You are my Sun Chapter 6.
Title: You are my Sun Chapter 6. Secrets, secrets...
Author:thekeyholder (Brigi)
Pairing: Belldom
Rating: PG/13
Beta: The lovely ms_belle10 :)
Summary: Matt and Dom are still in school. At first, they are not in good terms but things will evolve. *wink*
Feedback: is what I like the most! (well, after Muse and chocolate, of course! :P)
Warnings: Cursing.
Disclaimers: As you probably know, I don’t own Muse but original aspects belong to me. So don't steal or I'll put Dracula to chase you. :P
Author's note: First of all, I'd lke to thank starlight_myth for writing that part in the garage scene where Matt talks about the guitar skills of Dom's bandmate. I don't know anything about these instruments, so thank you! <3
Also... I've been listening to dark music while writing this chapter. Discovered this awesome band called Nox Arcana, they play instrumental gothic music. Other piece that inspired me was Vivaldi's Winter.
This beautiful sig was created by one of my good friends. Thanks, Rena!
Chapter 1. Chapter 2. Chapter 3. Chapter 4. Chapter 5.
You are my Sun
Chapter 6. Secrets, secrets...
“A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other.” (Charles Dickens)
A few days later Dom was almost an invisible man or a ghost for the LICHRIDOMA gang. Annette was more interesting; to the blonde boy she was like a new, undiscovered piece of land for an explorer. She was a treasure that had to be found, a problem that had to be solved, a thirst that had to be slaked.
Matthew was glad that he was desk-mates with Dom, at least they could chat a little during boring classes. They were listening to their Literature teacher as she recited one of William Blake’s poems when Matt felt a gentle nudge. He looked curiously at Dom, but the boy was paying attention to his teacher. However, his right hand slowly slid a folded piece of paper under Matt’s notebook.
The dark-haired boy unfolded it slowly and read the following:
“You’re still coming to Carnal Mayhem ’s rehearsal this afternoon, right?”
Seeing the incomprehension on Matt’s face Dom wrote an explanation under his question:
“Haven’t I mentioned that my band’s name is Carnal Mayhem?”
Matt shook his had as a negative answer, but he handed the piece of paper back to Dom with an amused look:
“Carnal Mayhem? Interesting… Are you dangerous? Shall I bring a bodyguard with me?”
Dom giggled loudly, but he quickly started coughing, trying to mask the previous sound when the teacher glared at him fretfully. He waited a few minutes, listening with both ears, so he wouldn’t be suspicious to the teacher, and then scribbled a few lines.
“We just wanted a shocking name, something that attracts attention. Tell me you can come to the rehearsal, please.”
Matt turned white. He had completely forgotten about his Friday afternoon program, but nevertheless he replied affirmatively, also asking when the rehearsal would start.
“Half past four.”
Dom noticed that his desk-mate was considering things. A few minutes later he read the next note:
“Don’t you want to hang out in the city after school? Have a drink or something? We could go straight to the rehearsal from there.”
His eyes lit up and he was about to reward Matt with his brightest smile, but then it crossed his mind that he had to do something else instead. He lifted his eyes ruefully and made a mouth to show his regret.
“I’d love to but we’ve already agreed with Annette to go out. She always goes shopping on Friday afternoons. Maybe you want to join us?”
The raven-haired teenager’s gaze hardened and he slipped his answer resentfully before not looking at the blonde boy for the rest of the class.
“NO. See you at 4:30 then, Dominic.”
The words were barely legible which was something unusual. Matthew had very elegant handwriting, but now he vented his gall on the poor, guiltless letters, especially on the last word which was strange because Matt rarely, if ever, called his desk-mate on his full name. He had to be cut up about something, but Dom couldn’t figure out yet what Matt’s problem was.
* * * * *
During the lunch break, the new pair sat hidden from the curious eyes of their school mates but not far away from Matthew’s eager eyes. He hated it but he was straining, trying to catch fragments of words that escaped from the lovebirds’ mouths.
“… from the first moment…”
“… saw you with your three friends…”
“… your eyes are so…”
“… no one ever told…”
Poor Matthew’s head felt like a huge vortex; his own common sense coerced by the two, sweet voices that kept swirling back in his thoughts. He closed his eyes and covered his grimacing face with his hands. No one was allowed to see his pain.
“Hey, mate, you okay?” Chris’ worried voice asked.
“Yeah,” Matt rubbed his face, “I just have this blinding headache. You know, the break in the weather and air pressure might be causing it.”
“Or maybe you shouldn’t stay up all night.” Linda retorted.
Matt’s eyes sent arrows poisoned with anger in his sister’s direction.
“You think I haven’t noticed the black rings round your eyes? Matt, you look so run down! Learning is important but it shouldn’t be unhealthy! I’ll have a talk with grandma, and I’ll tell her to supervise you more strictly,” Linda said with a determined face.
“You don’t have to worry about me, and don’t put the wrong idea in grandma’s head. Last night was a full moon and that’s why I couldn’t sleep more than two-three hours,” Matt said seriously, praying that his friends wouldn’t notice his lie.
In fact, the reason why he couldn’t sleep was Dom. All night he had been turning about in his bed with Dom, Dom, Dom and Dom as the only thing his mind pondered. His radiant smile, his aquamarine eyes, his cute laughter, his tanned skin, his fresh scent, his joyful being and many more things flashed Matt’s mind. How could he have slept when Dom’s ghost was hovering about in his room; when he could imagine the cold moonbeam dancing gracefully on Dom’s shiny locks of hair; when he could feel his desk-mate’s scent lingering in the air?
Despite his remembrance, Matthew’s observant eyes remained on the cuddling couple. Their blonde heads gave the impression of materialized sunrays, though Annette’s hair was much lighter, almost white compared to Dom’s dark blonde tufts. Matt noticed that she seemed more distant than her admirer, more careful. She didn’t fritter away extra kisses or flirtatious glances. All her gestures seemed calculated and somehow automatic. She didn’t laugh at Dom’s jokes because she found them funny, no, she laughed because that was what she was supposed to do to get her closer to Dom.
Annette must have had a good instinct because she sensed a steady stare burning her skin. Of course, it was Dom’s little dork friend who certainly didn’t like this new situation, and now he was collecting every evidence against her. Let’s impress Dommy even more. I might succeed in blinding Dorky as well, but now I will wind this boy in front of me round my finger. She pulled away from the small kiss and said with an innocent smile:
“Dommy,” she pursed her lips “let’s go see your friends. They surely miss you.” She fluttered her fake eyelashes, and Dom melted when he heard her suggestion.
“Oh, you’re so kind! Come on, I’ll present you to my buddies!” said Dom, a feeling of exhilaration exploding in him as he led Annette to his silent friends. He put his strong, right hand on the girl’s shoulder as to reassure her, but the girl didn’t need any encouragement. She hid her wile behind the mask of a naiveté and tried act like a reserved schoolgirl, but she wasn’t fast enough. Matthew glimpsed the change in her expression and studied her with narrowed eyes. Linda and Chris looked up curiously when Dom cleared his throat to attract their attention.
“Hello! I’d like to present Annette to you. Annette, here are my friends: Chris, Linda and Matt.” The girl smiled politely while she shook their hands and whispered “Nice to meet you.”
“I’m sorry for stealing Dommy but we get on so well that I would find the breaks very boring without him,” Annette giggled and Matt noted that she had a slight accent. And does she need the boy only for entertainment during breaks?
Dom rubbed her back but the girl remained insensitive to his gesture. Instead asked Linda where had she bought her blouse, and stated that she had to buy one for herself: in a smaller size, of course. Linda’s face turned red and she looked huffily at Dom, but the boy just laughed as Annette flicked his nose.
“If this would be smaller your face would be perfect.”
Matthew was a calm and quiet person but he was seething with rage at the impertinent remark. How dare she! Dom has the most proportional and graceful face in the whole school! He was about to answer back, but then he saw Dom’s eyes… he was completely enchanted; he was a lost cause… From hunter he became a prey as the fair-haired girl kissed him deeply.
Matthew gave up his idea of saving Dominic when he noticed that Annette was peering at him with a look that shrieked victory, even though her lips were sealed with Dom’s. The boy gawked with bulging eyes. She turned her face and Matthew couldn’t believe what he’d just seen! His friend was in the Swedish girl’s clutches, and if he didn’t do anything Dom would become another trophy in the girl’s collection. Even though he had decided to stay out of this matter he wouldn’t be a mere onlooker at his friend’s humiliation.
* * * * *
The school corridors were flooded by students who were all very eager to leave the school, most of them talking about their plans for the weekend. Dominic had a small smile playing on his lips as he leisurely headed to Annette’s class. He used the back stairs which were less crowded and discovered two familiar faces in a hidden corner and thought about saying goodbye to the Bellamy siblings.
Dom’s eyes widened when Matthew handed a notebook to Linda, both looking around carefully, as if they were doing illegal business. But that was not a normal notebook, it was the notebook Matt had almost lost on the first day of school. The blonde boy still remembered the frightened expression of his thin desk-mate, the blue eyes that bugged out involuntarily when he’d found himself in that critical situation. Matthew managed to save his precious object, and Dom hadn’t seen it in since. His friend was probably afraid that it might be stolen again, and Dominic couldn’t help but wondered again what dark secrets could those pages protect. His two friends hadn’t noticed him approaching and he caught some whispers from their dialogue:
“… hmm, these are great but I’d need one… know you’re not in l…”
“I’ll try… don’t tell anyone. ”
“Oh, hi Dom!” Linda spotted him, but she looked pale, like she’d seen a ghost. Am I the cause of that twinkle of fear in their eyes? Matt turned away with flushed cheeks, and by the time his desk-mate arrived in front of them, the leather-bound notebook had already disappeared into the depth of his backpack. Dominic glanced from Linda’s face to Matt’s, asking them if they were alright. They assured him with awkward smiles that they felt perfectly fine, and wished him a pleasant afternoon in the company of his girlfriend.
Bellamys are the most bizarre creatures of this world. Dom shrugged, and opened his arms when he sighted the blonde girl he was looking for.
* * * * *
At 4:25, Matt was leaning against a wall near the garage where Dom’s band usually practiced. He was pondering the possibility of not going to the rehearsal. His desk-mate kind of ruined his day, not to mention his wonderful girlfriend who succeeded in hurting his sister and him too. Giving more though to the matter, he realized that Dominic was not responsible for the Ice Queen’s rude actions. However, Matt was curious; his ears itched just to hear what type of music was Dom’s band played and how Dom looked when he surrendered to the beauty of music.
It would be so great if we jammed together… but Dom thinks that I can only play the piano which, for most of the teenagers, is a boring instrument. I can’t tell him though, not after so many occasions when I could have confessed it. He even asked it once if I played other instruments and I lied. I LIED! His eyes flickered with disbelief but maybe I’ve just imagined it because in the next moment he looked at me with the same peaceful, endearing eyes.
“Ah, little alien, did you get lost?” Dominic laughed kindly, patting dreamy Matt’s shoulder.
Yes, gorgeous Homo sapiens, I’ve strayed. Show me the right path to your…
Matt shook his head to chase away his thought, and smiled bashfully at his friend’s silly joke. He would have liked to ask Dom how he spent the afternoon with Annette, but didn’t find enough courage in himself to do so. Instead, they just walked in soothing silence to the garage, which was already loud with guitar and bass riffs.
“It seems that Ricky and Peter are already here,” Dom stated as they entered the dimly lit room.
The boys greeted each other and Dom presented his desk-mate to Peter, the bassist who smiled kindly and shook hands with him; unlike Ricky, the guitarist, who just bowed his head proudly, and shot him with a scornful look. Matt shrugged and sat down on a box. Dom went closer to him and said with a wavering voice:
“Please, don’t expect us to be the next Nirvana,” he giggled nervously. “We only play covers though we’re working on our own songs. Will you, please, listen to us and err… tell your honest opinion about our music?”
Matt nodded and tried to calm Dom with his smile. Where had the always laid-back attitude of Dom disappeared?
The band started playing and Matthew’s sensitive ears were quick to pick up disharmony. He listened closely and to his relief it wasn’t Dom who messed up the song. Actually Dominic was an enjoyable sight, he went at it hard, like he was playing for a whole stadium and not just a single man. He kept his eyes closed and banged his head rhythmically, but once he caught Matt staring at him. Dominic smiled wildly which caused a new rush of blood to his friend’s cheeks.
And then, when the guitar solo followed, Matthew suddenly discovered the source of the disharmony. He listened carefully to be sure about it, and he stated in his mind that the problem was real and he didn’t just imagine it. He was still deep in thought when Peter called out:
“What do you say, Matt?”
In that moment the gods might have taken back the talented boy’s mind because his next words would surely stir useless variance:
“My honest opinion?” Matt asked nervously.
“Yes Matt, your honest opinion,” Dom smiled at him. “Don’t worry, we won’t hate you.”
“Well,” Matt began. “The drum and bass were good. Drums especially,” he said giving Dom a smile. He didn’t fail to notice the blush that rose on the blonde’s cheeks. “It seems a bit raw. But what the hell, every band started that way.”
“What did you think of the riff?” Dom asked, curiousity colouring his face.
“The riff was out of tune…..” Matt started. But he was immediately cut off by Ricky.
“What the fuck…” Ricky shouted.
“Let him speak,” Dom interrupted. “Go on Matt.”
“The riff was out of tune,” Matt said again meekly. “Your guitar is tuned to a standard E which wasn’t in sync with the key of the song. You should try an E flat tuning. The hammer-ons weren’t smooth either. With the flat tuning your strings will be a bit loose. So the hammer-ons would be more clear too.”
“But not all of our songs are E flat,” Peter pitched in.
“He can always re-tune it or use a capo,” Matt answered. He looked at Ricky and asked, “I’m sure you can tune your guitar, right?”
Ricky’s Brazilian temper couldn’t take any more and he shouted more hatefully than necessary:
“WHAT?! Who the fuck are you to just come here and tell me that I suck at playing guitar?! Son of a bitch, you are a guest here in my fucking garage! Go back to your gay piano, do you understand me?! Just who the hell do you think you are?!”
Matt was just staring, dumbfounded, when an angry voice replied on his behalf:
“He’s a guitar player too! Stop acting like a drama queen and apologize for the rubbish things you’ve said!” Dom stepped up to Matt, and towered over him protectively.
“Jerk!” yelled Ricky with hatred as he stormed out of the garage.
The boys stared after him in horror. A few moments later Peter felt that he was left no legs to stand on in the overly tensed atmosphere. He mumbled some ridiculous excuses about having to go home because he was expecting guests and left.
The moment the door shut softly behind Peter, Dominic and Matthew turned their heads to face each other. To their surprise it was not anger that they beheld in the other’s eyes, nor disappointment, but pure curiousity.
Author:thekeyholder (Brigi)
Pairing: Belldom
Rating: PG/13
Beta: The lovely ms_belle10 :)
Summary: Matt and Dom are still in school. At first, they are not in good terms but things will evolve. *wink*
Feedback: is what I like the most! (well, after Muse and chocolate, of course! :P)
Warnings: Cursing.
Disclaimers: As you probably know, I don’t own Muse but original aspects belong to me. So don't steal or I'll put Dracula to chase you. :P
Author's note: First of all, I'd lke to thank starlight_myth for writing that part in the garage scene where Matt talks about the guitar skills of Dom's bandmate. I don't know anything about these instruments, so thank you! <3
Also... I've been listening to dark music while writing this chapter. Discovered this awesome band called Nox Arcana, they play instrumental gothic music. Other piece that inspired me was Vivaldi's Winter.
This beautiful sig was created by one of my good friends. Thanks, Rena!
Chapter 1. Chapter 2. Chapter 3. Chapter 4. Chapter 5.
You are my Sun
Chapter 6. Secrets, secrets...
“A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other.” (Charles Dickens)
A few days later Dom was almost an invisible man or a ghost for the LICHRIDOMA gang. Annette was more interesting; to the blonde boy she was like a new, undiscovered piece of land for an explorer. She was a treasure that had to be found, a problem that had to be solved, a thirst that had to be slaked.
Matthew was glad that he was desk-mates with Dom, at least they could chat a little during boring classes. They were listening to their Literature teacher as she recited one of William Blake’s poems when Matt felt a gentle nudge. He looked curiously at Dom, but the boy was paying attention to his teacher. However, his right hand slowly slid a folded piece of paper under Matt’s notebook.
The dark-haired boy unfolded it slowly and read the following:
“You’re still coming to Carnal Mayhem ’s rehearsal this afternoon, right?”
Seeing the incomprehension on Matt’s face Dom wrote an explanation under his question:
“Haven’t I mentioned that my band’s name is Carnal Mayhem?”
Matt shook his had as a negative answer, but he handed the piece of paper back to Dom with an amused look:
“Carnal Mayhem? Interesting… Are you dangerous? Shall I bring a bodyguard with me?”
Dom giggled loudly, but he quickly started coughing, trying to mask the previous sound when the teacher glared at him fretfully. He waited a few minutes, listening with both ears, so he wouldn’t be suspicious to the teacher, and then scribbled a few lines.
“We just wanted a shocking name, something that attracts attention. Tell me you can come to the rehearsal, please.”
Matt turned white. He had completely forgotten about his Friday afternoon program, but nevertheless he replied affirmatively, also asking when the rehearsal would start.
“Half past four.”
Dom noticed that his desk-mate was considering things. A few minutes later he read the next note:
“Don’t you want to hang out in the city after school? Have a drink or something? We could go straight to the rehearsal from there.”
His eyes lit up and he was about to reward Matt with his brightest smile, but then it crossed his mind that he had to do something else instead. He lifted his eyes ruefully and made a mouth to show his regret.
“I’d love to but we’ve already agreed with Annette to go out. She always goes shopping on Friday afternoons. Maybe you want to join us?”
The raven-haired teenager’s gaze hardened and he slipped his answer resentfully before not looking at the blonde boy for the rest of the class.
“NO. See you at 4:30 then, Dominic.”
The words were barely legible which was something unusual. Matthew had very elegant handwriting, but now he vented his gall on the poor, guiltless letters, especially on the last word which was strange because Matt rarely, if ever, called his desk-mate on his full name. He had to be cut up about something, but Dom couldn’t figure out yet what Matt’s problem was.
* * * * *
During the lunch break, the new pair sat hidden from the curious eyes of their school mates but not far away from Matthew’s eager eyes. He hated it but he was straining, trying to catch fragments of words that escaped from the lovebirds’ mouths.
“… from the first moment…”
“… saw you with your three friends…”
“… your eyes are so…”
“… no one ever told…”
Poor Matthew’s head felt like a huge vortex; his own common sense coerced by the two, sweet voices that kept swirling back in his thoughts. He closed his eyes and covered his grimacing face with his hands. No one was allowed to see his pain.
“Hey, mate, you okay?” Chris’ worried voice asked.
“Yeah,” Matt rubbed his face, “I just have this blinding headache. You know, the break in the weather and air pressure might be causing it.”
“Or maybe you shouldn’t stay up all night.” Linda retorted.
Matt’s eyes sent arrows poisoned with anger in his sister’s direction.
“You think I haven’t noticed the black rings round your eyes? Matt, you look so run down! Learning is important but it shouldn’t be unhealthy! I’ll have a talk with grandma, and I’ll tell her to supervise you more strictly,” Linda said with a determined face.
“You don’t have to worry about me, and don’t put the wrong idea in grandma’s head. Last night was a full moon and that’s why I couldn’t sleep more than two-three hours,” Matt said seriously, praying that his friends wouldn’t notice his lie.
In fact, the reason why he couldn’t sleep was Dom. All night he had been turning about in his bed with Dom, Dom, Dom and Dom as the only thing his mind pondered. His radiant smile, his aquamarine eyes, his cute laughter, his tanned skin, his fresh scent, his joyful being and many more things flashed Matt’s mind. How could he have slept when Dom’s ghost was hovering about in his room; when he could imagine the cold moonbeam dancing gracefully on Dom’s shiny locks of hair; when he could feel his desk-mate’s scent lingering in the air?
Despite his remembrance, Matthew’s observant eyes remained on the cuddling couple. Their blonde heads gave the impression of materialized sunrays, though Annette’s hair was much lighter, almost white compared to Dom’s dark blonde tufts. Matt noticed that she seemed more distant than her admirer, more careful. She didn’t fritter away extra kisses or flirtatious glances. All her gestures seemed calculated and somehow automatic. She didn’t laugh at Dom’s jokes because she found them funny, no, she laughed because that was what she was supposed to do to get her closer to Dom.
Annette must have had a good instinct because she sensed a steady stare burning her skin. Of course, it was Dom’s little dork friend who certainly didn’t like this new situation, and now he was collecting every evidence against her. Let’s impress Dommy even more. I might succeed in blinding Dorky as well, but now I will wind this boy in front of me round my finger. She pulled away from the small kiss and said with an innocent smile:
“Dommy,” she pursed her lips “let’s go see your friends. They surely miss you.” She fluttered her fake eyelashes, and Dom melted when he heard her suggestion.
“Oh, you’re so kind! Come on, I’ll present you to my buddies!” said Dom, a feeling of exhilaration exploding in him as he led Annette to his silent friends. He put his strong, right hand on the girl’s shoulder as to reassure her, but the girl didn’t need any encouragement. She hid her wile behind the mask of a naiveté and tried act like a reserved schoolgirl, but she wasn’t fast enough. Matthew glimpsed the change in her expression and studied her with narrowed eyes. Linda and Chris looked up curiously when Dom cleared his throat to attract their attention.
“Hello! I’d like to present Annette to you. Annette, here are my friends: Chris, Linda and Matt.” The girl smiled politely while she shook their hands and whispered “Nice to meet you.”
“I’m sorry for stealing Dommy but we get on so well that I would find the breaks very boring without him,” Annette giggled and Matt noted that she had a slight accent. And does she need the boy only for entertainment during breaks?
Dom rubbed her back but the girl remained insensitive to his gesture. Instead asked Linda where had she bought her blouse, and stated that she had to buy one for herself: in a smaller size, of course. Linda’s face turned red and she looked huffily at Dom, but the boy just laughed as Annette flicked his nose.
“If this would be smaller your face would be perfect.”
Matthew was a calm and quiet person but he was seething with rage at the impertinent remark. How dare she! Dom has the most proportional and graceful face in the whole school! He was about to answer back, but then he saw Dom’s eyes… he was completely enchanted; he was a lost cause… From hunter he became a prey as the fair-haired girl kissed him deeply.
Matthew gave up his idea of saving Dominic when he noticed that Annette was peering at him with a look that shrieked victory, even though her lips were sealed with Dom’s. The boy gawked with bulging eyes. She turned her face and Matthew couldn’t believe what he’d just seen! His friend was in the Swedish girl’s clutches, and if he didn’t do anything Dom would become another trophy in the girl’s collection. Even though he had decided to stay out of this matter he wouldn’t be a mere onlooker at his friend’s humiliation.
* * * * *
The school corridors were flooded by students who were all very eager to leave the school, most of them talking about their plans for the weekend. Dominic had a small smile playing on his lips as he leisurely headed to Annette’s class. He used the back stairs which were less crowded and discovered two familiar faces in a hidden corner and thought about saying goodbye to the Bellamy siblings.
Dom’s eyes widened when Matthew handed a notebook to Linda, both looking around carefully, as if they were doing illegal business. But that was not a normal notebook, it was the notebook Matt had almost lost on the first day of school. The blonde boy still remembered the frightened expression of his thin desk-mate, the blue eyes that bugged out involuntarily when he’d found himself in that critical situation. Matthew managed to save his precious object, and Dom hadn’t seen it in since. His friend was probably afraid that it might be stolen again, and Dominic couldn’t help but wondered again what dark secrets could those pages protect. His two friends hadn’t noticed him approaching and he caught some whispers from their dialogue:
“… hmm, these are great but I’d need one… know you’re not in l…”
“I’ll try… don’t tell anyone. ”
“Oh, hi Dom!” Linda spotted him, but she looked pale, like she’d seen a ghost. Am I the cause of that twinkle of fear in their eyes? Matt turned away with flushed cheeks, and by the time his desk-mate arrived in front of them, the leather-bound notebook had already disappeared into the depth of his backpack. Dominic glanced from Linda’s face to Matt’s, asking them if they were alright. They assured him with awkward smiles that they felt perfectly fine, and wished him a pleasant afternoon in the company of his girlfriend.
Bellamys are the most bizarre creatures of this world. Dom shrugged, and opened his arms when he sighted the blonde girl he was looking for.
* * * * *
At 4:25, Matt was leaning against a wall near the garage where Dom’s band usually practiced. He was pondering the possibility of not going to the rehearsal. His desk-mate kind of ruined his day, not to mention his wonderful girlfriend who succeeded in hurting his sister and him too. Giving more though to the matter, he realized that Dominic was not responsible for the Ice Queen’s rude actions. However, Matt was curious; his ears itched just to hear what type of music was Dom’s band played and how Dom looked when he surrendered to the beauty of music.
It would be so great if we jammed together… but Dom thinks that I can only play the piano which, for most of the teenagers, is a boring instrument. I can’t tell him though, not after so many occasions when I could have confessed it. He even asked it once if I played other instruments and I lied. I LIED! His eyes flickered with disbelief but maybe I’ve just imagined it because in the next moment he looked at me with the same peaceful, endearing eyes.
“Ah, little alien, did you get lost?” Dominic laughed kindly, patting dreamy Matt’s shoulder.
Yes, gorgeous Homo sapiens, I’ve strayed. Show me the right path to your…
Matt shook his head to chase away his thought, and smiled bashfully at his friend’s silly joke. He would have liked to ask Dom how he spent the afternoon with Annette, but didn’t find enough courage in himself to do so. Instead, they just walked in soothing silence to the garage, which was already loud with guitar and bass riffs.
“It seems that Ricky and Peter are already here,” Dom stated as they entered the dimly lit room.
The boys greeted each other and Dom presented his desk-mate to Peter, the bassist who smiled kindly and shook hands with him; unlike Ricky, the guitarist, who just bowed his head proudly, and shot him with a scornful look. Matt shrugged and sat down on a box. Dom went closer to him and said with a wavering voice:
“Please, don’t expect us to be the next Nirvana,” he giggled nervously. “We only play covers though we’re working on our own songs. Will you, please, listen to us and err… tell your honest opinion about our music?”
Matt nodded and tried to calm Dom with his smile. Where had the always laid-back attitude of Dom disappeared?
The band started playing and Matthew’s sensitive ears were quick to pick up disharmony. He listened closely and to his relief it wasn’t Dom who messed up the song. Actually Dominic was an enjoyable sight, he went at it hard, like he was playing for a whole stadium and not just a single man. He kept his eyes closed and banged his head rhythmically, but once he caught Matt staring at him. Dominic smiled wildly which caused a new rush of blood to his friend’s cheeks.
And then, when the guitar solo followed, Matthew suddenly discovered the source of the disharmony. He listened carefully to be sure about it, and he stated in his mind that the problem was real and he didn’t just imagine it. He was still deep in thought when Peter called out:
“What do you say, Matt?”
In that moment the gods might have taken back the talented boy’s mind because his next words would surely stir useless variance:
“My honest opinion?” Matt asked nervously.
“Yes Matt, your honest opinion,” Dom smiled at him. “Don’t worry, we won’t hate you.”
“Well,” Matt began. “The drum and bass were good. Drums especially,” he said giving Dom a smile. He didn’t fail to notice the blush that rose on the blonde’s cheeks. “It seems a bit raw. But what the hell, every band started that way.”
“What did you think of the riff?” Dom asked, curiousity colouring his face.
“The riff was out of tune…..” Matt started. But he was immediately cut off by Ricky.
“What the fuck…” Ricky shouted.
“Let him speak,” Dom interrupted. “Go on Matt.”
“The riff was out of tune,” Matt said again meekly. “Your guitar is tuned to a standard E which wasn’t in sync with the key of the song. You should try an E flat tuning. The hammer-ons weren’t smooth either. With the flat tuning your strings will be a bit loose. So the hammer-ons would be more clear too.”
“But not all of our songs are E flat,” Peter pitched in.
“He can always re-tune it or use a capo,” Matt answered. He looked at Ricky and asked, “I’m sure you can tune your guitar, right?”
Ricky’s Brazilian temper couldn’t take any more and he shouted more hatefully than necessary:
“WHAT?! Who the fuck are you to just come here and tell me that I suck at playing guitar?! Son of a bitch, you are a guest here in my fucking garage! Go back to your gay piano, do you understand me?! Just who the hell do you think you are?!”
Matt was just staring, dumbfounded, when an angry voice replied on his behalf:
“He’s a guitar player too! Stop acting like a drama queen and apologize for the rubbish things you’ve said!” Dom stepped up to Matt, and towered over him protectively.
“Jerk!” yelled Ricky with hatred as he stormed out of the garage.
The boys stared after him in horror. A few moments later Peter felt that he was left no legs to stand on in the overly tensed atmosphere. He mumbled some ridiculous excuses about having to go home because he was expecting guests and left.
The moment the door shut softly behind Peter, Dominic and Matthew turned their heads to face each other. To their surprise it was not anger that they beheld in the other’s eyes, nor disappointment, but pure curiousity.