to see if anyone gave Boaz any interest – he saw the girl he’d been eyeing leave but his new goal was to get Boaz laid to help cheer him up.

–

Zak shook his head. ”I’m not trying to. I just... do when I’m nervous,” he said, smirking when they implied punching a whiny bitch. ”Only if I get to watch,” he said.

Of course, then Boaz took the stage. Zak’s face immediately fell and – upon a quick scan of the area – he saw Daemon. He remembered those two, and swallowed nervously. ”No. I can’t do this is he’s here. His friend is here, too.” Zak got up, knocking over a chair in the process. It made him flush, and not in a good way. ”I just – I can just keep playing in your yard. I don’t need a stage.”

Daemon smirked to himself when he heard a chair shift and saw a tall, gothic boy stand up. It was that Zak kid, hm? And his weird, cute – but not really Daemon’s type now that he looked at them – little friend. He mainly hit on them just to see if he could break up that little gothic couple.

Daemon got up and started to walk towards them, fully ware Boaz was watching, likely just as amused as he was.

–

Zak glanced over at Fallyn. ”I’m not being a pussy,” he snapped, wrenching his arm back with a bit more force than he should have. He glanced back at Daemon and Boaz, the former staring at him. ”I am not performing with people I know here. Especially not them. So just let me fucking leave.”

He glanced behind them again, and groaned. ”The Korean one’s coming over here,” he groaned. ”don’t these guys have better shit to do over in Metric?”

Daemon approached the sour looking couple, his brows raised and his hip cocked out. His top exposed his middrif, which Zak was briefly drawn to before he looked at Daemon’s face. If he ever wore something like that, his father would surely beat him. Zak frowned and tried to ignore Daemon.

”Long time no see, kids,” Daemon said, noticing Fallyn’s eyes flicker to Boaz. Daemon smirked, and then slowly looked back over at Fallyn. ”here to watch Boaz perform? You’re in for a real treat, ain’t ya?” he said. He glanced at Zak, who was looking away. ”Or, didja come here to perform yourself?” he noticed the guitar on Zak’s back.

”No. We came here for coffee,” Zak said, slamming a hand down and getting in Daemon’s face. ”Fuck off.”

”Touchy. He always like that, or has he just not gotten laid in a while? Though, looking like that, it’s probably never happened,” Daemon shrugged and ignored Zak’s death glare – which, to Daemons’ credit, was quite a feat since Zak’s glare had been known to make lesser men flee. Daemon turned to Fallyn. ”C’mon, I see the way you’re lookin’ at Boaz. Give him a cheer, eh?”

Boaz arrived before too long and Daemon grinned, glad his partner in crime was here. Zak was being very intimidating, to his credit, but Daemon had dealt with beefier and more threatening men than this scrawny emo boy before. He didn’t back down and instead raised his eyebrows.

”Oh. Someone’s blushin’,” Daemon taunted Fallyn, catching their cheeks as they turned pink when Boaz came over. Daemon cocked his hip and narrowed his eyes in confidence. ”I think they did. Especially this one here. Lookit the way they’re lookin’ at ya – ain’t it cute?”

”Bullshit! Fallyn isn’t looking at him like anything,” Zak growled, aware some people were now looking at the altercation but not caring. If he got banned from another place? Well, so what. It wasn’t like he regularly would come here if he knew these guys would show up. Daemon smirked at Boaz.

”Yeah, touchy you’re stealin’ his date.” He teased.

Daemon rose his brows. ”Twat? British now, are you? Cute,” he tuned to Boaz. ”Don’t you have a thing for people with accents?”

Zak glowered at Boaz, ignoring Fallyn’s instance that nothing was happening. Daemon laughed, cruely, at Boaz’s comment but Zak was not amused and just clenched the table tighter. When he implied taking Fallyn home that was it – Zak lurched forward and shoved Boaz back, away from Fallyn, standing in front of them protectively. ”Fuck. Off.” Zak said.

The clamor from that got everyone’s eyes on them. Daemon made a face. ”Eugh. Gothy made everyone stare at us, rude.” He put a hand on his hip and winked at a cute girl who seemed mesmerized by his top. The girl blushed fiercely. ”...though maybe that’s a good thing.”