Forever Winter//NH//

One

"No sooner met but they looked; no sooner looked but they longed."
-Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing

June 5th, 2015
Seattle, Washington

Tyler, Charlie and Ezra sat around the dressing room, waiting on the band to show up. From what I learned, they were supposed to have arrived last night but never showed up at the hotel. Katherine, their manager, has been non-stop calling their phones since 10 this morning but none of them had answered. My dad as well as their other bodyguard Caroline have been waiting at the hotel since 11, waiting on them to show so they could bring them to the arena.

I found myself walking around backstage in the arena, familiarising myself with the space until I found myself at the stage. The backup guitarists and drummer were sat around tuning various instruments while speaking occasionally. I glanced around the arena, which probably sat around 20,000 people.

"Hey, Scarlett," Iris called, waving me over. She grabbed the stool behind the drum kit, pulling it next to her for me to sit on. "Have they still not shown up?"

"Who?"

"The band. Last I heard, Katherine was running around the place trying to find their whereabouts." Iris strummed the guitar on her lap, messing with the tuning pegs until it sounded right.

"No, they haven't shown yet." I toy with the peeling leather of the stool as Alex shrugs.

"They did this last tour as well. As soon as Katherine has them on the premises, they won't be late to anything."

"Were you their drummer last time as well?" I ask, crossing my legs at the ankles.

"No, I was their guitarist," Alex indicated to the guitar he was tuning. "They had another drummer, but he just disappeared one day so I filled in and Katherine decided to hire two more guitarists- Iris and Tahlia."

"What happened to him?"

"Couldn't tell you. The band definitely knows but never said anything. Neither will Katherine," Alex set the guitar aside, looking up as the sound of heels against the stage echoed. "Speak of the devil." He muttered lowly.

"I need you off the stage. Soundcheck starts soon." Katherine's ginger hair shined under the stage lights as she looked down at the four of us.

"Did they arrive?" Tahlia asked, setting a guitar in one of the guitar stands.

"They're on their way from the hotel. Carlos said they just got there." Katherine picked up her phone, bringing it to her ear as she waved us off.

I followed the lead of the others, who were headed towards the dressing room which seemed to be where everybody went.

"Shouldn't you guys be doing soundcheck?" I ask, walking alongside Iris who laughed at the question.

"We did an actual soundcheck hours ago. This one is just for fans to get in early and meet the boys." She put her arm around my shoulder, walking me to the dressing room. Everybody who I had previously met, except my dad and Caroline, were inside. Iris noticed me glance around the room, taking a seat as she spoke.

"You dad has to stay out during soundcheck, as well as Caroline. It only lasts for 30 minutes though," I took the seat next to her, everybody having their own conversations. Iris turned to me, elbow resting on the back of the couch as her cheek sat in the palm of her hand. "Can I ask you something?"