Encore

9 Roadie

We wait in the bus outside last night's concert venue, awaiting the arrival of our roadies. After about 15 minutes, one of the boys last night comes running towards the bus. But only one of them. He's the one with brown hair and I remember him well because he has the nicest lips I've ever laid eyes on. Putting Mick Jagger aside, of course. Lexie hops off the bus to greet him. "Hey, kiddo! Where are the rest?"

The boy, who might just be about my age, pants from all the running and answers nervously, "They...couldn't make it." Lexie asks with disbelief, "What?! Just you?" He nods and says, "Just me. Their parents were raging and they're all grounded, so..." Lexie sighs and invites him on the bus. "Well, a roadie is a roadie. Guess you'll be burdened for now."

Walking warily inside, he holds his bag and looks around with the brightest of eyes. He reminds me of myself. Lance says from his seat, "Come sit beside me, man! What's your name? How old are ya?" The boy does as told and says, "Luke Anderson, but you may not call me Mick Jagger. I'm 18." Ash interferes and says, "Hey, you're the same age as my little sister, Savannah." He points at me and I quickly retort, "I'm not your little sister, Ash!" Ash ignores me and continues, "And that means I've got my eyes on you, boy." He then gives Luke a death glare and Luke looks away in fear.

I roll my eyes at Ash's antics and laugh softly. I'm sitting beside Billie again, appreciating his silence this time. He smiles at my reaction and says, "Ash doesn't have a little sister. But if he does, she'd be exactly like you. And he'd be as ridiculously protective as this."

I groan and take out a copy of Firepop, "I guess I'm involuntarily his little sister until the tour ends. How magnificent."

Billie then swiftly closes the gap between us and whispers into my ears, "Do you think Ash would kill me if I make a move on you?"

I try to breath, but it feels like someone's blocking my air passage. Billie smells very good and it really doesn't help that he's wearing a leather jacket, the 'in' clothing article for me now. Although I lost mine to Ash. I whisper back, "I would really like to find out, actually." Billie's mouth curves into a smirk and I could feel his lips grazing my ear as he says, "Although I value my life, I think I'd take the risk for you."

I accidentally let out a low giggle, which I regret doing because I used to hate it when other girls do that. Billie doesn't seem to care, just like most guys won't. In fact, he smiles at it and it isn't a smirk kind of smile, but the kind of smile that I am having right now. A smitten one. We hear someone clearing their throat rather loudly. We look in front to see Ash giving the stinkiest of eyes at Billie and I. He says, "I was just warning little Luke here and you have the nerves to be whispering at the back there? I expected more from you, Billie."

Billie smiles at Ash's ridiculousness and says, "Can't make an exception for your good buddy, now?" Ash gives him a loud sarcastic laugh and pulls out a cigarette from his jacket-- my jacket. He offers one to Luke and he takes it, smiling. Luke's not too shabby for a guy. In fact, he looks pretty clean cut and just a usual teenager hoping to taste fame. But he was in a band called Parasite. Can't really trust a guy like that.

"Thanks, man." Luke says after Ash lights the cigarette for him. Ash says, "So your friends bailed out on you? That sucks." Luke blows out a stream of smoke through his nose and shakes his head as he takes out the cigarette from his lips. "No, no. I bailed out on them. They all got grounded for staying way past curfew. Life in the suburbs, man. Parents don't let you do shit. " Billie himself lights a cigarette, earning an eye roll from me. Who doesn't smoke in here? I might as well start, seeing as I'm already surrounded by it everywhere I go.

"How come your parents let you go on this wild trip, then?" Lance asks. "I mean, it's not that wild yet, but it will be. Soon." Luke laughs and says, "I don't have parents, man. I live in an orphanage and I was just counting my days until I officially turn 18 so I could get the hell out of there."