Sean walked into the large music store and his attention was immediately drawn to the TV's hanging around the walls.  It appeared to be playing a music video with Nate singing a cover to the song 'Ignorance by Paramore'.  Sean moved closer to the nearest TV to watch him for a bit, when he heard Nate call out over the volume of the TV's.  "Jimmy?! The video looks great!  All that editing paid off"!  Sean turned in the direction that he heard Nate and smirked.  Nate did appear to be in a really good mood this morning.  Nate soon went to work putting guitars up on the wall, while he sung along with the TV's.  So, Sean moved around the store to look over all the set up instruments and equipment.  Some instruments were set up in little soundproof rooms of clear glass and one managed to catch Sean's eye. 

Moving closer to the room, Sean stepped inside to sit on the stool.  He always made a huge fuss about electric drums, but something about this one drew him in.  Picking up the drum sticks, he tapped one against the ride cymbal and gawked a bit.  For an electrical drum set it sounded very close to the real thing.  Sean straightened up and closed his eyes for a second.  Just like riding a bike they say.  Opening his eyes, Sean spun the drum sticks in his fingers before starting to mess around with them.  It felt good to play again.  He still felt rusty, but it was fun to jump back in again.  The more he messed around with them, the more he felt comfortable with them.  He loved the rush of adrenaline coursing through him as he sped up the beat and let himself just go wild with it.  When he finally stopped, he heard someone clap and nearly jumped off the stool. 

Looking behind him, Sean blushed a deep red.  When had Nate entered the room?  Sean glanced out the glass window to see Mark smile at him from the other side, before wandering off to a wall.  Had Mark been watching him play too?  Nate leaned back against the closed door, telling Sean sweetly.  "You're not bad. You just need to loosen up your wrists a bit more".  Sean stared down at his hands and flexed his fingers.  He couldn't argue that.  His fingers felt stiff and his arms burned a bit.  Nate reached out for his hand, asking tenderly.  "May I"?  Sean didn't know what he wanted, but extended his hand.  Nate took it and began rub his thumb across his palm.  When Sean winced a bit, Nate stopped to tell him with a smile.  "Sore"?  Sean pulled his hand back, answering a bit embarrassed.  "Just a bit tender since I've lost all my calluses". 

A silence fell between them, before Nate asked him casually.  "Do you like it"?  Sean nodded, but something else was eating away at him.  A question that nagged at him.  Swallowing down his nerves, Sean asked him timidly.  "Nate? About last night...".  Nate backed up to lean against the door, casually answering.  "What about it"?  Sean lifted his eyes from the floor to lock with Nate's as he asked a bit anxiously.  "Did we... I mean... What happened"?  Nate crossed his arms over his chest, giving Sean a warm smile as he answered honestly.  "We made out. I gave you a handjob and offered to take you to bed. We got undressed, you crawled into my bed... and then you fell asleep".  Sean lowered his head into his hand, mumbling back.  "I'm sorry. I don't normally do anything like that. I hope I didn't ruin your night". 

Nate chuckled softly, replying lightly.  "You didn't ruin anything. I had a lot of fun. I hope you don't judge me too harshly. I think I got caught up in the moment myself. It's hard not having anyone in this small town to talk too".  Sean looked up with a weary smile, when he told Nate.  "I'm afraid the rumors running through town right now are that we...".  Sean drifted off, letting Nate add in.  "I'm sorry you got dragged into my drama. I've gotten used to them talking about me behind my back".  Sean shrugged trying to sound comforting as he told him.  "That doesn't make it right. What did you ever do to them to deserve it"?  Nate pushed off the door with a wicked smile.  Sean swallowed as Nate approached, placing his hands on Sean's thighs as he leaned in to whisper into his ear.  "I'm the rebel they wish they were. I'm not tied down by a wife or kids. I'm free and that scares them. I kinda like it". 

Sean blushed, feeling Nate's breath on his ear and smelling his cologne.  Sean felt himself weakening to Nate's warm body heat and the feeling of his hands on his thighs.  Sean forced himself to turn away to see if anyone was watching them through the window.  Standing by the far wall with hanging guitars, Sean's eyes locked with Mark's.  Sean bit his lower lip hard, giving Mark guilty eyes.  Sean was so worried about what Mark would think of him that he forgot about Nate, until Nate's lips pressed so tenderly to his throat.  Sean shivered from the contact and his heart pulsed.  Sean closed his eyes, feeling Nate's lips move up to his ear to whisper a bit suggestively.  "You used to wear gauges, didn't you? I'd love to see you wear them again".  Sean turned his face in close to Nate's neck to shakily whisper back.  "I haven't worn them since my band broke up". 

Nate's voice tickled Sean's ear as he whispered back.  "No time like the present".  Sean put a hand to Nate's chest and pushed him back a bit, before answering a little breathless.  "Maybe".  Nate looked into his eyes for a moment and then they shifted to look out the window at Mark.  The moment their eyes connected, Mark's expression became stony and he moved out of sight.  In a low voice, Nate told Sean calmly.  "Mark must like you. He's never looked at me like that before".  Sean shrugged, telling Nate in a small voice.  "He's probably just worried about me. He told me about what you did to Felix's car over a few rumors".  Nate's eyes shot back to lock with his and Sean hesitated.  Should he have said that?  Nate hung his head, sighing heavily as he muttered out reluctantly.  "I was hoping that he wouldn't mention that to you. It's not something I'm proud of. I've tried to forget it, but they keep reminding me". 

Nate lifted his head, his black bangs hanging over his eyes.  Sean's hand slipped off Nate's chest, when he leaned in closer to his lips to tell him playfully.  "He probably thinks I'm a bad influence on you. He probably thinks that I'll bring out something dark in you and that we'll can be hellions together".  Sean chuckled, mumbling back.  "I don't have a dark side. Although, I've heard about yours. Nightmares"?  Nate brushed his lips over Sean's and Sean's heart skipped as Nate whispered so close to his lips.  "Everyone's got a dark side. They call mine, Natemare. And if you hang around me long enough... I'm sure I'll bring out the rebel in you".  Nate pressed his lips to Sean's and Sean only let him kiss him briefly, before gently pushing him back.  Nate didn't fight against him, Nate allowed him to push him back with little to no effort. 

Sean licked his lips and mumbled back softly.  "I get the feeling that you like being the bad boy".  Nate smiled brightly, answering playfully.  "Just a little bit. I'm pretty tame though once you get to know me".  Nate rose off his legs and checked his watch.  So, Sean snuck a peek out the window to see if Mark was still here.  He was.  He was sitting in a chair by the front door.  Sean thought it was time to go.  He didn't want to keep Mark waiting any longer.  Nate seemed to sense his sudden urgency and asked sweetly.  "I might be able to get off for lunch. You wanna go somewhere"?  Sean reluctantly set down the drumsticks back with the set, stating gently aloud.  "I can't. I'm going to lunch with Mark. Then I'm hoping to catch dinner with my daughter". 

Sean climbed to his feet to open the door, but Nate pushed it closed.  Sean waited nervously, when Nate casually asked him.  "You didn't tell me what you think of the Electric drums. Did you like them"?  Sean relaxed with a small chuckle, he had expected Nate to pressure him into something.  Turning around to look at the electrical drums, Sean told him excitedly.  "You know... I've always been biased about them, but I actually really liked this one. My only concern is the noise... I mean, drums can be really-".  Sean stopped talking as Nate moved around him to pick up a large pair of headphones that he hadn't noticed on a wall hook.  Nate plugged them into the sound board and held them up, smugly stating.  "Does this fix your problem"?  Sean crossed his arms over his chest, telling Nate with a broad smile.  "Alright. You sold me on it".  Sean shook hands with Nate and Nate told him excitedly.  "I'll see you later then". 

Sean nodded, heading out to meet up with Mark.  Only to slow down to a stop.  Mark was sitting in a chair by the window, strumming soft cords on a guitar and humming to himself.  He hadn't heard Sean approach.  Mark could play.  Did Nate know that?  Sean moved a little closer to Mark, moving into Mark's vision and causing him to jump in fright.  Mark removed the guitar from his lap, guiltily muttering out.  "Jesus, Sean. Don't do that. I get enough of that from Tim".  Sean bit his lip nervously, before asking Mark curiously.  "You didn't say that you could play"?  Mark set the guitar on a table and stood up, stating back teasingly.  "You didn't ask".  Mark gestured toward the door, when he asked him hopefully.  "You ready to go to lunch? I'm starving".  To Be Continued...