fascinatiøn

Davis went from uncomfortable to ice-in-his-veins at Taeler’s words. He knew it was a joke, he knew that no one would believe it, but the fear that set in was instinctual. What if his cover was blown? What if it would be blown soon? He was stupid enough to think there wouldn’t always be danger lurking at his heels now. There were a lot of bad people in the world, and some of those people he’d failed to put away. All it took was one angry, vindictive, bad person, and the delicate balance he had struck would topple. Taeler’s words, the fact that Davis had been so careless just to prove a point and get an ego boost - it was revolting. He didn’t say anything, just dashed off the stage, and back through the crowd, hoping he could be swallowed back up into it. 

davis slipped out of taeler’s grasp and stormed off. he turned and snickered at his band, all of whom returned it with giggles and smirks. “we’re gonna take a break!” he called to the crowd. “any of you who wanna buy us drinks, now’s your chance.” together, the band locked their instruments and brought up scansion chains to keep people away from them. generally, people were good about not fucking with their shit, but it helped that gabe preferred to hang back and chat up girls, so he looked after their instruments. taeler went through the crowd, accepting cheers and signing autographs and taking selfies. he wondered where davis went, looking over people’s heads for the blond. finally, he found him and headed over. “eyyy!” he called. “get any numbers? all the ladies have to be all up up in your jock now. or guys, whatever you prefer. you’re welcome!”

               “Ironic way? I like that.” She stuck her tongue out at him, then finished off her slice and grabbed one of the napkins to clean the corners of her lips. “Seriously though, we should go out and have some fun. Real fun.”

he cocked an eyebrow at her, intrigued. “real fun?”

    She couldn’t help but laugh, he seemed the type to get up to rowdy hijinx’. “Re-tag? Name one…” curious, she’d wondered about the markings around town. Though there were quite a few it’d be fun to spot. “Oh, or those blow up decorations that have passed as acceptable holiday decorations in the last five or ten years?? Those are the worst, I’d like to tag those, or deface, deflate…any of the above really.” 

“under the southbridge out of kingsgate,” he said, nodding cockily. “whenever you see T-B and a giant red star, that’s me.” taeler pointed at his chest with his thumb, smirking. “when i got a ride in kingsgate, i def like to shoot the inflatables with a b-b gun. or i throw as many of those weird plastic ones up on the roofs.”

               “Well, who knows, maybe I’m nice and helpful because it rubbed off from you too. I could be a lot of good things because you send it this way,” she said, laughing lightly. “Yeah, I’m sure he will be. Anyway, do you want to come in for tea or coffee? I have Christmas cookies as well.”

taeler’s grin turned sheepish. “i’m just sayin.’ you could’ve up my foul mouth or terrible sleeping habits.” ophelia meant a lot to him, so hearing a compliment like that made him giddy. “christmas cookies! oh man, fuck yeah i want some cookies. coffee, too, if you’re making it.”

                “Hey now.” Kenna smiled, “There’s nothing wrong with being bad but pulling the good boy act. In fact, I think you’d be pretty good at it.” She shrugged, “I’m just saying. No need for you to suppress yourself. Makes me feel like I should be a bad influence now. The worse.”

“i dunno. i really think it could fuck up my street cred. how can i be the lead of the coolest punk band this side of the pond and a “good boy.” that’s just nonsense, really,” he shrugged, pulling a pepperoni off his slice and eating it. “if i’m gonna be a good boy, it’s gotta be in the ironic way.”

      “Devils workshop.” the saying not unfamiliar to her and her own every other month self. Minus the bangs and bruises like she’d seen her counter in. “So what would you do? Off your best behavior, no coins in your pocket to flip, no white russians and schnapps?” 

he sniffed, considering her question. “uh, i think... on a day like this? i’d go re-tag my favorite spots, maybe try to tag some place new... enjoy a lively on-foot pursuit after busking some place i’m not supposed to. maybe go put people’s reindeer decorations in compromising positions?.” taeler gave her a wry smirk.

            “Hey now..” Sophie said softly, her hand going to pat his back gently, “I think you’re capable of doing it. Actually, I think you can do a lot of things once you set your mind to them.” With a slight smile on her lips, the brunette nodded her head, completely agreeing with what he was telling her, even though it was still hard. “I know.. I know. Trust me, it’s not as bad as it was last year. You’ll be surprised how much I’ve changed since then.”

he raised his eyebrows, pursing his lips. “yeah, i am pretty awesome and getting what i want.” taeler was nothing if not persistent. but, he’d never had so much reason to be still and behave, or so much riding on it. “yeah? it seems like it. i’m proud of you, y’know.” he rubbed his face. “i’m sorry, sorry. you didn’t wanna talk about it anymore. my bad.”

                  Taking another bite of her slice, Kenna didn’t talk until she swallowed. “True. It’s weird, you being a good boy.” She teased him, “Well, being gentle is a good thing. It’s not like you can’t have a personal life as long as you are not.. making a fool of yourself, right?”

taeler gasped. “i have never been more insulted in my life. no one’s ever called me a “good boy.”” he huffed. “and i don’t make a fool of myself. i’m fuckin’ rad and punk all the time, rude.” still, despite his offense, he quirked a smirk in her direction.

                   It was easier said than done – and even though Sophie was at this point were she was still picking up the pieces of her heart, saying what Taeler wanted her to was not really an option. Those words could never come out her mouth, they wouldn’t. “No, I’m dead to him. He’s going to live knowing he fucked me up. He ended the person I used to be, for better or worse.” She shrugged, and smiled weakly, “Patience is always a virtue. Work hard and do what you love best, then it will all pay off. I’m happy you’re having fun though, you look so much better than the last time I saw you. This business is all about grabbing a chance, right? You can try it out, once, see where it takes you.”

“yeah, well, it’s never been one of mine,” he said, a touch grumpy about it. “but, enough with that defeatist attitude!” he exclaimed. “you did nothing wrong, you should be the one to throw him aside, not yourself. you know what your problem is, sof? you give other people all this power over you. the only person who should have any of that power is you. you’re not a different person. you might be changed, but you’re still you, and no dumb blond can change that. he’s not worth it, sof. no one is.”

“You’re sitting here flicking a coin and drinking. Tae, get out and do things. You won’t be young forever. What do you like to do besides music and drinking?”

“it’s the middle of the afternoon, yo, there’s nothing to do,” he groaned. “besides music and drinking? video games, but it’s no fun to play alone.” taeler smirked. “vandalism? i love me some good ol’ fashioned vandalism.”

                    “Then I just haven’t seen that side of yours.” She admitted, a million of thoughts crossing her mind at once there. Thanking the guy behind the bar for refilling her drink, Sophie downed it rather quickly, letting the alcohol burn her throat. “Uh, as cathartic as that would be, I still don’t want to see him. For all I care, I’m dead to him.” she said softly, “Yeah, I guess that’s a way. Anyways, enough with him. I want to know how you’re doing. I’ve heard a lot about the band lately, are you having fun?”

“give it time,” he winked, grinning. “nah, nah, you got it wrong. say he’s dead to you. he’s the no good fucker, not you.” as the conversation shifted to him, he lifted his drink to his lips, contemplating his answer. “we’re definitely having a blast. it’s kinda taking longer than i hoped, but y’know. good things come to those who waited.” he exhaled deeply through his nose. “they keep asking us to re-record our music. i’m worried they’re trying to, like, water us down and turn us into over-processed pop-rock.”

                    “Ah, makes sense. You’ve been busy, I’m glad. The band is making it big, isn’t it? You? On your best behavior? I’ll believe it when I see it.” She joked, “I don’t know, fuck? Like… a lot?”

“ahhh, we’re working on it,” he said, a touch of hesitance in his voice. “yeah, i know. hell froze over. but, i gotta or they’ll drop us.” taeler sighed. “good idea, but that definitely doesn’t count as being on my best behavior.”

                      “But you’re nice.. I can’t imagine you saying something really inappropriate in the first place.” Sophie said, quickly to come up with an excuse for his defense. “Um.. okay. Let’s see.” Biting down on her bottom lip, she turned around on the stool and looked at Taeler, “He broke my heart. And sometimes I want to break his head but.. I’m starting to realize how fucking good I am. So I’m gonna do my thing and be happy. But I’m afraid. I’m really afraid that if I see him, I might just.. break. And I really don’t want to break, Taeler. I’ve had enough.”

“i’m a fucking delight, but i’ve been known to be a dick so,” he shrugged, not bothered but still touched she’d come to his defense. she confirmed his suspicions then. so jude wasn’t really doing better. it didn’t surprise him. “now, when you say break... do you mean hit him, cuz that could be therapeutic for you, very cathartic.” taeler nodded sagely. “but, y’know, that’s really big of you. the best revenge to be happy and show them how badly they lost out.” personally, taeler thought busting someone’s lip while also living a good life was the best revenge.

“Farming. Nothing cool or glamorous, if you care about that.”

taeler thought about it for a moment before answering frankly. “not really, no. so what’re you doing now instead?”

“It’s logic, physics wasn’t my thing in highschool.” He laughed. “Really? You doing community stuff I would have to see. Nature is good for you and getting out of town. Come on, Tae. Don’t you ever crave adventure? You won’t get that in here.”

“yeah, me neither,” he shrugged. “listen, i provide the community with much needed entertainment and life! i’m an inspiration. besides, i can’t go out to the woods. don’t have a car. or any, like... forest clothes.”

                     “Perks of being my friend, really.” She joked, taking a bite of her slice and eating it happily. “It’s okay, as long as my month is not shitty. What have you been up to lately? I haven’t seen you forever. Everything good?”

“everything’s good, which is probably why you haven’t heard much from me. there’s nothin’ fun to talk about when i have to be on my best behavior.” he sighed. “what do you do for fun that isn’t illegal or at least frowned upon?”

     “White Russian and schnapps it is…” she answered with a hint of a smirk that swayed to the bartender who was waiting palms on the counter an expectant look on his face, his beverage muddling appealing. “So. A coin toss count of forty plus is at least fifteen, twenty minutes at work, would you call yourself a little on the bored side?”

taeler sucked his teeth. “yeah, maybe a little. honestly, i kinda feel like i’m clawin’ at the inside of my skull. but, i gotta stay on my best behavior, aaaand y’know. something about idle hands or whatever.” the idiot seriously couldn’t think of anything worth doing that wouldn’t get him in trouble if he got caught.”