We stepped off the train and onto the bustling platform.
"So where's your gig at?" I shouted over the noises of the station.
"Some place called the Royal Mile?" Mick replied.
The Mile was only 10 minutes from my flat, so I decided I could take a short detour with him.
"Funny, that's right near my place!" I over exaggerated.
"Fancy being my tour guide?" he smiled.
"I'd be honoured," I laughed as we headed towards the stairs.
We caught a bus down Princes Street and headed for the Mile. I guessed the gig must be at one of the wee pubs that lined the streets there. Since I had literally no money left, Mick payed for my ticket and we got on. I offered to carry his guitar case for him, but he clutched it protectively, so I took his suitcase instead. Once we got off the bus I lead the way through the streets. Mick adjusted to the new surroundings, looking up and down and all around with wide eyes. He seemed so in awe of everything, which was cute considering this was literally just a dirty side street.
"You like this place?" I said, not being able to hold back a smile at how adorable he was being.
"It's a'right I guess. Kinda just the same as England. C'ept everyone talks funny."
I laughed.
"Are you from London then?"
"Yep, down South," he said.
"Where are you meeting your mates then?" I asked.
"Dunno. Gig doesn't start till ages, but we got to rehearse. They'll be there whenever I s'ppose."
"Why didn't they go to Glasgow with you?"
"Well, one of them did; Paul, but he got bored and headed back here. They're staying in a hotel somewhere."
We started off down the Royal Mile and I stopped at each small joint, asking Mick which one he thought it was.
"I dunno. They said it's grey."
I looked down the street. The vast majority of the buildings were grey.
"Well cheers, Mick, that really helped," I giggled. He laughed and kept walking.
"C'mon, we'll hopefully see the poster in the winda or somethin." I trotted after him, still carrying his case.
"You want me to take that back?"
"Nah, s'alright, I got it."
Finally Mick stopped at a tiny pub and said, "That's the one, yeah!"
He pointed to a huge poster in the cracked window with "THE CLASH TONIGHT ONLY" scrawled across the top, and a picture of four guys on it. They all looked pretty interesting, I liked the guy at the front with combed back curly hair and dark sunglasses.
"Clash, eh? That's a cool name."
"We're a cool band," Mick said, only half joking. I loved the way he looked so serious when he spoke about his band, like he really really loved it. I wanted more than anything to see him play.
"Well now we know where it is, I got plenty time to kill. You got anywhere to be?" Mick looked at me.
"I wouldn't mind going to drop these off at the flat, but other than that I'm free for as long as I want"
I couldn't help noticing the way he smiled and his eyes lit up when I said I wasn't busy. Hooray for being a loner!
"Well you go do that, and I'll call Joe, let them know I'm here. Maybe you could meet them?"
My heart exploded.
"Yeah! What if they don't like me though? They look like no-nonsense guys," I said, pointing to the poster.
"I look pretty tough there too don't I but I ain't so bad am I?"
I smiled. He nodded at my camouflage trousers, "Joe'll like those."
I smiled again. I couldn't help myself.
"Why not you come back to my place while I drop off my stuff, and you can use the phone there? I think it works."
Our eyes met for a moment and he grinned at me.
"Yeah. Sounds good", and we set off down the street.
