A/N: The characters a bit older and OOC to fit my narrative.
CHAPTER ONE | RILEY
E-Girl Rule #25: Never, ever, under any circumstance date a musician.
Emily implemented this rule a couple years ago after Stephanie spent the entire summer intertwined with a base player from some unknown band. She fell down the rabbit hole of late night parties and waiting side stage following there shows like all of the other groupies. He even wrote songs about their wild escapades. One night after she'd gotten into a fight with a groupie, Emily summoned the E-Girls, followed by a very painful and slightly awkward intervention.
"What's the name of this band again?" Tiffany asks from the passenger's seat, staining her lips red in the rearview mirror.
"Solid Ground," Stephanie recites the band's flyer, "I hear they're supposed to be really good. Giselle swears by them because she's friends with one of them."
"I'll be the judge of that," Emily scoffs from behind the wheel. "Giselle has terrible taste. I mean, look at her hair."
"True," Tiffany giggles.
Stephanie chimes in, too, but I keep quiet. I actually really like Giselle. She has an infectious sprit and she's always been nice to me despise my sister, Emily's incessant need to be phony to her. If I had it my way, I would've stayed home in my PJs and caught up on all of the reality shows saved in the DVR. Unfortunately, the E-Girls' rules prevent me from skipping this little outing.
Emily finds a parking space in the back of the lot outside the Lost & Found Music Studios. I honestly didn't expect there to be so many people. This band, Solid Ground, must be really popular.
"Riley, fix your hair. You can't go in with it looking like that." Emily tosses a brush over her seat at me. She doesn't bother to see where she's throwing it or if she hit me. "Let's go girls."
I tail behind Stephanie, hurriedly running a brush through my hair before we make our way inside. The concert venue is on the ground floor, the walls littered with band posters and memorabilia. One of the opening acts, a girl brunette girl in bowler hat, is strumming an upbeat song about letting go of love is just finishing up her set when we find a table in the back. Her voice is amazing and her whole aura is friendly.
"Yawn," Stephanie complains, enticing laughs from both my sister and Tiffany. "I need a drink. Who's coming?"
"Let's go," my sister follows followed by Tiffany. Over her shoulder she says, "Riley, stay and watch our things."
Of course I'm on guard duty. When am I not on guard duty? I watch as they make their way across the room, arms laced, before disappearing in the crowd. On cue, my fingers search the charm bracelet around my wrist to fiddle with its charms. It only happens when I'm nervous, scared, or sad. I'm not sure why I'm doing it now. It sucks that the girls abandoned me, but that's nothing to be nervous, scared, or sad about. It's the norm, and after four years of being an E-Girl, I'm totally used to it. Emily didn't allow me to be an E-Girl until my sophomore—her junior—year of high school. I should've tried to distance myself from them the summer before I started University but I could never defy Emily.
It's been thirty minutes and still no sign of them. I check my phone and nothing. There's a text from my roommate, Michelle, telling me to have fun. I can't help but laugh to myself. This is far from fun. It's more like a disastrous nightmare all rolled up into one. There are times, like this, when I question why Emily insists on me being an E-Girl. I'm barely included unless it's to watch their things or be there designated driver at three in the morning. It wasn't always like this. My sister and I used to be really close until I was chosen over her to be captain at our old dance studio, The Next Step. I don't think she's ever forgiven me for not turning it down like she suggested. Sometimes I wish I'd given up the captaincy, then we'd at least talk to each other.
When does the band go on? I ask myself just as my supposed friends giggle their way back to the table.
"What took you so long," it's impossible for me not to sound annoyed with them. "I've been sitting here alone for almost an hour."
"Calm down, Riley," Emily rolls her bright blue eyes at me.
Steph and Tiff snicker.
"I will not 'calm down,' Em. You left me here."
"Grow up. You don't need me to hold your fucking hand. Why did you even come if you were just going to complain?" my sister snaps, her eyes narrowing. I know that look. It's Emily's Keep-Your-Mouth-Shut-Or-I'll-Make-Your-Life Miserable-Look. A comeback is on the tip of my tongue but I push it back down. Instead, I grab my small cell from the table and storm off. Pushing through the crowd, I don't stop until I see an emergency exit leading to the back of the building.
Once outside, I bask in the cool night's air. This alley smells like smoke and pee but I ignore it. This sucks. I didn't even want to be here tonight. I was practically forced by Emily and she has the audacity to make it seem like I'd been given a choice. As much as I dislike Emily right now, I could never turn my back on her. She's my sister after all and I love her. My mom always said my Achilles' heel is my unwavering loyalty. Emily's the only family I have now, and no matter how bad things get or terrible she treats me; I can't turn my back on her. I'm so pathetic. I just want to go back to my dorm room and eat mint chocolate chip ice cream from the carton.
I head back inside; pulling on the handle but it's locked tight. I pull harder as if that'll somehow make the door pop open. Nothing. I alternate between using my palm and fist to bang on the door.
"That door locks from the inside," an unfamiliar deep voice says from somewhere in the alley. To my right, an average height guy is landing against the grill of a black loading van.
"Oh," is all I can say. "Is there another entrance?"
"The front entrance. The loading dock is only for talent and unless you have guitar stashed on you somewhere, they're not letting you in," he explains. There isn't a lot of light in the alley but even I notice how handsome he is in this light. His eyes are dark and lips full with hair shaven close to his scalp.
"My cell phone has this voice auto tune app. Does that count?"
He smiles. It's kind of a goofy smile, all lips and teeth, but I like it. It gives him character. "How about this? I'll sneak you in with me."
"Really?"
"There's an extra guitar case in the van."
"You're not going to shove me in that thing and drive away are you?" I ask because the thought did cross my mind. I think it's best to be up front with him. "That would really suck if you did."
He laughs this time and I can't help but join in. "Who are you?"
"I'm just crossing my T's and dotting my I's."
"Touché. I promise I won't shove you in the back of my van," he promises, crossing his heart. "I'm James, by the way."
"Riley."