Escape | Updated Weekly

32

The day of the big show arrived. I hadn't slept at all the week leading up to it. I think even Chloe could tell how anxious I was feeling. I had been sat in front of my mirror trying to decide what to do with my hair for at least an hour, and that was before I even looked at what outfits I had in my closet. 

"Eve! We're leaving in half an hour, we've gotta get there early" Chloe shouted up the stairs. I groaned to myself. Getting there early meant getting there in time to see the band before their concert started. Which also meant seeing Mac, and I had no idea what to wear. 

I picked myself up and went to my wardrobe searching through every dress I owned. I came across the one I had worn the night me and Mac ran away to the cabin. I hadn't worn it since. Which seems pretty, but it was also the same dress I wore as he told me he loved me. You wouldn't wear your wedding dress after getting divorced. 

I flicked past it, praying there'd be something better. In the end I settled on a green strappy one, it would have to do at this point. I left my hair down letting my natural curls do their thing and did a quick make up look. Chloe let me borrow some of her heels and then she rushed me out of the door.

The venue that the band was playing at was  huge! Not a huge stadium, but it would be the biggest crowd they would have played too far. We had to walk through one room to get to this one, it reminded me of a 'great hall' type of room that you see in posh houses. We got let in before anyone was allowed so we went to see it in full loom. Tom was sat on the stage just staring into space. "You good?" Chloe asked, he snapped out of it when he realised we were there. "Yeah" he said and stood up "It's just crazy that this is all for us". The others came onto the stage to join Tom,  I avoided any eye contact with Mac. 

They set up their music and began a sound check, I decided to go back into the other room for a bit. The less I was around Mac the better. 

"Hey" I heard someone call behind me. I turned and saw Josh there. "Told you I would see you around"  he said. "Yeah... How's your car" he grimaced. "Not good" he laughed. "Can I buy you a drink?". I hesitated. I didn't know this guy, taking a drink from him wasn't a smart move. 

"Just as a thank you, for letting me use your phone". I shrugged "Yeah, sure". I went to the bar with him and watched as they made my drink. He tried to make small talk with me as we waited. "Are you here for the show?" I asked him, the bartender handed me my drink and we got out of the way of other people. "Er, not my thing" he replied "Oh". An awkward silence fell between us until he said "I would have gone if I knew you was going". My cheeks blushed involuntarily. "Well, my best friends in the band so I'm always there" he raised his eyebrows 

"lucky you! I bet that's fun"

"Yeah it can be"

He smiled at me sweetly, I didn't know where to look. "Could I have your number?" I almost choked on my drink. "Sorry?" he bowed his head and leaned closer to me. "I would love to get to know you better". I almost laughed, the last person who 'got to know me' broke my fucking heart. I pretend to check the time on my phone. "I'm sorry I've er, I've got to go". I turned on my heel and rushed back into the concert room. He looked dissapointed as I walked away.

I met Chloe as everyone else was having their tickets checked, the flooded with people so quickly. The lights went down and the band came onto the stage. It was like any other show. We'd been to so many now that we knew the usual routine. The band comes on, introduces themselves and what song they were singing. The atmosphere this time was different though. Everyone was here just for them. They're biggest fans so far. They knew the lyrics to the songs and screamed them at top of their lungs. It was good to see the boys getting the attention they deserved. 

They had an hour and a half on stage all together, by the end of it I had lost my voice and needed the fresh air. However the night didn't end for us there. As everyone started to leave, Chloe dragged me back stage. Despite my protests of not wanting to go. 

Chloe banished pretty much as soon as we got back there, I didn't even see her go. I ended up wandering aimlessly around, trying to find someone that I knew. Unfortunately for me the person I found wasn't someone I wanted to be left alone with. I saw Mac hanging back as he watched people exit. I tried to slowly turn away before he saw me, but something must have made his senses go off. He looked my way before I even got half way round, I couldn't decide if I should carry on or if I should stay. 

"Hi"

Fuck. Too late to go anywhere now.

"Hey"

I didn't move, I just stood still on the spot not needing to be any closer to him. This felt more awkward then being right outside his house.

"Mum said you're considering letting her publish your book"

I was amazed he'd even bring that up. It actually pissed me off, it felt like he was trying to rub it in.

"I don't think I will"

"You really Eve"

"I don't think I'm going to take any advice from you"

He looked hurt. I hated that I felt bad for making he have that look on his face. I was sobbing and he didn't care about me.

"It shouldn't matter what happened with us"

I scoffed.

"Fuck you"

I bit my lip. It just slipped out. I had no intention of being so verbally aggressive with him, but I could feel the anger boiling in my blood the more he spoke about the bloody book.

"Eve... I don't want it to be this way. I want to still get along"

That was my final straw. I lost all control.

"Get along? Really?"

He took a step back.

"Maybe you should have thought about that before whisking me away and spending two days telling me that you love me to then ignore me for two weeks and walk out on me"

He looked at the floor, he didn't look at me. I just kept going.

"So. No. Mac, I don't think we're going to 'get along'. You made me look like a fucking idiot"

I turned to leave, stood behind me was the rest of the band and Chloe. They all just watched it happen in front of them. I instantly felt ashamed. I never wanted to be like this, not tonight. I glanced at Tom. I couldn't tell what he was thinking, and I hated that even more. Usually I could, or he would give me a certain look to tell me it's okay. Instead I got nothing.

I just walked out, I still felt angry and I clearly couldn't be around Mac.

I went into the other room, desperate to get the fresh air that I needed so badly. "Good show?" Josh stopped me just before I got to the door. I smiled "Yeah, amazing". I obviously wasn't going to go into the details. "I'm glad" he said and he smiled back. A devilish handsome smile. 

I hated myself, I hated Mac. I didn't know why I cared so much about the man who didn't care about me. I was done with him and anything that ever happened between us. 

"Want another drink?" I asked Josh. He seemed pleased at my request. "Only if I can have your number" he grabbed me round the waist but I didn't stop him. "Okay" I agreed.