Past nine o' clock at night, Monday, 29 December, 1997

The sun had already set. Chris was at his parents' dry cleaning shop helping them close with his twin sister. Daniel was in his bedroom with Ben. The tele hummed over the sound of the drummer's snores.

Once Ben's massive lunch had settled in his belly, he spent a majority of his afternoon surfing waves and soaking up the adoring laughs and affections of his female appreciators. Needless to say, he was exhausted once his shift rolled around.

He told himself he'd only rest his eyes for a few minutes, but already feeling tired and then eating his dinner as well as Daniel's, Ben had been in dreamland for well over an hour.

Daniel wanted to be alone.

He looked at his friend sleeping on his bed. No nightmares were tormenting his sleep. No fears or doubts hung in his brain on shiny, sharp hooks.

Though the frontman had forgotten what restful sleep felt like as a human, he held some resentment over never having that possibility of it ever again.

He couldn't help but run through lists and lists of what he would have done differently this past year if he had only known what fate had in store for him.

He knew he shouldn't leave the house. He knew he should at least leave Ben a letter so his mates would not worry, but all he could see was his time and freedom and control running away from him.

It was fleeing so damn fast, and he felt the only thing he could do was to chase after it. Chase after something, anything. What? He didn't know. Maybe he'd find it, though. He'd only find it if he was on his own. He knew this for sure.

If he didn't chase after whatever it was, Daniel feared he'd lose it forever. With nothing but eternity ahead of him, he knew he couldn't live like that.

♡ ♡ ♡

Jazz Bar had its grand opening on Christmas Eve. It was located just a few waves from Merewether Beach and instantly attracted the youthful crowd that had spent their day on the sand and wanted to surround themselves in the sort of liquid that was free of sea salt and higher in alcohol.

The bar was owned by a local surfer by the name of Jazzua Thomas. This particular surfer not only had a love of beer and spirits but also a love of all things dark and creepy. Antique skeletons bought from medical schools hung out in the corners, jars full of who-knows-what from who-knows-where lined the shelves between the bottles of vodka, rum, and tequila. The place was just perfectly weird enough for Daniel to completely enjoy himself.

Dan had entered the bar earlier in the day with Ben and Chris. Neither Ben nor Chris found the bar appealing at all.

There was something about its design and macabre eccentricity that drew the frontman in right away along with its soft, kooky tunes from the 1920s playing on the speakers above the booths.

He chose to take a seat at a stool at the bar. It was his first time in a bar all alone. He would have feared the attention of fans but it was still pretty early in the night and there was only a handful of people in the place.

Plus, he was in his hometown. The only sort of love he usually got from the locals was the tough kind.

Daniel knew Jazzua from high school. The only thing Jazzua had to say to Dan after hearing that the boys had gotten a big time record deal a few years ago was, "Look, man, please don't steal my girl away. Rock stars are the worst." Dan found that very amusing because he would never do that and because he knew Jazzua and his girlfriend would always be together and, in fact, they still were.

"As I live and breathe, silverchair's frontman is in my bar." Jazzua flashed Dan a wide smile and knew exactly what sort of drink to start him off with. He poured him a beer from the tap and slid it over to him. "On the house, Daniel."

"Thank you," Dan smiled and wrapped his fingers around the tall, cold glass. "I dunno how this beer will go down, though. Haven't been feeling too well lately."

"Eh," Jazzua shrugged, shoving a stray bit of his tawny hair behind his ear, "No dramas. If you decide to projectile vomit anywhere in this place, all over it even, I reckon it'll send throngs of chicks in with their boyfriends and cousins and uncles and they'll just love it. Being in the very place Daniel Johns threw up in."

Daniel shook his head and snickered before Jazzua grinned and tended to another patron on the other side of the bar.

The beer actually smelled good, though. Inviting. The foam thick and white like a cloud resting on top of heaven. Daniel took a teeny sip. Surprisingly, he swallowed it and it did not make his vampiric stomach turn. He took another sip, a small one. Again. The beer slid down his throat pleasantly and did not trouble him one bit.

Jazzua returned and placed his elbows in front of him on the bar. "What do you think of that brew. Good?"

"Yeah."

"Were you that weirdo I saw drop in here with Ben and Chris earlier today? In sunglasses and a hoodie on a warm, summer day?"

"Yeah. That was me. I assure you, Jazz, if you ever see a weirdo anywhere in this town, it's me."

It was Jazzua's turn to snicker. "So, where are your mates tonight? Ya flying solo?"

"Seems so." Dan took another sip. A regular-sized sip. And then he took a hearty sip. He did not feel like throwing it up at all so he kept on sipping. Blissfully, he started to feel the loosening effect that alcohol has on the mind and senses. He welcomed it. It was a feeling he remembered from when he was human. The effect was also happening quicker than he had recalled.

The beer seeped into those parts that were murky and tangled within him and filled them back up again. He downed the rest of the amber lager and asked Jazzua for something stronger.

"This orange-flavored dark rum is doing pretty well. Wanna try a shot?"

"Yes, please." Dan beamed up at Jazzua as if he were an angel. An angel bearing gifts.

"There ya go, mate. And here's some snacky bits to munch on if you'd like."

He placed a small glass bowl full of nuts and sesame sticks in front of the silver teen. Dan payed no attention to the bowl as he downed the shot of rum in one quick motion and set the shot glass back down onto the bar.

The blond vampire felt deceivingly good. Something just occurred to him and he thought it was a beyond marvelous idea. But first, he needed another shot.

♡ ♡ ♡

I dunno what's gotten into me. Don't expect another chapter so soon again. Ya know how I roll by now.

Thanks a silverton for your time.

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🧡 TYSM 4 READING 🧡

xo,
Leanne

P.S. I hope you liked your little character intro into this story, Jazzua

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