We went out again. Dog's band was playing, and we went to see them.

They were good. Dog mostly played guitar.  I liked the way his face looked when he played.  Just really focused. Even when he saw us, and he was glad to see us, his expression didn't change.  He was concentrating.  

The music was hard, really fierce.  I had to be careful not to let myself get too tangled up in it.  I wasn't sure I'd be able to get back out.  

One song, though, really took me with it.  I went ahead and let it.  It felt so good to step into the storm instead of making myself an eye the way I usually have to.

Cam touched me on the arm, gently.  He was smiling.

"Hey," he said.  "Check out the room."

I looked around. I didn't see anything much.

"They're loving it," he said.  "They're feeling that extra edge."

It's a good song.

"It's not just a good song."

Dog came over after they were done playing.  "What'd you think?" he asked.

I nodded.  Cam glanced at me sideways, trying not to smile.  "I really liked that one song, especially," he said.  "About looking for darkness."

"Yeah?" Dog said.  "I wrote that."

"It works."

"Thanks."

He stayed with us until we left.  People came up and talked to him sometimes, but he didn't give them anything much and they'd leave after a minute.  I liked him, but I was nervous about being with him.  I was worried about talking.  It was going to come up sooner or later.

It came up when it was Cam's turn to go get drinks.  "You never told me what you thought of the music," Dog said the second he was gone.

I didn't know where to look.  He was looking right at me, and he wouldn't look away.

"That bad, huh?"

I shook my head.

"Here's what's weird about how loud it is in here," he said.  "It's actually easier to hear somebody when they're talking quietly.  It's like it goes under the noise level or something."

I really liked the music.  

"Yeah?" He didn't act like anything was any kind of deal.

Too much.

"Didn't know there was such a thing."

It makes me feel bad to have to come back to regular life.

"At least you know you can get away again."

Cam came up just then. He kind of looked at me, but didn't say anything.  I felt like he was upset.  I wasn't sure.  Maybe I was just worried he would be.

I didn't say anything else that night.