Page 2 of The Music of Greyson Hyun
“I put my foot down this year and told them I didn’t want them to.” I made my way to the kitchen to see what we had in the fridge—nothing but beer. I wasn’t sure what I’d expected since neither of the other two had likely been shopping yet, but Kellan wasn’t one to let the apartment’s alcohol supply run low.
Meanwhile, Josh and Kellan burst into fits of laughter.
“I’m sure you did,” Kellan said.
With a sigh, I grabbed one of the beers and popped it open. “Also, there was a long line, and my dad was probably going to murder my mom if he had to wait in it. It was better for everyone’s health if I came on my own.” I took a swig from the bottle.
“That sounds more like it.” Josh raised his own bottle in a salute.
After that, I brought my things to my room and unpacked while I finished my beer. It didn’t take long. Like I said, I only had a couple of suitcases, but afterward, I found myself lying on my freshly made bed, enjoying the sun streaming through the blinds, with a happy buzz in my stomach. I was finally home.
The summer hadn’t been the worst in recorded history, but it had still been draining following rules that weren’t my own and sticking to a schedule I hadn’t made for myself. Being back at school, I felt like I couldbreatheagain. I would actually be treated my age and like not some perpetual fifteen-year-old.
I didn’t know how long I lay there, but I was pretty sure I fell asleep. It was getting dark out when someone knocked onmy door. I peered through my eyelashes to see Kellan leaning against the frame.
“I know you aren’t taking a nap already.” He folded his arms across his chest.
“Nope, just resting my eyes.” I sat up to prove my point.
“Mm-kay,” Kellan said. “But you should get dressed. We’re going out.”
My heart skipped a beat in anticipation. I hadn’t “gone out” in months. “Where?”
With a smile, Kellan held up the crumpled flyer I’d apparently left in the kitchen. “How do you feel about going to a concert?”
We arrivedat Lucky Charlie’s Bar around seven thirty. A band already occupied the stage, but it didn’t take more than a cursory look to know that the band playing wasnotthe one from the flyers—Dreamdust or whatever they’d been called. For one, the lead singer was some girl.
Still, the music was good, and Lucky Charlie’s was a frequent hangout spot for Josh, Kellan, and me so we sidled up to the bar and ordered a few drinks. We found a place to sit pretty easily since everyone was in the center of the bar, close to the stage.
“Is it just me, or is it stupid crowded in here?” I asked over the lead singer’s lyrics of a lost lover.
“Not just you. It’s really busy tonight.” Josh peered around the room with a look of resentment.
“I guess these Dreamscape people are pretty popular.” Kellan gave an unbothered shrug. “Or everyone is just excited to be back.”
I took a swig from my drink, watching the people milling about. While most were swaying to the music, many of them, mostly girls, huddled in groups, chittering excitedly among themselves. Kellan was probably right. Whoever these Dreamscape people were, they had a fanbase eager to watch them perform. I must have been more out of touch with what was popular on campus than I’d thought.
We continued to talk between us, catching up about our summers. Josh had spent the break volunteering at an animal shelter. He planned on going to vet school, and the shelter appealed to his altruistic streak. Meanwhile, Kellan had spent most of his time on his dad’s boat fishing and drinking. Which sounded lovely compared to my summer spent working concessions at an old movie theater for some extra spending cash.
Kellan had just returned from the bar with our third round of drinks when the music stopped.
“We’re RNA,” the lead singer said.
The crowd cheered.
She waited for them to calm down before continuing. “Now, it’s my immense pleasure to introduce the main act tonight—”
The noise of the crowd swelled, and more people pressed closer to the stage. The lead singer of RNA smiled into her microphone, and I shot Kellan and Josh curious looks.
“The moment you’ve all been waiting for.” The girl on stage seemed to revel in the rising anticipation because she took a dramatic pause. It didn’t stop the crowd’s cheering from building. With a flourish, the RNA singer threw her hand to the side and yelled, “Dreamscape!”
Four figures ran out on stage. One of them paused by the RNA singer and gave her a hug before RNA made their way offstage. The noise from the crowd crescendoed in that moment as everyone lost their damn minds.
A chant rose over the noise.
“Dreamscape! Dreamscape! Dreamscape!”
“Guess these guysarea big deal,” Kellan said, but he sounded so far away over the uproar.
