I did as Ben asked and ducked under his arm and into the hotel room. I walked about 10 feet before I stopped dead in my tracks and gawped at the TV and collection of DVDs, video games, and gaming consoles. I couldn’t help but grin like an idiot.
“WHOA!. OH MY FUCKING GOD! This is so good! Did you ask for all this stuff?!” I turned to him to say while dropping my bag. I around before he could answer and ran up to the huge sofa and jumped on it with my feet up, making myself comfortable.
“I could get used to this.” I sighed, wriggling into the sofa. Ben laughed at me and walked over to sit on the sofa. He looked down questioningly at me and raised his eyebrows.
“You gunna sit down then…It‘s really comfy” I said shutting my eyes.
“There’s no room. Your big feet are taking it all up.” he carried on standing there, waiting for me to move. Which wasn’t happening. I gave him evils and then closed my eyes again, crossing my arms at the same time.
“Make room then. Fatty.” I said stubbornly
“What are you? Like, 5? And is this okay? ” He said jokily, picking up my feet and sitting on the sofa putting my feet on his lap. I opened my eyes and looked at him doing an impression of a stroppy kid.
“Actually, I‘m 6. And yeah it is. I‘m still lying down, so, I win.” He laughed mischievously and then pushed my feet off his lap, which made me fall off the sofa and land on the floor. I could hear him laughing hysterically as I sat up and rubbed my head where I had hit it on the floor.
“You twat! Why‘d you do that?!” I moaned and stood up in front of him. He just sighed and grabbed my arm ,dragging me to sit next to him. I slumped into the sofa, crossing my arms. He put his arm around my shoulders, giving me a one armed hug.
“Cheer up babe. I was just playing” he smiled at me and leant over to the small table next to the sofa and picked up a shiny black remote to turn the TV on. It was on a music channel when the screen lit up and the sound started. I recognised the song, so I stole the remote out of his hand and turned it up full volume.
“I LOVE THIS SONG!” I shouted over the music, and watched as the guys on the screen started head banging in sync, soaking wet from the water that was falling on them. I had always found this funny so I laughed.
“Hey! Why is that funny?!” Ben looked hurt that I’d laughed at them. I didn’t understand, maybe it was a favourite band of his… I couldn’t remember their name. I just knew the song from when I used to listen to this band a lot a year or two ago.
“Why so offended, ickle boy? Did I laugh at your favourite band? N‘awh poor Ben” I said patronisingly and made a pouty face to take the piss even more.
“No. You laughed at my band. Dick.” I stopped moving and my face dropped. Did I just hear him right? He took the remote off me and turned the volume down again.
“Your band?! That isn’t your band, I used to listen to this band all the time. I think I‘d have realised if you were a member, by now…” I looked at him confused and slightly on edge.
“Jay, I‘m Ben Bruce. Lead guitarist of AskingAlexandria. The band playing on the TV. See that kid with the guitar and the faggy hair? Yeah that‘s me, about 2 years ago. Make sense now?” I was stunned into silence. That kid, is this guy?! I’ve spent the WHOLE day with one of my favourite musicians. And not noticed. Holy fuck, I’m unobservant today. I looked at him scrutinising his appearance in comparison to the boy on the TV screen. It was him, just like he said, but with ‘faggy hair’ as he put it. And a lot less tattoos…
“Sorry.” I choked out. “I cant believe I’ve spent all day with you, and not realised who you are! AskingAlexandria were my favourite band, for like 2 years! I haven’t heard or seen anything to do with you guys in ages. So I just assumed you‘d broken up, but this is a surprise! You look so different! I saw you guys play when you did your last tour for your first album. It was such a good show.” I smiled as I remembered the gig I’d mentioned in the last sentence. I sat down on the sofa again and Ben did the same.
