“Ugh.”
“We’ll be fine.” He gave her a hug and ran after his boyfriend.
The three of them got into Jesper’s car. It was a second-hand SUV, a bit beat up on the exterior, but he’d bought it with the money he saved from his part-time job and was proud.
Noah and Jesper had a lot more in common than he’d initially thought, so, maybe one day he’d be as cool as him.
From what Kaj told him, Jesper’s parents’ separation had been rough. Apparently, his dad was a violent man who used to beat them both, which explained Katja’s overprotective behavior toward Jesper. Once the divorce was finalized, he had to leave the house because it belonged to her family, and they never saw him again. After that, the two of them lived a humble life for several years with Katja’s waitress paycheck, until she married Nikolaj and they moved in with them.
The engine roared as they waved goodbye to their parents, enthusiasm already bubbling inside them. Kaj turned sixteen yesterday, and today they’d be attending their first big concert for one of their favorite bands. Before leaving town, though, they made a small detour to pick up Theo and Val. Once they were all buckled up, ready to start their adventure, Jesper stepped on the gas, and they hit the road.
A playlist with most of the bands they would be seeing played on shuffle the entire trip, and two hours with these guys flew by. They were on a tight schedule when they finally pulled up near Jesper’s apartment, so they hopped out, left their backpacks in the car, and ran to catch the bus.
Noah was excited beyond imagination. Fredericia was a big city compared to their hometown, but Copenhagen was wild. The streets were lively and so vibrant it was likebeing in a completely different world. Nineteenth century residential buildings passed by the window as they rode down Frederiksborggade. Gorgeous trees skirted the street where people were coming and going in every direction, most probably enjoying the good weather and the end of the week.
They passed a beautiful square, where groups of friends sat at tables with beers in hand, and hopped off the bus to catch the metro, only to make another transfer at Christianshavn.
Twenty minutes later they were finally there, at Copenhell’s site. It was summer, but a black sea with just a few colorful accents was spread before their eyes. Metalheads definitely had no sense of self-preservation when it came to choosing their outfits under the searing sun. Noahlovedit. He wasn’t an outcast here. They all fell more into the “normie” category as none of them wore crazy hairstyles, had body modifications, particularly striking clothes, or scruffy beards. This was paradise.
“Hey!” Jesper greeted two heavily tattooed guys as they neared the R.I.P entrance—an exclusive area to relax between concerts.
“You made it,” one of them exclaimed, giving him a side hug.
“Barely, but yes. Anyway, this is my baby brother,” Jesper said, resting a hand on Kaj’s lower back. “And these are his friends and bandmates.”
“You guys have a band? That’s cool.”
“Thanks,” Val said.
“I’m Kurt, by the way.”
The three teens introduced themselves, shaking his hand.
“Nice to meet you guys,” the third one said. “I’m Paul. Excited?”
“You have no idea,” Theo replied.
“We should get going, or we’re gonna get shitty places.” Kurt pointed in the direction of the two main stages.
“Yeah, let’s go.”
Before they got there, though, they stopped at the bathrooms, sidestepping a couple of drunkards snoring on the floor beside the door, and then went to theBiergarten. It wouldn’t be a metal festival if they didn’t have beer running through their veins.
In the end, they didn’t get the best spots in the front row, but where they were wasn’t the worst either. Since the four teens were tall enough, they could still see the stage.
While they waited for the show to start, they all engaged in comfortable conversation. Noah could have never imagined that these guys, who were six years older and more experienced, would enjoy hanging out with them. They drank, joked, and even smoked weed. Though, he refused to do the last. The few times he’d tried tobacco or a joint, his throat had been all gritty and dry the next morning. Noah’s voice was his instrument, so he wouldn’t risk it. But it was amazing blending with the atmosphere like this.
He also got to see Kaj’s relationship with his brother firsthand. When Jesper came home during college breaks, it was only for a week or two. But Noah hadn’t often been around them when they were together. They’d talked several times, sometimes sharing anecdotes over a beer before or after rehearsal, but that was about it.
Now, however, their fraternal love was floating in the air. The way Kaj looked at Jesper with admiration. How Jesper never took his eyes off his little brother, becoming a wall to protect them against the careless drunkards snaking through the crowd. It made him feel happy for them, but he was also jealous for some reason.
As the light in the sky died, Noah saw something unexpected. Jesper and Paul exchanged a few words, then he whispered into his friend’s ear and groped his ass with purpose, making him smirk. Even though they weren’t subtle about it, he thought nobody else had seen. But after Paul and Kurt announced theywere moving to where the action really happened—the mosh pit—Kaj turned to his brother, determination shining in his eyes.
“Don’t you like girls?” he blurted, sounding angry.
Jesper snorted and took a sip of beer. “What? You’re the only one who can like both?”
“No, but I’ve told you about me and Noah. Why didn’t you tellme?”
