So. I hate doing this. It feels lame. But! I strongly encourage you guys to check out mine and Hiei's new collab called "Naeemah Baniti". Seriously. It's... It's beautiful, and it's one of our favorites right now (right up there next to "Chained To You"!). I hate advertising, but I think y'all would like it. :3

Peace~!

Chapter Eleven: The devil's gonna find me tonight

Adam's POV

I stood in the hallway on the other side of the band room, my heart pounding in my chest. My teacher usually let me come in early, most days, to just wail and let out emotion through singing. I had expected today to be no different— but someone knocked at the door. Someone had been listening. And… I don't know why I fled, but I did. I'd just barely managed to get through the other door and to safety when that person called out…

It sounded a lot like Tommy.

I shook my head, gathering my bag closer to my body before hurrying down the hall, passing the auditorium and hoping that I'd be able to wander around before having to go back to class. I didn't want to chance that person actually being Tommy and then having to hear him talk about someone he heard singing. But why was I freaking out so much? What shame was there if Tommy did know I was the one who sang to him?

Well… I still wasn't entirely sure of Tommy's… sexuality. I mean, he was one of my friends, but I didn't want to jump the gun and chance freaking him the fuck out. He was, really, the only person I was remotely close to. No one else wanted to hang around a fag, why would he? I sighed, running my fingers through my hair and adjusting my glasses before getting a drink from a nearby water fountain. My heart was still going a little crazy just thinking about Tommy…

Yeah, I liked him. I couldn't help that. He was adorably funny and incredibly cute. Not to mention… his eyes did things to me. They made my stomach flip and my heart flutter. Okay, I really liked him. Probably more than I should have, because— wouldn't it just be my luck to find out that he has a girlfriend or something? Some pretty, big breasted beauty? Yeah… Come on, Tommy's first day here was spent with girls flocking him from left and right. What chance did I have?

I turned, walking back towards the music room, where my first period was. Hopefully my listener was gone and off with his own business. I tried not to think of the possibilities of it being Tommy. I mean, I wanted to tell him that, yes, I did sing to him when he was in the nurse's office, but what if he thought I was a freak because of that? Singing a song about such passionate love to another dude? I'd be labeled than more than just a fag by then.

I walked down the hall and back into the room, being the first one there again. I wanted to go back to singing, but, all the same, I didn't. I didn't want to sing again… God, why was everything so confusing and complicated? I huffed in agitation, dropping my bag by one of the chair and slouching in it, pulling out my phone. I didn't see Tommy at all this morning, and I usually make it a plan to say good morning to him… I stared at the screen of my phone before pushing it back into my pocket. Not now.

Thinking about Tommy made me think about the movies. That… Had been less than perfect, to say the least. Why did we go to some slasher movie? There were some good thrillers and comedies, but Tommy wanted slasher? And then he had the balls to say he'd suffer through something lovey and gooey instead? Okay, I may be gay as all hell, but even I have my limits with love story movies.

And yeah, taking his hand was nice, but… I didn't know. That night could have gone better. Much better. But I guess fate decided that our little hangout wasn't meant to be the most amazing thing ever. I sighed, wondering if I should just leave the music room, because, obviously, I wasn't in the best mind frame to sing choral songs and prepare for the winter concert that was coming up in less than a month. But I didn't get the opportunity to leave because students were coming in. Not to mention, my teacher had let me in to sing early. He knew I was here. Fuck!

"This is going to be a long day…" I grumbled to myself, slouching back into my seat and fiddling with my phone again.

Several weeks had passed. I still didn't hang around Tommy much. Ever since the movies, things had been… Strange between us, to say the least. Not to mention, at lunch, he'd always be dragged away by Monte and Longineu to go hang out with the cooler kids, leaving me with my copy of Wicked and the strings of conversations that I had all planned out but never acted upon.

To be honest, I missed Tommy. I missed talking with him and hanging out and just being friends with somebody. I missed seeing him smile or hearing him laugh… I just… He was the only one I'd connected with, and now he was slipping from my fingers. And that hurt… I shook my head, pulling my bag over my shoulder and slipping out of my dad's car, heading into the front entrances of the school. I knew, just by the feel of the atmosphere, that it was going to be a long Friday before the weekend…

The winter choral concert was next weekend, and I had half a mind to find Tommy and invite him to come and see it. I figured if I invited him to something as harmless as a concert, then maybe this strange rift between us would be lifted and we'd be okay as friends again. It was becoming maddening, to say the least, to not be around him. I knew I shouldn't have gotten so attached, but I couldn't help it…

I licked my lips, ignoring the snide comments of the jocks that I walked past, heading towards the music room. I'd made it my plan to set my stuff down and then find Tommy before class started. He, normally, got to school ten minutes after I did. But I'd gotten here a little late, so today would be different. I sighed, my breath pluming in front of my face as I hurried into the doors of the hall that led to the music rooms and the auditorium.

I rushed into my class room, smiling to my teacher before dropping my bag. I kept my scarf and my coat on, though, as I pulled my phone out of my pocket. I kept my head down, grazing through the few messages from my parents, friends from out of state and such before opening up a new message. I was in the process of typing out a message to Tommy when I ran into someone.

It was a wonder I held onto my phone, but the smaller framed individual wasn't so lucky. He fell back onto his butt, bouncing once with his bag falling off his shoulder. It took me a moment to realize I'd just knocked Tommy flat on his ass because I'd been preoccupied with my phone. I felt my face heat up and I mumbled a soft, jumbled apology. His eyes were irritated when he looked up, but, when they locked on mine, they softened, and he smiled gently.

"Morning, Adam." He said. I chuckled, unable to speak as I reached out for his hand, pulling him to his feet. I bent down, grabbing his bag and handing it to him in silence. He nodded once, his smile still on his face. I couldn't help but stare for a moment at him. This had been the first time in weeks that we'd bumped into each other— literally— and had a moment to talk…

"Adam?" Tommy waved a hand in front of my face and I blushed, looking down at my feet before looking back up.

"Sorry… I'm tired. But… I had a question for you?" I said, biting down on my bottom lip for a moment. My heart was pounding in my chest and I knew that all I had to say was "do you wanna come to the winter concert?", but for some reason, it wasn't forming on my tongue to fall out into the open. Tommy nodded once, waiting for my question. I inhaled slowly, silently choking on my words.

"D'you wan' c'me to 'ter c'ncert?" I mumbled. Tommy raised an eyebrow, shaking his head in confusion before laughing. Oh, fuck, how embarrassing. Come on, Lambert, you're dialect is damn near flawless most days, you can do it today!

"What'd you just say?" He asked. Because of the cold air and his laugher, my cheeks flushed a brilliant red and I looked away, licking my lips before looking back at him. Rah, he was so pretty… I could've melted to my spot and been content.

"Do you wanna come to the winter concert?" I asked after taking a breath, "It's next weekend…" I finished. Tommy blinked once, before smiling brightly up at me. His eyes shined in the light of the morning and he laughed again.

"Sure. What time." My heart slammed into the cage of my ribs and I felt my knees tremble. The hard part was over, and he wanted to come see the show. Oh, thank Rah! I smiled, chuckling lightly before telling him the show was at seven. He was about to walk away when I reached for him, grabbing his arm. He turned his head back to me, frowning slightly.

"Wanna… Hang out after school… Today?" I asked. Tommy chuckled, nodding once. I grinned, letting go of his arm and watching him walk to his class. It felt as if a great weight had been lifted off of my shoulders, and I sighed happily before turning towards the doors, walking into the hallway again. I would've started skipping, but there were too many people walking around and I didn't want to bring any unnecessary attention to myself.

I pulled open the doors of the music room, slipping inside and hurrying over to my bag. I tugged my jacket and my scarf off, letting them drape over my chair. I was wearing a pair of charcoal colored skinny jeans, leather, ankle boots with studs on them, a studded belt, and a black button up shirt over a grey one, the sleeves rolled up around my elbows. Swift, thin lines of liner around my eyes and my glasses perched on the bridge of my nose. Despite my glasses and braces, I felt pretty cool today.

I walked over to the piano, sifting through the sheet music, seeing what we were going to be working on for today. Holiday songs and Silent Night. Awesome. I was about to turn and walk back to my chair when the door clicked open and I lifted my head, seeing someone walk in. My heart punched up into my throat for a moment and I couldn't stop the stare.

He was not Tommy with beauty, but that didn't mean he was handsome. Short, brown hair that curled around his ears and was spiked up out of his eyes just a touch. Strong, sharp cheekbones and startling blue eyes. His skin had a soft, brown tan to them, despite this being the middle of winter. He was wearing a pair of burnt red skinny jeans and a black t-shirt, a chain looped through the belt loops of his pants. The links jingled as he walked.

He smirked at me, looking away before handing a piece of paper to the teacher. He turned on his heel, glancing at me and winking before leaving the room. I'd seen him around before, but I couldn't remember his name. So why was some stranger throwing winks at me— a nerd? I swallowed the lump in my throat, licking my dry lips and returning to my seat.