A Christmas Surprise

One

I had a bad feeling about Thomas. I had been waiting for him for about fifteen minutes. I'd tried to tell him there was no way he would get served alcohol, but he was convinced he could at least get two beers. I stood as the crowd of black clad concert revellers gathered. Their pale faces and black kohl eyes were an exciting sight for me, sixteen, (almost seventeen) attending my almost first concert. I had seen a band in my younger days but the less said about that the better.

"Jessica?" I spun round at the sound of my name, half in panic in case I had been discovered, half hopeful it was Thomas with two ice cold beers and a smile.

"Jessica, I thought that was you," Brandon Flowers said as he grinned down at me. Total fear flooded my insides.

"Is Michael with you?" I said grabbing on his t shirt sleeve as if it would protect me, searching around for my big brother.

"No, luckily for you," Brandon smirked, "I take it your parents don't know you are here."

"Eh, hello? You know my mom and dad, remember?" I said in a joking tone, finally feeling myself calm down that I had been not caught.

"They think I'm staying over at Lori's house, but I'm here with Thomas instead," I said having to shout into Brandon's ear as the support band struck up a loud and rocky set.

"The gay kid?" Brandon said, "not that it matters," he shrugged with a smile.

"He went to the bar to try to get us some beers and he hasn't came back," I said, suddenly worrying about my friend.

"What?!" Brandon laughed, leaning into my ear, "there is no way they would serve him, unless he's got a fake ID!"

"Knowing Thomas, he probably has," I laughed, imagining Thomas practicing saying his fake date of birth in the mirror. "Who are you here with?"

"My friend Rob, from work, but he's already hooked up with his girlfriend," Brandon said gesturing towards a couple kissing passionately at the side.

"I should try and find Thomas," I said, feeling a little awkward as Brandon was looking at me intensely.

"Wait," he said, "I love your eye make up, it's pretty cool," Brandon grinned sheepishly.

"Do you want some?" I said with a sideways smirk, "look around, loads of guys are wearing it," I watched him look around at the crowd and wished he would let me make him over.

"Sure,"he said, "David Bowie does it, right?"

"Who's David Bowie?" I said with a dead pan face.

"What?!" Brandon said with a shocked look.

"I'm kidding," I laughed,

Brandon grinned and shook his head. I pushed him towards the girls bathroom with little resistance. No one batted an eyelid as we stumbled into the bright lights of the restroom. Brandon didn't seem too bothered at the sights and sounds of the female toilets. He did however stay close to me as we found a space at the mirror. I put my bag down on the little shelf and takes around for my eyeliner. I pulled it out and grinned. Making Brandon laugh.

"I had no idea you were like this," Brandon said giggling.

"Like what?" I said catching his eyes in the mirror.

"I don't know, cool?" He said shrugging and cringing all at once.

"Not as cool as you're going to be," I laughed feeling pleased that my older brother's friend might think that about me. I carefully drew eyeliner on one of his eyes, trying not to let me hand shake too much. I suddenly felt shy and nervous as I realised how intimate this was, plus I was trying not to fall into his very lovely eyes, a beautiful mix of greens and browns. "Now you try," I said as I felt a blush creep into my purposefully pale face.

"Just like this?" He asked as he swept the pencil across his eyelids.

"Yes," I said nodding encouragingly, "wow, you look great!" I laughed, I felt my stomach fill up with excitement.

"Thanks Jessica," Brandon said, obviously pleased with the result, as he took in his reflection. He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me in sideways hug. We both giggled. Suddenly the crowd roared and the first few chords of 'boys don't cry' jangled. Both me and Brandon ran out to the main concert ready to dance and sing along to The Cure. I forgot all about Thomas and my brother and my parents, even Brandon left my consciousness as I lost myself in the music.

~

"That was amazing!" I said as we made our way out to the parking lot. I was skipping alongside Brandon, I felt so happy, like I was floating.

"It really was," Brandon laughed, beaming down at me, "what are you going to do? I mean... can you see Thomas anywhere?"

"What about your friend, Rob?" I asked, scanning the crowd for Thomas' lanky stature and dyed black hair.

"He left a while ago with his girlfriend," Brandon said shyly as if he was making a confession, "you can come back to my aunt's house with me. You can stay and just head back to your mom and dad's early."

"Would your aunt be ok about me staying? I mean, I would go back home now, but they would quiz me, no sorry, I mean interrogate me about why I came home mid sleepover!" I giggled, feeling like I wanted to be with Brandon longer.

"Hopefully, she won't need to know, she works night shift so she won't be in and we can bundle you out before she gets up," Brandon said leaning up on his toes.

"Are you sure? I don't want to get you into trouble," I said, feeling a mixture of excitement and anxiety.

"It's fine," Brandon said with a smile, "if we are smart, we won't get caught. I don't want your brother to find out," Brandon's eyebrows moved up his forehead and all I could do was giggle.