Back2Back

“Hey, man,” Dave gave Jason the obligatory index and pinky finger salute, “Are you going to the Morbid Corpse show this weekend? It’s the original line-up. Vinnie finally got out on parole.” Jason shook his head.

“That’s going to rock for sure, man, but I’m going to a big stadium show with Madison.”

“You’re going out with Madison? You lucky dog. She’s so fine. But stadium rock? What old relics are on tour now? Why bother? It’d be cheaper and more fun if you took her to the Morbid Corpse show. Much better than paying too much to see someone past their prime.”

“It’s even worse than that.”

“What could be worse than seeing the desiccated and embalmed corpses of people who used to shred?”

“We’re going to see Back2Back.” Dave’s mouth dropped open.

“The K-Pop band?” Jason nodded sadly. Dave reached out and put his hand on his friend’s shoulder.

“Then you’re going to need protection. Come to my place tonight.”

“Jason, come in sweetie,” Dave’s mom said. She was wearing her yoga outfit and Jason didn’t know where to point his eyes, so he stared at the light fixture hanging from the ceiling behind her. “Don’t you look nice in those pastel colors.”

“It’s an outfit that Madison picked out for me.”

“It brings out the color in your eyes. Dave’s upstairs waiting for you.”

Dave’s door was painted matte black with a large biohazard symbol artfully painted in the center. It vibrated with every beat of the music that pulsed behind it. A gale of guitar chords blew through him when he opened the door and entered the inner sanctum. Every available inch of wall space was covered in metal band posters.

“Lameness lurks at a K-Pop show like piss lurks in a kiddie pool, so we’re going to have to build up layers of protection for you. Look at these!” Dave pulled open a dresser drawer revealing underwear with the names of metal bands emblazoned across their crotches.

“I’ll take whatever you haven’t already worn.”

“That narrows it down to these,” Dave said as he pulled out a pair where the Y front served as the Y in Slayer. By the time he left, Jason was wearing ripped black skinny jeans, with a metal T-shirt, sweatshirt and denim jacket covered in band patches, combat boots, a belt with metal studs, and heavy chains hanging from his pockets.

“Just leave your clothes here,” Dave said. “You can pick them up when you bring mine back.”

When Jason picked Madison up the next day she looked like a dream in her form-fitting dress, but she hardly said three words to him on the way to the venue. When they got to the doors, he saw Madison’s eyes light up as a handsome, stylishly-dressed young man approached them. It was Dave, wearing his clothes.

“Jason, I figured you’d be at that metal show you were telling me about, but Back2Back is my jam. What’s your favorite song, Madison?”