“Are you nervous?” Dave asked, taking my hand.
“A little,” I leaned into him.
“Your hands are freezing,” he said, kissing my fingers.
“I know,” I smiled.
“Don’t be afraid,” he wrapped his arm around my shoulder, “I’ll be right there next to you.”
I melted into him, feeling safe for the moment. Oscar was walking ahead of us, and he opened the door to the club thingy where we were playing. There were only other bands there at the moment. It would be at least a half an hour before they let the audience people in. Total Concept was playing right before this band that Muf was friends with, this really popular punk band called Flat Out Lie. Dave said there would be a load of people there.
I was introduced to other bands, but I don’t remember any of them. My brain was just as frozen as my fingers. I think we might have sat backstage, and I may even have thrown up in the little yellow bathroom with a flickering light, but I don’t recall much. I do, however, remember when Dave told me that we were up next.
“Do we have to?” I backed away, Dave pulling my arm.
“Don’t worry. You’re wonderful. Just be yourself,” he put his hands on my face.
Oscar interrupted us, “No time for kissy face.”
Dave laughed, but kissed the tip of my nose, squeezing my hands, “You’re great, kid, you know that.”
I nodded, trying to smile. Tingles ran up and down my spine. I took a deep breath, however, and followed Dave, Muf, and Oscar onto the stage. Dave made a little intro like last time, explaining my presence. For a second I thought I might blow chunks all over the mass of people pushed up against the stage. But I didn’t. Instead, I started singing a new song that Oscar had written recently. Unlike the last time, I didn’t loosen up, however. I don’t know if it was the song or me, but the crowd wasn’t getting into it so much. They were looking kind of bored or something. I looked over at Dave, pleading with my eyes to make it better. He winked encouragingly. We launched into the next song, but the audience wasn’t much changed. Suddenly, I looked down, and in the middle of the crowd, I spotted a familiar hue of blue hair. D.C. was making her way toward the front of the mass of people. When she got to the middle, she started shoving people. They got the point, and a huge mosh pit broke out. That got people going. As we played on, the people moshed more, and they really seemed to warm up to us. That, of course, got the band excited, and I think we played better than ever. The people got all into it, singing along with the songs they knew, reaching out to grab my hand, and stuff like that. I felt like a rock star. At the end, Oscar threw his drumsticks into the crowd and Muf crowd surfed, launching himself off the stage into the pack of people.
After, just as we were exiting the stage, Dave grabbed me and swung me around. We were both all sweaty, but I was so excited that I liked it.
“You were so hot!”
“Thanks!” I kissed his cheek, “You rocked!” I laughed, my feet still hanging off the floor because Dave was holding my waist.
“I know,” he smiled, kissing me happily.
“Wanna go listen to them play?” I asked, nodding toward the band that was on stage.
After kissing me again, he nodded. We rushed out into the audience, managing to shove ourselves by the side of the stage in order to rock along to the music. The band was really kicking serious ass. All the people started swaying in various directions, taking us with them. When a mosh pit broke out right next to us, Dave shielded me from all the large, sweaty punk boys. It was the greatest time ever.
“Is there a party?” I asked after the amazing last song.
“I could find one.”
Dave smiled, “Wouldn’t you rather go to D.C.’s or something?”
“Why?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Come on,” he led me in the back, looking rather solemn.
“What is it?” my excited smile faded.
“It’s nothing serious,” he didn’t sound quite sure as he packed up his bass and pulled the strap over his shoulder. “It’s just that…. Well, after last time…”
“Are you worried I’m going to get drunk?” I asked.
“Well, last time didn’t turn out so well…”
“Dave, welcome to my world. I never wanted you to get drunk, but you always did, despite that.”
“I know, Baby, and I’m sorry,” he hugged me, “I’m fu$#ed up.”
He was going to continue, but I covered his mouth with my hand, “Let’s not go to a party tonight, okay?”
He nodded, smiling. He grabbed my hand and we went back out into the main area where we saw D.C. waiting for us. I ran to her and gave her a huge hug. “You guys were a success,” she said as I hugged her.
“Thanks to you,” I kept my arm around her neck.
“I do what I can,” she shrugged.
“Wanna come to my house?” I asked.
“I was gonna go to Dean Armandi’s house. Aren’t you two going?”
“Nah,” Dave shrugged.
“Really?!” D.C. was shocked.
“Yea,” we nodded at the same time.
“Turning sober on me, are ya?” she punched Dave in the stomach.
“Not quite,” I answered for him, not wanting him to feel that he couldn’t do things because of me.
“So are you coming?” I asked her.
“Sorry, kiddies,” she shrugged.
“You’re choosing a party over me?” I pouted, taking my arm off her shoulder.
“Tay,” she knew I was joking, “I love ya, but you don’t make me high or give me ass.”
“Hmmm… Mental picture…” Dave laughed, licking his lips.
“Shut up,” I laughed.
“I promised some people I’d meet them at Dean’s,” D.C. took Dave’s hand to look at his watch.
“Fine then. I know you’ll miss us though,” I said as she departed.
“So,” I turned to Dave, “Where do you want to go?”
“Wherever. I wanna drop off my bass at home before we go out, though.”
“Fine by me,” I smiled.
