We sat, Abigail, Sebastian and I on the bus with our instruments, the synthesizer, guitar and drum set, packed neatly in the carry on space under the bus seats. The trip was three hours into Zuzu City, and 30 minutes to try and find the little stage behind a large building where we would play. Abigail and Sebastian sat in seats facing each other and I was sitting in the row adjacent to theirs, my feet up on the worn leather seats and my eyes cast to the scenery passing by the window.

I had invited a few people to come along and see our show, but everyone seemed busy or didn't seem to care. This was a big deal for us. This is our first gig! We were starting to get recognition for our band, from this little Pelican Town, and no one seemed to come or care!

I sighed and crossed my arms, laying my head against the seat. Sebastian seemed to be mildly interested in what Abigail was saying as he cracked open a window and lit a cigarette. Abigail kicked up her feet so she sat with one knee to her chest and one leg stretched out, her foot resting on the floor. She pulled out a music player and put in her earbuds, starting to listen to her music.

Pam continued to drive, gritting her teeth softly as she stared at the long road around the mountains ahead. She must have been cranky without a drink in her, but she knew better than to drink and drive, so she sucked it up, promising herself a Pale Ale as soon as she got home.

It seemed we were all a bit uncomfortable today. Sebastian had reached his second cigarette by now and flicked the butt of the old one out the window, Abigail's music was turned up so the sound of the bus motor couldn't reach her, and I had pulled out my handheld game system. We did have three hours of sitting to do, and I hope my little Junimo Cart game device doesn't run out of battery soon.

I grumbled tautly when the "GAME OVER" popped up on the screen again and set it down next to me. The scenery outside had changed from green hills to flat suburbs without me realizing, and it was starting to get dark.

"We're approaching Zuzu City." Pam huffed, her eyes grown tired from the three hour drive. I stood up and stretched, popping my back and took my seat again on the edge, facing Sebastian and Abigail.

Sebastian was working on his fifth cigarette by now, and I reached over to wave my face in front of Abigail. She blinked her eyes before turning the music down and taking out one ear bud.

"We're here." I said, smirking softly at the both of them. Sebastian blinked and craned his neck to see over the back of the seats and to the front of the bus. Abigail turned around completely and sat on her knees, looking at the city in amazement.

It had been a while since we had seen a city. I had come from Zuzu City, actually, and Abigail, to my knowledge, has never been in a big time city. I don't know about Sebastian; I just know every now and then he gets on his motorcycle and rides out somewhere. Nonetheless, seeing Zuzu was breathtaking.

Though the sky had just began to turn a dusty red, the lights of the buildings made the city illuminate. Cars drove past us to get into the trailer parks and the small homes on the edge of the city, or to the small farms they placed outside the homes. People started to appear on the streets, either bringing in groceries for a late dinner or to call in kids from playing in the dark.

Pam pulled a map out and laid it across the wheel when we reached a stop light, reading over where she had marked to find the back-alley concert. She mumbled and grumbled, continuing to drive after a few cars honked to get her moving. When some people passed her, she was the first to open the window and let loose with an angry bird.

Abigail had moved from her seat and was at the front, looking at awe at the city and the people. They dressed a little different from us, that was for sure. Some wore short dresses, some wore fur, gold jewelry, or gelled their hair. Others looked a lot like Shane; beat up and tired with a 5 o'clock shadow with patches of unshaven stubble.

"Oh, wow, guys!" Abigail exclaimed, looking around. Sebastian sighed, visibly uncomfortable, as he shifted and reached for another cigarette. I nudged him gently. "You'd smoke a whole pack if I let you have one more." I reminded. "Save it for after the gig."

"... Yeah, okay…" He replied, putting the pack in his black hoodie.

"Pam, how much longer until we get there? People could have gathered by now!" She exclaimed, her fingers twitching and rubbing against each other. Pam flipped off another car and pushed the map off the steering wheel. "We're almost there. Five more minuets."

Abigail sat behind the red drums, old drumsticks in either hand. She tested a few symbols, beat a few of the drums, and looked at us for the go-ahead. Sebastian took a breath and placed his fingers over a few keys, curling them for a second into a stressed fist, then relaxed them with a heavy sigh. He looked up at me.

I swallowed hard and adjusted the guitar in my hands, shifting it so the strap sat comfortably. There was a small crowd of complete strangers out there, most of them either young and dressed darkly or young adults with 30 minutes on their hands to listen to a bunch of fresh musicians.

I had dreamed of being on a brightly lit stage as big as my house, the smoke machines covering the stage and the first rows of a two-floor stadium as we rose on platforms. Abigail's drumsticks were golden and raised in a cross in the air, a bright light shining on her as a man announced her. Then Sebastian would get a spotlight to himself, standing still behind a top-line keyboard and synthesizer, his fingers stretched out to press the keys and adjust the knobs at any second. Then, I would get a spotlight.

The crowd would be cheering for us, chanting our names as I held the neck tightly, the electric red guitar shining under the bright light. Girls would be screaming for me to see them, to dedicate a song Abigail would have written to them, and to let them backstage into our black tour bus for drinks and pizza.

I can see myself, boldly yelling out that we are there in XXXX city for them, and that we have a song dedicated to all the beautiful women and handsome men in the crowd that make the large stadium and XXXX city great.

Abigail would hit her sticks three times, pause for a beat, then the show would begin.

This is not like in my dreams, but it was good enough.

I nodded at them and looked at the crowd. "Hi, everyone. We're from Pelican Town… Er… And we're called "The Pelicans"." I took a breath, Everyone in the crowd leaned in to make sure they heard, and everyone got ready to play the first note.

"Here we go…"