CHAPTER 7: Sex, Drugs & Rock n Roll
Tommy knew that face. He knew those eyes looking down at him. He knew that extended hand.
"Adam?" he heard himself question.
His response was only a smile before Adam began briskly walking down the corridor pulling Tommy along with him.
"We gotta rock this tonight. Make it a night they'll never forget!" Adam's face was almost challenging.
He was thinking.
Tommy would've given anything to know what was running through that ever-creative mind.
They were on the stage now - but the lights too dark to make out anything but glow sticks in the crowd.
Tommy felt the warm lights begin to flood the stage and felt right at home when he heard Adam's vocals ring out.
The crowd erupted and Tommy could make out people standing, wide smiles on their faces, excitement in their fist pumps.
His hands seemed to find the keys on the keyboard, fluttering over each note - the tune screen printed into his mind.
It felt incredible to be standing on that stage, to see all the dancers and the rest of the band all come together to put on a show.
It was the first time they'd all been together.
Tommy could feel his heart almost beating out of his chest from the excitement. This was it. He'd made it. After years of playing around with his friends' bands, years of people telling him to get a 'real' job - he had finally made it.
He saw Adam making his way up the ramp - totally in his element. He fell into some kind of ninja roll, but recovered quickly - although Tommy could see the embarrassment written all over Adam's face as he got up.
Next minute, Adam was beside him. He was grabbing him.
"Don't be afraid" he heard Adam whisper.
Then his lips were crashing into his - fingers all through his hair.
Tommy laughed as Adam pulled away, a little overwhelmed by what had just taken place. He was still laughing when the lights dimmed and they were sitting backstage.
"That was rad, man!" Tommy found himself stating and Adam was laughing now too. The sound echoed through the room. The whole band was laughing. Like some kind of orchestra.
Tommy couldn't wipe the smile from his face as Adam settled down beside him on the couch in the dressing room. He raised a glass.
"To rock n roll!" Adam proposed, and the band shouted it back to him in unison as the clanks of glasses crashing together filled the room.
Tommy could feel a hand on his back - slowly moving, innocent and comforting. He saw Adam wink at him out the corner of his eye.
"You don't mind that i…?" Adam began.
"Na, it was awesome. Really shocked them!" Tommy heard himself saying, the adrenaline and excitement still in his voice.
Adam smiled as he took another drink from his glass, the hand on Tommy's back turning more into a pat.
Tommy instinctively rested his head on Adam's shoulder and Adam laughed, looking down.
Someone pulled a bass out from behind the couch and Adam grabbed it from them.
"Tommy, you should play something" he stated, passing the instrument to his friend.
"But there's just me…it wont sound any good".
Adam was pushing the guitar into his hand.
"Please?"
Tommy took the instrument and ran his fingers up and down the neck, taking in the shape of it. Slowly, he began to pluck out the first tune that popped into his head.
He watched as Adam bobbed his head to the beat, his eyes closed, completely lost in the tune.
After a while, Tommy stopped and watched as Adam's eyes opened and a look of disappointment spread over his face."Don't stop playing".
Tommy laughed. His fingers found another chord and he began to play another tune.
After a good 10 minutes, Adam opened his eyes again and Tommy looked up from the guitar to see that everyone else was gone.
There was a rattling of keys and Monte poked his head around the doorway.
"Our ride leaves in 5 minutes, y'all good to go?"
Both men nodded and Tommy stood up and packed the bass into its case.
As he clicked it shut, he felt Adam grab his arm.
"Hey Tommy, don't ever stop playing that, okay? I know that you can play all these other instruments but that" he ran a hand down the side of the case, "that's your thing, man."
Tommy smiled in appreciation. He hadnt been learning bass that long.
"Hey and thanks for doing that" he heard Adam say.
"Doing what?" Tommy asked, his eyes looking up from heavy makeup.
"Taking the ride with me".
At that moment, the world seemed to flood. The words seemed to echo. The scene seemed to blur. In the distance, Tommy thought he could hear his name being called.
Dave was shaking him.
"Tommy wake up! Dude, can you hear me?"
He put his ear down to the lifeless body spread out on the kitchen floor.
His eyes then travelled to the empty canister of pills and bottle of alcohol splayed across the tiles.
"Shit Tommy!"
His hands found his cellphone in his pocket, and he dialed an ambulance.
"Yeah, i need some help. My friend's unconscious…overdose."