Collin

A little too much...

Kitty struggled again to free herself.But  instead locked eyes with him.His depth-less blue eyes drove into her,making her,forcing her to be aware she over-stepped her bounds.He didn't even seem to be breathing,his exposed torso never seeming to move.His entire body frozen in place in front of her.

Adam slowly made his way to the locked pair,placing a hand on Collin's shoulder.

"Dude...she didn't know.She's new,this is her first time.She probably thought it was a prop or something."

"I know her really well,Collin.She would never steal." Matt pitched in from behind Adam,who was looking straight at Collin as if to encourage him to return his gaze.

Kitty was positive he would shake away his hand,and continue to boil in his rage.But these words seem to be enough for him,dropping her hand and turning from her on his heel to stride back into the room she assumed he had come from in the first place.

Everyone exhaled slowly,the tension draining as Adam came to Kitty's side.

"Are you ok?Let me get some ice for that wrist."

"I'll get it Adam,just a sec." Matt quickly went to nearest ice chest,taking a bandanna from  a clothes rack to fill.

"What did I do...?" Kitty asked Adam,holding her red,bruised wrist in confusion.

Adam smiles sadly.

"It's not your fault.To most people this is just an instrument.To Collin...it's as precious as life itself.It IS his life.Music has helped all our band members in some way,Collin was the most effected....try not to be too mad at him,ok?I am sorry about your wrist though."

"....It's fine.I think I understand how he feels." Kitty replied.Though she was still offended by being grabbed at,once it was explained it eased some of her irritation.She leaned against the wall she only now realized was right behind her,and slid down to her knees.

Not to say he won't get kicked where the sun doesn't shine next time he tries it though.

A shadow fell over her,and she looked up at Matt.He knelt  and took her hand,gently pressing the make shift ice pack to her swollen wrist.

"Go ahead Adam.I know you'll be on soon,I'll take care of Kitty."

"Alright....see you later you two."

After Adam's retreating boots finally faded,Matt nudged her.

"Come on Kit.I'll get you a drink,there's a bar outside in the front side of the stage.Let's go watch them!." Her friend grinned at her,poking her nose lightly to put her in a better mood.

"Fine.But it better be REALLY strong." She muttered,leaning against the wall further with her free hand to stand upright.

Matt led Kitty straight to the center of  'THE PLAYROOM' as this club was called,where of course the stage took up most of the space.The other  more mundane activities such as pool,darts,drinking and dancing contests were all around,their only purpose mostly to distract the crowd before the REAL entertainment began.It was going to be a long night.

Matt and Kitty fell into stools right next to each other,Matt waving down the bartender and ordering for them both.

As Kitty gazed into her whiskey glass almost lazily,she realized how bored she really was now.

"When are they gonna be on,Matt." It was more of a demand than a question, making Matt chuckle at her almost childish tone.

"It's almost nine after seven.They might have been held up by us honestly.But hopefully they'll be out soon.The Nightmare Den always pulls an impressive crowd."

"Ha,you sound like they're the next big choice to play at the super bowl." She snorted,throwing back her glass and waving the bartender over again.

Suddenly,the lights blinked out and the sound of boots echoing on the stage could be heard.This signaled the entire club to start clapping and screaming,crowding to the stage.

"That's our Que!Let's go princess."

Matt jumps up and puts an arm around her,ushering her into the crowd in an effort to get as close as possible to the stage.Adam's drums started with a surprising,slow,low swing.She and Matt pushed forward,very near the front of the stage just in time

Soon,the guitarist,who she had not met yet,joined the sad melody.Soft lights shown down on the stage,just as Collin began to sing.His voice was deep and enrapturing,smooth and seemingly gentle.But as the song continued,small bursts of a hunger left unsatisfied born of an unknown desire showed.

As much as she had been loathing the man before,she could not breathe.The sight and sound,the emotion of everything in his music....was beautiful.Her heart was running wild,the music was so intense,it felt as if she was being wrapped in a silken blanket of the raw world of true music.It was dark,yet tragically beautiful.Collin himself and the music he played.She was so caught up in the music she did not realize the music had ended and the crowd dispersed until Matt tapped her from behind.

"Are you ok?." Matt openly laughed at her tranced state,waving his hands in front of her face for emphasis.

"Stop it." She batted his hands away in disapproval,finally coming back to her own senses.

"That's not fair.He's an asshole and he makes such amazing music!." Kitty exclaimed in exasperation,crossing her arms as she made her way back to the bar.

"Not your type then?." Matt teased her as he joined her at the bar again.

"Mostly.Except the ASSHOLE bit." She rolled her eyes.

"Us guys had the impression that was EVERY girl's type!." He faked a shocked expression.

"No way I would get involved with him really though.He's the kinda guy no good for a woman.He probably thinks I'm an easy groupie as it is.Dating a rockstar is a no-no,mine as well let everyone know you want to be hated,lied to,cheated on and make the cover of a gossip magazine."

Matt chokes on his beer at this, coughing until  he finally could breath again.

"Yeah I don't think you'd have it easy with Doris around anyway."

"Doris...?"

"Oh yeah! You haven't met her yet.She's the guitarist." He gestures towards a table in the back,where a girl with blond,lime green hair cropped short and punk styled sat between Adam and Colin,scowling deeply at the crowd of admirers they had collected.

"She gets real angry in general,but especially when it comes to Collin.They are childhood friends,I think she likes him alot,Collin is a sharp guy,so I think he knows but doesn't pay her much attention in that way.She's nothing but a band mate,friend to him."

Kitty nodded along until something clicked in her head.

"WAIT.Why are we even talking about this?I don't care.It's not like I want anything to do with him.So why are you trying to reassure me they're just friends??."

"Well....you know...just in case..." Matt laughed,elbowing her playfully.

"All I want is to get soused,eat and go home to sleep now.I might as well say goodbye to my job,no way is Gabriel going to NOT notice the smell of alcohol I won't be able to get rid of in time."

"Cheers to that!I'll let you share my dumpster when we get fired together." Matt raised his glass to her,and she cheered with him to enjoy the rest of her night.