Fluorescents

3

"No harm, he's armed, setting off all your alarms."

Their music plays in the background of the bus as our attention reverts to the loud noises coming from the front of the bus. Soon enough the rustling and knocking turns into impatiently loud bangs. Quickly after Nick jogs to the door and opens it.

"BLOODY HELL! It took you long enough." His Scottish voice is husky and his words are slurred. I can't help but stand in place impatiently waiting for him to appear. The rest of the guys gaze at me as I stare at the door. I can't look away. I'm staring and I can tell the rest of them aren't nearly as intrigued as I am but I can't seem to pull myself away.

Soon after the mans remark Nick rolls his eyes before stepping to the side, allowing the mystery man to enter. My breath hitches in my throat as the figure appears. He is slim with broad shoulders and black messy hair that you can tell he put no effort into styling. He is wearing a black overcoat on top of a plain grey t-shirt with several unbuttoned buttons on the top and black skinny jeans. He pairs his edgy clothing with black aviators and I quickly gaze down over his visibly prominent cheekbones.

" Damn, lads. You got a girl in here before I even arrived." He slurs before chuckling lightly and looking around at Matt, Nick and Jamie. I quickly find myself ignoring his crude comment and examining over his talking lips. They are a light pink shade but are clearly chapped. " What's your name, sweetheart?" He asks in a husky Scottish accent. I laugh lightly at his nickname but ignore it. He's simply being cheeky. Who knows, maybe that's how all European men act. Nick called me darling and it didn't seem to matter then. " You ain't got a name, sweetheart?" He asks clearly already bothered by my silence even though he asked me a question only a second ago.

" I'm, uhm, I'm Jocelyn." I say stuttering in between. He nods his head before not so subtly examining my body up and down. I clear my throat and he looks back up before letting out another one of his deep chuckles. " I'm your guys stage manager for this upcoming tour." I inform the band, finally reverting my attention away from the rude man.

" How old are you?" He asks, clearly unamused that I'm not a groupie. " Aren't you a little too young to be doing this?" He states shortly after, before letting out another one of his obnoxious chuckles. He obviously believes he's some type of hot shot. "I mean a little girl like yourself shouldn't be given so much responsibility. Right lads?" He looks over at the band and they all roll their eyes, clearly as unamused as me with his rude behavior.

" I'm 24, and trust me I'm exceptionally qualified to take on this task." I state in a professional yet rough tone so he can understand that I'm not playing his games. Who does he think he is questioning my authority and experience? He simply shrugs his shoulders as if he lost interest before moving away from me and examining the tour bus. " I just wanted to introduce myself to you guys since we'll be working together for the next two months." I smile at Nick, Jamie, and Matt who are all looking at me. I hear a chuckle erupt from the cocky and rude man who by now is examining the mini bar on the bus. " is there a problem?" I ask, clearly already unamused with his impudent behavior again.

" You said working together, sweetheart." He states before turning around to gaze at me while leaning his body on the bars countertop. I look around at the rest of the men before gazing back at him.

" Yes, and?" I ask even though I am already aware of why he is complaining about my word choice.

" Alex-" Jamie warns him but he shrugs him off and continues his rude behavior and verbal assault on me.

" Sweetheart." He says in a cold tone that I can tell has no friendly meaning behind it. He removes his aviators and I finally am introduced to this rude man as his eyes bare into mine. They're a dark brown color and I quickly gaze into them as he continues. " you'll be working for us for the next two months." He states with a smug smirk before returning his aviators to his face and turning around to continue rummaging through the bars arrangement of liquor.

This man just won't stop. He obviously has problems that he needs to work out with himself and I'm not going to allow him to treat me like some type of fool. I have worked my whole life for this and I'm not going to stand here and allow myself to be tortured during a job I've dreamed of having since I was 13. I'm just going to ignore him, thats my best option. I need to be patient and collect myself before I do anything I'll regret. This job means the world to me and I'm not going to allow this smug asshole to ruin it for me.

" Well." I laugh awkwardly in my spot as the rest of the band gazes at me equally as awkward. Their obviously embarrassed with their band mates behavior. " I'll let you guys get settled in." I state as I watch the rude man desperately rummage through the assortment of liquor in the bus. " Let me know if you guys have any questions or concerns." I state briskly before getting out of there as soon as possible.

That couldn't have possibly gone any worse than it just did. When I first met the band I was impressed with their style and humble behavior but when their rude band mate arrived I was absolutely mortified to find someone so cocky and pretentious. He was the exact type of celebrity I was hoping I would never have to associate with, but now I'm screwed. I've signed a contract and I can't back out now. This is going to be my life for the next two months. I begin to feel tears prick in the corners of my eyes but I quickly wipe them off and try to compose myself. The thought of calling Matt quickly comes to my mind but I push it aside.  He's busy and it would be rude of me to ask him to set everything aside just to talk to me now, besides I'm busy too. I have to get everything ready for our departure. The stress rises again and so does my breakfast from this morning. Maybe I'm not suited for this? Maybe I should just quit already? Pack my shit and go back to Illinois. But I can't. I have to do it not only for myself but for my uncle Slick. It's what he would have wanted me to do. If he saw me back out now he would be deeply disappointed in me. I have to move past this and push through. I'm not going to let some stupid, rude asshole get in my way now. I've worked too hard for this.

" Jocelyn." I turn around to face Jack as he calls out to me. By now I'm behind the bands bus and in front of mine. " Everything's done, but we're going to need you to check everything before we head off." He states and I nod my head and finally compose myself. But not as well as I had hoped because he quickly takes notice of my distant behavior." You ok?" He asks and I mentally smack myself for not being convincing enough. I'm not a very good actor.

" Yeah." I fake a smile before patting his back and quickly making my way to the loaded trucks before he can say anything else. We've got to get on the road.