The Idea of Us

Chapter One

"Come on already, Cass," Jade said from behind me, tapping her foot on the floor impatiently

"Well I would be done already if you would help me pick out what to wear," I fired back.

I held up a black crop top to my chest and looked into the mirror. We were going to see The Loyalists, Southern California's hottest new boyband. I couldn't wear just anything. I had to look sexy.

Jade made a humpf sound behind me. "Well whatever you choose try not to look like a virgin librarian."

I rolled my eyes. Jade always critiqued my clothes and told me I looked like an old lady. But not tonight. Tonight I had to look good. And the crop top was about the only sexy thing I owned.

"This is it then," I finally replied holding up the crop top. "This and a pair of skinny jeans".

"Do you even own skinny hands?" Jade asked in a snide way.

I thought for a moment. "No. But you do."

She rolled her eyes. "I guess you can borrow a pair of mine as long as we can get going already!"

I held my hands up. "Alright, alright. Let's stop by your place and quick pick up a pair and then off we go."

Jade let out an exasperated sigh. "Do you really think I left without an extra pair in my car? I know your wardrobe, babe, and quite frankly it sucks. I'll be right back."

Jade hustled downstairs and I heard the front door slam shut behind her. I quickly pulled my blouse off and squeezed into the crop top, which was admittedly too small. Jade was back in no time and she threw the jeans at me. I proceeded to put those on next.

Once I was done Jade threw her hands up in the air. "Okay, now we can go can't we?"

It was like a kid in the candy shop. She was absolutely obsessed with this band and had been talking about tonight all week.

We made our way downstairs. My mother was in the foyer. "Now you two be safe and look after each other."

"Don't worry Mrs. Lockwood, I won't let Cassidy bring one of the band members home." Jade winked at me.

My mother turned towards me. "And promise to call and text me."

Ever since my dad died when I was 7, she was super overprotective of me, even now that I was 24.

"I promise," I replied. She gave me a quick hug and kiss and then Jade and I were out the door.

We hardly even sat down in our car seats and Jade was already beaming with excitement. "Oh, I can't wait! Tonight is going to be the best!"

She looked over at me. "And you know I was kidding about not letting you bring home one of the band members. That would be so cool.... Just not Ronnie! He's mine!"

Ronnie was the drummer. Jasper was the guitarist. Damon was the lead singer. Jade always had a crush on Ronnie. She had literal dozens of posters in her room to prove it.

*****
The concert started at 8:00 PM but we made it there by quarter to. Jade always thought it made us look like losers to arrive too early.

Cars passed by us and pulled around to the other side of the venue. "I think we're supposed to be going that way," I remarked while pointing at the passing cars.

Jade rolled her eyes. "I think I know which way to go."

I frowned as she continued to drive towards the back of the building and parked in the vacant lot. I looked around and it was pitch dark out. I looked up at the sky that was full of twinkling stars. The only other vehicle in the lot was a white van. It looked like an expensive van and had tinted out windows.

"Okay, this is definitely not the entrance, Jade."

She shot me another annoyed look. "Cass, when are you going to figure it out. We're not going to the concert."

I looked at her dumbfounded. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"I didn't spend $300 on a ticket just for a shitty seat. I am going to meet them." She said it proudly with her chin held high.

I let out a humorless laugh. "You've got to be joking. You can't just sneak in the back and harass the band members. We'll be thrown out and possibly arrested!"

She nudged my elbow. Come on, Cass. Where's your sense of adventure?"

"This isn't an adventure, Jade. This is illegal."

She rolled her eyes yet again. "Well you can stay here if you like but you damn well better bet I'm meeting the band." She flipped her blonde hair and proceeded to exit the car.

The car door slammed. I sat in silence for a minute before following her.

"I knew you couldn't resist a chance to meet them!"

"No. It's just you're my best friend and I'm not letting you do something this stupid alone."

She grabbed my arm and excitedly pulled me towards the back door. I frowned. "Do you really think the door is just going to be unlo-"

I was wrong. With one turn of the knob, Jade had the door open. She smiled at me. "We have to be quiet to get past security," she said in a hushed voice.

Jade made her way through the door. I hesitated but she pulled me along. Everything was just as dark as outside. I heard the voices of security guards in the distance. Our bodies pressed together as we stayed close to one another, making our way through the darkness. We only made it a few yards and there was a sharp corner to turn down with the tiniest speck of light to follow.

Jade gasped. "This must be it. We're so close."

I still couldn't believe we were doing this. As I was still in a state of shock, I heard somebody clear their throat from behind me. I jumped around to see a tall, muscular middle aged man standing there in full security attire. My heart was racing. Where did he come from? I thought to myself.

Nothing needed to be said and Jade already took off towards the light like a bullet. My legs carried me off as I heard the man talk into a walkie talkie. "Get them!" He growled.

I felt like we were in one of those haunted houses where the actors dress up as monsters and chase you around. We kept running towards the light until Jade knocked into a bunch of boxes and I knocked into her. We both came crashing down. "Ahh!" I broke our rule of silence and screamed.

"Sorry!" Jade said back. I shoved her off of me.

We were both out of breath, standing up and panting like a dog. "At least I don't think we're being followed anymore."

It took me a minute to realize we were in a lighted up area. The area was lit up by stage lights. It took me another minute to realize we were behind the stage. I was in awe about the fact we made it here.

I touched Jade's arm. "Look! We're here."

Jade's eyes were full of the same awe and excitement mine were. Unfortunately, our excitement was cut short when I heard rustling around from somewhere ahead of us.

I knew it had to be security who came to take us away. If we were really unlucky, they would call the police.

Just as I thought about what I might say to my mom, a slender, well-built figure slinked out of the darkness from the unlit area. His hair was brown and slicked back. His seaside blue eyes locked on my eyes. I recognized him immediately as the lead singer, Damon. I heard Jade squeal behind me.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" His voice sent a chill up my spine and I just knew I was in for trouble now.