"Sam, why are you always serious?" I ask my best friend who's stood in front of me, the guitarist for the band I'm doing merch for.
"I'm trying not to slip off,"
"Slip off what?"
"The rules."
That was the last conversation I had with Sam. A few hours on, I'm sat at the merch table wondering what he meant. Is it against the band's rules to look happy? To have fun? Maybe he means it in a different way?
"Can I have a large tour shirt please?" A man walks up to the table, distracting me from my thoughts.
"Sure, that'll be £30," I smile and the man hands me the money in exchange for the shirt.
Today the band are playing Belfast, the first date on their 2017 UK tour. I'd known the bassist and guitarist since secondary school and they offered me a job selling their merch on tour. Fil and I had been the closest though, I was always around at his, sometimes with Sam, sometimes without.
Sam had been different lately, he didn't laugh as much, he always seemed grumpy. Everytime I bring it up, he gives some excuse and pushes it away. Fil is concerned too. Maybe this tour will lighten him up.
"Yo, how's my fav girl!" Fil skips over to the merch, I presume they've just finished their VIP meet and greets.
"Look at this art we got given!" He holds up a piece of paper with a drawing of each member of the band.
"That's great! Your fans are so talented!" I say.
"Not as good as your drawings though," he compliments me.
"Shh, the person that drew it might hear," I giggle, "Anyway, where's Sam?"
"In the back. He wasn't really talking much during the meet and greet. Of course, he said hello to fans but he didn't really start conversations like he used to."
"Do you think we should go and see him?"
"If you want, we're on at 9."
"Let's go. Charlie, can you look after merch for a while? We're going to see Sam," I ask the other merch guy and he nods. I've covered for him many times so it's returning a favour.
"Sam?!" We shout, running down the backstage corridors.
"In here!" He shouts back and we enter the room with a piece of paper on the door saying 'Neck Deep'.
Sam is sat on one of the sofas, a glass of water in his left hand.
"Are you okay?" Fil and I sit either side of him.
"Yeah," He says shallowly.
"Sam, we've known you for 14 years, we can tell something's up," I say.
"Just drop it!" He shouts, raising his voice.
"We're gonna get snacks, wanna come?" Fil gets up.
"Nah."
"See ya then."
"We're always here if you need to talk."
"I'm fine." Sam huffs as we leave the room.
"Something is up with him."
"Do you think it's family issues?"
"No, Steve and Emma seemed really happy together last week when we went to Sam's," Fil says and I nod, it wasn't family problems.
Fil and I discuss Sam's situation for a bit longer before I decide to go back to the merch table to help Charlie.
"How's Sam?" Charlie asks as I sit down on the bench.
"He's okay. He shouted at Fil and I though."
"Oh my God, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I think he needs a bit of space." Charlie nods.
We continue to sell merch until the 1st band, Woes, come on. Charlie and I dance along as no one is buying merch. We laugh and sing along as Woes start to play a cover of All Star. I look down at my buzzing phone to see I have a new text.
From Fil: Sam's still not talking to anyone :(
To Fil: he'll be fine, just give him a bit of space x
From Fil: okay x
To Fil: good luck with the show!! X
From Fil: thanks, I need a hug from my best friend before I go on and Sam's obviously not gonna do it ;)
To Fil: I'm on my way x
I leave the merch table and go to backstage, showing my pass to the security guards who smile and let me in.
"Filllll!" I shout before a pair of arms wrap around me, making me jump.
"You've got to stop that. What if it wasn't me?"
"I know it was you though," Fil laughs and I turn around to face him.
"How's Sam?"
"Not good."
"Where is he?"
"He's in the main dressing room. He hasn't been speaking to anyone, he's just been sat on the corner on his phone."
"That's not like him. Maybe we need to get a therapist or something for him," I suggest and Fil nods.
"Maybe."
-
"Good luck! You're gonna kill it!" I hug Ben, West and Dani as they get ready to go on.
"Sam, good luck," I tap Sam's shoulder but he shrugs my hand off coldly.
"Fil, good luck! I love you!" I hug Fil tightly.
"Mia, stop!" I hear Sam yell. I look up to see him standing there with a straight face.
"What's wrong Sam?"
"You're always around Fil, it's making me sick!" He mutters, earning glances from the rest of the band and crew.
"M." Fil's grip on me tightens as he pulls me away from Sam.
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Word count: 879
hope you enjoyed the first chapter :)
mia x
