Chapter 34: Temperance VI

The next day, the gig started. Once again, Duncan sat on a bar stool, his eyes fixed on the small stage that everyone else was staring at. The place was packed, with most standing to watch the concert, some sitting at tables, and a small group of people leaning against the wall, listening intently to the music. It was a particularly cold night, but in this atmosphere, Duncan doubted people were shivering from the weather. The music was loud. Really loud. The sound of the drums echoed roughly through the room, the strings of the guitar felt exciting, and even though the singer was shouting more than actually singing, people still enjoyed the performance. It was the debut of the 'Mary Janes,' and it was one hell of a debut, at least in Duncan's opinion.

The band members seemed to be enjoying it as well. All of them wore gothic makeup and clothing—black, leathery jackets and stockings. Gwen had even taken off her usual dorky headband and sported a messy hairstyle. They were all smiling, even through the sweat. They looked like they were on top of the world, like nothing could make them happier.

Duncan observed the scene, feeling the energy and excitement radiate from the stage. The crowd's enthusiasm was contagious, and he couldn't help but be drawn into the moment. The music, though loud, created a sense of unity among the listeners. The different sections of the bar—the standing crowd, the seated patrons, and the wall-leaners—all seemed to merge into one collective experience.

As the performance continued, Duncan noticed Gwen's gaze meet his. Her previously happy face turned a bit shy, a stark contrast to her confident stage presence. There was a brief moment of connection between them, and Duncan felt a surge of pride for his friend, after all, he saw the process that led to this moment: on how she tried to balance studying with band practice, how she loses sleep over it, and how she couldn't stop thinking about this exact moment. The gig was more than just a performance; it was a testament to the hard work, passion, and determination of Gwen and her bandmates. 

The night continued with the same high energy, the crowd cheering and the band playing their hearts out. Duncan knew this was a night to remember, not just for the 'Mary Janes,' but for him as well. It was a moment of pure, unadulterated joy—a break from the monotony of everyday life, the first truly fulfilling thing he did in these months since he entered high school. Not those football games, but this. A simple concert that meant a lot to his friend, so it meant a lot to him as well. Duncan was grateful to be a part of it.

===

It was well past midnight, and the once vibrant room now lay empty, save for a couple of people mopping the sticky floor left by the night's performance. Among them was Duncan, who had volunteered to help the venue's owner.

"You don't have to help, you know?" came a voice from behind. It was MJ, emerging from the backstage waiting room with the others, all except Gwen. They looked tired but happy, the excitement of the gig still lingering in their smiles. "You've already done a lot for us."

"Well, I don't have anything else to do." Duncan shrugged. "Besides, you all look dead tired. I'll finish this, then we can go home."

"Nope." Gloria stepped in, gently but firmly taking the mop from Duncan's hand. He let her. "You trying to make us feel guilty or something, boss? Relax, sit this one out, buy yourself a drink or two."

Duncan sighed and stepped aside. "Then I'll bring your equipment to the car."

"Don't worry about tha—"

"The faster we do it, the faster we go home," Duncan cut her off, waving his hand dismissively. He went to the back stage, grabbing one of the guitar cases that had already been tidied up. He then turned to the three girls, who quickly moved to help the others cleaning.

"Where's Gwen, by the way?" Duncan asked. "She's not sleeping in the waiting room, is she?"

"Nothing like that." MJ shrugged. "She's outside, at the park."

Duncan raised his brow. "Outside? Didn't see her go though."

"She went through the backdoor."

"Of course." Duncan hummed, grabbing his jacket at the stool and turning away towards the entrance of the venue. "Well, I'll leave you ladies to it."

===

It was when Duncan was outside that he saw Paul already waiting at the parking lot near the park, with the car window of the driver's seat open to let in the cold air of the night, while the engine was turned off. The autumn air was crisp and refreshing, the trees displaying vibrant shades of red, with fallen leaves forming colorful piles on the ground. The scenery was serene, contrasting with the lively atmosphere Duncan had just left.

When Paul saw Duncan, he waved his hand, greeting the boy from afar. Upon noticing the guitar case in Duncan's hand, Paul quickly got out and opened the trunk, his breath visible in the cool night air.

"Ready to go home?" Paul asked, taking the guitar case from Duncan. "Your mother's been calling. You haven't picked up her phone."

"Really?" Duncan raised his brow, taking out his phone. Sure enough, there were a couple of missed calls from his mother. "Well, I was busy inside."

"I bet." Paul smirked. "How was your first party?"

"Not really a party, is it?" Duncan scoffed, glancing back at the venue across the street where the band had performed.

"Did you drink something there?" Paul asked, leaning against the car. "And by drink, I mean booze. Doesn't smell like you drank any, though."

"The owner is a… responsible man." Duncan sighed, turning his gaze to the venue. "Mind helping move the rest?"

"Sure. What are the ladies doing?" Paul said, closing the trunk and locking the car temporarily. "It's all done, right?"

"Well, they're helping clean up here and there. Should be finished in a couple of minutes," Duncan replied. "Though I gotta find Gwen; she's somewhere around the park."

"You do that." Paul hummed, patting Duncan's shoulder as he passed him, walking towards the venue. Duncan stood alone near the car, the cool wind ruffling his hair. He glanced around the park, the evening's quiet momentarily interrupted by the distant sounds of the city.

===

Alone, Gwen sat on one of the benches around the fountain in Washington State Park. The gothic clothing she wore, complete with stockings, was now complemented by a scarf to combat the chill of the cold November night. The only sound accompanying her was the water cascading from the fountain, its occasional spray brushing against her skin, which she somehow didn't mind. She stared down at the concrete floor, her face devoid of expression. Lost in her thoughts, she ignored everything around her, not even noticing someone approaching.

It was the sudden warmth enveloping her that broke her trance. She looked up to see Duncan wrapping his jacket around her shoulders. Surprised, she realized how long she had been sitting there, lost in thought.

"It's not safe, you know? Being alone in a park at midnight," Duncan said, sitting beside her. "There are a bunch of homeless people around, and some might try something on you. Didn't your dad tell you that?"

"Y-Yeah. Thanks for the jacket," Gwen stuttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You alright?" Duncan questioned, concern evident in his voice. "You're spacing out."

"I'm fine," she murmured. "Why are you here?"

"I should ask you the same question."

The girl sighed deeply. "I'm just looking for some fresh air."

Duncan hummed thoughtfully. "The others are helping clean up the venue. We're going home soon."

"Shit," she murmured. "I should go back then—"

"It's fine, they're probably done by now," Duncan cut her off. "Just relax here for a bit."

Gwen looked at him, and he merely shrugged at her stare. She sighed again, leaning back against the bench as she snuggled closer to his jacket, finally feeling the cold. The sound of the fountain was still there, a calming presence amid the silence. Though now accompanied by Duncan, the quiet felt comfortable, a soothing contrast to the noise of the venue.

"You did great on your first performance," Duncan broke the ice. "Definitely not a nervous wreck, I can tell you that."

Gwen scoffed lightly. "After all that practice, I sure hope you'd think that."

"So… When's the next performance?"

Gwen turned to him once more, raising her brow as if studying his expression. "What?" Duncan shrugged. "I'm just asking…"

"Yeah, sure…" Gwen muttered, turning her gaze back to the floor. "I don't know… I don't even know if I could continue, to be honest."

"Wait, why?" Duncan was quite surprised at her statement. "Didn't you enjoy it?"

"Yeah, but… in that crowd? And with the future I want? I don't think I could handle it," she said. "I realized that this kind of stuff is not my thing. Too noisy, too much stimulation from the crowd."

"I get it," Duncan hummed. "I shouldn't be surprised, considering you didn't even want to dance at the homecoming… You looked good in that outfit though, sad to think I won't see it anymore if you quit."

Hearing this, Gwen nudged him with her elbow, a faint blush on her cheeks. "Dork. I'm serious."

"When am I not serious?" Duncan chuckled, his tone light.

Gwen scoffed mockingly, breathing out a thick fog due to the cold weather. "So, you really want to quit?" Duncan asked again. "What are you going to say to the others?"

"I… don't know. Quit is a bit drastic…" she murmured.

"You don't know what to say, so you don't want to quit," Duncan stated, as if reading her mind. Gwen didn't respond. "Gwen… just be honest, I'm sure they'll understand. You're already juggling between homework and other things, and you've barely slept these past weeks."

"Alright…" Gwen sighed, her voice softening. "I'll try. Though, maybe one more gig, and I'm done."

"Sure. That'll be great." Duncan hummed.

Gwen turned her gaze towards Duncan once more, a slight smile tugging at her lips. Duncan raised his brow, looking almost questioning.

"What are you doing this winter break?" she asked.

"I don't know, to be honest." Duncan shrugged. "Probably just stay in my room. It's gotten pretty cold."

"Oh come on." Gwen clicked her tongue. "Shouldn't you like… go outside or anything?"

"What, you want to go somewhere?" said Duncan. "I genuinely don't know what I'm going to do."

"Well, I could show you around the city. New York's pretty chill this time of year."

"It's not like I never go anywhere, Gwen." Duncan rolled his eyes. "I've lived here for a long time now; I was just homeschooled."

"Ever had any friends going around with you?" Gwen raised her brow.

"Well…" Duncan muttered. "Not really.

"Then that's it. But hey, if you prefer your bed over me, it's up to you." Gwen said, turning away from Duncan and standing up from the bench, sighing in relaxation. "Come on, let's go home."

Duncan could only look at Gwen in amusement. If that is an attempt to give a hint, it is quite cute. He chuckled, standing up from the bench as well, before walking side by side with the girl.

"Thanks, by the way. Really." Gwen muttered. "This… gig might not be my thing after all, but still, it was a great memory to make. And it's all thanks to you."

"I'm just a chaperone, don't thank me for anything." Duncan shrugged. "If anything, you should thank Paul."

"You should accept thankfulness once in a while." Gwen scoffed.

Duncan once again chuckled, and the atmosphere between the two became quiet. The walk towards the car was a calm one, accompanied by the chill breeze of the night and the dim lights that surrounded this concrete jungle. The vibrant shades of red from the autumn leaves added a touch of warmth to the cold night.

But then, suddenly, Gwen stopped.

"Duncan," she murmured.

"Hm?" Duncan stopped as well.

"I…" Gwen hesitated, but she shook her head. "Never mind."

Duncan was about to tease her about being, well, a tease, but seeing her conflicted expression, he decided not to. It was then that the sound of chains breaking echoed inside his mind. Unlike before, this time it left him feeling conflicted. However, as Gwen continued to walk, he brushed it off for now, before joining the others to go back home.

===

It was almost two in the morning when Duncan opened the front door of his home. Stepping inside, he was greeted by the sight of his mother sitting on the couch in the living room, her face illuminated by the glow of her phone. The air was thick with a sense of unease. When she noticed Duncan, she sighed deeply, the weight of worry evident in her eyes.

"What took you so long? I thought it was going to end by midnight," she asked, her voice tinged with concern.

"It did. We just stayed to clean up," Duncan replied, noticing the tension in her posture. "Why? Did something happen?"

His mother looked at him, her expression heavy with news she struggled to share. "There's a family emergency," she said quietly.

"What?" Duncan's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"

"My sister, your aunt... she's passed away," she murmured, her voice breaking slightly. "We need to go to England."

===

NEW RANK UP!

Temperance VIII - Perception of the Patient: Your view towards the world slows down when you want.