Screw

8. Secrets and doubt

After the performance, the dancers and the band made their way backstage to change. Estrella was sweaty, and the leather outfit she was wearing stuck to her uncomfortably. The three dancers proceeded into the changerooms, which seemed to house toilets only. Estrella locked herself in a toilet cubicle and began to peel off the stage outfit.
It had been a successful performance, the audience loved it. Because there were no showers in the changerooms, she obviously couldn't shower, but Estrella was prepared for this. She dragged on her panties and strapped on her bra quickly, then stepped out into the main area. From within her handbag she pulled a face washer. She made her way to the sink, dropping her bag on the floor at her feet, and wetting the face cloth under the tap. She began at the sweatiest areas; her underarms, the insides of her legs and the back of her neck. She then wiped down the rest of her body, rinsing the facecloth now and then. Finally, she wringed it out and then rubbed away the excess water from her skin. Estrella stuck her head under the faucet, running her fingers through her hair and rinsing it out, too.
"Whatcha doin'?" Rosamund's voice made her jump, and she smacked her head painfully on the tap.
"Shit- Rosamund!" Estrella clenched her teeth, rubbing at her head. She could hear her friend giggle, and brought her head out of the sink, squeezing the water out of it with her hands, trying to dry it a little.
"I have a towel, if you want to use it?" Rosamund offered,
"Oh yes please!" Estrella smiled. Rosamund handed her a white towel, which Estrella began to rub against her hair to dry it.
"I was just gonna wait to have a shower 'til we get back to the hotel room." Rosamund leaned against the wall, watching the barely clothed Estrella go through her hygeine routine. "I used these-" she reached into her handbag and withdrew a pack of wipes, "- to freshen up." She told Estrella. "They're designed 'specially for the pole."
"Ah yeah, I couldn't find wipes that didn't have moisturiser- you know- cause moisturiser makes it hard to get grip on the pole..." Estrella said, trailing off as she realised Rosamund probably already knew that.
"Yahh." The other dancer replied, "duh!" She then laughed, and chucked her package of wipes back into her bag.
"Ahh- hush! It's been a long night!" Estrella smiled back.
"So what're you gonna do for the rest of tonight?" The short blonde girl asked, pressing her fingers together absentmindedly.
"I reckon..." Estrella began to say, finishing with the towel and handing it back to Rosamund, "I'm- a do whatever the band is." She told her.
"Ah yeah... I was... kinda thinking of... hanging out with- you know- Izzy." Rosamund seemed hesitant to say this, stopping and starting mid sentence.
"Which one is that?" She asked,
"The hot one." The blonde replied, giggling. "With the black hair." She elaborated, letting out a dreamy sigh.
Estrella smiled knowingly,
"Do you like him?" She inquired.
"No- I mean-" her eyes dodged around the changeroom, "-uh." A breathy little sigh escaped her, "yeahh!" She smiled shyly at the floor. "I mean... he's just- perfect!" She squealed the last word. Estrella laughed lightly, and then she said,
"Then why don't you tell him?"
Rosamund sent her a shocked look.
"Well that's easier said then done, you noodle!" She looked completely serious,
"Noodle?" Chuckled Estrella, amused and a little shocked by the sudden pet name.
"Yes. Noodle!" Rosamund laughed also,
"You're the noodle!" By this time Estrella was truly laughing, and she gently pushed Rosamund's shoulder. Rosamund, also laughing, pushed her back. "Just tell him!" Estrella grinned,
"Nah uh, you first!" Giggled Rosamund.
"What do you mean?" Estrella still smiled, genuinely clueless,
"Duff, dude! You two obviously have a thing for each other!" Rosamund smiled.
"Nah we don't." She palmed the claim off, still relatively happy,
"You so do. He's into you," the blonde smiled at her still.
"We aren't a thing, man!" Estrella said seriously,
"What do you mean?" Rosamund looked confused as to why Estrella was all of a sudden so somber.
"I- don't like Duff." This in itself was a lie. Estrella really liked Duff, she just wasn't ready to have her heart broken again. Rosamund looked her straight in the eye,
"You do so!" She said, "there's something else..." Rosamund took a small step towards her, keeping eye contact, and Estrella looked at the floor. "What's wrong, dude?" She placed a hand gently on Estrella's shoulder.
"Nothin'." She replied,
"Yeah there is! C'mon, I told you about my man problems!" Her words made Estrella giggle again, very quietly, and she met the other girl's gaze again.
"'Man problems', huh?" Estrella said, a ghost of a smile playing across her features.
"Yeah, tell me 'em!" Rosamund smiled,
"I- uh-" Estrella coughed, "Not over my last boyfriend." She simplified it; Eddie technically wasn't her boyfriend, and therefore there was nothing to 'get over', but it was complicated. Rosamund only needed to hear what she'd told her.
"Shit dude. I'm sorry!" Rosamund rubbed her arm, and Estrella gave her a lopsided frown,
"It's okay." She replied, "let's just... you know." Estrella made her way back to the toilet cubicle she was in before and pulled on a pair of black skinny jeans and a light blue crop top. She wrung the washer out and then stuffed it back into her bag, then turned back to the basin, using the mirror above it to adjust her makeup. She didn't overdo it, just a bit of mascara and eyeliner.
She turned back to Rosamund just as one of the toilet cubicles behind her opened, revealing a freshened up Celine.
"Ready?" Estrella called to her,
"Oh-" she looked a bit surprised that she was talking to her, but smiled, "yes!"
"Alright, then. Let's go figure out what the boys are doing." Estrella suggested.
"Okay!" Celine smiled, and Rosamund went over and held the door open. They stepped out together, and glanced around. Estrella led the way down the hall, going in a random direction. Very soon, the sound of voices could be heard nearby. The three followed the noise, and soon came to a door that was slightly ajar. Estrella paused for a second, listening to the voices to determine whether or not they belonged to the band members, or if they were about to walk in on some club manager or official doing their buisness. The other girls also stopped.
They could hear what sounded like the middle of a conversation
"-Yeah, I dunno, man. Just wait, they're bound to turn up." It sounded like that redhead singer's deep voice.
"Is that Axl?" Murmered Rosamund,
"Yeah I think so." Celine whispered in response. Axl. That was his name. Meanwhile, another voice from within the room spoke,
"You know what, I'm going looking for them," It sounded like Duff,
"Yeah alright- whatever, man." Axl's voice replied.
The door swung open, and Duff stepped out, still looking over his shoulder,
"I'll be righ-" he stopped talking mid sentence, as he walked right into Estrella. She stumbled, then the sensation that she was falling overwhelmed her. She put her hands out to stop her fall, but still ended up on her ass, on the floor. Her hands hurt a little from taking the brunt force of the tumble, and her butt hurt also.
"Oh fuck, I'm sorry!" Duff exclaimed, towering above her with a concerned expression on his face. She gazed up at him,
"Ah- it's okay." She spoke softly.
"Here- I'll..." Duff trailed off, grabbing her hand in his. It was big and warm and a bit rough, but not overly so. She smiled weakly as he helped her to her feet.
"I'm really sorry!" He apologised again,
"It's okay!" She responded.
"No really, how can I make it up to you?" He looked down at her. He was so tall.
"Oh... no it's fine!"
"How about I buy you a drink, eh?" He smiled, and it captivated her. He had such a wonderful, beautiful smile. It was also very contagious; she caught herself smiling back at him.
"Um... okay!" She agreed, completely charmed. Duff stepped back inside the room momentarily, and they heard him begin to talk to Axl, but Estrella was distracted by Rosamund,
"See what I mean, Estrella?" The blonde said, "you two are great together. Just forget that other guy and see what you have!" Estrella spared her a sidelong glance, "he likes you alot, I can tell." She urged,
"He does!" Celine smiled widely. Estrella could help but wonder if Rosamund had a point, but that doubt was wiped out when she remembered Eddie...
Eddie, with his body and his hair and his gorgeous fucking words- and his kisses. Estrella almost felt like she could cry, just thinking of it.
"Nah- I don't need the pain," she told her newfound friends. Rosamund shook her head in disbelief.
Duff stepped back out the door, and sent a wink Estrella's way, then he turned to Celine and said,
"Axl asked for you to go in." This made Celine look both a bit surprised and quite excited at the same time, and she happily went on in. Duff pulled the door shut behind her.
"They're gonna be a little busy in there, ladies. Best leave them to it." He smirked,
"Oh yeah, I could guess that much!" Exclaimed Rosamund, looking vaguely disturbed. Estrella laughed at her expression, and Duff led the way down the hall.
"So if you and Axl were just in there, where's everyone else?" Rosamund asked him,
"Steven and Slash went to the pub already, we were waiting for you girls." He said, stopping to open the back exit door for them.
"Oh, okay..." Rosamund trailed off, "um- what about Izzy?" She asked as they trailed out into the almost empty carpark.
"Oh, he'd be with Annie. They might be there too, but alot of the time they look for somewhere quieter." He smiled,
"Annie?" The name fell off Rosamund's tongue, and she frowned a little. Duff waved his hand,
"Techie girl. Why all the questions?"
"You know, man- just curious." Estrella saved her, taking note of the very sad look on her face. "They an item?" She then asked, attempting to be casual. Rosamund stayed silent, eyes downcast. Duff snorted in amusement,
"No way. Just friends," he stated. A glance at Rosamund let Estrella know she was a little happier, at least.
Duff began to lead them towards a rowdy looking little pub just across the street. As they made their way towards it, a drunk man stumbled out of the doors, followed by another, and by the look of them, Estrella couldn't help but think that tonight was going to be a long one.