Let It Go, Come On And Dance

"Honestly, you lot, I'll be fine," Rick Allen said to his bandmates, his tone taking on an exasperated edge. "We're taking two weeks off before we start working on the next album, yeah? Well, maybe I bloody well wanna explore California during that time – and it makes hell of a lot more sense for me to stay here for an extra week before going home, than to go home just to turn about and fly back here."

Joe, the oldest member of the band, sighed and nodded. "S'truth, that does make more sense. Can't blame us for worrying, though, kid, you might be eighteen now, but that's awfully bloody young to be running about the US on your own."

Rick's tone softened as he said, "I do appreciate that you want to look out for me and all, but yeah, I just... want some time to myself, y'know? I love you blokes like brothers, but you go from 'protective' to 'overprotective' too bloody easily, especially when it comes to me, yeah? And how much trouble d'you think I can even get into, when the Yanks say I'm too young to drink in California? So there's no worries about me getting pissed and doing something stupid."

Pete and Steve laughed at that, and even Joe cracked a grin. "Right, then, I'll not keep nagging," Joe said. "But promise you'll call one of us if you need anything, yeah? Cos you are our little brother, and we don't want anything to happen to you."

"I promise," Rick said. "And thanks."

*****

Three days later, Rick strolled down Sunset Strip, covertly checking out the people queued to get into the various clubs. He hadn't admitted it to his bandmates, of course, but half the reason he wanted to stay behind was because he found himself attracted to men as well as women. The blokes had no issues with him shagging the girls who flocked 'round after their shows, but he wasn't sure they'd be as understanding if he wanted to go off with a man instead. He wasn't quite sure how to go about meeting a man, though, as the only gay pub he'd found – bar, he reminded himself, they called them bars here in the States – had a very strict 21-and-over admission policy.

As the sun went down and the colourful glow of the neon signs lit the street, Rick stopped at a cart selling tacos to grab a snack. As he waited in the queue, a very tall and lanky dark-haired young man who looked to be about his age came strolling down the street with a couple of other blokes, a medium-height dark haired bloke and a short bleach blond. The two of them seemed to be arguing about which strip club to visit, whilst the tall one rolled his eyes. Rick's own eyes drifted to the tall bloke's arse as the trio walked by.

Tommy Lee, walking down Sunset Strip with two of his bandmates as they debated which club to go to, turned to look when he felt eyes on him. He saw a curly-haired young man with a baby face, although he suspected the boy was older than his face might suggest, looking at him with admiration. Well, he enjoyed men as well as women, and the kid looked built. He smiled, which widened into a grin when the kid blushed.

Rick blushed when the tall bloke caught him looking and smiled at him. He reached the front of the queue then and ordered his tacos, pulling his wallet from his pocket to pay. Still flustered from the eye contact with the tall bloke, though, he didn't notice that his passport slid from his pocket along with his wallet, and fell to the pavement. He paid and took his food, walking up the street in search of a place to sit and eat.

Tommy, intrigued by the baby-faced dude, saw something fall from his pocket as he paid, then the kid stepped away from whatever he'd dropped. "Vince, Nikki, you go on to wherever, I'll find you dudes later," he said impulsively, then headed towards the taco cart. He used the pretext of wanting to see the menu board before waiting in the line, so people good-naturedly let him get close in as long as he didn't try to actually squeeze into the line. To make it look good, Tommy peered at the board and sighed, then turned around. "Wrong cart, I guess, this one doesn't have the one I wanted," he muttered to himself.