-You really have to stop staring at Sav’s girl, mate...-Phil patted Joe's back, pulling him into a friendly embrace, a failed attempt to distract the singer from what he thought was causing him so much pain.
Sav had met this girl in an instrument store, the girl was a die-hard violinist but a great lover of the band, and the thing between the bass player and her had been a crush at first sight. The two young people had only been in a relationship for a few months, but in their conversations there had already been references to marriage, to an eternal life together.... When Sav had introduced the girl in front of the band, something changed inside Joe. Everyone assumed that the singer had fallen absolutely in love with the girl, which certainly made sense given her beauty and character. From then on, Joe seemed to suffer in silence every minute near the couple, and far away, too.
-Yeah... I guess you're right...- Joe's voice was, for the first time in a long time, shaky, almost inaudible, because of the lump that was getting bigger in his throat. The guitarist's concern grew to stratospheric levels as a furtive tear slipped down Joe's cheek, and he began to sob.
-...You really love her, don't you?- His question seemed to plunge the singer even deeper into misery, causing Steve to shoot him a murderous glare and relieve him in the attempt to calm Joe down.
-Joe... You have to understand that as much as it hurts, she picked him....
-I don't give a damn about her, damn it.... -The singer wiped away his tears with a gesture of rage and impotence, making his greatest effort not to continue crying, until he finally made the decision to run away at a brisk pace where no one could hear him.
-It's very strange, don't you think?
-He's just in love with that girl, Phil, it's normal... He's not used to being rejected by girls- the two friends looked out the window at the bass player, who was softly kissing the sweet girl's lips. It was no surprise why Joe had fallen in love with her, she was tall, slim, with colorful eyes and long wavy hair in a coppery color. But at the end, she had chosen Sav, not Joe, and he had to accept that for better or worse.
-That's not what I mean, asshole.- A slap fell on the back of Steve's head, causing him to groan, -Joe never had a problem getting over a girl, can you tell me what's so special about Sav's girlfriend that Joe cries to her every fucking day?
-Well... She's very pretty, and she's quite nice too, don't you think that's enough?
-Then he might as well have fallen in love with Lorelei, and he didn't.
-Hell, Phil, what the hell are you getting at with this interrogation?-
Phil made his way to Joe's room, listening with every step he took to Joe's sobs getting louder and louder. He stood in the doorway frame,  Steve hid behind him to listen to what they would say.
-Can we talk for a se...-Rick's hand covered his mouth tightly.
-Shut up, he's talking to Sav.....
There was absolute silence in the hallway with the intention of listening to what was going on in the singer's room.
-Shit, Sav... Why are you doing this to me...? You know it hurts...
-Joe...
-You chose her, and I accept my fate, but for God's sake, I beg you, stay away... -He chose her? What the hell did that mean?
-Joseph, you and I both know we couldn't have come to anything.... As much as I love you, you're still a man, and so am I....
-And did that matter to you that night in '78? And all the nights after?-
-HELL, JOE, IT WAS A MISTAKE.
-FOR YOU IT WAS A MISTAKE, BUT IT WAS THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME, DAMN IT, CAN YOU OPEN YOUR EYES AND REALIZE THAT IT'S NOT A WHIM?
-Shit, Joe, keep your voice down... -
-You're a coward!... When you will have children, and grandchildren with a woman you don't love, and you realize you've lived hiding like a rat, you'll remember the "mistake" you made, and I assure you it will seem far less equivocal than it doe...-Joe's words were cut off, thanks to Sav's lips colliding with his, Sav's hands cradling Joe's cheeks and his thumbs wiping away the tears as best they could. Joe's body sought Sav's arms for refuge from the thoughts that had been hurting him so much.
-I promise you this is only temporary..... I swear to you, Joe... someday we'll be able to do whatever we want without anyone looking at us like we just sinned.... And then this fucking cover-up will be over...
-Don't promise me the impossible...- Sav's hands lifted his lover's face, which rested on his shoulder.
-I said I swear to you, and I keep my oaths.
-Shit, Sav... I love you...
A new kiss closed the conversation, the three young men who were snooping behind the door realized that they had been gawking at the other's conversation as if it were a soap opera.
-Fuck... I didn't expect this...- Rick turned to observe the reaction of his companions, finding two blondes covered in tears.
-... So, Sav and Joe are...
-It seems so...-Steve looked at his companions, not quite sure how to react to the dialogue he had just heard.
-...Did you guys hear anything? I haven't heard anything, would you like a beer? -A faint smile formed on the lips of the three of them, and they all went off to get something to drink, swearing wordlessly to keep their friends' secret, and leaving the couple to enjoy a quiet moment, where no one could tell them that what they were doing was wrong.