Drabble #2: An Unlikely Friendship (Patreon)

I wrote this for myself. Then decided to share it :,) 

Avina POV

Seven Lawless is a mystery.

Avina Khanna hasn’t known them long, but that much is obvious. Some days Seven is an open book: easy to read as Kieran and Pope. Others it’s like they’re a black cloud, shrouded in smoke and protected by a wall six-layers thick. Today is one of those days.

And Avina isn’t sure why.

Seven clears their throat and shakes their head in silent signal to cut off the music. Kieran and Pope glance at each other. Seven has done well since joining the band. The music is better, the lyrics are stronger, and they're creative as hell. Exactly what they all expected from the ex-lead singer of [band]. Avina had some interest in Seven as an artist; they used to watch [band] from afar, enraptured by Seven’s singing style. Sure, [MC] is good, so good that sometimes even Seven themself couldn’t keep up, but Seven is better. At least to Avina.

Or maybe that’s just bias playing a part.

“Sorry,” Seven says, tucking a lock of hair behind their ear. The misery is stark on their face. “I’m just…”

“It’s alright.” Kieran shrugs. “We’re still trying to get the hang of our energies.”

As Kieran nods, Pope stares at him with a shake of his head. “Energies?”

“Vibes? Auras?” Kieran shrugs. "Man, I don't know."

Avina says nothing, watching as Seven rubs their eyes, evidently trying to drown Kieran and Pope out. Avina’s been friends with them for ages, so they know intimately how easily Kieran and Pope’s shenanigans can frustrate someone.

“I’m going to take a break,” Seven blurts, cutting off a bickering Kieran and Pope. Avina’s brows lift, and Kieran and Pope glance at Seven with equal expressions of confusion.

“Oh…” Pope swallows. “Oka—”

Seven doesn’t wait for Pope to finish before they’re breezing out of the rehearsal room. Kieran and Pope glance at each other before looking at Avina, who shoots them a sharp look.

“What?” they both blurt in unison.

Avina removes the guitar and sets it down. “You guys don’t make it easier, you know.”

“What did we do?” Pope guffaws.

Avina ignores that to follow Seven out, hit by the slight breeze of outside. They whip their head around the street in search for the head of brown hair Avina has grown familiar with, finding nothing but an empty sidewalk. They begin moving cautiously, gazing around. How did Seven disappear so—

“There you are.”

Avina approaches a sitting Seven, their eyes landing on the phone in Seven’s hand. They scroll absently through what looks like a series of pictures. Avina gets closer, peering at the screen to see Seven looking at [band] social media page, specifically the post announcing Seven’s departure.

It's a black box, the bold white letters reading: After many discussions, [band] has made the decision to part ways with our co-singer, Seven Lawless. The decision was supported by both parties, and while it is not easy for any of us, we support Seven on their future endeavors. We ask for respect in our decision and not to speculate on the split. Thank you.

Avina remembers that being posted. None of them are big enough to make national news, but the underground music scene around here is pretty insular. Everything feels bigger than it is because of small the circle is; everyone knows everyone, or everyone knows someone who knows someone. Something happens and you feel like your world is imploding, and then you go outside and realize no one else knows. Or cares.

"Such a PR statement," Seven says bitterly. "I wasn't even there when this was posted, you know that? I was...told minutes before they posted it. People knew it was bullshit." 

Avina doesn't say anything, letting them rant to air. It seems like they need it. 

“I’m trying to get used to it,” Seven says, clicking their phone off. “The adjustment period is lasting longer than I thought.” Even though they huff in an attempt to make it sound like a joke, their face falls quickly after, the brutal honesty winning over their attempt at lightheartedness. 

Avina stands there, watching as Seven toys with their hands. They wonder if Seven expects them to say something. What can they say? Avina doesn’t know Seven that well aside from seeing them from afar. Listening to their music. Not only did Avina learn that Seven is a mystery, they also learned that the Seven on stage is nothing like the Seven off stage.

That’s a given, they know that, but it feels different with them. It almost feels like a defense mechanism. 

“What exactly are you trying to get used to?” they finally ask, trying their best at being delicate.

“Change,” Seven says in a low breath.

Avina creeps closer, and Seven’s eyes flicker up at them before they wordlessly scoot over, giving Avina space on the bench. They sit down, putting their hands between their legs, waiting for Seven to say something. When they don’t, Avina decides to speak again.

[BFF]: “Is this about…” They swallow. “Your…friend?”

[EX]: “Is this about…” They swallow. “Your…ex?”

They nod slowly, looking briefly amused. "Seven Lawless has baggage. Surprise."

Avina snorts. "We're musicians, we all have baggage."

Seven doesn’t say anything for a while before making a disapproving face. "Is it pathetic?”

Avina shakes their head. “Not at all!” The sudden strength of their words makes Seven jump and they laugh a little. “Sorry. I mean, I think I’d be the same way. Kieran and Pope...it feels like I'm closer to them than my own family sometimes. Splitting with them would feel"--they exhale--"life ending."

Seven smiles softly. “Maybe I should go on a break.” They straighten, staring at their shoes. “Maybe…” Their smile dies. “A hiatus would be good for me.”

Avina can see that even saying the words is a feat. Their body slackens and they frown, clearly disapproving of the idea they themselves suggested. Avina doesn’t need to know Seven for years to know music is their life. They can see it when they sing. Seven Lawless going on hiatus…a part of them thinks that’d do more harm than good.

“Is that really what you want?”

Seven blinks.

“Are you really going to let go of what you love because of [MC]?” At their name, Seven flinches, and Avina almost apologizes but they quickly stop themself. Seven needs to hear this. They need someone to shake them out of this…fog. “Are you going to let [them] win?”

“Win?” they reply weakly.

“You go on a hiatus and they’ll continue making music.” Avina straightens, looking away. “And you’ll be punishing yourself for something that’s not your fault.”

“Punishing myself…” Avina looks back at them, seeing Seven’s eyes already their direction. “Is that what I’d be doing?”

"You seem like you do that a lot, no offense."

Seven shakes their head. "I didn't ask to be psychoanalyzed."

Seven doesn't say it unkindly; it's simply the truth. Avina has learned that they're honest, even when they shouldn't be. Direct, always telling people what's on their mind...and yet it feels like Seven never actually says what they mean. 

Okay. Maybe I am psychoanalyzing them.

“You love music,” Avina replies, expression soft. "Going on hiatus..." They don’t elaborate. There’s no need to explain.

“Yeah.” Seven blows a breath. “I do.”

“And plus,” Avina shrugs, “you can show them what you’re missing.”

Seven bites their lip. “Are you telling me to keep going out of spite?”

Avina laughs. “Does it work?”

“What does that say about me that it does?”

They share a laugh, and Avina finds themself nudging Seven’s shoulder with their own. It feels nice, talking like this. Seven has been guarded for most of their time with the band, their mind elsewhere when not on the music. Avina wonders what kind of person MC is to affect someone like Seven Lawless so greatly. What is it like to have that power over someone? To be the cause for their mood change, to be the center of their thoughts? Is it a responsibility MC didn’t want to have, to feel weighed down by someone else? 

That doesn't seem like love. It feels like control. Like two people so dependent on each other that they don't know how to be apart. Imagine not knowing how to be your own person. It sounds miserable, if Avina were being honest. 

Avina hardly knows what happened; Seven hasn’t talked much about it, but from the little they’ve spoken, it feels deeper than a break up of the band.

“I know it doesn’t mean much but we’re really glad to have you part of the band,” Avina says softly. “And your old band made a mistake letting you go, but I’m glad they did.”

Seven doesn’t say anything for a while, before saying, “Thank you.”

When they smile at them, Avina feels lighter. It feels like getting a smile from Seven Lawless is something you have to earn, and they feel like they’ve done something right.

“I guess we should go back.” Seven stands, running a hand through their hair in an attempt to fix it. 

Avina looks up. “What happened to your hiatus?” they tease.

“I was just talking crap.” Seven snorts, beginning to walk back in. “As if I’d ever let it go. Plus, spite, remember?” They turn, raising their arms. “I am fueled by the blood of my enemies.”

They laugh, surprised by the sudden change in mood. “I think I created a monster.”

“You have so much influence over me already,” they joke as Avina begins to follow them back inside. “Are you proud?”

Maybe a little, Avina thinks.