the Prince and the Punk

Jack played and left rather quickly. Normally he stayed after and had a drink or two, but he found himself facing more pressing matters tonight. Like texting Alex, who had sent him a text mid-set. Jack opens up the text on the walk home, the message read 'Selfie game: Godly', and attached to it is a picture of Alex, presumably for a music video, dressed vaguely like Hermes. Jack smiles at it and pauses a moment to take a picture of himself.

Jack: Selfie game: Tired as hell

Alex: xD I thought you were at home. What were u out doing?

Jack doesn't respond until he gets home, even though it takes a considerable amount of will power.

Jack: I was at the club performing.

Alex: Oh sweet. You want to go into the biz or something?

Jack: Yea. Punk though, being a pop star sounds scary as shit.

Alex: It's the media and the greedy pricks that's fucked it all up. If they just left peepz be it'd be way cooler.

Jack: Popular stuff is always sort of fucked from the beginning, kinda sad really.

Alex: Hey, would it be cool if I come and chilled tonight? Like in 15 minutes?
Jack: Sure!

Alex: So, see ya' in 15 then.

Jack: See you then!Jack smiles like an idiot at the phone.

Then he jumps up, realizing the his apartment was kind of a disaster area from the fact he worked five days a week, performed one, and liked to sleep the other. So cleaning was low on his priorities list. Jack quickly starts to gather things up and make his apartment semi-presentable. Finally, a knock upon his door alerts him to, presumably, Alex's arrival.

"Hey," Jack greets, opening to door for Alex. Alex steps into the apartment and says 'hi' to Jack.

"How're you?" Alex says, hugging Jack.

"Good, tired, but good. You?" Jack takes a seat at the couch and pats the place next to him.
"'m pretty tired as well. But getting out of the shit hole we were shooting the music video at was a relief." Alex rubs his eyes, but still manages to put on an interested face. "So, a little birdy told me that you like to play the music. Care to play something for me?"

"Uhh, sure . . ." Jack stands up and walks back to his bedroom, returning shortly with his acoustic guitar. It felt like it would be more fitting for the moment. 'What do you want me to play?"

"Anything," Alex answers, watching Jack's every movement intently.

"Uhh, okay . . ." Jack ponders for a moment until he decides on 'First Date', always a solid choice in his mind.

When he finishes Alex applauds him. "Wonderful Jack-o!" Jack melts seeing the bright smile on Alex's face. That man was dangerously cute.

"Thanks." Jack grins back at him before handing him the guitar. "Your turn."

"Okay, I got this." Alex says, flashing that smile again. He sets the guitar on his leg and presses down the first frets. "Lazy lover find a place for me again. You felt it once before I know you did . . ."

"That was awesome!" Jack proclaims, Alex sounded much better in person than he did in the songs he had looked up. It was probably because said songs were heavily edited to be more appealing to the general public.

"Thanks," Alex says, tucking a stray piece of hair behind his ear. "I really wanted to do that on my last album but my manager said it wasn't 'hip' enough. So I guess it's just between me and you now."

"Have you ever thought about, like going independent?" Jack muses. "There's no way you don't have the money for it."

"Yeah, once or twice," Alex admits. "But I don't want to disappoint my fans by just changing direction all of the sudden. That's really the only reason I stay." Alex scratches the back of his neck.

"Understandable, I guess. But if you aren't happy with the music you're making, why not?"
Alex shrugs, his voice becoming softer and softer. "It's not all bad, they let me have a song I wrote on this newest album and it did really well, so maybe they'll let me do some more and I can just morph."

Jack frowns. "I say screw 'em all and go for what makes you happy."

Alex shrugs again. "It's not that easy." Alex carefully leans Jack's guitar against the couch and stands up. "I think I'm gonna head home Jack. I might swing back tomorrow if I get the chance." With that Alex leaves.

"Dammit!" Jack exclaims, realizing that he had upset Alex. "I'm so fucking stupid!" Jack breathes a long sigh through his nose and storms back to his bedroom, wanting to just curl up and die.

He had fucked up big time.

Notes

So, uh. I have an idea for a story, but I kind of want to do it was a collab. Anyone up for that?

Chapter Title Credit:
"Piano Man" by Billy Joel

xoxo
Dewey