An Irvine Christmas

CHAPTER 2- Showtime

          I hoped through the lively Los Angeles human filled streets. Astrid held onto my hand as she followed behind. We finally got to the bar.
          "See ya inside" She said as she walked through the front doors. I slipped into the alley that lead to the back of the bar only bands and workers use the back door and alley. Some ganges and drug dealers try to use it but Dal, our manager, is really good at keeping them out.
          "Phoenix!! Was up sista!" Liliana said as she walked up to me with a cigarette in between her fingers.
          "Want one?" She said as she lifted a pack out of her purse and gestured it twared me.
          "Na I'm trying to stop smoking"
          "That's what my boyfriend said and now he's addicted to vaping. He says I should start but I prefer to die with natural lung cancer than chemical lung cancer." She said as we walked through the back door. We both walked into the locker room to see a random couple trying to get it in our locker room.
            "Get out you dumbasses!!" Liliana yells as she cashed them out into the alley. I laughed and opened my locker to put my bag away.
           "Hey Phoenix!" Parker said as he opened his locker right next to mine.
           "Was up Parker! I Heard you finally made it last second base with your boyfriend, congrats!"
            "Ha thanks it took forever but I finally got to it. Did you here were having 5 freaking seconds of summer play here tonight!!"
           "It's just 5 seconds of summer there's no freaking, dumbass." Liliana said as she slammed her locker and walked out to talk to Dal and get ready for the band to arrive.
          "What crawled up her butt and died? Damn!" Parker said as me and him laughed and walked to Dal's office.
          "Dal my man!!" I yelled as I entered his office
          "Hey Phoenix, Parker. The band for tonight should be getting here at 7:40. Y'all know what to do so get to it."
          "Aye aye captain" Parker said as he walked out of the office with me right on his heels. I walked back into the locker room and put my hair into a ponytail and tied a red bandana around my head.
          I got all the mics set up and checked. I also helped Parker get everything else set up. We stood in the doorway as we waited for the band to show up.
         "So I hear your going to Colorado for two weeks with your friends"
         "Yep" I said as Liliana walked up to us and lit a cigarette.
         "So what time is 5 freaking seconds of summer showing up?" She asked as she handed me a cigarette and lit it as she shoved it into my fingers. She isn't really helping me get off cigarettes but that's just how she is.
         "Dal said 7:40"
         "Ugh 5 more minutes" Parker said as he sat down in some old rackety chairs we always kept outside. We had four chairs and a small table in a corner right next to the door so we could sit and talk and get some fresh air.
        "And that's if there an on time band. Normally they get here past 8 when there supposed to start" I said as I took a drag of my cigarette.
        "True facts." Liliana said as a pair of bright headlights shone right into the alley.
         "That must be them" I said as we all got up took one last drag and killed our cigarettes.
         "Yay!! I'm so excited" Parker said as he jumped for joy. The doors of the van started swinging open right when it stopped.
         "Where's Mac?" Parker looked around worried as people started Piling out of the van.
         "Right here buddy!" He said as he slapped Parker on the back almost causing him to fall.
         "Yay!" Parker squealed as him and Mac walked towards the group of boys that just got out of the van.
         "Let's go serve drinks to alcoholics and listen to a band that probably sucks"
         "Sounds like a plan" I say as we walked passed the group of boys and into the bar. I noticed one boy was also wearing a bandanna. As one of my good friends back home would say twinsies! Sometimes I really miss the high school days.
        "Phoenix! Are they here yet?"
        "Yes Astrid they just arrived" I slid her a martini she never really drinks but she really needed this to calm her nerves. For some reason she really wants me to like her boyfriend's band mates and for his band mates to like me.
       "I don't think I've ever seen the bar this packed before!" Parker yelled as he joined me and Liliana behind the bar.
      "Me either like damn."
      "I've been working here since this place opened and it's never had more than 30 people at once!" We were all screaming at each other because of the crowd. I looked for Astrid to find her at the end of the bar on a stool slowly sipping her drink.
      "You ok girl?" I tapped her on the shoulder causing her to jump a little.
     "Yea I'm fine you know I don't do well in a big crowds" once she said that four boys walked onto the stage and the crowd went wild. Astrid's eyes lit once Calum walked onto stage with his bass slung across his body. I do have to say he is pretty good looking but I would never say anything other than that. He's Astrids and I don't think I've ever seen her so happy with a guy before.
      "Hello we are 5 seconds of summer" a boy with long curly hair spoke into the mic. You could tell he once had a thick Australian accent but it's kinda faded away now.
       "Cute but not rugged enough" Liliana slid next to me and took a swig of beer.
       "Not rugged enough! probably too rugged."
       "Well Parker we all know you like the country club type." We all laughed and watched the band I looked toward Astrid to see two girls with her chatting away.
       "There not as bad as normal bands that come here are"
       "There amazing Liliana you just have no taste"
       "At least it's doesn't take me four months to reach second base" she walked to the other end of the bar and served drinks to people.
        "I would say the basest its the hottest out of all of them" Parker said to me before he walked to help some people in the middle section of the bar. I normally stay at the back of the bar where the regulars sit and help them.
        "Phoenix I need a refill!" Dexter one of our regular said as he waved his empty glass in the air.
        "I'm coming Dex!" I walked over the the group of regulars. There were 3 of them Dexter who has a wife and 3 kids and a great business job he just likes to get away from his responsibilities everyday. Then there's Zac he is Mac's twin brother he works at a strip club during the day and at night he hangs out here. And lastly we have Bill he's a hobo that usually sleeps in the park across the street at night we don't really mind him he somehow pays his tab so it works for us.
        "So who are these ding bags" Zac motioned to the stage.
        "5 seconds of summer"
        "Never heard of them. name sounds dumb" I felt someones stare at me I looked around to see Astrid and the two girls looking at me. I just shrugged it off and refilled the empty drinks around me.
        "Hello, would you like anything." I asked Astrid and her friends.
        "No we're good." One of them said. I started to walk off to Liliana but then a hand grabbed my wrist.
        "Phoenix this is Sierra and Crystal. Sierra is dating luke the lead singer and Crystal is engaged with Michael the lead guitarist." She said as she gestured to everyone.
       "Nice to meet you." I said as I looked at the two beautiful girls.
       "So this is the girl you've been telling us about."
       "Yep" she said as he looked toward me and smiled.
       "Wait this is the girl you said would be good for Ashton!" Crystal said as her face lit up with joy. I felt like they were speaking a whole different language.
      "Yep this is her"
      "Oh they would look so cute together!" Sierra said as the whole group of girls looked at me.
      "Phoenix!!!!!" Bill yelled at me.
      "That's my call." I said, I silently praised Bill in my head as I filled his drink.
      "One more song!" Liliana said as she grabbed my arm and shook it excitedly.