Look East | A Hozier Fanfiction |

32

Molly leaned back against Andrew's chest, clapping as the last notes of the final song echoed through the theater. Bono was stood at center stage, arms out to his sides, backlit with a single light as fog rolled across the floor. Andrew was cheering wildly with Alex on the other side. The stage lights flashed with each final cymbal crash until finally, the song ended and deafening applause was the only thing that could be heard. When the stage lights finally went down and the house lights came up, the euphoria of the experience finally hit her.

"That was fucking incredible!" Alex exclaimed, cheering.

It had been three weeks since the article came out and life had mostly returned to normal. With the exception of a few whispers and curious looks at school and a few articles condemning the Sunday Times for publishing such a harmful story, the entire incident seemed to be in the past. Messages of support had come in from his famous friends and Andrew's statement on Twitter had been widely shared and echoed by dozens of other Irish celebrities as well as musicians all across the industry. When Bono reached out with an offer to see U2 perform their first new material in years, Andrew insisted she come along with him. Despite her need to study, Molly was glad she'd agreed.

The show had been magical and exactly what Molly needed to get out of her head. With Andrew and Alex jamming along beside her, she had forgotten about the research she still needed to complete for her dissertation, the essays she still needed to read before submitting, the cases she needed to study and prep for, and the chapters she needed to take notes on. Everything drifted away and all that mattered was the music and Andrew's arms around her as he sang along with the old songs and hummed the melodies of the new ones.

She didn't care that people probably saw them coming in. She didn't care that several phones had been pointed in her direction in the balcony as the audience waited for the show to begin. She didn't care that Andrew had an obvious hard-on pressed against her ass. The night was about the euphoria only live music could provide. She didn't even care that her ears felt like they'd been stuffed with cotton balls after the music stopped.

"What did you think? Better than revision?" Andrew asked, a smug look on his face.

Molly nodded, happy to admit defeat this time. "Absolutely. I'll probably be deaf still tomorrow, but it was totally worth it." She kissed him softly. "Thanks for dragging me out."

"My pleasure," he answered with a grin.

"Should we go to the pub?" Alex asked as people filed out around them.

Andrew looked to Molly for approval. He'd driven them there, but if he was going to drink, he couldn't drive them back.

"Yes, I'll drive," she replied. "Even though I hate your car," she added, grumbling. Manual transmissions were not her friend, but if Andrew wanted to drink, he'd have to take his chances with her at the wheel.

"You've driven it before and been grand," he reasoned. "Worst case scenario, we can crash at Alex's place for the night."

Alex lived in a flat several blocks away from The Academy venue, near Trinity's campus. On more than one occasion, she'd run into him out and about as she walked through the city. They'd parked in front of his flat and walked over to The Academy.

"Fine. But no bitching if I fuck up your transmission," she agreed.

The three of them navigated their way through the venue from their place in the balcony. Andrew held her hand tightly as they made their way down the stairs. Molly had gone for a mini skirt with ankle boots and black tights with a tucked-in backless long sleeve shirt. She wore so little of her "party clothes" these days that she'd forgotten she even had most of them.