“Wait, so he was asking you what you thought about song lyrics? What band is he in?” Iris asked, stirring her drink with a cocktail straw.
“Voltage," Luka muttered and Iris tilted her head, her earrings tangling together. “Voltage," Luka said a bit louder, to be heard over the bar’s ambient noise.
“No shit?” Iris swore, pausing her stirring. “I don’t even like metal and I know of them. Is it the singer?”
“No, guitar.”
“Aw, but the singer’s a cutie. Wait, their guitarist writes the lyrics? Don’t the vocalists usually do that?”
“Focus, babe," August said.
[Unknown Number]
Used to what?
Attention, I guess? I don't know how to phrase it.
Luka started digging around in his pockets for his cigarettes and a lighter.
“They’ve been texting nonstop; it’s been an ordeal. I mean, he’s pretty popular, to say the least, and he sought out our boy here. Saw him headbanging at the concert and knew he had to be his soulmate.”
“It’s not like that," Luka said defensively around the cigarette in his mouth. He clicked the lighter and took a drag.
“Uh huh,” August said, taking a long sip from their drink until it slurped annoyingly loud. “I'm getting another round, who’s in?”
“Me," Luka said. “Just tell them to add it to my tab.”
“Oh, how I love you and your corporate bank money.”
“I am not wealthy.” Luka scowled, knowing he was still fortunate to have enough in his savings to cover a few months'rent and bills if he got laid off or something happened to him. “I just like you.”
“How sweet," August said, then turned away in pursuit of more alcohol.
Once they had left, Iris turned to him. “You doing okay, hon?” she asked, looking genuinely concerned. “You’re more prickly than usual.”
“I’ll be fine. I just need another drink.” He finished his first then opened his phone again. Reno hadn’t texted him back yet. “I don’t ever know what to say to him. He’s been carrying the conversation mostly, sending pics and thoughts throughout the day and I feel so awkward.”
“Have you sent him any pics?” Iris asked.
“Only of Michael and an art piece I’m working on.” Which he’d received high praise for from Reno, even if he felt it might have been disingenuous.
“Send him a selfie; see what he says.” Iris finished her drink, dumped the ice into August’s glass, then stacked the empties and pushed them to the end of the table. “I kinda get why you’re nervous, though. I’m not sure what I would do if August was some super-famous celebrity.”
“I feel like my heart’s going to jump out of my throat whenever I think about trying to be friends with him, let alonedating. It terrifies me. Like sure, he’s gorgeous, talented, nice…so far. But how does anyone navigate a relationship with someone on tour half of the year and a fanbase that might rip me apart if they found out I have unreleased lyrics from them in my phone right now.”
“Ew, I didn’t even think about the fanbase. All y'all can be so nasty. I see Swifties go after people on Twitter and it’s scary.”
“Volt fans are just as bad. Maybe worse because it’s mostly a lot of girls in love with the band members.”
“You think Swifties aren’t delusionally in love with her, too?” Iris laughed.
“Do you think I’m delusional?” Luka groaned, clicking on his phone to no new messages.
Iris raised her eyebrows and August returned with the next round of drinks. Iris asked, “Are you in love with this guy?”
“What the fuck are you talking about,in love?” August said as they took drinks off the tray.
“God, no," Luka said. “I just think he’s really attractive and talented. I know better than to stan a musician so hard it becomes parasocial.”
