Dark Temptation

Bad Habits

"Are you really going?"

"I guess I have no choice." Devon said over the phone, talking to one of the few friends he had left not only in the band but also in general. Him and Jake - the drummer of The Rave - started the band when they were only sixteen and had gone through a hell lot of stuff together.

"That's f****d, Dev. I mean- you aren't...what's going on for real?"

"Nothing's going on. We did a lot of s**t recently and my Father decided it's time to pull the rains I guess."

"You've never listened to any of that before."

"Yeah, but this time I screwed worse than before."

"That bad? Come on, man."

"That bad."

"I've always kind of envied you for all the money your family had, but you were right- it sometimes sucks."

"You have no idea. But it's not just that, anyway, I don't wanna talk about it."

"I know, I know...How long will you be gone for?"

"No clue. The tickets are...hold on, I don't know where.The secretary had them printed." Devon put his phone on the table and began searching.

Truth was he kept everything in order, but the past few days were a total mess. "Are you still there?"

"Yeah. Thinking about you having a secretary now."

"No, not me. Cool, so- we're leaving in two days and we don't have a return ticket.'

"Shiiiit, so it's a "we" now?"

"Shut up."

"I saw the papers, by the way."

"No, please don't." Devon grunted and searched for his lighter and cigs. He found them under sheets of paper, scattered all over the floor. He'd been working on a song until 4 am last night and until he realized there was no point in doing that anyway. The Lucky Strike box was almost empty, even though he'd opened it earlier today.

"I'm not saying anything, but she's hot."

"And?"

"And that's it. I've always wondered why never took of with groupies, but..."

"Look, you'll take care of Indie for me while I'm gone, will you?"

"No problem, sure. Do you want me to water the plants and mow the lawn, too?"

"Go to hell, Jake."

"We're meeting there anyway."

They laughed and Devon asked" What's up with the others?"

"They're cool. Look, maybe you should call..."

"No, no- forget I asked. Idon't have anything to tell them now. Whatever's happened, has happened."

"Okay, but yeah. We're working on the album now."

Devon's heart clenched."How is it going?"

"It's not the same without you. Pete says his bass doesn't sound the same without your lead guitar."

They had found Pete playing in a small jazz bar in Manchester a few years back while they were looking for a place to get wasted and they both knew they had to have him in the band.

"Are you looking for a new member?"

Jake was silent for a moment. "You found someone, didn't you?"

"No, Devon, look..."

"Whatever, don't worry- you will have to eventually."

"I'll say it one last time- I hope you know what you're doing and I know you're both stubborn as hell, but someone has to make the first step and you've always been the more sensible one and..."

Jake had been saying both Devon and Caleb were at fault for what happened in the band, but Devon wasn't in the mood for listening to any of this now.

"I have to go, Jake."

"Fine, sure. Still- why don't you come by and see the others, then? We're busy recording, but..."

"Yeah, I will probably come by the studio once I come back."

"And don't forget to check out the red light district if you need some action and that colleague of yours kicks you out of her room eventually."

"We're not staying together and... whatever. I'll see you around."

"See you, mate."

Devon hung up and threw his phone on the sofa. He hadn't slept for more than three hours last night and his head was pounding. The band he had created was recording an album and he wasn't there, because of a stupid fight with Caleb, but he pissed at the actual reason- he had realized the life he'd always wanted was not something he could have and his brother was probably right- he was a disaster and ruined everything he put his hands on.

Devon got up and checked the time- a little after eleven. He went to the cabinet and Indie jumped from where she was curled by the big Chinese vase- a gift from Eaton. Devon wonedered why he hadn't donated it somewhere- it looked so out of place in his apartment.

His brother was probably trying to make a point. Devon had never taken advantage of his family's money and position. The place he lived in was rented and had nothing to do with the huge mansion the rest of the family lived in. He moved out when once he turned eighteen and has never thought of coming back in his family house ever since, unless on a special occasion, which he still avoided at all cost.

He poured himself a shot of whiskey, finished it on one gulp and went for another. Indie made a sound and he looked down at her

"Don't judge me now. Not you."

At around 11pm he heard his phone ringing from somewhere. Devon had fallen asleep on the couch, his clothes on and the empty bottle lying on the floor next to him. It stopped ringing and he decided he couldn't be bothered to check it.

Then the ringing began again. He finally found it and told Indie "Whoever this is can suck my..."

"Excuse me?"

"Ooooh, hi Princess. To what do I owe the honour?

"Did you..."

"Hold on- we need to make something clear first."

"What?"

"Is that a booty call, or you just wanted to wish me a goodnight?"

He heard Anne exhaling audibly and imagined her actually getting pissed off at him. He recently enjoyed teasing her, although he sometimes did it to distract her when she looked tense. He wasn't sure if it helped but he had to be honest- she was very cute when she was mad.

"Mr.Taylor, I'm calling you..."

"It's Mr. Taylor now? You slept in my bed Anne, how can you be so cold now?"

"Did you see the email?"

"Of course."

A pause.

"You have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?"

"No clue, babe." He said and fished out a cigarette- from the second pack for the day. He reminded himself he should try to smoke less. Maybe.

"Devon, this is serious and I'm not one of your fans. If you ever call me that again I will make sure you never call anyone that again, okay?"

"Fine, okay. What is this all about?"

"We have to be there earlier."

"As in...?"

"As in a few hours. The flight's tomorrow morning. You never bother to check stuff, do you?No, don't answer me."

"I wasn't going to."

"God, this is a joke.You'll give me a heart attack."

"I can give you something else."

She hung up the phone and he laughed. Indie put his head on his knee and he patted her head. "Okay, bud. Time to pack and leave you at Jack's. Do you know where my shirts are, by the way?"