Almost Easy

Tyler eventually caught up with me after about an hour of swapping criticisms and compliments about the performing bands with Jimmy. Jimmy’s sense of humour hit me right in the sweet spot.
“Hey,” Tyler said as he neared me, an extra drink in his hand for my pleasure. “I got you—“
His eyes widened at the sight of Jimmy, still smiling from the last joke he’d made.
I cooled my giggles, and pointed my thumb to the gothic giant beside me, “Oh, hey, this is—“
“The fucking Rev,” Tyler cut me off, his jaw on the floor.
Jimmy grinned maniacally, “How’s it going, man?”
“Holy shit.”
“Ty,” I scoffed a laughed. “Don’t be rude—introduce yourself.”
Tyler was star struck.
I shook my head, turning back to Jimmy, “This is Tyler Brody. He’s our guitarist.”
Jimmy extended his hand, eying Tyler like prey, “I’m Jimmy.”
“I-I know who you are,” Tyler managed, his eyes glazed over. “You’re a legend, dude.”
“Legend, icon, a god… it’s really all the same,” Jimmy fluffed his hair. “It’s always nice to be appreciated.”
I giggled.
“H-How?” Tyler stammered. “How do you know the Rev?”
Before I could answer, Jimmy had me in a headlock, “We go way back.”
“How did I not know that you knew the Rev?” he asked seriously, his face was angry now. “How did you neglect to tell me that?”
“Slipped my mind,” I smiled.
“We’re secret lovers,” Jimmy raised his eyebrows. “We’ve been keeping it on the down low. So,” he held his bony finger to his lips, “Sh.”
“Blair can’t get a lover—“ Tyler said without thinking.
I gasped, “Thanks.”
Tyler’s eyes widened again, “Fuck, that’s not what I meant. Sorry—I meant… there’s just no way… I mean.. it’s the fucking Rev, Blair.”
“Yes, I’ve gathered that,” I laughed.
“Do you think he’s a fan?” Jimmy asked me in a whisper. “I’m not sold.”
“She doesn’t even know who you are,” Tyler continued in his daze.
“Remind me to change my name if ever you get held hostage,” I joked to my friend who had obviously stopped caring about me the second he spotted Jimmy.
Jimmy scolded me, pointing his finger in my face, “He’s right, Blair. It’s very important that you listen to my band. And always eat your vegetables—that’s important too.”
“I think I’ll drink instead,” I winked and raised my cup cockily.
“Yes! By George she’s got it!” Jimmy shouted, arms stretched above his head. “Fuck vegetables! Let’s get fucked up!”
“Is this for me?” I asked Tyler as I forced a red cup from his grip.
“Oh—yeah…I would have brought one for you if I’d known,” Tyler said to his idol.
Jimmy smiled, “It’s cool, man. I’ll escort you to the booth.”
Jimmy was pushing Ty in the direction from which he had just come. I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t entertained.
“We’ll be back,” Jimmy said to me.
Tyler waved sheepishly from in front of the giant.
This break in socializing gave me the perfect opportunity to soak in more music. Linkin Park had taken the stage about ten minutes ago and I’d hardly been able to catch any of it.
Chester’s voice coursed through my veins; he embodied everything that I hoped to be as a singer. He was strong but beautiful and technically precise.
I wondered what Jimmy’s band sounded like—I wondered what he played. He was too lanky to be the guitarist, he simply wouldn’t fit the mould. So, what, then? The singer maybe?
Tyler and Jimmy weren’t gone long but returned with an abundance of red cups, each spilling over into the others.
“Take some,” Tyler said with a sigh.
I took as many as I could hold without spilling them.
“So,” Jimmy exhaled, “what’s the plan for after the show?”
“We were going to go home,” I replied simply, sipping at a beer with a seriously dissatisfying odour.
Jimmy scowled, “That’s dumb.”
“What are you doing after?” Tyler volunteered weakly.
I think the sight of Jimmy still made him deeply uncomfortable and edgy.
Jimmy wiggled his eyebrows, “There’s a giant afterparty going on downtown. You guys should totally come—I can call Matt and have him put you on the list with us.”
I bit my lip, “I don’t know, Jimmy. I don’t think I’m up for a huge party.”
Tyler nudged my ribs warningly with his elbow, his made a look to me that seemingly suggested I should have given a different response.
“But Blair,” Jimmy pouted dramatically, “How will we become best friends if you won’t come and hang out with me at a super cool party with a bunch of other super cool people?”
“Blair don’t be a stick in the mud,” Tyler grumbled to me.
Between Tyler’s hostility and Jimmy’s visual pleading, I wasn’t sure how to say no—even though I really, really wanted to.
So, I hatched a new plan: go to the party, stay for a drink, fake sick, go home.
Perfect.
“Okay, you’re right,” I said finally, trying to hide the reluctance in my voice, “I’ll definitely come.”
“Awesome!” Jimmy beamed. “I’ll go call Matt.”
Tyler leaned into me and whispered happily, “He means M. Shadows.”
And that was a name I’d heard before.
“Jimmy’s from Avenged Sevenfold?”
Tyler rolled his eyes, “Why do vocalists only know other vocalists, huh? You guys never know any of the band’s members aside from your own kind.”
I disregarded this, “What’s he play?”
“Drums,” Tyler shrugged. “He’s fucking phenomenal.”
I nodded my head slowly, sipping at the disgusting beer, “I’ve heard good things about their music.”
“You’re incredible,” Tyler laughed. “We need to get you cultured. I have one of their albums on my iPod, we can listen to them on the way over to this super cool party.”
“Yeah, okay.”
“I wonder if Synyster Gates will be there,” Tyler thought aloud, his voice full of whimsy.
I furrowed my brows, “Who?”
“Synyster Gates.”
“What the fuck is a sinister gate?” I asked in my most condescending tone. “Just a gate that looks particularly ominous?”
Tyler groaned, “Blair—it’s the guitarist’s stage name. And it’s fucking badass.”
I rolled my eyes, “Super.”
“I’m telling you,” Tyler laughed, tipping his own cup back into his mouth, “You guys only know your own kind.”
I grinned, “But I know Jimmy—sorry, the Rev—so that says something, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah,” Tyler laughed, “It says I owe you a month of take out to make up for taking me to this fucking party.”

Notes