AN: So here it is the much awaited next chapter, thank you for all your comments likes follows etc. Hearing from you guys makes me want to post more, so yeah,
Enjoy this and let me know what you think.
RM
Eric was on his way. How Simon had managed to entice him to come to the all ages club, on a Wednesday in the middle of the night, was beyond him. Maybe he sounded desperate, or hysterical, or both. Either way, Eric said he'd be there in 10 and hung up.
Pandemonium was weird and crazy and so not Simon Lewis' scene, at least not the Simon Lewis his friends and family knew. Leather clad individuals with neon dyed hair clogged up the dance floor, and the whole place had an Adam Lambert music video vibe. Yet, despite his obvious "I stick out like a sore thumb" look, Simon hadn't felt more at ease with himself since the nightmare's had started. An intense sense of belonging flooded over him the moment he entered the room.
The only thing that did cause some anxiety, was that not five minutes after he walked in, almost every single eye in the place had been trained on him at some point. Murmurs of 'Daylighter' rippled around him as he moved through the crowd. One or two girls with (very) realistic vampire fangs waved a showed up at every gig he had ever played. At least she had used to... actually now he thought about it, he hadn't seen Maureen at any of Stink Pigeon's recent shows. A jolt that almost felt like guilt shot through him and then the sickening, gut wrenching emptiness returned in full force, bursting the comfortable bubble of warmth an belonging that he had wrapped himself in since he arrived.
"Oh no..." He moaned, before sprinting to the toilet.
He only just made it to the graffiti ridden cubicle in time, before vomiting spectacularly into the bowl.
Finally emerging, Simon stumbled towards the sinks to rinse his mouth out, and nearly fell into a pretty girl with curly gold brown hair. The look she threw him was both amused and sympathetic, and perhaps a little familiar. Simon felt a twinge of recognition for her almost immediately.
"This is the girls bathroom." She stated, folding her arms across her chest.
"I... I'm so sorry, I was in a rush.."
"I noticed," She retorted with a smirk.
Then her face contorted slightly; she seemed to be considering something. Then almost as quickly, it was replaced with a look of determination.
"I'm here with my boyfriend," She stated with a small smile. "He's the DJ... Bat." She seemed to be watching him carefully as if he might snap, or pass out ... or something.
"He's doing a singularly exceptional job," The words tumbled out of Simon's mouth before he could even comprehend what he was saying. They tasted bitter. Or maybe that was just the vomit.
Jesus, Lewis. Stop psyching yourself out.
"And a few friends too," She carried on as if he hadn't spoken, "... the Lightwoods?"
"Can't say I know them." He replied with a shrug, although his mind began to whisper to him again.
Are you sure?
He pushed the confusing thought away.
Stop it, Lewis. Just stop it. You're fine.
The girl's face fell.
"I'm sorry." She murmured, reaching out to lightly touch his cheek, then she smiled slightly. "I'm not used to seeing you with glasses," She murmured with a small chuckle, and turned to go.
"What...?" Simon moved to stop her, but she had already disappeared through the bathroom door and into the throng of people outside.
Feeling utterly muddled, Simon returned to the club.
When he re-entered, calm settled over him as he allowed the heavy beat to wrack his body. He stood like that for a few moments with his eyes half shut, wondering whether a hallucinogenic had been pumped through the ventilation to mellow people out, when a hand shot through the dry ice and grabbed his shoulder from behind.
Alarmed, Simon spun to encounter a very disgruntled, very uncomfortable looking Eric. Huh. No anti-anxiety drug vapor then.
"Earth to Simon. What the hell is going on!?"
"Your mom called." The other boy spoke matter of factually, but his gaze was slightly accusatory.
They had moved to a far corner, after buying a couple of drinks, and were propped up against a cold brick wall. Eric had his arms crossed tightly in front of him, covering the batman logo on his shirt. He probably looked even more out of place here than Simon did.
"What did you tell her?" Simon asked quietly.
"That you showed up at my house with some homework you were stuck on and were currently asleep on my couch after crashing from a caffeine high. She told me she was coming to get you 'immediately'." He raised his hands to for quotation marks, while rolling his eyes. "I told her not to worry, you were just tired and that I'd bring you to school. she seemed to buy it. Just means your coming back to mine after you've gotten this weirdo place out of your system. Cool?" He waved his hand at their surroundings.
"Yeah, thanks."
"Don't mention it. You've had to do worse for me, I guess."
As Eric muttered these words, three figures emerged through a door on the far side of the dance floor clearly labelled 'Keep Out.' Each wore thick black leather garments that were completely familiar and absolutely alien at the same time, their arms and necks were laced with thick black tattoos, and all three were incredibly well armed. The shorter of the two boys, who had golden hair reminiscent of a lion's mane, was laughing as he slung his arm around a tiny red head girl.
Looking at her pricked at Simon's skin and accelerated his heart beat.
"Hey, Eric. Look at those people, do you recognize any of them .. from school maybe?"
"Where?"
"Over there by the storage closet."
"What are you on about, Simon. There's no one by the storage closet."
"Don't be stupid. They're right there."
Simon insistently shook his pointed finger at the strange people, as they leaned against the opposite wall. The yellow haired boy seemed to be looking for someone now, his eyes scanning the crowd like a hawk would search for a rabbit among the undergrowth.
His eyes lit up as they fell on something to the far right of Simon, and he nudged the other boy, head nodding slightly towards whatever it was. Gracefully, the group surged forwards into a slight but distinct arrow head formation, and sarted across the body packed floor.
He watched the three teenagers weave through the crowd, what with their swirling tattoos and black leather outfits, and together with Eric's persistent claim that he still couldn't see them, Simon was nearly bowled over by de ja vu, that coursed through his body and exploded in his mind. All of a sudden the atmosphere in the club, that had moments ago felt so warm and comforting, instantly became too hot, too close, too familiar.
Turning away from the apparitions across the room and ignoring Eric's cries of surprise, Simon fled. Bursting through the doors, he immediately vomited again. This time onto the dirty concrete of a back alley.
"Stupid kid." muttered the bouncer, apparently assuming he was drunk, or worse.
Eric sprinted out then, slightly frantic. Upon seeing his best friend doubled over and shivering in the alley, his expression slipped to one of extreme concern. This was getting way out of hand.
"Dude, what has gotten into you recently?"
Simon shook his head. "Nothing good."
"Are you like, doing drugs or something?"
Simon let out a frustrated bark of laughter. "I wish I was. At least that would explain the hallucinations."`
"Jesus. Maybe school really has cracked you. Come on. You need to get home. If I get one more frantic call from your mom, I swear I'll cave and tell her everything."
"You wouldn't." Simon muttered darkly.
"Try me, Lewis. This behavior just isn't normal."
And with that he slung Simon's arm around his shoulder and helped him out onto the street, letting him rest his full weight onto his side.
Eric was worried about him, extremely 'My friend might need to be institutionalized' kind of worried. That much was evident from the way he watched Simon as he climbed into his van.
Simon hesitated as he wrenched the door open. Cloudy memories of blood smeared seats clogged his mind, and screams of terror and pain ripped through him like an electric current. He knew Eric noticed. Forcing down yet more bile, Simon clambered in.
So his friend thought he was going mad.
Maybe Simon agreed with him.
