Mike curled up in his bunk, guilt playing with his mind as he retraced his earlier tactics, wondering what effect the scene had on Chester. Certainly not the right on yet as he could hear Chaz struggling with his vocal volume, trying to control his tirade against Joe. He chuckled as the DJ suddenly exploded out at his attacker, loud enough for the entire bus to hear. He slid as far back in his bunk as possible, not knowing what to expect at this point. The first set of footsteps plodded right by, curses floating through the air. Chester, it seemed, was left pacing restlessly in the front of the bus.
"I knew this was a bad idea...Why is he doing this to me? Why now? What did I fucking do?"
Mike's heart sunk, reevaluating his plan again. Poking his head from behind the curtain, he glanced over Chester's tense frame.
"Ey Chaz, wanna talk?"
"NO!"
The sound was sharp, staccato against his ears.
"Come on...It can't be that bad?"
"You didn't see your 'lover' flirting and playing 'footsy' under the table at breakfast with some blonde Aussie guitarist who I am not going to mention..."
Mike instantly decided to continue his plan.
"Oh gee...Well, I haven't been the one so pissed off at everyone since we got in the country. I'm not the one who tried to kill our bassist yesterday morning because of some stupid name. An I sure as hell am not the 'lover' who has chosen to ignore the love of his life for the last week and a half!"
He slammed the curtain back into place, lying back down against his pillows. Yes, it was all revenge against Chester now, playing with his fucked up mind. It was by far time to set him straight...Well, maybe not 'straight' persay. Mike smiled in his musings, jumping slightly as his cell screeched to life.
"Oh Mike, you're pants are calling again..."
"Shut up Chaz!"
He unclipped it from his belt, raising a brow at the number.
"Hello?"
"Hello sexy..."
Mike smiled to himself.
"Are you coming on to me, Mr. Jones?"
"Well, I did call to see how it was going with Chester..."
"Like a bitch man...This morning didn't phase him the right way. He's trying to blame me for it all..."
"I can help you with that."
"You're offering to me, Daniel?"
"Tomorrow, after the show...I'll be in my dressing room."
"What about Darren?"
"Don't worry about him, he's already been taken care of."
The line went dead, a click signaling that Daniel had hung up.
"Well, so much for the 'game.'"
**
"Whatcha working on?"
Joe plopped down by Dub once more, watching as he flipped switched and knobs on the controls.
"Well, I guess you could give it a listen. Darren wrote a song by himself, without Dan knowing about we recorded it before I lost my job."
He passed the headset over, playing back what he had so far. Sultry rhythms and haunting lyrics spilled through to Joe's ears, teasing him to visualize what Darren had been writing about. After it was done, he handed the phone back, shaking his head.
"I grow stronger in your hands?"
"I didn't write it."
"Did you think of it?"
Dub shrugged passively, setting the headphones on the table.
"That would entirely depend on your view on sexuality. I mean, we just met...Don't need to dump everything on you at once."
"Dub, look at Chester and Mike...We wake up almost every morning wondering how they both manage to fit in that bottom bunk. It's nothing new, trust me..."
Dub glanced around the room, everywhere but at Joe.
"Ahh, well, there is a story behind why I was fired, and it wasn't just because of the album thing..."
"What do you mean?"
Joe had become interested by now.
"It means that my boss walked in when I had Darren bent over the mixer..."
Joe's jaw dropped, staring blankly as JD fought against the urge to leave.
"Dub, Jay, man...Tell me you did not just say what I thought you did..."
"Darren and Daniel go through phases that they call 'experimentation.' They converse about it, who either of them wants a go with...yadda yadda yadda...Darren just happened to want me that time around. That's why he's more understanding about me being fired. The album excuse was just a fancy cover up so the label wouldn't have to rag out that we were found having sex in the studio..."
Joe sat back, rubbing his temples as he studied Jay's prone form. There was just something about the way he had come out and said it, the way he was trying to hide himself from any reaction.
"And the moans at the end? Not studio reproductions I'm thinking..."
"He's just really really vocal...I'm sure the fans will wonder..."
"So that is why they are hauling you all over the country? Because Darren got you fired?"
He nodded his head, never looking up from the carpet. Joe's throat suddenly went dry as something he'd never felt before crept over him. He swallowed hard, shifting closer himself closer to Jay.
"And you think I'd have a problem with what you did?"
"I don't know...I think it disgusts people, the way things happen with me. Don't you think it comes off as sick and wrong?"
Jay looked up, a few strands of his dark brown hair falling down over his eyes. There was something in his eyes, like a silently asked question that Joe wasn't about to give up on.
"The only thing that is sick and wrong is the way they treat you for it..."
