Gerard knew what he was doing was wrong. He knew that leaving the hotel nearly midnight without security was almost a suicide, but he needed to feel like a normal human being again. After all, his life has been changed way too fast: one day was simply a songwriter for famous singers, but then he had taken courage and Rob, his producer, had decided to bet on him and he wasn't mistaken. In less than a year he had recorded a couple of singles and with the help of an advertising team had risen to fame without even have noticed.
Then came the concerts, fans -mostly teenage girls- and with them the security team, and goodbye to his private life. Whit thirty years old he had to sneak out from the hotel room to get out for some fresh air, although at that moment all he wanted was a drink in a place where nobody knew him. Besides, for some reason, knowing that he was risking just made things more exciting; he was sure that after that night, Rob would join the security team just to make sure he'll never do that again.
"Where the hell are you? Rob is looking for you," was the first thing Mikey said over the phone.
"I needed a break. I went for a drink," he said simply.
"Without security?"
"I know how to take care of myself," it was a stupid answer, but the question of his brother was also stupid.
"I bet you can, but Rob will kill you as soon as you show up at the hotel," Mikey said in a funny tone.
"Then I enjoy tonight," he was willing to do so.
"Just take care of yourself, okay? Tell me when you come back."
"Of course, Mikey. Goodnight".
New York was full of bars, but after a small walk, he decided for one with big windows from which you could see the dim interior lighting. It was a small place, but it seemed nice, especially because no one had noticed him when he went in. Everyone seemed to be very involved in their conversations, so there was a great buzz and he had to confess that he felt some satisfaction that it wasn't for him.
Shouts of hubbub caught his attention and, with a knot in his stomach, raised his head to see what was happening. He was relieved to realize that it was a birthday celebration: on a table a few meters away from where he stood, fifteen people were singing happy birthday for a tall boy with short hair and tattoos on his arms. Without any warning, another boy shot him up to kiss him and take a picture, breaking the moment, but the birthday boy continued smiling with such emotion that he smiled too.
He decided to sit at the bar and ordered a beer while checking his mobile. He would be lying if he said he was surprised to see missed calls and messages from Rob, who desperately demanded to know where and with who he was. Also, Rob asked him how he could be so stupid to go out alone for a walk in New York considering that the next day had a concert there and their fans probably already knew that was in town. Gerard knew that and that was precisely one of the reasons he had to commit that little crazy because, after all, he needed a break from his new life. Anyway, he thought it would be good to have a look at his social networks just to verify that no one would have recognized him in the short journey on foot from the hotel. Indeed, apparently, there was nothing about him on Twitter, so, although he knew that Rob would probably kill him, he turned off his cell phone: he wanted to be free for one night, he deserved it.
When he finished his beer, he decided to go looking for another place just for fun. He paid and went outside to smoke a cigarette at the entrance.
"Are you one of Ike's friends?" he heard someone asked. He turned and saw a boy of medium height and brown hair. He noticed that he had tattoos on his neck and arms, so his brain established a pretty much-biased relationship, between him and the birthday boy of the bar.
