Notes from the Grunge Galaxy

The tour started out pretty normal. It was just me, Troy, and the guys on a bus headed to the next venue. We'd had an early morning flight from LA to Denver, driven from Denver to Boulder and gotten checked in at the hotel, then spent a couple hours touring around Boulder before we had to go onstage. I don't think we were ever separated for more than about 15 minutes at any given time, which seemed like a good idea at the time.

I'm Dylan, by the way. You know who I am if you're reading this. Or maybe you don't? I have no idea if anyone's going to read this or not. Maybe someone will find it a thousand years from now and think 'wow that guy was really dirty minded' or something. Anyway, back to the story.

We were supposed to be done our show in Boulder by 10:30 but they kept us until 11 because of some stupid equipment issue with one of their speakers. Not a big deal, though - I was real tired anyway so getting home a little later wasn't much of a concern for me. When we finally got out of there, me and Troy walked up some stairs to get outside of the theatre where the bus was waiting for us. There's this long row of stairs that goes all the way up the side of this building and it's well lit because there's all these street lights lining the whole thing, but when you're walking up them kind of side-by-side with someone else it's easy to miss each other as you pass by under each light until you see him or her again when you reach your new light source, over and over and over again as you keep climbing higher and higher until you're finally outside in the cool night air breathing deep like 'whew that sucked'.

Until you realize your buddy isn't right next to you anymore and you turn around thinking you've lost him only to find he's still there but he's stopped in his tracks with his hand pressed against his head like he doesn't know what to do next so you stop too without thinking about it because there's nothing obvious that could be wrong up here except maybe something falling on your head but everything seems serene and quiet. After a second or two, you reach out your hand towards him as if to grab his shoulder, but before your fingers can even touch his coat sleeve, he grabs onto your wrist like he's drowning and pulls you down with him away from all the lights into a dark corner behind the stairs where nobody can see them. They're hidden away from everything else in this little corner made dark by a couple large wire cylinders attached to either side of the stairwell wall that block all view of them unless someone knows where they are hiding.

At this point, Dylan is confused and somewhat frightened, unsure of what is happening or why Chris has brought him to this hidden corner. Chris still wears his leather gloves, concealing both his hands and whatever intentions he might have. Chris attempts to reassure Dylan, saying "Don't worry man," as he releases Dylan's wrist. However, the situation remains tense and uncertain.

The two men now stand face to face, trying to read each other's expressions and understand the motives behind their actions. There is a palpable air of tension between them, both uncertain of what will happen next.

Dylan clears his throat, his voice heavy with concern. "What's going on, Chris? Why did you bring me over here? Is there something you need to tell me?"

Chris shifts uncomfortably, his eyes darting around the dimly lit corner. He clenches his gloved hands into fists and takes a deep breath, as if summoning the courage to speak. "Dylan, there's something... something you need to know," he starts, his voice barely above a whisper.

Dylan's heart pounds in his chest, his mind racing with all the possible explanations for Chris's odd behavior. He tries to remain calm, urging Chris to continue. "Tell me, Chris. What's happening?"

Chris briefly looks away, his gaze fixated on the ground. "I've been keeping something from you, Dylan," he admits reluctantly. "Something that could change everything."

Curiosity mixed with a pang of anxiety swirls within Dylan's mind. "Well, spit it out," he says, his patience waning. "What are you hiding?"

Chris takes a moment to choose his words carefully. "Remember that girl we met in Denver last month? The one at the after-party?"

Dylan furrows his brow, recalling the hazy memories of an unforgettable night. "Yeah, I remember her," he responds cautiously. "What about her?"

Chris's voice trembles as he speaks, his confidence faltering. "Dylan, she's pregnant. And I think... I think it might be mine."

Dylan's jaw drops in disbelief. The shock washes over him, his mind struggling to absorb the weight of the revelation. Questions swirl in his head, but he finds himself at a loss for words.

Chris's eyes meet Dylan's, pleading for understanding. "I wasn't sure at first, but tonight, she showed up at our show," he confesses, his voice filled with guilt. "She cornered me backstage and told me the news. I didn't know what to do, so I brought you here."

As the truth sinks in, Dylan's initial fear and confusion morph into a strange combination of empathy and sympathy. He reaches out slowly, placing a hand on Chris's shoulder, his voice softening. "Chris, why didn't you tell me sooner? We're a team. We face everything together."

Chris's gaze drops to the ground again, shame evident in his body language. "I was scared, Dylan. Scared of how you'd react, scared of the consequences. I didn't want to burden you."

A mix of emotions wrestles within Dylan's mind - anger, betrayal, but also an underlying sense of compassion. He takes a step closer to Chris, their faces just inches apart. "Look, I won't lie. This news is heavy, and it's going to change things for both of us. But we're brothers, Chris. We've faced worse together. We'll find a way to navigate this, one step at a time."

Chris's shoulders slump, and for the first time, Dylan sees vulnerability etched across his face. "You really mean that?" he asks, his voice wavering.

Dylan nods, a hint of a smile breaking through the tension. "Of course, Chris. The road ahead won't be easy, but we'll figure it out. Right now, the most important thing is being there for that girl and supporting her. And we'll do it together."

As the words settle between them, the weight of the situation begins to shift. The darkness of their hidden corner seems a little less suffocating, and the bond between the two friends grows stronger amidst the uncertainty. In that moment, they both understand that their journey has taken an unexpected turn, but united, they are determined to face whatever lies ahead.

Hand in hand, Dylan and Chris step out from their hiding place and back into the light, ready to face the challenges that await them with unwavering resolve. Though the future remains uncertain, they know that together, they can weather any storm that comes their way. And so, with newfound strength and a shared purpose, they make their way back to the waiting bus, their unbreakable bond stronger than ever before.