The Midnight Beast in NYC

Chapter 2

            I glance at my watch as I hop out of the car.  V managed to drive like a maniac and get me to the show nice and early, despite our delayed departure.  Now came for the annoying part.  She was supposed to be going to the show but bailed on me at the last minute because Say Anything was in town.  So she’s going to that show and I’m going to this one and we’re meeting up after.  But I am not the nicest person to begin with and dealing with other girls who think they like my band more than me, really brings out my catty side.  And now I have no one to reel me back in. 

            “Thanks for the ride, girly.  I’ll text you after,” I say as I close the car door.  She nods before speeding off.  I turn and prepare myself to deal with all the teeniboppers that are sure to have shown up for this show.

            Sure enough there’s a bunch of girls at the front of the line wearing homemade t-shirts that were unartfully cut out, with lyrics written all over them.  I go and stand in line behind them trying not to rock my bitch face.  I mean what if Stefan was to come out.  I don’t want to come off as a bitch right away. 

            After waiting about half an hour the doors open and we get to go in.  I head straight to the bar.  The way these little girls are screaming, I’m gonna need a drink or two to keep me from jacking them all in their overly glittered faces.

            “Rum and coke, please,” I tell the bartender waving my wrist-banded hand in front of his face to demonstrate my legality.  After getting my drink I manage to elbow my way to the front of the crowd a little to the left of center.  I mean not right in Stefan’s line of sight, he stands in the middle, but good enough.  There’s no barricade so worst comes to worst I can always pull the crazy girl act and jump on stage to get his attention. 

            Luckily my boys are the first band playing tonight so I don’t have to worry about any annoyingness assaulting my ears from shitty openers before they play.  Downing the last of my rum and coke and feeling a little buzzed, it was very heavy on the rum, trust me, I’m no lightweight, I check my watch again.  7:05. 10 minutes before the Beasts come on.  I sigh impatiently and the blonde cheerleader looking girl next to me turns my way.

            “I can’t wait for them either,” she gushes in a thick Brit-ish accent, “I’ve seen them like 10 times but they are always sooo amazing.  Have you ever seen them?”

            I look at her like she’s crazy.  They’ve never been to the U.S. so when the hell would I have seen them Barbie, I think.  But reining in drunk Jaina, I keep that thought inside my head.

            “Oh, no I’ve never seen them live,” I say, “but I’ve been a fan for seriously forever.  Where did you get to see them?” 

            “I’m a free-lance writer in London so whenever they go on tour I basically follow them to every stop,” Barbie says, “I’ve interviewed them sooo many times for different papers and Stef is such a sweetheart.  I can’t wait to talk to him after the show again.”  I think my left eye started twitching when she called Stefan, Stef.  Like step off.

            “I’ve heard they’re really down to earth,” I answer, keeping my tone even, “I’m sorry I didn’t catch your name.  I’m Jaina.”

            “How awful of me, I’m Brittney,” Barbie says. 

            “Nice to meet you Brittney,” I say, thinking ehh, Brittney, Barbie, same difference, “What brings you to the states?”

            She looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. 

            “The. Midnight. Beast,” she says slowly and drawn out like I’m hard of hearing.  Well duh, I mean I totally fly across oceans just to see bands perform live.  Not.

            “Oh excuse me, my phone’s ringing,” I say turning away from her.  It’s not but I cannot handle that conversation much longer.  Princess Barbie was seriously getting on my nerves.  I pull my phone out and pretend to be talking to someone while Barbie starts harassing the poor girl on her other side. 

            Dooo doot doot dooo.  Music starts blaring through the speakers at the sides of the stage.  I shove my phone into my back pocket and whip around to face the stage, accidentally, elbowing Barbie in the ribs on the way.  She screeches and slides farther away from me, allowing me to scoot closer to the center of the stage. 

            I give in to my inner fan girl and scream as I recognize the intro of Lez Be Friends and the boys stride out from backstage.  My scream quickly turns to giggling as I take in their outfits. 

            Stefan is rocking a pair of weird flowered swim trunks and a suit jacket with a red and white striped ski mask, Ash is wearing a blue and white mask with oddly short blue shorts, and Dru was decked out in a green and white mask with his signature hat on top.  I’m so glad they are wearing their colors.  It makes my choice of pants that much better.