The Difference in Mind

Martin didn’t mind school parties. He and a bunch of friends always stuck together, having fun and especially, embarrassing each other and yourself while dancing.
And so it went, that Martin, Jeremy, Seth and Dylan stood in the corner of the auditorium.

There had been rumors a band would play. But no one knew what band. A school band, but there were so many of them. It would be a small gig, as an opening for the school’s anniversary.
And so it was, that Martin and Jeremy stood somewhere at the back of the hall, waiting for it to begin. There were instruments on the stage, and all the music fans had gathered as near to the stage as possible. Martin and Jeremy didn’t bother. Although Jeremy was a music fan, he didn’t want to get near the crowd.
The hall went all dark, and two figures came on stage. The spotlight turned on and Marten raised his eyebrows as he recognized one of them as his father. He was a rather small man. Martin was half a foot taller than him. He had grey hair, and also glasses.
Oh God no, Martin thought and felt embarrassed
‘We won’t make this too long’ his father spoke through a microphone ‘You heard the biggest bit this morning. So here are the Sharp Points with the song ‘Knights of Cydonia!’
‘MUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSE’ Jeremy screamed, and he lifted up his arms.
Martin raised his eyebrows. The lights went off, and Martin could see movement on the stage. Four persons were moving, getting to their instruments. Suddenly, the spotlights went on, and the screaming sound of a guitar was soaring through the room. It was soft, but it was still loud. The drummer tapped off, and began to drum, followed by a bass player.
The spotlights on the guitar player went on, who began to sing at once. Well, not sing, just sing on the melody. He was giving the rhythm with his guitar.
Than, he slide with his hand over the neck of the guitar, and suddenly, more lights and lasers went on. They began to play louder.
And than, Martin heard the best melody he had ever heard. It was a rif, so beautiful, and so great to hear. He had never heard music like this.
The guitar player on the stage seemed to enjoy it too, because he stood a bit tensed, with his head a bit tilted to the sealing. Martin recognized him! It was Gary!
He’s playing guitar? Martin thought, while he looked a bit puzzled

When he finished the riff, he began to hum again, it was beautiful. It was high. Martin couldn’t sing that high!
Than, Gary began to sing:

‘Come ride with me through the veils of history,
I'll show you a God falls asleep on the job,
How can we win when fools can be kings?
Don't waste your time or time will waste you’

Another guitar rif, and more humming. Another slide, and he went on:

‘No-one's going to take me alive
The time has come to make things right
You and I must fight for our rights
You and I must fight to survive

No-one's going to take me alive
The time has come to make things right
You and I must fight for our rights
You and I must fight to survive’

The drumming became harder, and Martin jumped away from the microphone and began to play a solo. Loud. Hard. He was banging his head and jumping around, stumping his feet. Martin couldn’t help it, but felt struck.

Next to him, Jeremy was screaming, shouting, and singing along. Or he did an attempt to.
Gary went back to the microphone, and sang again:

‘No-one's going to take me alive
The time has come to make things right
You and I must fight for our rights
You and I must fight to survive’

Another solo, and again, Gary left the microphone, to move over to the edge of the stage, like he was playing against the crowd. Everyone was screaming, jumping, shouting, their fists raised, clapping. Martin felt struck. Struck, because Gary was able to get the entire school wild

There was applause. Gary took of his guitar, and held it up above his head. Everyone screamed.
They went off the stage, and were greeted by friends and other students, clapping them on the shoulders. Martin felt like doing the same. That was fantastic!

‘That wasn’t that bad’ Martin said, still looking at Gary as Jeremy was still screaming
‘What?’ Jeremy said, suddenly standing still again, his arms still in the air
‘That was good!’
‘I know.’ Jeremy said ‘Muse are so awesome! They played it very well. Maybe that’s why Gary dyed his hair red’
‘What?’
‘The singer of Muse used to have red hair too. Just like he has’
Martin looked back at Gary, who had now joined Angelica, who had flung her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly, squeezing the living daylights out of him. Gary didn’t seem to mind


So than, the dance music started, and the crowd began to dance. Martin shook his head. He wanted to hear more! It had been great.
So the rest of the evening, he spent with Jeremy, Seth and Dylan.

Martin had seen Gary a few times later, and the other boy had smiled a few times at him, which made Martin smile back.
He isn’t that bad, Martin thought with a faint smile on his face. Not as most people think. He’s not that tough…

Martin took out a coin of his pocket and tapped Jeremy on his shoulder that he would get something to drink. Jeremy pushed a second coin in his hand and shouted to him he wanted a coke. Martin nodded and went over to the bar, pushing himself through the crowd
Martin stood at the bar, waiting for the barkeeper to return, when someone slammed his hand on the bar.
Martin looked up and saw it was Gary.
‘A coke please’ he shouted, and when he removed his hand, Martin saw a coin laying on the bar. Martin nodded and picked it up, waiting for the barkeeper
Three coke!’ he shouted to the barkeeper, who took three glasses and began to pour them.
Martin handled the man the coins and he received the glasses, Gary took a coke at once.
‘Thanks’ he said, and raised his glass ‘Cheers’
Martin raised a glass, and he and Gary saluted. Martin took a drink of his coke, and Gary grinned at him as he took a large gulp of coke.
‘Nice playing!’ Martin shouted
Gary grinned and gave a nod
‘Thanks. Did you like it?’
Martin nodded ‘Oh yes. ‘I’m not really into the music, but that was great!’
Gary gave a chuckle.
‘Thanks’
Martin smiled and wanted to walk away again, when Gary placed a hand on his arm.
‘With who are you?’ he asked
‘What?’ Martin shouted, unable to understand Gary
‘With who are you?’ Gary repeated louder
‘Oh, I’m with Jeremy and some other friends’
Gary nodded and took another drink of his coke.
There was a silence when they both looked at each other, and Martin had the idea Gary didn’t know what to say. Eventually, Martin raised the second glass
‘Will bring this one back now!’ he shouted, and Gary grinned and gave a nod. Martin nodded back and went back to Jeremy.

Martin handled the second drink to Jeremy. They stood in a corner as they both drank their drinks in silence, moving their heads at the rhythm of the music.
Martin noticed he was looking around a lot, and he soon found the one he had been looking for.
Gary stood with a small group of his friends, including Angelica, the blonde haired girl everyone thought was his girlfriend. Martin was no exception. He had seen them together for so often now. It wouldn’t surprise him if they would be together. Of course, Martin had asked a few times, but Gary had only grinned and shook his head, like he didn’t want to talk about it.

Jeremy nudged him on his shoulder
‘I need a piss’ he bellowed
‘Alright’ Martin said, and they both went to the side of the hall
‘I will wait here!’ he added, and Jeremy took off to the bathroom.
Martin leaned against the wall, drinking his coke. He was just staring around a bit. Trying to see some familiar faces. He did see some, and they seemed to enjoy their selves more than he did. Martin was bored. He was really satisfied about the lights. They were done much better this time.

Martin was scanning the crowd as his eyes fell on a couple that stood in the corner near him. They stood close into the shadow, and Martin could not recognize them. Not that he wanted to. By the looks of it, it seemed they were getting closer very second.
But Martin kept looking. He knew that figure. He knew that profile, the hair, and the clothes. He knew that person.
He blinked a few times, trying to see something through the thick layer of smoke, and the stroboscopic lights. Meanwhile, the two persons had contacted, and had started to kiss, and it was when the girl pushed the boy a bit until Martin recognized him.

It came all suddenly. A shock went through Martin’s body. He could feel his stomach turn and his body tremble a bit. What was that?
It was Gary. Gary and Angelica. They were kissing. Not just kissing, but kissing almost fiercely. Gary had his arms wrapped around Angelica’s waist, and Angelica had her arms around his neck, her fingers in his red hair.

It seemed like his eyes were knitted onto Gary and Angelica. He had seen people kissing before. But this disturbed him a bit. Maybe it was because he knew Gary? Martin’s friends had never been around girls very much, and they had certainly not snogged like this in public. Although it was in a corner, Martin wouldn’t find it very private to kiss a girl like this in here.

Martin almost didn’t notice how he was feeling from inside. His stomach was turning. His heart was beating rapidly, and he felt his mouth getting dry. Somehow, he felt a bit jealous. Probably at Gary. He was popular, and could get any girl he wanted. Martin was just a noob with glasses, who probably loved his computer more than his own mother.

Meanwhile, one of Angelica’s hands had moved, and was now on Gary’s back. Martin followed the hand, which was caressing Gary’s shirt. The hand went lower and lower.

Jeremy returned, and Martin’s head shot back to him
‘Shall we go to the other side of the hall?’
Jeremy raised his eyebrows
‘Sure…’ he said and shrugged
They both moved away from Gary and Angelica