Life As I Know It

Too many people

The picture is of Shelby switching clothes at home with Autumn after a long day.

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We were having a great time jump around watching all that remains when I felt something in my pocket. I stopped to reach into the jacket and found an envelope. I fumbled it in my hands looking at it and feeling that there was definitely something in there. Autumn stopped jumping at the song ended and looked at the envelope in my hands. "What's that?". I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know, must be Ricky's". He looked at me with a dead face. "Well no shit". "Well how about after this next band we go and see him".

We saw a couple bands, some I knew and some I didn't. And I couldn't concentrate because I wondered what was in that envelope. I flipped it over and opened it trying not drop whatever was in it. I opened it to pictures. Pictures of people I didn't know, places I've never seen, pictures with him and a kid. That surprised me that he had a kid but now I had to go return these. "I'll be back". She wasn't listening.

I got out of the huge crowd trying to be as careful as I can not to lose it. I walked back to a fence where the bus was and slipped past a couple guys that werent paying attention. I was looking around for him. God I wish I would have paid attention better. "Hey you!". I turned around to see a swear soaked Balz yelling at me. "Jesus scared me to fucking death!". He gave me a grouchy look. "What are you doing back here?". "Oh you friend -". I was cut off mid sentence. "Shelby? You can't be back here". I saw Ricky coming down from the stage. That's when it clicked in my head that they were playing here and in a band. "I'm sorry but you left this". I pulled out the envelope and his eyes lit up. "I didn't think you would want to lose pictures of you kid. Sorry I opened it, just wanted to see if it was important". Ricky coughed choking on his cigarette and Balz was laughing. "That's my sisters kid, my nephew". He let out a chuckle. "Oh my bad. But ya here they are". "Thank you". I started to walk away when I hard Balz yell for me. "Ricky has zero manners why don't you and your friend come to dinner with us tomorrow since we have the day off. As a thank you". Ricky chimed in. "Ya that's a good idea. I can text you where and met up". I nodded. "Sure". He asked for my phone and I gave it to him so he could put his number in.

A little while later the concert was ending and I met back up with Autumn at my car. "Where were you!". "Took me a while to find him". We started to drive along back home when I remember the offer for dinner. "They invited us to dinner tomorrow as a thank you for returning the pictures". "Your kidding!!". I shook my head no

*****

The next day I got a call from Ricky telling me where his band was going to meet. This was really odd for me, I hate big groups of people and yet here I was getting ready to head out. I wore typical jeans and a slipknot band tee. Autumn wore a bunch of neon colors and shit.

We met them at a Buffalo Wild Wings which was kinda surprising to me but whatever. I looked around for them and saw Balz waving me over. "Hey you guys". I handed Ricky his jacket, "Hey". I sat down between him and a tall guy with drawn on eyebrows. And autumn sat on the other side of Ricky. They introduced everyone at the table and a waitress came to take our order and the girl actually looked scared for a moment but tried to hide it. "What can I get you. "Ladies first". I pointed to autumn and she order then the lady took mine. "I'll have hot chicken wings and an ice tea". Everyone took their and she left. "Chicken wings? I could marry you!". Balz joked as other laughed, apparently there was an inside joke I didn't understand at all.

We ate our food and they offered us to hang out in their bus for awhile which was totally fine with me. We all sat around talking and autumn seemed to be having a great time getting along with everyone, I on the other hand couldn't clear my mind worth a fuck. "Are you ok?". I looked to see the tall guy looking over at me with arms crossed like he didn't care all. "For the most part yes....thanks". I couldn't tell but i swear I saw a half smirk on his face. "Names Chris". He held out his for a moment and I shook it. And little did I know he was going to turn my life upside down...