Secret Band Meeting. [CLOSED]

[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

Chase strolled into the staff room for his morning coffee at a time that was way to early for him. He loved teaching but hated waking up so early. It was just ridiculous. Why couldn't school start at like ten or later. Chase smiled as he remembered thinking the exact same thing when he went to Hogwarts. Minds really don't change over time.

Chase sighed as he poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down at the table with a newspaper in his hand. He loved reading the paper with a cup of coffee. It was the perfect way to start a too early morning.

Chase looked at the clock, thinking that it was about time for Brent to come in for the morning as well. He always came in about now and it was the perfect time to talk about the band together. They couldn't talk about it in front of some people, as it was secretive. So they had to talk about it in secret. Which Chase was fine with. It made no difference to him.

[Brent McKinney-Jackson]

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[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

Chase sighed heavily when Brent walked in and greeted him, using that stupid nickname that he couldn't seem to get Brent to stop using. He just rolled his eyes and sipped more of his coffee. Knowing full well that even if he told Brent off for using that nickname it wouldn't make a difference. He would still call him that.

"Morning! What a lovely day, eh?" Chase winked jokingly at Brent. Knowing full well that Brent was no doubt tired as he normally was every morning due to staying up late for something or another. He was too predictable. At least for someone that knew him as good as Chase did.

"Lyrics? Lay them on me! I have a while before my first class of the day. Sometime we need to get the whole band together." Chase wanted to have a full band meeting, so they could actually play music instead of talking about lyrics and such. Brent was always the one that wrote lyrics. As he was the best at it. But we all had to create the music to go with the lyrics and that involved everyone together.

[Brent McKinney-Jackson]

[/i] of us have to stay up most of the night doing it."

He reached into his pocket, still with his head on the table, and pulled out several pieces of rolled up parchment that were all torn in one place or another. They were all filled with lyrics. Some were just random lines on there own or in pairs. Others were full verses or choruses he had put together. Actually, he had the basics of a whole song in there somewhere. Brent hoped Chase would be able to read his handwriting because even he had to admit it was all over the place. He pushed the parchment towards Chase. Yawning, he rested his head on his arm. "There's almost a whole song in there, I've been working on it since last week. Called Mercenary." he murmured before taking a gulp of his coffee, "And, yeah, we definitely do. Half a band is not good enough for practice."[/color][/font][/ul]

[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

Chase knew Brent enough to know that he was trying his hardest not to laugh at him. He was okay with that, years had taught him that things weren't going to change. He just has to grin and bear it every time it comes out, which, thankfully, tends to stay only between the two of them.

Chase chuckled softly as Brent's head barely left the table after he got his cup of coffee. He knew fully well that Brent would maybe take a sip of that. He only got it to distract himself. Sometimes it even scared himself how much he knew about Brent. Then again, he did know him for the last 20 years or so. Dated for one, band for like 10. He supposed that would make him know a man very well.

Chase looked at the random lyrics on the parchment. It looked like it had gone through hell. Torn and ripped. Chase just rolled his eyes and read some of the lyrics on the page.


In love, I’ve always been a mercenary, but I never leave my post when the cash runs out
I want to make you quiver
Make your backbone shiver
Hey kid, take the stage and deliver


Chase laughed out loud. Where did this guy come up with brilliance like this? He didn't know. But he loved it.

"This stuff is great, Brenty-boo!" Chase exclaimed. Getting back at him from his earlier nickname by using the nickname Brent hated. "What inspiration wrote this?"

[Brent McKinney-Jackson]

[/i] going to say 'thank you'." he grumbled, picking his head up off the table so he could glare properly at Chase, "I don't think I will now."
He could cope with 'Brenty' from his friends but Brent drew the line at 'Brenty-boo' because that one really pissed him off. Chase knew Brent hated that nickname with a burning passion but Brent had kind of asked for it by calling him 'Chay-Chay' first.

"I think it was from when I was in Russia not that long ago and before you ask I'm not telling you why I was there and what I did because it's personal to someone else." he said quickly, almost snapping at Chase. Brent usually got inspiration for a song from one particular event or person. Though some lyrics were just completely random and to do with what had gone on that day or his mood. Or if someone had said something catchy, then he'd secretly make a mental note of it. "As long as it's good, you don't need to know where I get my mind-blowingly awesome lyrics from." Brent chuckled. He knew they were mind-blowing awesome, they had to be if he'd written them.[/color][/font][/ul]

[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

Chase rolled his eyes and tried to hide his smile but Brent was just too funny. The way he thought so highly of himself just made shake his head and laughed. He knew him too well to know that saying anything wouldn't do any good. He would just say another comment about himself being better. It was actually one of the things Chase liked about Brent when they dated. After a while it just got annoyingly funny.

Chase felt Brent's foot collide with his shin in a rather painful way. Chase let out a yelp of pain and gave Brent a look that questioned why he did that. Even though he knew it was because of the nickname. It made him mad every time he called him it. Which was why he only chooses to call him that occasionally. When he thinks his shins are strong enough or could take some pain.

"Must you really cause physical pain to my shins!!! I need them to drum you know! I have to push the foot pedal!" Chase used the one thing Brent cared about more than himself. If that were possible. Music. The band.

Chase shook his head yet again at the answer he got. Something about someone in Russia. It was a very vague answer. And Chase always liked to push for more in depth answered when he could.

"Let's hope this person wasn't someone other than Maryn. Or at least not if it was something romantic." Chase winked jokingly at Brent. Hoping his temper wouldn't raise even more than it had in response to his nickname. Then again. Chase was pretty sure he could take on Brent if it came down to it. Which he knew never would because he wasn't much of a fighter.

"Can we just focus, now?" Chase asked with a sigh while he rubbed his shin under the table.

[Brent McKinney-Jackson]

[/i] not with. Brent kind of knew he was a bit of a show off at times and barely ever lacked in confidence but he didn't find it funny. He admired himself for actually taking pride in who he was. And it did tend to annoy other people but he took no notice of them. It was him and if people didn't like it then he certainly wasn't going to change for them.

He couldn't help but smirk victoriously as Chase yelped and then gave him a questioning look. He knows why... That face is kind of cute though... He felt his face heat up and looked away. He had to stop thinking things like that. It'd been happening a lot lately; Chase would say or do something that made Brent think or feel something entirely inappropriate. He was married and straight and these thoughts and feelings were really confusing him right now. He knew he'd have to talk to Maryn about it, his feelings for her were still there and he had to tell her about this though he would be sure to not mention Chase's name at all just in case she confronted him. It wasn't even anything serious... yet. Brent had to talk to someone about it and the only people he trusted were Maryn and Chase. Though, of course, he certainly wasn't' going to tell him about this. It was probably going to be hard enough telling his wife... It could just be Brent being stupid. It would go away and Chase would just be his friend and he wouldn't ever see him as possibly being anything else.

Brent took another sip of his coffee, he was glad that he'd gotten it after all, it came in handy as a distraction. "Sorry." he mumbled, staring into his coffee, not wanting to look up at Chase. He meant it, even if it didn't sound like it; Chase really did need his shins to drum. OVYCSO couldn't go on without a drummer...

Oh, he just had to look up when Chase winked, didn't he? Brent resisted the urge he had to groan in frustration. That wasn't helpful at all. Before his mind had time to think of something Brent didn't want to know, he banged his head on the table. He hissed in pain. It had done the job but he wished he hadn't done it quite so hard. Brent rubbed his forehead and kept his head down, feeling more than a little embarrassed. I probably look like a right douche...

"And I went there with a student. A fourth year." he growled, "I'm not a pedophile."
Brent almost laughed. He wanted nothing more than to focus on the band right now. "Y-yeah." he stuttered awkwardly, then clenching his fists as his annoyance grew. He was acting like a fucking teenage girl![/color][/font][/ul]

[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

Chase laughed harder at Brent when he asked what's funny. Brent knew why he was laughing, he just said it because he wanted to say something about it and didn't know what else. Chase sometimes thought Brent did things just to amuse himself. But he found it funny.

Chase didn't know what happened but next thing he knew, Brents face was turned aways and in his cup of coffee again. Which Chase thought was extremely weird since Brent normally got the coffee as a distraction at first, and never really drank it. And.... was he blushing? Chase could have swore he saw Brents cheeks light up. But why would he be blushing... Brent never blushed. Well. At least he hadn't blushed much since they dated...

Could that be it?

Noooo. Brent was straight now! He was married! What happened between the two of them a long time ago was just an experiment for him. It might not have been for Chase, but it was for Brent. Wasn't it? Of course it was. And even if it wasn't, Brent was still happily married!

Chase faintly heard what Brent said before reply, kind of in a trance. "Yeah. Of course you're not a pedophile, Brent." Chase rolled his eyes without thinking, it was a natural response when he was with Brent, so he figured it would work even if he didn't really know what he was saying.

[Brent McKinney-Jackson]

[/i] That was really the only thing running through Brent's head right now, apart from I wish he wasn't cute. To say his thoughts were messed up right now would definitely be an understatement. He hoped to Merlin that Chase hadn't thought anything of that. He could say that he needed to sneeze so he turned away... On second thoughts, maybe not. Even a six year old wouldn't fall for that!

Too angry now to be embarrassed, Brent shot Chase a deathglare. "Shut up, Jackson." he hissed, kicking him even harder in the shin.
Brent knew it was wrong to take out his frustration on Chase but what other option did he have? It was kind of indirectly Chase's fault for him needing to vent his anger... So, Brent decided it was acceptable for now.

Mood swings as well now, McKinney? Wow, you really are a teenage girl.
Brent hated himself sometimes. Though the 'Annoying Voice' was miles better than his 'Inappropriate Voice'. If he was Chase, he knew he would be confused now and Brent was Brent and he was confused. He thought an explanation would be good, hopefully before Chase made any assumptions. "Sorry. I'm tired." Brent sighed. It wasn't really a lie...

Stupid.[/color][/font][/ul]

[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

What was up with Brent? He was acting extremely strange. He normally was smooth about everything he did. Not whatever this was. He seemed.... weird. Nervous about something. Different. It wasn't like him and it made Chase wonder what was happening.

"Brent, what is going on with you? You're blushing, and starting to act like a fucking baby. Don't give me that tired shit. Because you know I don't believe you." Chase tried to shake off the kick in the shin, but it really hurt. He bent down and rubbed his shin, trying to get the charlie horse and the pain to leave. Brent really needed to stop being so violent.

"This isn't like you.... tell me what's wrong." Chase put on a good face even though his shin was in pain. He tried to look sincere. Like Brent could tell him anything, and that was true. They weren't best friends for nothing.

[Brent McKinney-Jackson]

[/i] to say but he just couldn't say it right here, right now. He couldn't ruin this friendship. There was a ninety-nine percent chance that Chase didn't think of him like that. Brent was usually a spontaneous person who always acted on impulse, now was different. He couldn't bring himself to say something that needed to be let out or do something that would just explain everything to Chase.

"I can't tell you." he whispered, so quietly he wasn't sure if he'd actually said it out loud or not, "Not here, anyway,"
Brent tore his eyes away from the window and looked at Chase, frowning a little. Brent thought that maybe he could say something, anything, about this to Chase somewhere more private. Anyone could walk in now or could be eavesdropping in on their conversation. He nibbled his lip nervously and turned his head away from Chase again.[/color][/font][/ul]

[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

Chase was starting to get worried. Brent wasn't acting like Brent and now he wouldn't even tell him why. He said not here. Which was basically an excuse for not wanting to tell him at all. It was weird. Chase always thought that he and Brent had a good friendship yet Brent couldn't even tell him what was wrong. It actually hurt Chase to think that his best friend couldn't tell him something.

"Look. I don't know what's wrong and obviously you don't want to tell me and that's up to you. But you're my best friend. All I care about is if you are alright, and clearly something is on your mind that has successfully distracted you from our band meeting. Which is something that never happens with you."

Chase didn't know what to do. Brent knew fully well that if he wanted to talk somewhere private that they could go somewhere else and do so. They didn't have to stay here. They could go back to one of their offices or out to the lake for a walk. Something. They could even lock the staff room door and put a spell on it so no one could hear them talk. Brent just didn't want to. Chase wanted to know why. He had half a mind to just leave. If their friendship didn't mean enough to Brent for him to tell Chase what was wrong, then why should Chase try.

But he stayed, because Chase is to loyal to his friends to leave. He stayed there and tried to look at Brent, but his eyes were everywhere but looking at Chase. Clearly avoiding him.

[Brent McKinney-Jackson]

[/b]'

That was the first time Brent didn't hit himself or try to deny it, even if he'd only said it in his head. He knew it was true. He'd always loved Chase, even just as a friend. It still felt wrong to admit it because he had Maryn. Brent loved her and didn't want her to get hurt. Somehow, he needed to get this off his chest. Brent had never been much good at declarations of love. He flirted a bit with people he liked but with people he loved he stuttered and blushed and could barely speak. Just how he was like now.

It had completely slipped Brent's mind that they were meant to be having a band meeting. That never happened. Never. "Fuck the meeting then; I'll tell you, okay? Just not right here, like I said." Brent huffed, looking straight at Chase, managing to hold his gaze. He was twitching and fidgeting in his seat, nerves getting the best of him. He knew that if they went somewhere else he'd have to tell Chase the truth. Brent guessed that was why he said it before he lost his bottle.[/color][/font][/ul]

[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

Brent was fidgeting and beginning to look extremely nervous. Chase was extremely confused as to why, though. It didn't make sense to him! One minute they were talking about lyrics and how they need to get the entire band together, then next thing he knew Brent was acting weird and forgot about the parchment with the lyrics on it. It was totally not like him.

It looked like Brent was about to say something, but forced himself not too. Chase was going to yell at him before Brent spoke again, saying he'd tell him, just not here. It still didn't make much sense to Chase, but he took it as he figured it was the only thing he was going to get.

"Fine. Where, then. It better be soon. At this point we're about to have classes. Should we go to Hogsmeade sometime? Get away from Hogwarts for a night? We haven't gotten smashed in a while." Chase tried to lighten the mood a little bit by adding a smile to his joking comment. But he didn't know if it would work.