What is Rainbow Snippets? It’s a group of LGBT+ authors who post six sentences (or more) from a current WIP, published work or even something they’ve read that they want to rave about. Click on the rainbow to be transported to a place of wonder where you will find tasters of everything from sweet romance, to hot and steamy, to fantasy and sci fi
This week I have another snippet from my co written New Adult book Uptaged Opening Act.
Wannabe singer and band front man Erik Von Nordgren hates snarky Brit Asher Berkley with a passion. From the moment he turns up at practice with his twin sister Daisy, who is one of the band the two have hated each other.
Through a series of ‘tit for tat’ incidents they annoy, frustrate and exasperated each other. The die hard goth with purple eyes and the hard core rocker with dreams of the big time have nothing in common and no need to cross paths. Except to wind each other up.
Until the day that Erik throws Asher in the school pool, when everything begins to change. Erik is so far in closet he’s in Narnia and Asher has a dark past and trust issues that stand in the way of any relationship, let alone one with the brash American who hurts him every time they try to get together.
A relationship doomed from the start, or so you’d think.
***
We’re backtracking just a tiny bit.
Billy, the drummer for The Von, has been Erik’s friend, and more, since forever. He’s suffered for years from Erik’s refusal to accept his sexuality and particularly, to express it. In this snippet, Billy and Erik have just fished Asher out of the swimming pool after Erik threw him in and he almost drowned.
“You…sound like you know from experience.” Billy was desperate to deflect the attention away from his relationship with Erik and to fill up the painful silences. “Yeah. Let me give you some advice. Walk away now before it completely crushes you.”
Billy gazed into Asher’s face, seeing something very familiar in the pained gaze. In that moment he felt a connection with the Goth boy, whose face was paler than ever, his eyeliner and mascara running down his cheeks, like a weeping angel crying tears of blackened decay. Angel? Maybe a fallen angel. Strands of turquoise hair stuck to his cheek, and Billy understood why Erik felt the urge to wipe them away. He shook his head.
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Erik doesn’t sound very nice. I hope he gets himself together sooner rather than later.
Eventually. It’s not that he isn’t nice, he’s just afraid.
Great comment about fear. It is a terrible thing. Thank you for sharing. And Happy Writing!
Thank you for commenting. There will be plenty of fear of all kinds in the Upstaged books. It’s not an easy ride for either of them, and it only gets worse when the band takes off.
Love the description of him and it sounds like Erik needs some help.
He definitely needs something for sure 😀 Both Erik and Asher (especially Asher) are complex characters with their own issues. They are such different people it’s a miracle they’re even friends. If it wasn’t for the fact Asher’s sister Daisy is in Erik’s band they would never have met or even glanced at each other.
Lovely description! <3
Thank you 😀
Ooo, Asher sounds almost heartbreakingly beautiful. (sighs)
Trust me, he is. He’s also British, and artist, a goth, aaand…. yeah, okay I love him but he’s damaged and high maintenance so I’m happy to let Erik have him. They don’t know it yet but they’re good for each other. Or they will. Eventually. Probably.
I feel so much for Billy. This is quite a complicated web of characters and emotions!
Given that there’s twelve books in the series, I suppose it’s inevitable there will be complex dynamics. Don’t worry, though, although things are a bit rocky and confusing at the beginning, the couples settle down so there won’t be this much swapping and changing for long.
It’s not uncommon to lash out when scared, but I have to say it doesn’t endear Erik to me.
I know what yu mean. Erik can be hard to take sometimes, but he has an absolute heart of gold. He and Asher are good for each other…in the end.
Fear comes from so many places. I loved this snippet – drew me in – thanks!
Thank you. There are a lot of intense moments in all 12 books. That’s what you get when you write about 18 year olds
Erik is scared to death and hence lashes out. He wounded Billy and now Asher. But he will eventually learn.