//

NATE SEARCHED THE HALL FOR SOMEONE, FINALLY SMILING WHEN HE SEES JONATHAN DIGGING THROUGH HIS LOCKER.

Nate approaches, leaning against the lockers beside Jonathan. "Hey, nerd," he greeted.

"What's up, jock?" Jonathan greeted, not looking away from his locker but he was smiling.

"So you and me are going out tonight," Nate stated.

"Uh, tonight. Why?" Jonathan asked, now looking at Nate.

"Because Low Shoulder is playing at Melody Lane."

Jonathan wore a confused expression. "Low Shoulder?" he asked.

"They're this indie rock band from the city," Nate answered. "Casey saw their Instagram, and she thinks we can use a guy's night out."

Jonathan still wore a confused expression. "Uh, since when does Casey care when we hang out?" he asked.

Jonathan knew of Nate's girlfriend and while he was nice to her, they didn't exactly get along. Nate knew this.

"I've been going over to her house a lot. She's getting sick of me," Nate answered, making Jonathan lightly chuckle. "And you need to get a date. You're lonely. It's depressing." Jonathan rolled his eyes in response. "Come on, Jon," Nate pleaded.

"I can't. I have a mathletes meeting tonight," Jonathan stated.

Nate frowned. "You literally suck."

Jonathan glanced at Nate's expression before sighing, "What time is the show?"

Nate grinned. "Nice. Pick me up from Casey's at 8:30."

"Okay," Jonathan answered. "My mom has a date with that guy who owns the ham store so...He seems nice."

Nate's eyes scanned over Jonathan's wardrobe. "Wear something with...less flannel, okay?"

"Okay," Jonathan replied with a smile. "Wear something sexy."

"Okay, but I'm not putting out," Nate joked with a laugh before turning away and leaving down the hall.

Jonathan only watched his retreating form before adjusting his glasses, closing his locker, and heading off to his next class.

***

Hours later, Jonathan was fixing his shirt in front of the mirror before turning to the girl who was sitting on the bed. "All right. How do I look?" he asked.

Nate's girlfriend, Casey Dove looked up from her phone. "Hot," she answered. "Too hot. Cover up."

"It's a rock show. This is my rock look, babe," Nate answered, pushing his hair back with his hand.

"Well, I don't need any other bitches stealing my man," Casey stated.

"Hey, which band member of Low Shoulder were you stalking earlier?" Nate asked, sitting on the bed to fix his shoes.

"I wasn't stalking," Casey stated. "But the lead singer. Seems decent, seems like Jonathan's type."

Jonathan was kind of in the closet. He liked boys and girls but only Casey and Nate knew that.

"He's not into meaningless hookups," Nate answered.

Casey hummed. "If he actually connects, it could turn to something more," she stated, sitting on her knees behind him before wrapping her arms around him, kissing his cheek. "I mean, we were a meaningless hook up once."

Nate laughed, turning to look at her. "Until you full-on attacked me with your lips at school," he stated.

"I don't regret it," she said, cupping his face before pressing her lips to his.

Nate kissed back with urgency, pushing her to lie back on the bed before crawling on top of her, kissing her back feverishly as she wrapped her legs around his hips.

Until Nate pulled back, his eyes darting around the room. "Jonathan's here," he stated.

"How do you know?" Casey asked, not moving.

As if on cue, Jonathan can be heard calling, "Nate! Get down here right now!"

When Jonathan was at school, he was quiet, reserved, and shy but around Nate, he was loud, goofy, and sort of ridiculous.

With a small laugh and raising his eyebrows, Nate called, "Coming, Dad!"

"That's fucking weird," Casey stated, now sitting up. "You guys have some kind of sense for one another."

"Better hurry before he gets annoyed," Nate said, now standing up, fixing his shirt.

"You always do what Jonathan tells you to do," Casey mumbled.

"No, I don't. It's just that I like the same things that he likes. We have stuff in common," Nate said, holding up the necklace around his neck to show Casey. "That's why we're biffs."

Yes, he and Jonathan had best friend necklaces but they've had them since they were little and there was technically no law saying boys can't wear them.

Casey frowned. "Honey, I love you but you guys don't have anything in common," she stated, sliding off the bed to stand.

Nate scoffed, pulling on a jacket. "Yeah. Okay, Casey."

Together, the couple went downstairs where Jonathan was waiting, leaning against the living room threshold.

He was changed out of his flannel but he was still wearing his glasses and his hair was the same but he now wore with a black sweater, a light gray hoodie over it, some jeans, and combat boots. This was an outfit Nate once picked out for him to go to a concert a few months ago.

(A/N: kind of what he's wearing above)

"Guess who's got the car until 11:30?" Jonathan asked Nate, holding a thing of car keys on his finger. "A 2009 Cadillac CTS, and it's all mine." He saw the girl behind Nate. "Oh, hi, Casey," he greeted in a slight monotone before sniffing the air and cringing. "It smells like Thai food in here."

Nate chuckled. "Yeah, Johnny. It's 'cause we've been fucking. Hard."

Jonathan gagged, lightly shoving Nate. "Oh my God, dude. You're gross."

"Oh, I'm gross?" Nate teased, wrapping an arm around Jonathan's smaller figure.

"Yeah."

He stuck his hand in Jonathan's pocket. "Is that your arm or you just excited to see me?" he taunted.

Jonathan laughed, shoving him away. "Fuck you."

"Fuck you," Nate replied, pushing Jonathan a bit harder, making his back hit the door with a small thump.

"Can we go to the club now?" Jonathan asked Nate, adjusting his glasses and opening the door behind him to which Nate followed him out.

"Actually, I did a little research. Melody Lane is not a club. It's a bar. It's not even a bar. It's like a bingo hall with taps," Casey spoke.

"Eat my ass, Casey," Jonathan remarked. "You came up with the idea for us to go."

"He's right," Nate agreed, speaking to his girlfriend. "What do you tell me all the time when you go out with your friends?" He mocked Casey's voice. "You're just Jell-O 'cause you're not invited."

Casey lightly chuckled. "I'm not Jell-O, idiot. The band is hot but that place is disgusting."

"You're Jell-O. You're lime-green Jell-O, and you can't even admit it to yourself," Jonathan also mocked a stuck up teenage girl voice as he got in on the driver's side.

Casey scoffed. "Stop kidnapping my boyfriend."

"You're idea. Not mine," Jonathan stated as Nate got in on the passenger's side.

"You wish, babe," Nate called to Casey.

***

Casey was right. Melody Lane is definitely not a club. Clubs are for attractive people in populous urban areas. Clubs have D.J.'s and champagne. As they come around the corner-All Melody Lane had was a jukebox and a sticker toilet.

As the boys entered the club, Nate's eyes scanned the area. "I cannot wait until I'm old enough to get wasted," Nate stated.

A girl in a cheerleading outfit waved at him as they walked by. "Hey, Nate. You look really hot," she stated.

Nate chuckled lightly, "What up, Nancy?" he asked her before making a face at Jonathan.

"She thinks she's cute enough for you?" Jonathan asked, catching on aa he readjusted his glasses.

Nate nodded. "I'm already taken."

"By me," Jonathan joked, the two slightly laughing as they sat at a table. Jonathan pointed out a kid who was sitting tables away. "Hey, it's Ahmet from India, that foreign exchange guy."

"I wonder if he's circumcised. I always wanted to try a sea cucumber," Nate joked.

Jonathan let out a light gag aa he pulled a cigarette on of his jacket pocket. "You're nauseating," he stated, placing it between his lips.

Jonathan doesn't really smoke but he thought it made himself look cooler.

The cigarette was snatched from his lips. "Jonathan Check," someone spoke
Both boys turned to see it was Jonathan's older cousin who was a lot bigger than Jonathan and Nate and he was wearing dark shades inside the bar. Jonathan didn't get along with him, his cousin was like another bully to him. "Shouldn't poison yourself with that shit. Unless you want me to arrest ya for possession and tell your mom."

Nate just chuckled while Jonathan stared down at the table. "What? You're gonna arrest him?" Nate questioned. "You're not even out of the academy yet, Eddie."

Eddie removed his shades as he said, "Two more months. Then I'm on the force for reals."

Nate smirked in response. "Are you, uh-you're gonna cuff us?" he asked, raising his eyebrows teasingly. "Kinky."

At this, Jonathan quietly laughed now looking up while Eddie rolled his eyes. "Not that way."

Jonathan looked towards the stage. "Hey, that's the band," he pointed out. The three looked towards the stage where a band was unpacking their things. "You can totally tell they're from the city," Jonathan stated, eyeing the lead singer.

"Yeah, 'cause they're wearing eyeliner. They look like a bunch of faygos," Eddie stated which caused Jonathan's gaze to be cast down to the table, Nate noticed that.

"Well, you would think that, Eds," Nate scoffed "Because you're a small-time Gomer. I wish we had more guys like that in Devil's Kettle. They have the balls to pull that off." This made Jonathan smile as Eddie walked away to which Nate nudged his best friend. "Johnny, I think they need two groupies."

A look of slight panic washed over Jonathan's face as Nate stood up. "No! No."

Nate grabbed his arm anyway. "Come on. Don't be so J.V., dude." Jonathan was dragged over to the stage by Nate who greeted the lead singer, "Hi."

"Hi," the lead singer greeted back, looking away from his guitar.

Nate lightly nudged Jonathan who adjusted his glasses, speaking nervously, "Uh, we just wanted to meet you...or something. I'm Jonathan Check, and this is my friend, Nate."

"Hi. I'm Nikolai," the lead singer said before motioning to his band as he stepped downstage. "This is, uh-These guys are my band."

"Low Shoulder," Jonathan finished. "Yeah, we've heard-I've heard about you. You play your instruments really super good."

Nate held in a small chuckle at his friend's bashful behavior while Nikolai replied, "Thank you. We are professionals."

That's when a question burned through Nate's mind. "Hey. Sorry. Could I ask you a question?" Nate asked to which the man nodded. "Um, why would you wanna play all the way out here in Devil's Kettle? You live in the city, right?"

"Yeah," Nikolai answered. "But, you know, I think it's really important sometimes to try and connect with our fans...in the shitty areas too."

"That's amazing," Jonathan stated, adjusting his glasses for what seemed to be the hundredth time. "Can I, um-Can I buy you a drink?"

"Sure. What are we having?" Nikolai asked.

"They have this really awesome 9/11 tribute shooter, I think. It's red, white, and blue, but you have to drink it really fast or it turns brownish," Jonathan answered.

"All right. Well, we'll drink it fast."

"Okay. Okay. I'll be right back."

As Jonathan turned away, Nate stopped him. "Hey, how-how are you gonna get alcohol?" he asked.

"Um, I have a fake ID, remember?" Jonathan answered. "You got it for me on my birthday."

Nate's face washed with remembrance. "Oh, yeah. Bring me one too."

"No," Jonathan answered, making a beeline for the bar.

"Rude," Nate mumbled before going over to the pinball machines by the side of the stage.

Nikolai nudged his bass player. "Dirk, what about him?" he asked.

Dirk looked where Nate was playing pinball. "Who, knockoff Lucas Scott?" he asked.

"No, man," Nikolai answered. "Fuck you. I'm talking about the one who went to get me a drink. The Steve Urkel. That's the one."

They both looked to the boy who was getting handed a small board of drinks. "I don't know. Are you sure he's-" Dirk began.

"Listen, I grew up in a town like this, okay? There's always that guy," Nikolai stated. At this point, Nate stopped playing and just listened to their conversation. "The dorks who masturbate a lot but they do not give it up."

Nate cringed while Dirk stated, "You told us you were from Brooklyn."

"My point is, this guy is definitely a closeted virgin, okay?" Nikolai replied. "I know guys like that. I've dated chicks who's-"

"I don't know."

"Well, we didn't drive all the way out here for nothing, so-"

At this point, Nate was straight up irritated by the way they were talking and approached. "Excuse me, dude," he spoke, his hands stuffed in his pockets.

Nikolai turned away from Dirk and focused on Nate. "Hey."

"That's my fucking best friend that you're talking about," Nate told him defensively. "And you're right. He is a virgin. A closeted one at least. And that beats sleeping with creepy ass dudes like you."

He walked away as Jonathan turned away from the bar, holding two drinks. "Okay, got 'em," he mumbled.

Nate stood in front of them. "Those guys are fucking weird, dude. Just forget about it," Nate stated.

Jonathan clearly wasn't listening because he had a small smile on his face as he spoke, "You know what? I think the lead singer might actually like me. My luck is finally turning up and I owe you one."

"Only because he thinks that you're a virgin," Nate stated. "I heard them talking."

Jonathan made a face. "What?" he asked quietly. "I'm not a virgin anymore. I had sex with Sarah Baker six months ago."

Nate pulled a shocked expression. "Wait, Sarah Baker from Home Ec.?" he asked. "That's who you lost your virginity with? And you didn't tell me?"

"It was a small thing I didn't want you to make a big deal about," Jonathan mumbled, offering one of the drinks to Nate who grabbed it, drinking it quickly as did Jonathan.

Nikolai stood on the stage with his band as he spoke, "Good evening, Devil's Lake."

"Devil's Kettle," someone called from the called.

"Fuckin'-A right, it is."

Jonathan and Nate moved closer to the stage as Low Shoulder began to play.

"All alone in an empty room," he sang. "Nothing left but the memories of when I had my best friend

And I don't know how we ended up here
I don't know but it's never been so clear
We made a mistake, dear
And I see...
The broken glass in front of me
I see...
Your shadow hanging over me
And your face, I can see...
Through the trees
I  find you
I will heal..."

Beside Nate, Jonathan grabbed his hand interlocking their fingers as the Check boy grinned happily at his best friend before turning back to the stage.

Most guys would pull each other's hands away if someone did that but they've known each other since they were kids so it was a small thing they used to do.

"The ruins left inside you
'Cause I'm still here breathing now
I'm still here breathing now...I'm still here breathing now

Until I'm set free..."

Nate's happy gaze fell on Jonathan who was still watching the lead singer with an almost dream-filled look.

"Goin' quiet through the trees..."

But suddenly, Nate's smile fell upon realizing that Jonathan was more focused on the band to which he released his hand, pulling his hand away to stuff in his jacket pocket.

"And I remember how we used to talk..."

Nate tore his gaze to look at something sparking and a small fire growing largely on the stage lights and curtains.

Before he knew it, the fire spread to the rafters and it fell to the tables.

Nate watched in shock as people caught on fire and people getting trampled as a crowd ran to the exit.

Nate wanted to do something, anything to help but he was paralyzed with fear and he couldn't move.

He finally moved to look at Jonathan who still stood in the same place, looking ahead as if the band was still playing.

He unfroze in that moment, grabbing his arm. "Come on. I know where to go!"

The entrance was blocked by fire so he dragged Jonathan to the restroom, putting the toilet cover down to step up and open the small bathroom window, climbing out.

Jonathan followed in pursuit, glancing back before Nate helped him crawl through the window.

As they got a little bit away from the bar, Jonathan collapsed to his knees causing Nate to fall in front of him, cupping his face. "Hey. Hey. Jon?" he spoke softly but it almost seemed as if the boy was in shock. Nate looked over Jonathan's shoulder in horror as he saw a man exit the bar, screaming, and fire. But Jonathan was still in shock causing Nate to lightly pat his cheek. "Hey. Jonathan?"

"Oh, thank God you guys are all right," someone spoke. It was Nikolai approaching the two boys with a drink in his hand. "I've been looking everywhere for you two. Listen, it's really dangerous out here. You wanna head someplace safer, like my van?"

"What?" Nate asked in confusion, not to mention he was creeped out. "That's not-" he began. "We barely fucking know you-"

"I'm in survival mode right now, and I want us to get to a familiar place," Nikolai replied, squatting beside them. "And right now, I feel like that's my van."

Jonathan only mumbled, 'okay', still in shock.

"Okay, this one's in shock," Nikolai stated. "Great. Are you in shock? Have some of that." He handed Jonathan his glass who drank from it slowly.

"Jonathan?" Nate uttered softly before Nikolai grabbed Jonathan's hand, pulling him towards the van while Nate immediately followed. "Hey. Let's go, Jonathan!"

"Let's go to the van," Nikolai told Jonathan.

"I wanna go to your really cool van," Jonathan mumbled, adjusting his glasses, now following Nikolai like a lost puppy. "Nate, let's go see his van."

"Why? Why the hell should we?" Nate questioned, now going into a slight panic as fear grasped him. "We have the Cadillac. Let's just get out of here! Let's go to McDonald's and get some french fries. Please? I'm starving."

"Nate, stop it!" Jonathan exclaimed. "Just shut up."

Nate fell silent as he watched Jonathan climb in the van, sitting down. Jonathan met his gaze one last time as Nickolai closed the door.

Breaking out of his thoughts, Nate flinched at the sound of an explosion going off behind him but his eyes were glued to the van.

He watched his best friend get into that van, and he knew something awful was going to happen.

Nate glared at Nikolai who merely shrugged at the boy with a happy smile before getting on the driver's side.

He was skinny and twisted and evil, like this petrified tree he saw when he was a kid.

And with the keys in his hand, he watched helplessly as the dark van left the lot.

***