Trumpets blair. Kam steps in motion with the rest of his bass line as soccer players take the field. As he hits his drum, the vibration echoes throughout his body, all the way down back into the ground. It’s comical how small he looks next to the bass drum he holds. He wonders if this is how Atlas feels, forever holding up the world. Then he dismisses it as silly. How can playing a drum feel like the weight of the world.

“Get it together, Rajab.” Diane scolds Kam with his last name. She plays the third bass in front of him flawlessly. 

“Daydreaming again, Kam?” Terrance says, playing the final notes on the fifth bass behind him. Their cadence ends, and the players ready for kick off. 

Kam sets his drum down between Diane and Terrance’s positions and surveys the field. He finds what he is looking for. The number 08’s white goalkeeper kit flashes in the light. It is Asa’s favorite number, and he requested it specifically when the soccer club let him play as goalkeeper. 

Kam watches Asa from a distance as he stretches. Mid bend, Asa spots Kam in the band stands. Despite the matching uniforms and being far from the field of play, Asa always seems able to find Kam. He smiles and waves. Kam weakly raises his hand in reply before Asa turns away practicing little micro steps. Terrance elbows Kam in the ribs. “You’re so far gone, dude.”

“Shut up,” Kam retorts weakly. 

“You were a 32nd note off.” Julie sit behind Asa and Terrance. Nothing escapes her ears.

“So far gone.” Terrance laughs. 

Kam ignores both of them as he stews on the cold stand bench. He stares into Asa’s back, watching how his shoulders ripple against the team jersey. It should feel like a normal Saturday, but this morning, Asa seemed unusually eager.

It isn't unusual for Asa to call Kam in the morning. Kam's sleeps issues aren't a secret. Asa likes checking in him. But after seeing his gore riddled face in his dreams, and the monstrous being that his friend seemed to spawn from, Asa’s voice gave him chills. 

-

“Sleep well, Kam?”

Kam hesitates. “I…I remembered my dream.” 

An uneasy beat. “Soooooo what do you remember?”

Kam won't, can't tell him that you killed and ate some creature and terrified the living shit out of me, so he avoids the question. “It really wasn’t that interesting.”

“Kaaaammmmm, c’mon. You promised.”

Why did he remember everything? “Yea, but it’s embarrassing,” Kam lies. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“So it was sexy, huh?” Asa joked.

Kam imagines how Asa would look later in his soccer uniform with sweat outlining his body. He blushes. “Shut up.”

Asa laughs playfully. “Can I come over tonight after the game? You all are playing, right? I haven’t stayed over since we got here, and I miss being kids. Lets be like kids again.”

“You’re such a baby.” Kam facepalms. There is no way this Asa is the same one he saw in his dream . Asa used to be at Kam’s place more than his own. Kam’s parents even bought an extra bed just for Asa, but they’d slept together on Kam’s queen sized mattress well into their teens. 

Kam wants to tease him more. “Maybe, you know how there’s always a band afterparty.”

“That you never go to. I know you’re just going to sit in your dark room staring at your computer trying to write something.”

That stings, but Asa is right. “But what about the soccer team’s party?”

“I want to spend time with you.”

-

The crowd cheering interrupts Kam's thoughts. The opposing striker broke away from the defense. Asa licks his lips just before he predicts where the striker aims. He catches the ball and throws it to the ready midfielders. They pass it between them and the striker duo tricks the goalie with a feint before-

The drum major shouts, “Off your asses, let's play.” The band scrambles. There was little time before the next kick off. Asa turns from in front of the net and faces the band. He throws a thumbs up and Kam could swear he winks right at him as the band begins to play. 

It is only a moment, a second of lucidity, that Kam thinks the goal net looks like a spider’s web. 

-

Asa opens the door to Kam’s apartment just as Kam turns the key. 

“Hey, dude. Wait.” Kam protests, but Asa already takes off his shoes. “I haven’t told Jacob you’re coming yet.”

“Jaaaacoooob” Asa shouts in a sing-song tone. 

“What’s up Asa?” Jacob yells back from his bedroom.

“I’m staying over tonight.”

“Cool. Kam, you good with that?”

Kam sighs. “I freaking invited him.”

They head to Kam’s room opposite Jacob’s. Kam keeps his room neat and clean. There was always enough floor space during their sleepovers, even before the second bed was added to his room. Unlike at home though, the space Kam has is limited. He’s neatly packed away as much as he could, but his journals and writing tools messily decorate his desk along with his copy of Pride and Prejudice for class. His ‘IT’ and ‘The Thing’ posters hang above the bed, staring right at the boys as they enter while a pride flag flanks them on the wall. 

“Whoa. Personality.” Asa says “Your room was always so boring.”

“You think I’d be caught dead at home with that on the wall.” He gestures to the pride flag. “And I never got to see your rooms."

Asa giggles and breaths deep. “It already smells like you too.” He bends his knees as if to dive into the bed, but Kam wrenches his shoulder back. 

“You definitely smell like something. Take a fucking shower”

“Do I?” Asa turns and tackle hugs Kam into the wall. Kam’s awareness of his body against Asa’s spikes, but Asa seems to pay no mind. Asa feels like iron as he pins Kam against the wall. Kam gently pushes him away while he turns his head to hide his trembling, embarrassed lips.

After Asa showers, they play video games with Jacob. It’s one of the few things Kam is able to beat Asa at aside from grades. They play late into the night while Jacob grabs a few drinks. Bleary eyed, Jacob goes to bed unceremoniously. 

Shortly after, Asa gives Kam a well known weary gaze. He stares at him until Kam relents. “Let’s go then. I’ll grab a sleeping bag for you.” It only takes a moment for Kam to dip into a side closet for an extra bag, but in that short period, Asa already claims half Kam’s bed. “What are you doing?” Kam asks, knowing full well what Asa will say. 

“Your parents aren’t here to stop us.” Asa groans and stretches his arms up and behind him exposing his well toned midsection. ”Just like old times, remember?” This is definitely how my crush began, Kam thinks. They’d slept together for so much of their lives, it became difficult to sleep apart when Kam’s parents forced them apart for their sleepovers. Asa had always insisted they sleep together. Even when Kam came out to Asa, Asa had hugged him as tight as his little arms could.

“I’ll always be here for you no matter what, Kam,” he'd said, tightening his grip. “You’re my dreamer.”

Asa knows he can't dream. Kam had thought it was a joke, or that Asa had been such an air head he’d forgotten. But now, the phrase baffles Kam. “You’re my dreamer.” Is that how it was said? Kam’s memory fails him. 

“C’mon already. Aren’t you tired?” Asa groans, and scratches his chest. Kam ignores the alarm bells ringing in his deepest consciousness. This is his best friend. He opens his melatonin bottle and downs two. “What’s that?” Asa asks, flipping onto his stomach. 

“It helps me sleep. I think it’s why I remembered my dream.”

Asa makes an exaggerated hum as Kam opens the covers. It seems like Asa is still pondering something when Kam flips off the light. “Goodnight.”

Asa replies in a hushed tone. “Sweet dreams.”

Kam closes his eyes.

When Kams eyes open, he is no longer sleeping prone in his bed. Instead, 

Bada-Bada-Bada, BAAA-

Trumpets blare. The rest of the brass follow along with a moving, thumping bass violin Under him, the polished floor reflects bright golden orbs of light above him. Rich satin colors adorn the walls, and pictures of posh gentlemen and ladies decorate one side of the room. People dance and jive in circles together, at first keeping a respectable distance, but as the music swings to crescendo, press scandalously into each other

The guest’s clothing fails to match the pace and swelter of the music. Gowns, petticoats, waistcoats, bonnets and stockings dress the multitudes as they circle each other. Kam wonders which page of Pride and Prejudice he’d left open on his desk and which big band he had listened to earlier this week.

A gentleman begins approaching Kam. He's young, just about Kam’s age. His stockings and waistcoat were black with red highlights. He knows this man. He knows the sly smile that crosses his face and the white discoloration of his eyebrow. Violins tremble into pianissimo as the lead trumpet played a low solo.

“I’ve waited so long.” Asa says. He smiles and pounds a fist into his chest before bowing. He offered his hand. “Care to dance?”