THE GUITARIST

THE KNIFE

ANGELIQUE

The week was too busy! Many requests, requirements and deadlines. I lost count of how many hours I spent in a cafe near my work until it closed and I was kicked out. Embarrassed, I apologized and did it again the next day!
Friday soon arrived and I had to go to the show at Shed I-45, outside of town. I confess that I didn't really like going out of the city at night, especially for concerts, as we had to travel along a highway that, when I saw it, wasn't lit up as it should have been. Profession vices, wanting to change everything! However, I needed to honor the guys in the band.
As everyone was going to drink after the event, the guys rented a van to fit everyone and the musical instruments.
The van would drop us off at the venue and then come back to pick us up, so we wouldn't run the risk of the driver getting excited at the show and ending up drinking too.
The time for us to meet was at 7 pm, as it would give us time to get to the shed and all the equipment to be set up, in addition to a brief sound test, etc. The show was scheduled to start at 9 pm.
That night, I thought that because I was in a bigger place, I should be dressed as discreetly as possible. I decided to put on a black dress with a strap, the length of which went to just above the knee, a black sock up to the thigh and not to exaggerate my makeup.
Around 7pm I went to the studio and the people were already there. All the musicians looked me up and down, praising me. Alex was the one who complimented me the most, and in particular, in my ears.
I noticed that Brian hadn't arrived and my heart tightened a little, because with his disappearances, we didn't know if he would arrive in time to go with us, if he would go alone...
-What about Buckethead? - asked Jape.
-He said he would go there early. - Thomas replied.
-The guy is too crazy! - Jape said, and everyone in the van laughed.
In the front of the van were the guys talking and in the back were us, the musicians' girlfriends. Luckily, very lucky, Stela didn't feel like talking and was silent the entire way, which I assumed had something bad happened to her. I was also silent, as I didn't know the girls who were there very well, and I preferred silence.
Jape would guide the driver and the boys chatted excitedly, as we went to the shed.
In half an hour we arrived safely and the guys removed the equipment from the van. There were fans in the place, looking forward to the event and we could hear screams and whistles.
Inside, there was a huge stage set up, full of lights and speakers.
Near the entrance gate there were several food trucks and some snack stands. There was also a huge space for those arriving by motorcycle to park. The walls were spray painted and had old school designs and alien monsters. Without a doubt, it was an appropriate venue for a rock concert.
Still inside the shed, there was a reserved part, with tables and a security guard to protect the space, as well as a privileged view directly to the stage.
There, there would be waiters throughout the show serving the tables. Obviously that ticket must have been one of the most expensive!
Where I was, in the VIP wing, there were sofas and also waiters, but at the top of the shed, with a privileged view of the stage.
When everyone entered, there was Brian, close to the stage, tuning his guitar and plugging in all the cables. The guys whistled, clapping and he just looked in our direction and continued what he was doing.
Brian was wearing a long-sleeved navy-blue shirt and black pants. He wore a white bucket on his head, with no writing on it, and the usual mask. The brown curls framed his exotic look and I watched him pack all his instruments and each member tuned their instrument. Within a few minutes, the show would start.
I watched the doors open and as they passed a brief review by the brigade team, the fans went wild towards the stage. Screams and whistles echoed throughout the room.
Alex couldn't take his eyes off me and before the show started, he spoke in my ear that in the end I would be his and the things he would do to me.
The band positioned themselves on stage with their thundering instruments and a mirrored globe descended from the ceiling. Its design was interesting: it had mirrored tiles and also spikes.
Fans went wild after the first guitar riff.
Four songs were played and Brian stepped in, slamming his guitar in a very clear "Siege Engine" sound. He had that specialty of creating effects quickly and the fans were mesmerized. I noticed that some even had buckets on their heads!
On some songs, he moved a little closer to the audience to let them fiddle with his guitar while he held it. The fans had fun and a lot of people wanted to touch it.
I began to pay attention to people who were mutually attracted to the sound of metal and also to the occasional blatant betrayal.
Toward the end of the show, Brian put down his guitar and began his robotic dance. My eyes locked on him as the movements he made really felt like he was a real robot! I found the dancing and the play of lights so fascinating that I also screamed from where I was.
I started to feel inside a supposed rave of "Terminator 3: Rebellion of the machines". I shouted, smiled, waved, did everything I was entitled to as a fan.
After the end of their band's show, when everyone was returning, we from the VIP wing started to applaud and the guys started laughing. Buckethead continued on stage with his robotic dancing but soon came to the VIP wing. Alex gave me a kiss on the cheek and then went for drinks to celebrate, while another band came on stage to perform.
I approached Brian to praise his performance and say that I liked his robot personality.
-Have I mentioned that I find your robot personality fascinating? - I asked, craning my neck to look at him, smiling.
-Thanks. - he thanked, serene as always.
I kept laughing and asked:
-Don't you feel butterflies in your stomach?
-Always. - he replied.
I didn't realize it at the time, but while we were talking, Stela, as usual, was gossiping with the other members' other girls.
-Look there. The weirdo. - she said with disdain.
The other girls commented on other things and then she blurted out:
-I bet he's in love with that one, Alex's girlfriend.
They all looked in our direction and when I felt several eyes on me, I cleared my throat and asked Brian:
-Well, I'm going to look for some potatoes and cheese in one of the food trucks there! - I pointed to the entrance of the shed. - Do you want too?
-Not now. - he replied, taking the guitar strap from his body.
-All right! I See you soon! - I said, going down the stairs of the VIP wing and the security guard pulled the chain for me to pass.
There were so many people at the show that it was even difficult to get in the food truck. I walked through that crowd excusing myself and making my way, already imagining my cheese fries falling to the floor. Surely, they wouldn't be whole until I got to the VIP wing.
When I was almost there, a guy pulled me by the arm hard and I thought it was someone I knew. But it wasn't!
-Who are you!? Let me go! - I screamed. But the sound was so loud that no one could hear me.
That man was pulling me further and further away from the food trucks and I was in despair.