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Gareth is the baby of the group, always has been, always will be. He's a year younger than Jeff and Frankie, and four years younger than Eddie. He was behind in everything, but it just was how it was.
He was a drummer and they needed one. The fact that he was the best drummer in a 100 mile radius helped.
But because of them hitting the ground running the moment he graduated, he didn't really get to have much of a regular young adult life.
He didn't really have much of a rockstar one either.
He had three extremely overprotective big brothers constantly by his side making sure he didn't do anything dumb, but they also made sure he didn't do anything at all.
"Promised your mom we would watch out for you," Jeff said.
"Last thing we need is you getting involved with some girl and ruining the band," Frankie said.
"Don't rush it, man," Eddie said.
But Gareth was now 20 years old and had never even kissed a girl. Or a boy, he didn't know what he was into. How could he? None of them would leave him alone long enough in the bars he was technically too young to get into to try.
Tonight. He would find a way to shake them tonight. He'd find a girl in the crowd, he'd buy her a drink, and he'd hope that she'd at least be willing to check this one thing off his list.
If he was gonna be a rockstar, he should get to kiss someone.
They were playing a smaller venue tonight, opening for a band that was bigger than them in theory, but not in talent. Story of their lives.
Hopefully, everyone would be distracted by the main act to not pay attention if he slipped off.
He was dripping sweat, cursing the fact that these small venues never had decent ventilation or fans for them to cool off, and the stage lights were always too close, building up a furnace on the stage.
His drums were packed, his shirt rolled up to help him cool off the best he could while he sipped on water. He hadn't even gotten a beer tonight, a nervous flutter in his stomach that he didn't want to make worse with feeling bloated from the combination of hops and heat.
"Gare!" Jeff's voice interrupted his walk towards the bar.
Dammit.
"You wanna head out? We're all so fuckin' hot."
"Yeah, yeah, let me just grab another water. Feeling kinda lightheaded."
That was definitely not the right thing to say. Jeff's mouth turned down in a concerned frown.
"Well, let's get you outside then. You need some fresh air. Eddie!" Eddie yelled back in acknowledgement. "Get Gareth a water!"
"I'm okay, I can get it." He argued, desperate to let his plan work. "You guys head out, be there in a few."
"Like hell am I leaving you alone when you're not feeling good," Jeff wrapped his arm around his shoulders and started pulling him towards the door. "You gotta speak up sooner."
"Jeff. Please."
Something in his voice must have alerted Jeff to the seriousness of his plan because he quickly pulled his arm away.
"What's going on?"
"I just need to be alone for a bit. Please?" Gareth wasn't afraid to pull out the pout. The pout worked on his mom every time. It had to work now, too. "Just for a little bit?"
Jeff searched his face, probably trying to see if there was something he should be worried about.
"I'll distract them for 15 minutes. But that's all I can guarantee," he finally agreed. "Whatever it is you're planning, please be safe. Please."
"What the hell could I possibly get up to in 15 minutes?"
Jeff sighed. "Don't ever ask that question to Eddie or Frankie."
He walked away and Gareth watched as he convinced them both to walk outside, probably to get some fresh air. He probably didn't have to be that convincing.
God, it was so hot.
The bar area of the venue was crowded, a lot of people taking the break between sets to throw back a shot or chug a beer. He genuinely did just need a water, so he forced his way through the people and got the attention of the bartender.
"Not a fan of beer?" A woman in a black dress and leather jacket asked him. She was smiling, sipping on something that could be water, might be a vodka tonic. The lighting wasn't good enough to see bubbles.
"Not a fan of being hot," Gareth smiled.
"Awful confident of you."
Oh. Oh shit. Was she flirting with him?
"Trying something new tonight, I guess."
"Oh? Anything in particular?"
Gareth liked her smile, her eyes. She seemed a few years older than him, closer to Eddie's age.
"Well…I've never actually kissed anyone before," Gareth figured honesty was the best policy.
"Never?" She didn't believe him, but that was okay. She'd figure it out if she let him make a move.
"Never."
"Let's give it a go then."
So he did.
She leaned in, closed her eyes, and he was having his first kiss. He didn't know her name, he was surrounded by hundreds of people, and he was certain that stars were exploding behind his eyes.
She pulled away after a few seconds, smiling, winking, and walked away.
"Damn, she didn't even give you a name?" A guy to Gareth's left asked, watching as she walked away.
Gareth shook his head. "Didn't need it."
The guy touched his arm and smiled at him, much like the woman had before.
"I'm Evan. You're the drummer, right?"
"Sure am."
"You wanna have a kiss with someone you know the name of?" Evan asked.
Gareth wasn't about to pass up this opportunity, so he nodded.
When Evan kissed him, he saw fireworks.
Stars and fireworks.
"Wanna come outside?" Evan asked.
Gareth shook his head.
Firsts and seconds were enough for now.