"Who are we going to see again?" Oliver asked, his curiosity evident.
I laughed as Taylor rolled her eyes. "Really?" she muttered, clearly unimpressed by Oliver's lack of knowledge. I turned to Oliver with a grin. "They're called As We Are. They're pretty famous."
I leaned in and whispered in his ear, "Even in the wizarding world."
Oliver raised an eyebrow. "Well, I've never heard of them."
Taylor shook her head in mock disbelief. "You Scottish must be living in a cave. They're like the new Beatles."
Oliver looked puzzled. "And who are these Beatles?"
Jeremy, sitting in the front seat, chimed in with a smirk, "Your boyfriend could use a couple of music culture lessons."
I laughed, nudging Oliver playfully. "Yeah, I could teach him some!"
Oliver chuckled, and I continued, "I have the greatest music taste ever, that's what Johnny Gilbert said."
Before Oliver could ask for more details, Shaun interjected, "That's like the greatest guitar player in the world. He plays in the legendary band Dirty Work."
Oliver nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, I could use a couple of lessons," he said with a grin.
We arrived at the venue, and the excitement was palpable. As we entered, Taylor excitedly announced, "And just your luck—my brother and Jeremy managed to get us backstage tickets. We're meeting the band!"
I squealed with joy and started jumping up and down with Taylor, while the boys exchanged amused glances.
Jeremy quickly gathered everyone. "We have to set some ground rules first," he said, forming a circle. "We couldn't get five seats next to each other, so it's 2 seats, 2 seats, and one alone."
I immediately grabbed Oliver's hand tightly, causing him to wince slightly. "Sorry," I whispered, feeling a bit guilty.
"I'm sticking with Oliver," I declared, refusing to let go.
"No way," Jeremy said firmly. "I can't let you slip my sight and get lost or something."
Shaun interjected, "She's a big girl, she can handle herself. Besides, she's with Oliver, and we're basically in the same section, so she's not that far from us."
I smiled gratefully at Shaun as Jeremy reluctantly agreed.
"Wait a second!" Taylor protested, her eyes widening. "What do you mean by 'us'? Are you planning to leave me with the single seat?"
"Well, you know how Jeremy is," Shaun said, trying to placate his sister. "I need to cheer him up. I'm like his future best man."
Jeremy, clearly enjoying the drama, said loudly, "I'm already cheered up. Look at me!"
"Yeah, obviously," I muttered, stifling a laugh. Oliver chuckled but then playfully smacked my shoulder.
"Anyway, you have to sit alone, Sis," Shaun said, his tone final.
Taylor folded her arms, clearly displeased. "Okay, but I want your MP3 player, your laptop, and your skater for a week."
Shaun's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? You can't!"
Taylor laughed mischievously. "Then I'll tell Mom, and she'll take them from you."
"God, okay fine," Shaun conceded with a groan. "But just for one week."
Taylor laughed triumphantly and strutted ahead. Shaun pushed Jeremy playfully. "Look what I'm doing for you, man."
"I know, I'm sorry. You still love me though," I teased, amused by their banter. It was always cute how Jeremy and Shaun acted like an old married couple. I couldn't resist calling them out on it.
"OLD MARRIED COUPLE!" I shouted after them, laughing as they rolled their eyes and continued their playful squabbling.
As we entered the venue, the excitement among us was palpable. Taylor led the way, eagerly navigating through the crowd with Shaun and Jeremy trailing behind. Oliver and I followed closely, our hands still intertwined. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation as we reached the backstage area.
Taylor and Shaun's excitement was contagious as they chatted about the band's latest album and their favorite tracks. Oliver, now fully immersed in the vibe, asked questions about the band, and I filled him in with enthusiasm. He listened intently, nodding and laughing at the anecdotes I shared.
Once backstage, we were greeted by a security guard who led us to the band's dressing room. The room was filled with musical instruments, scattered sheet music, and the faint scent of sweat and stage lights. The band members were lounging, clearly relaxed after their performance.
"Hey everyone!" Taylor called out as we entered, her excitement evident. "This is Arabella and her friends. They're huge fans."
The band members looked up, their faces lighting up with friendly smiles. The lead singer, a tall guy with tousled hair, stepped forward. "Nice to meet you all. I'm Ryan."
One by one, we introduced ourselves, and the band members were friendly and welcoming. Ryan led us into a casual conversation about their tour and upcoming projects. I noticed Oliver was particularly interested in their gear and how they prepared for performances.
As the evening progressed, the conversation turned to more personal topics. Ryan asked about our Hogwarts experience, intrigued by our magical world. I laughed as I described some of the peculiarities of living in a magical realm, and Oliver added his own humorous observations.
Eventually, Taylor managed to steer the conversation back to music. "We've got a little tradition," she said, pulling out her phone. "We play a few of our favorite tracks and let the band hear them."
Shaun and Taylor set up a mini music session, playing snippets of our favorite songs. The band members listened with genuine interest, commenting on the tracks and sharing their own musical influences.
Oliver took the opportunity to ask Ryan about their songwriting process. Ryan happily explained how they collaborated on lyrics and melodies, drawing inspiration from personal experiences. Oliver was clearly fascinated and asked several more questions, clearly impressed.
As the night wore on, the energy in the room remained high. We took a few photos with the band, and Oliver and I had a chance to chat more intimately about the evening. We were both thrilled by the experience and grateful for the chance to meet the band.
When it was time to leave, we bid farewell to the band and headed back to the car. Taylor and Shaun were buzzing with excitement, recounting their favorite moments from the night. Jeremy and Oliver, though quieter, shared their own reflections on the experience.
As we drove home, Oliver leaned closer and whispered, "Tonight was amazing. Thank you for bringing me."
I smiled, resting my head on his shoulder. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. I had the best time with you."
We arrived back home, and after a quick goodnight, Oliver and I retreated to my room. We lay on the bed, the night's excitement still lingering. "Tonight was perfect," Oliver said, his voice soft. "I wouldn't have wanted to spend it with anyone else."
I snuggled closer, feeling a deep sense of contentment. "Me neither," I whispered. "I'm so lucky to have you."
We drifted off to sleep, the memories of the night replaying in our minds. The band's music, the laughter, and the shared moments created a special memory that would stay with us forever.
