My Italian Nightmare

Chapter 2: The Second Concert

25th September 2021

"Damn....", Freyja said and grinned as I turned around on the spot. "Looking respectfully." "I know, right? It's shot-shooting time!" I grinned widely.
"Finally!", Freyja exclaimed over-dramatically.
"Well don't be too happy. Could get worse a hundred times when it goes wrong. Or right."
"Ah it'll be the best story to tell either way so come on", Freyja said and threw her jacket over her shoulder.
"Alright, alright", I said. I checked the mirror again and winked at my own reflection. For practise. Also I really looked dashing.
"I'm gonna text Hanna. She's gonna pick us up soon."
"Good. Ahh I know we're gonna go so you get laid but I'm also really excited about the concert."
"That's alright", I laughed. "As always my biggest cheerleader."
"Let's go for a cig before Hanna comes. I'm fucking anxious."
"Yes please." Freyja grabbed her bag. She checked out herself in the mirror a last time as well.
Freyja, who was my best friend, my better half and roommate, was wearing a lace bra and a green mesh shirt on top of it, Black tight pants and black platform boots that were so old that she had taped them together with Gaffa tape. Her blond hair was cut into a mullet, she wore half-round glasses with a golden frame and lots of earrings. Her wide grin always made me feel at ease and her laugh was one of the best sounds in the world for me.
"You look so hot as well, like... I thought you'd tone it down a notch so Angelo will not be distracted from me", I said half-jokingly.
"Love, you'll be fine. I won't even be in the backstage area and also you know I'd never sleep with him...as long as you're alive."
"Hey!" I laughed and shook my head.
"Alright let's go now or we won't be able to be first row."
It was chill outside but still concerningly warm for November. We took out our cigarettes and began to smoke in silence. The anxiety was rushing through my blood and settled in my stomach like an old friend. I've had the feeling a hundred times. Worse than being nervous, better than a full-on panic attack. I knew that adrenaline was being pumped into my brain right now like my body was preparing to fight or flight.
"You all right....?", Freyja asked.
"Hm I mean, you know." I shrugged.
Freyja nodded. We understood each other without needing words, even if usually we couldn't stop sharing our thoughts. It felt like our souls were intertwined like the branches of an ancient tree.
Suddenly a honking noise startled me and I turned around to see Hanna's car standing in the driveway.
"Get in losers!" She yelled and waved at us. A wide smile spread across my face. For a moment I even forgot the dreadful task that was lying before me. We got into Hanna's car and she started the engine.
„Okay Ari... so how are you feeling?", Hanna asked as she navigated the car into the high way.
"I'm...I don't know if it will happen at all. I don't want to get disappointed." Hanna nodded and sped up, her fingers drumming on the stirring wheel.
"Let's just enjoy the concert first, and then we'll see where we go from there."
"I can't believe we're making a whole ass mission out of that." Freyja mumbled and grinned. "But no, we're not saving the world or anything, we make sure Ari gets Italian cannoli."
My face turned hot and I pressed my lips together. Joking about it was not helping the fact that we would, I mean, that I was actually going to try to...seduce Angelo.
Ugh, this was so fucking stupid.
"Yeah", I said and tried to take a deep breath, "Hanna is right, let's enjoy the concert first."

***

When we got to the venue, there were already lots of people but we managed to get to the front of the stage quickly. It wasn't exactly crucial for the "mission" but it was still nice to be upfront and maybe Angelo would already notice me – although it was pretty unlikely and he didn't notice me the last time either when I was at the rock festival.
The concert was as exciting and exhausting and great as the last time. Though, I could not enjoy it the way I would have liked to because I couldn't stop thinking about the task at hand. Obviously, as he was in front of me the entire fucking time. Once again I could not believe how good he looked in real life. His stage presence took my breath away. The way he interacted with his band and the crowd. The way he put so much energy and emotion in everything he did. I couldn't stop admiring him and I got more and more nervous about what I would be trying to do later.