That evening, I climbed up the fire escape at the back of the pub. Joe had told me he would meet me there before the show to sneak me in. I had on my camo pants, combat boots and a leather jacket; pretty much the same outfit I'd been wearing all day, but this time I'd tied a maroon bandanna around my neck and put on dark eye make-up and lipstick (desperately wanting to impress Mick). I'd tried to tame my wild golden curls but given up and left my hair alone. I reached the top of the stairs and cautiously knocked on the door. I could hear voices inside but they were muffled so I had no idea if it was them or not. I shifted about impatiently, praying they were in there. It was fuckin freezing. I knocked again, then again, then again. I just wanted to get inside for God's sake! Finally I'd had enough waiting. I didn't care anymore. I was getting into this fucking concert and I was seeing Mick play no matter what it took. He wanted me there. He needed me. I saw the window only about a foot from the door, so without thinking, I mounted the metal banister and reached for the latch to open it. With a bit of effort and wobbling around, I pushed the window open with my fingertips. I lifted my right leg over the banister so both my legs were on one side of it and grabbed the window sill, pulling myself in with all the strength I could muster. I lifted my legs onto the sill and ungracefully flipped forwards and onto the floor of the room. I heard howls of laughter around me. Looking up I saw Joe, Paul and Topper pissing themselves laughing at me.
"You a'right there?" Joe panted. Paul looked like he was about to cry of laughter.
"You fuckin cunts! Meet us at the fire escape, they said. We'll let you in, they said! Bollocks! I just performed extreme parkour to get in this fucking window and you were just sitting here?!" I yelled at them, but I was trying to hold back a smile.
"Aw, I'm sorry. I didn't think you'd be here already" Joe laughed, coming over and offering me his hand. I grabbed it fiercely and pulled myself up.
"Didn't you hear me knock?"
"No"
"Well, fuck you then. But anyway, where's Mick?" I asked, looking around eagerly for him.
"Oh, you won't be seeing him until like 5 minutes before the show, he's downstairs trying to make himself look extra gorgeous for you," said Paul. I couldn't help blushing at the thought of him trying to impress me.
"So are you guys done rehearsing?"
"Yep, they're setting up our stuff just now but we wamted to chill for a bit before hand so we won't go down till a bit later," said Joe.
"Why not we go get drinks and bring them up here?" I suggested.
"Yeah, sure," Paul nodded and we headed to the door. Before I could follow, Topper called me.
"April, can we talk?"
"Erm, sure," I said. "You guys go, we'll be with you in a sec," I said to Joe.
"Okay, see ya", and they closed the door. Topper pulled up a chair and I did the same.
"Okay given the fact we're sitting down I'm guessing this is important," I said as I took a seat. Topper shrugged. The room was deadly quiet with only distant sounds of the bar to be heard.
"Okay, so, you like Mick, right?"
I shrugged, wondering where this was going.
"Well...Yeah, I do."
"Yep, and I just want to make sure you realise how much he likes you too."
I blushed a little and looked down.
"I'm serious, April, he hasn't shut up about you since you left. Like really, it's getting kinda annoying ... No offence ... He literally spent ten minutes describing your smile to us, like how is that even possible?"
I laughed and he smiled at me. Only Mick could find something beautiful in someone like me, and I adored him for it.
"But anyway, I just want you to know that even if he hasn't said it outright, he really bloody likes you April. I know it probably all feels a bit rushed and that, but that's what it's like sometimes. Just don't get put off if it seems like things are moving too fast; it's weird but a lot of the best things are."
I didn't know what to say.
"I like him, too, Topper. I hope he knows that..."
"Oh, he knows," Topper laughed.
"Thanks, mate.."
"No problem," he said with a smile.
We got up and headed to the door.
