Just for Tonight

3.

His phone buzzed twice with an incoming message.

"I'm in, Ville! Everything's set with my boss, and to answer your question, no, there's no one waiting for me. When do we leave?"

He replied immediately.

"That's great news! Let's meet tomorrow night in the Citycenter Mall parking lot in Helsinki at 11 PM. The buses will be there."

A sense of calm settled over Ville. He now had his own press agent, someone he'd chosen himself, guided by a deep feeling that she was the right person for the job. For once, he felt he could trust someone in the mad world of tours and media.

The following night, Chloe arrived at the meeting point to see a small crowd gathered around two tour buses. She recognized Migé and Linde from HIM, along with a group of young roadies in animated conversation, Seppo standing nearby with his familiar composed smile. But there was no sign of Ville.

She was standing alone with her luggages when she heard someone shouting her name.

"Chloe, please come this way !"

She looked at the VIP bus, where the voice was coming from, and saw Ville standing next to it. He came to her and helped her with her bags.

"As our press officer, you will be with the guys, Seppo and I in this tour bus. Maybe that way you will learn to know each of us and it will give you stuff to lead the future interviewers" he explained.

"First of all I want to thank you so much for this opportunity. In my life I would never dream about touring with a band and being able to discover how things work from inside. I promise you I will do my best" she replied.

"I trust you. I feel it, that's all. So, let me show you the bus and introduce you to my guys. I just hope they will behave", he laughed.

Migé immediatly gave her a hug, Seppo smiled at her, Linde nodded and Gas and Burton politely shaked her hand.

The bus was quite big, with seats in the front of it and eight places to sleep in the back. Each bunk was separated from the others by curtains in order to preserve some privacy. There was also a little room with a sink and a dry toilet and Ville showed her her place to sleep, the last one on the right in front of his.

The mood on the bus was lighthearted, filled with the buzz of anticipation for the upcoming tour. Conversations flowed easily, punctuated by laughter as everyone snacked and drank beers—except Ville, who opted for soda instead.

Chloe was sitting alone next to a window and writing down some notes on her notebook. Ville sat next to her.

" A penny for your thoughts" he said.

" I was thinking about ... Well, it is not clear in my head right now, but imagine using social medias to promote the band. I mean, a kind of blog in which a member of the band introduce another member. Imagine you have to talk about Migé. You could tell some memories about him, explain who he is trully... More as an human being than "the bassist of HIM". Something out of the stars system, only someone talking and sharing memories about someone else he cares for. Something different. If you make a simple research on the internet about "Migé Amour" you will have a short description about his full name and his current work as, and I quote,-bassist in a finn band called HIM-. I find it too short, too... I don't know how to explain what I feel, but where is the human part in it ? Where can we find his dreams which lead him to be part of a successfull story ? Where can we read the things he cares for ? And so on... " she told him.

Ville had been silently listening to her. She was afraid of having said something wrong or made a mistake trying to explain something which was not achieved in her mind. Maybe her first idea as a press agent was a wrong one and Ville was disappointed. Maybe...

" All right" he suddenly said. "I get it. You want to show us as human beings, more accessible. Please go on with this idea and when you feel it, we will do it the best way we can".

"Do you find my idea is worth it ?" she asked.

" I don't like social medias you know, because of exactly what you said. They try to sum up who we are through so little things or bad buzzes. They never get the whole thing and they did not even try", he sighed.

"It seems so easy to understand through your words what I wanted to say. You received a gift and an amazing ability to play with words the way you do", she giggled.

"It is a gift and a curse", he laughed.

They suddenly noticed that they were left alone in the front seats. They had been so lost in their conversation that they had not paid attention to the others. Everyone seemed to be on the bunks.

"Have a sweet night, Chloe" he muttered.

"See you tomorrow", she softly replied.

As she settled into her bunk, a mixture of excitement and nervousness washed over her. Tomorrow, they'd embark on a journey that would stretch over countless miles, late nights, and venues. For the first time, she felt the pulse of life on the road, ready to reveal the heart behind the music, one story at a time.

***

So thank you again if you are here !