Daily Free-Write March 14, 2020 (Patreon)

“Oh cool, this app is sick!”

“Yeah,” said Trevor, pointing to the screen. “It’s got like every song ever, including all the best covers of your favorite video game music. I’m telling you I just can’t stop listening to it!”

“Thanks, man!” said Devin. He didn’t really know Trevor very well, but they sat net to each other in advanced computer programming and bonded over their love of Uber Jumbo Man video game heavy metal covers. Before the class was over Jack was already rocking out to the sweet sound of electric guitar shredding to the frenetic beats of 80’s video game music. It left him feeling a bit light headed, but he didn’t think too much of it. He was probably just riding the high of the sweet sweet tunes.

Trevor smiled and steepled his fingers. “Excellent. Keep listening my little pretty, and you will…”

“Excuse me! The lesson isn’t over, Trevor.”

A stern looking man with a ring of hair around his bald head and thick glasses leaned over the programmer and stared.

“Sorry, Mr. Mason,” Trevor mumbled.

“And you, take those earpods out. You’re supposed to be in class.”

Devin took out his earphones and looked down. “Sowwy… I-Imean sorry,” he said shaking his head. Why did it come out like that?

Satisfied, the teacher went to the front of the class again and continued his lecture on the advanced use of shells. Devin was already bored. He knew all this stuff already! He wanted to get back to that music – it was addictive, as Trevor had said.

“Hey man, wanna come back to my place and hang?” asked Trevor after class ended.

“Nah, no thanks but thank you,” said Devin. “I got to do, uh… laundry or something. Maybe next time.”

“Oh okay then,” said Trevor, frowning as Devin packed up his things and left. He made a fist. “Curses…”

“Eh? What was that?” asked Devin, popping out one of his earpods.

“Oh, nothing,” said Trevor, realizing he’d been heard. “I was just… talking to myself.”

Devin nodded and walked away muttering under his breath. “Weird kid…”

“Curses…” said Trevor, more softly, as Devin walked away.

That night Devin got nothing done. He just lay there listening to the music. Something about it was so relaxing, so calming. He didn’t feel hunger, or any other of the signals his body was giving him. Just felt the sweet sensations of amazing music in his ears. If it wasn’t for the time limit that automatically stopped the app for 30 minutes, he might’ve stayed like that until his battery ran out. As it was, he’d been listening far too long. It was well past midnight when he realized he was still sitting on his living room couch. His roommates had long since gone to bed, and he was alone with the table lamp illuminating the living room. From the other end of the couch.

He sat up and rubbed his hand.

“Ohh,” he groaned, feeling the hunger pangs of an empty stomach. “How long was I out?”

He scratched his crotch and his hand came away wet.

“What the fudge?” he said to himself. Why was he wet? He smelled the air and realized it was piss. “Oh shit!” he said, jumping up. He must have had to go really bad and ended up peeing himself while he was out of it. He decided to grab something to eat and take a quick shower. But then, his roommates had complained enough about his late night meanderings which kept them up. He thought he’d better just toss his pants in the washer for later and dry himself off with a towel.

Soon he was good as new – aside from smelling a little pissy – and he was snacking on a peanut bar in the kitchen. He left the towel on the couch to try and soak up some of the wetness. He was pretty sure that was going to stain, and he’d have some explaining do to his roommates when they got up. Oh well, he shrugged. The couch was free on the side of the street anyway.

He looked back down at his phone screen which had found itself in his hand. 30 minutes had passed. He could listen again. But he really ought to get some sleep. It was a tough decision but he eventually gave up pretending and popped in his earpods. Maybe he could fall asleep to it. A map flashed briefly across the screen and then blipped out of existence.

“What was that?” he said to himself, squinting at the screen. “Huh. That was weird…”

Soon enough he didn’t care as the waves of sound washed over him. He found himself on his back again blissing out. His head so fuzzy. He began to drool, and his thumb made its way into his mouth, not that he noticed.

By the time morning and it was time to go to class, he was soaked once more. He grunted and let out a fart into his undies. Might as well, they were done anyway. Into the wash, and this time he took an actual shower before heading off to class. He didn’t notice that he’d forgotten his shoes, or that his thumb had found its way into his mouth as he walked off to class. Some people gave him strange looks as he wandered into class, his hair all disheveled like a little boy who was allowed to run wild.

He plopped into the seat next to Trevor, swinging his legs and wiggling all around, not able to sit still for even a second. He was about 10 minutes late and the teacher was not pleased, but Devin barely noticed unto Mr. Mason was right in his face.

“And just what is your excuse this time, Devin?”

“Huh? Wadda ya mean?”

“Late? And you haven’t turned in your project?”

“Pwoject? Whats that?”

Devin was perplexed. He had come to class more out of reflex than anything, but now that he was there, he really wasn’t sure what he was even supposed to be doing there.

“We’ll talk about this later,” said the teacher, scowling. He walked off to the front of the class and Trevor looked on in amazement. It was really working! He couldn’t wait to see how things progressed with Devin.

“Don’t worry about that mean old teacher,” he whispered to Devin. “Just listen to your music. That’ll make you feel better.”

Devin smiled. Trevor was right. He would feel better with some music.