Danny was so, so pleasantly drunk. Around him, his friends were also pleasantly drunk, or at least they seemed to be, since everyone was laughing and falling over each other. Erika Jones's business card had been passed around a few times, but now it was firmly stuck in Danny's wallet again, where no one could get their grubby hands on it.
He was waiting on the bar for another round of beers when the only thing that could improve this night happened: Jiyoon Lee leaned in next to him.
"You look pretty pleased with yourself," Jiyoon said.
"I might be having the best fucking night of my life. Can I get you a drink?"
"That's okay. You guys… put on a good show tonight." Jiyoon pursed his lips and then smiled in a way that told Danny he was sacrificing a small amount of dignity to be here. He grinned back, trying to channel immense but uncreepy gratitude through his giddy daze.
"Hey, thanks. I noticed you actually watching this time."
"I did."
"Let me guess… still not your type of music?"
Jiyoon bit his lip. He looked like he was trying to hold back a laugh. "It's different from what I usually listen to. But not bad—" He started when Danny clapped him on the shoulder.
"S'all right. You gave it a try. You're free now."
"Oh, I'm not free. You'll be seeing me again. I mean, not just in class."
"Aww, come on. I don't wanna talk you out of coming to our shows, but Devin could make an exception, right? If you really don't wanna be here."
"Ahh…" Jiyoon laughed a little forcedly. "We'll see."
We'll see sounded like a barrel of worms that Jiyoon didn't want Danny to ask about. So Danny changed the subject. "Hang on, you were telling me last time—what kind of music do you like?"
Jiyoon sighed, drumming his fingers on the bar and not making eye contact. "Just… I don't know. I like music that's fun to dance to, and I have a weakness for—" he sighed again. "Incredibly sappy ballads that probably entertain no one but me." He name-dropped a few pop artists, and Danny nodded; he was pretty sure he had a couple of their CDs in his collection, and Vick was always playing music videos when they were studying.
"That's cool," he said. "Listen, I said last time we should catch a concert together, and I'm still down for it. Kinda like a truce."
"You were serious about that?" Jiyoon blinked at him.
"Yeah… I mean, if you're okay with it. Devin can come, too."
"I thought you were joking."
"Not a joke. Listen—"
"Oh!" Jiyoon pulled away from him as none other than Devin loomed over them. "Devin! This is Daniel—"
"Danny, actually."
"Danny," Jiyoon repeated, distractedly. His boyfriend had wrapped an arm around his shoulders and was staring at Danny with something resembling the intensity of the sun.
"I know who you are." Devin was a good head taller than both Jiyoon and Danny, lanky and tense. Danny hoped it was from fannish joy and not because he was about to kick Danny's face in.
"Yeah, I'm just Jiyoon's student." Danny laughed, trying to put him at ease. He held out a hand, and Devin shook it eagerly. "Nice to meet you."
"No way, it's really—thank you. I got the CD. I mean, I already had a copy, but a signed one… wow."
Danny wondered if this was how he had sounded talking to Erika earlier. Still, the praise warmed his chest with pride. "Thanks, man. I know you come to all our shows. I really appreciate the dedication."
"I never get tired of watching you guys." Devin laughed and squeezed at Jiyoon's shoulder. "I think he wishes I would, though. It's all I can do to get him to stop listening to that pop crap. I'm trying to get some culture in him while I have the chance."
"Oh." Danny's appreciation took a hard left. Jiyoon was looking off into the distance with a tight smile, like he had just spotted someone he wanted to dismember. "I was just gonna ask if you guys wanted to go to a show with me sometime. Demi Lovato is playing next weekend."
"Is he trying to talk you into that?"
"It was my idea, actually. I don't like to do just one kind of music all the time, you know?" He grasped for the right words. "I mean, shit, if I just listened to people who sound like me, I'd kind of suck." He kept his face carefully neutral and shrugged. Jiyoon was looking at him now, but quickly lowered his head when Danny made eye contact.
"Oh. Right. Of course, I mean, you're an artist, so—"
Danny laughed. "I dunno if I'd go that far."
"You don't have to hang around with us, Danny," Jiyoon interrupted. "I'm sure you have things to do."
Danny couldn't tell if he was trying to get rid of him, or save him from awkward conversation. Unfortunately, Devin was having none of it.
"Hey, if you're not doing anything, I'd love to talk music with you. I'm a little bit of a connoisseur. I have a group myself. I mean a group of fans. We have some really in-depth discussions—"
"Sure," Danny said, because Jiyoon looked like he was preparing to physically drag Devin away from him. "Lemme get these beers to my band—or you can come sit with us. Whatever."
Devin turned bright red and looked like he was about to float away. "Awesome."
It took about half an hour, but by the end of it Danny was certain that Devin was seriously a pretentious jerk. He had opinions about music—lots of them. Most of them negative. He kept mentioning how jazzed he was to talk about The Trouble at the next meeting of whatever pretentious music fan group he was a part of.
Danny was starting to suspect that he was one of those white guys who liked The Trouble so much because they were all Asian, and therefore twice as obscure as your typical underground rock band. He neglected to mention Erika's business card in his wallet. The idea that The Trouble might sell out and release a professionally produced record might make the poor guy's head explode. Meanwhile, Jiyoon had spotted some other friends and gracefully excused himself.
"I should probably check on him," Devin finally grumbled, and then he dragged himself out of the booth.
Danny let out a deep breath and stared at Sam with pleading eyes.
"I couldn't possibly drink enough to date that man," Sam announced.
"Thank God it's not just me. Fuck, he's obnoxious."
Even Victor was wincing. "He's a little… well."
"That's the kind of guy who tries to use yellow-fucking-fever as a compliment," was Lei's contribution. "I never thought I'd say this, Danny, but compared to him, you're really a catch."
"Wow, first of all, screw you. Second of all, I'm not competing with him. Just trying to repair the damage."
"I don't think you can fix your personality so easily," Lei muttered into his drink.
Danny punched him in the shoulder. "Jackass."
Speaking of jackasses, Devin gave the word new meaning. Why the hell was Jiyoon dating that guy? Danny wracked his brain. Maybe Devin had other talents. Though Danny shuddered to imagine it.
He took a long chug of his drink and excused himself to get another. Tonight was for celebrating, not fixating over cute guys with boring boyfriends. The bartender recognized him right away and started pulling him another draught of beer. He took it, turned around, and nearly ran right into Jiyoon, who had apparently been reaching out to tap him on the shoulder. They both jumped back from each other, and then Jiyoon sighed and grabbed his arm.
"Come here."
Wordless, Danny followed him through a hallway and onto the deck outside, where Jiyoon pulled away from him and crossed his arms. He was wavering a bit on his feet, and his tan skin was flushing. It was hella cute, and it made Danny smile, which was apparently the wrong reaction.
"What exactly is your plan?"
"Um…" Was it a trick question? He wasn't sure that he really had a plan for tonight beyond drinking himself silly and going home for a well-earned sleep. "Drink more… release an album? Go on tour… oh!" He snapped his fingers. "Turn in my homework!"
"Are you making fun of me?"
"No?"
Jiyoon straightened up and then wobbled a little. "I want to understand why you're getting friendly with my boyfriend, buying him drinks, trying to take me to concerts. What exactly do you think you're going to accomplish?"
"Oh. Is that weird? I was trying to be friendly. Do the friend thing." Danny wanted to smack himself on the forehead. Had he backpedaled so hard from trying to seduce the guy that he'd overdone it? "I came on too strong, didn't I?"
"Friend thing…?" Jiyoon repeated faintly, his glare softening. "You really want to be friends?"
"Yeah, I mean." Danny hitched up a shoulder, trying to parse the expression on Jiyoon's face. "We don't have to be if you don't want to. I realize I don't know you, but… knowing you might be cool."
"There's not a catch?"
"What would I get from pretending to be nice to you?"
Jiyoon's shoulders sagged and he put a hand against the wall. "Never mind. I'm—go back to your friends."
"Are you… uh, okay?"
"I'm fine. Please just go enjoy your night."
Danny slunk back to the bar, unsure how to fix what he'd done now. He wondered what Sam would say, but instead he just found Lei by the bar, pulling in an armful of beers.
"Is it against the rules to talk to someone's boyfriend?" Danny asked him.
"Dude, you could blow Jiyoon in front of that Devin guy and he wouldn't notice it."
"No, the other way around."
"You want to blow Devin?" Lei stuck out his tongue. "What were you smoking out there?
"Oh my God, dude, no—whatever." He decided to finish his drink and let it be. There were happier things to think about—like the business card burning a hole in his pocket, and the cheers that had filled the bar when they finished their set. That was a sound he could really get used to.