Title: Two Tales
Genre: Humor, Drama
Rating: PG14
Warnings: There will be both homosexual and heterosexual relationships in this story. Be prepared for the unexpected.
Summary: Jaile Feriand works in a gay bar as a drummer, Sethiel Calhoun is a runaway from the Deep South. Two teenage boys, so different, are thrown together under unusual circumstances. Can they even be friends when their dark pasts come to light?
Written: 2008

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Chapter 3: "Always Cloudy"

Been looking forward to the future, but my eyesight is going bad and this crystal ball is always cloudy, except for when you look into the past

–"Thanks for the Memories" by Fall Out Boy

--

December 21st, 2002

Jaile has apparently been cohered into singing again, a redhead named Alex acting as a backup singer, and a blue haired plump-looking girl had taken Jai's spot at the drums... which Jai didn't seem happy about, as he shot a glare of death at said girl.

The club went a bit silent as the music began playing with a quick beat and Jai snatched the mike and his eyes flashed with a mix of emotion as he began the song

"I'm gonna make you bend and break" A smirk playing across Jai's features. As Alex's voice wove together with his.
"Say a prayer but let the good times roll
In case God doesn't show"

"Let the good times roll, let the good times roll" Alex whispered in after Jai's quick lyrics.

"I want these words to make things right
But it's the wrongs that make the words come to life
Who does he think he is?"
Jai's eyes flashed with anger for a moment before his smirk returned, Alex's voice dipping and weaving throughout the song.

"If that's the worst you got better put your fingers back to the keys.." Alex leaned into the mike stand, as if dancing with a non-existent person.

Then Jai and Alex both leaned in together and belted out the chorus.
"One night and one more time
Thanks for the memories even through they weren't so great
He tastes like you only sweeter

One night, yea, and one more time
Thanks for the memories, thanks for the memories
He tastes like you only sweeter

Oooooh"

Alex and Jai paused for a moment to catch their breath, letting the music pound through, then Jai snatched the mike from Alex and leaned towards the crowd, letting up cheers from various regulars. Alex's voice was drowned out for a few lines by Jai's powerful tone.

"Been looking forward to the fuuuture
But my eyesight is going bad and this crystal ball
Is always cloudy, except for
When you look into the past.."

"Look into the past" Alex blarely managed to add in the echoed lyrics under Jai's voice.

"One night stand" Jai threw his voice over Alex's again.

"One night stand off" Alex echoed after Jai.

Then they both came together in the middle of the stage, back to back, and belted out the chorus again.

"One night and one more time
Thanks for the memories even through they weren't so great
He tastes like you only sweeter

One night, yea, and one more time
Thanks for the memories, thanks for the memories
He tastes like you only sweeter

Oooooh"

"They say" Alex jumped in front of Jai, before getting shoved out the way and off the stage as Jai hogged it for a solo.

"I only think in the form of crunching numbers
In hotel rooms collecting page six lovers
Get me out of my mind and get you out of those cloooothes

I'm a liner away from getting you into the mood"

Alex jumped back up and gave Jai a playful shove, nearly knocking him over, and stealing the mike for a second to scream into it.
"Whooooa!"

Alex grabbed Jai's hand and hauled him to his feet and they both leaned into the mike, another cheer erupting from the crowd. All but the drums stopped for a moment to give Jai and Alex the boost they needed.

"One night and one more time
Thanks for the memories even through they weren't so great
He tastes like you only sweeter

One night, yea, and one more time
Thanks for the memories, thanks for the memories
He tastes like you only sweeter

Ooooh!"

"One night and one more time"
"One more night, one more time" Jai pulled the mike close and echoed their chorus.
"Thanks for the memories even through they weren't so great
He tastes like you only sweeter"

"One night, yea, and one more time"
"One more night, one more time"
"Thanks for the memories, thanks for the memories
He tastes like you only sweeter

Ooooooh!"

Jai and Alex ended the song sharing the mike and standing so close they could just lean in for a kiss... which is exactly what they did... or at least that's what Alex did. Jai looked furious and glared death at Alex as the redhead gave a bow to the crowd and hopped off the stage.

Not bothering to thank the crowd or bow, or do any of his normal amusing stage antics that he never would repeat offstage, Jai snuck down the steps near the back and wandered off to find himself a drink... or several... Damn Alex...

--

Sethiel smiled as he watched his friend take the mic and start singing. He loved it when Jai sung, even though he'd only seen him sing once before onstage and of course on the rare occasion when he was up to hear Jai singing in the shower.

Suddenly, Alex went flying across the stage, curtesy of Jai and saw Alex shove Jai back. A little friendly teasing, Seth thought as the song came to a close. Then, as he was about to turn away and order another soda- Alex kissed Jai. Or Jai kissed Alex...did Jai like Alex?

And a pang of emotion surged through his body...an unfamiliar emotion. Anger? But what would he be angry about? As he ramsacked his mind for an explanation, the emotion became painfully obvious- jealousy. He was jealous. Of Jai? Of Alex? Of how close Alex was to Jai just then, or maybe that Jai liked Alex instead of...well, someone else. How could I have missed that, the blonde thought to himself as he watched the two leave the stage. He wandered over to where Jai was at the bar and tried to fake happiness. After all, if they were together then he would have to get used to Alex.

"Hey buddy!" He said warmly with a slap on the back.

--

Jai shot a death glare at Sethy, completely unaware of his friend's mental distress. Unconsciously wiping his lips every now and then, the purple haired boy growled needlessly until the bartender finally came over.

"Wha's whit chu! Chu scar'n 'way mai orders! Wha' chu wan'?!" The bartender on call tonight was a rather lovely looking man... in a dress. A neon pink, frilly, Lolita dress. Complete with a Frankenstein-looking teddy bear tucked in the nook of his arm.

"I'm getting you orders today, dearie. I'll have my usual... no scratch that.. double my usual." When the bartender turned away, Jai scowled at the bar counter, as if trying to make the wood rot under his glaze.

Finally turning his glaze to Sethy, his eyes softened, realizing his man was not the reason for his inner struggle currently. "Sorry. Just... bad karma or something I guess. Damn Alex."

--

Seth stood back a bit at Jai's first glare and fought the urge to run away from the obviously unhappy drummer. Why would he be unhappy though? Maybe he had been trying to keep his relationship a secret? But why...?

"...Damn Alex." Jai finished his greeting, if that's what it could be called.

"Wait! So, you two aren't together?" Sethy asked, a wave of relief inundating him.

--

That got Jaile's full attention. Wide eyed and staring at Seth, Jai gapped "Since when?!"

Blinking and turning back to receive his drinks from the Lolita dressed bartender, Jai stared at the alcohol, then twisted his face in a scowl again. "So a kiss--forcibly stolen kiss anyway--mean that you're automatically together...? Is this a new rule of dating? Sheesh... step out of the line up for a few months and all the rules change...?" Jai took a swig of one of his drinks, downing near half of it already.

--

Seth suppressed the urge to grin and do a spastic dance and just shrugged and ordered another soda while sitting beside his distraught friend.

"So does he like...have a crush on you or something?" Seth tried to subtly get the inside information. He nudged Jai on the arm, the brief contact sending a shiver down Sethy's spine.

--

Jai frowned at his drink. "I guess. Alex's has always been my friend.. We match on stage and off... I guess he wants to take it further then just that..." He groaned and ran a hand through his purple hair.. it needed to be re-dyed... the black was showing through. "I don't think I can deal with this sort of thing just yet..." Jai rested his forehead on the bar counter, "... maybe never." he muttered under his breath.

--

Seth took a swig of his soda, the carbonation making his eyes water for a second. "Oh..." He sensed there was something more to this relationship-avoidance, and for the nth time tried to get him to open up.

"You wanna talk 'bout it?" Seth asked gently.

--

Jai remained silent for a stretching moment. The wooden counter cool against his forehead, then a deep sigh escaped him. Golden eyes peered up through a mess of purple hair, a hurt showing in them that seemed slightly haunted, but also soft, something completely unlike the blonde's friend.

"Am I that obvious?" Jai's voice cracked slightly with a sad amusement. Another sigh escaped his lips as he slowly sat back up and ran a hand through his hair. "I-..." He trailed off, shaking his head slightly at something. He opened his eyes again and turned to face Seth. "Look, I haven't been completely fair to you.. You've been a really good friend... I'm sorry.. It's just.. hard, okay?" Running a distracted hand through his hair nervously, he continued, "Right before you showed up, I had just been d-d-... gotten out of a long relationship... it was.. quite serious, and ended quite badly.." He trailed off, helplessly staring at the floor. It was quite an interesting floor.

Finally dragging his eyes back up to his blonde friend, Jai gave a small smirk, "Alex really should know better then to mess with someone as screwed up as me." He chuckled dryly, trying to make some humor out of his situation.

--

Sethy's ocean blue eyes shone with care and sympathy as he listened to his friend painfully offer an explanation. He wished he could have said, 'I know how it feels' but he honestly couldn't. He'd only had one real girlfriend and he had left her behind in Kentucky. Man, if she felt anything like Jai does, Sethy thought, I don't know if I did the right thing leaving. I never wanted to hurt Edna May, I just wanted...needed to get outta there.

Seth shook his head involuntarily, trying to knock the thought of his childhood friend crying out of his mind.

"...screwed up as me." Jai joked.

Seth patted his friend on the back and smiled. "You're not that screwed up pal. Trust me on that." He took a swig of his soda and looked back up to see a pair of brown eyes starring at him from across the bar. He looked behind him, to make sure the girl was looking at him and then saw her wave to him. His lips twisted into a small smile and he waved back. The girl got up and walked over to where he was. She slipped him a scrap of paper and winked as she left the bar. Seth opened the paper to see 7 numbers and the words: Name's Jojo, call me hottie!. Seth's eyes widened as he read the words and blush covered his cheeks. "Um..." He stuttered, not knowing what to say to his downhearted friend. "Wanna head home?" He asked.

--

"Right." Jai muttered, obvious in his disbelief at Seth's words.

Jai watched the floor, trying to avoid seeing the girl slinking over to flirt with Seth. He ended up studying her heels as she slipped the cowboy her number... something about them..

"-home?"

His golden eyes snapped up out of his thoughts at Seth's voice, but he glanced away, trying to avoid the happy blush that covered his friend's face. "Sure," the purple haired boy sighed, Well, at least one of us is happy...

--

-to be continued-