"Hey, can I have another coke please?"

I sat at the end of the bar letting the music go through one ear and out the other while every other girl in the room hung on to every word that the rock band of 4 sang. I couldn't help it I had heard them so many times before it was almost habitual to ignore the noise coming from them. Terror 24 had just taken the stage and rural New Jersey by storm, most of the crowd was here to see them. Fame had just happened so easily for them, they had played a couple gigs last summer in the under 18 clubs near the beach and almost over night they were famous. The crowd was filled with hundreds of teeny boppers wanting to be close to the next big star. Unfortunately I couldn't get way from them, they were my friends, and I've known most of them since freshmen year in high school.

"How many more nights do we gotta listen to this pop crap?"

The bartender asked with a smile on his face. We were on first name basis since he has seen me in the same seat weekend after weekend.

"They have to stop once school starts back up right? I know this tour ends in 2 weeks and then all the teeny boppers have to go home sometime?"

I responded in an almost devilish laugh.

The truth is I almost liked some of the other music on this tour it was catchy and mellow I like music that doesn't make you think you can just enjoy it. Terror 24 opens up for all the bands that play at Mikes Mic. Mikes mic use to be an old abandon movie theater from the 40's and now it's a pretty cool concert hall. There is no seating all standing room and it holds only about 1000 people its real intimate for the fans, I think that's why people loved to come here, for the experience. Most of the bands that play here are only famous to the people who came to see them. Most of the bands would get off stage and go right into the crowd to listen to the next performer or sign autographs and bond with there fans.

"Hey!"

I awoke from my daze to see Johnny standing right in front of me. I played I cool not letting him know I zoned out his entire performance.

"Wow… that was a great set. You guy's sound better and better every time."

I said with a wink.

I didn't have to lie to Johnny he knew the only reason I came was to cheer them on but I never understood why he needed me there were hundreds of girls who would do that for him and are already.

"Come on lets go I got work tomorrow morning at 6."

He said with a sigh in his voice.

I winched at the idea of Johnny doing anything other then playing his drums and I know going to his dad's constructions site every morning killed him little by little.

"Actually I'm gonna stay a little longer."

I had other plans in mind besides plopping in front of the TV and falling asleep to Roseanne on Nick at Night. I wanted to meet one of the guys that were singing tonight. He was absolutely adorable I knew there was a hundred beautiful girls here but I thought it was worth a shot I sat on the same bar stool every night for the past week as he would finish his set and say "Hi, how are you?" I literally froze in fear that if I looked into his eyes I would be his slave for ever and tonight that doesn't sound so bad. I would always try to play it cute and confident and give him a little smile and a mousy "hi" then act more interested in my glass on coke then the handsome boy in front of me.

"Why? You're usually itching to leave as soon as possible?"

He said with an almost disappointed look on his face.

"I just wanted to listen to the last two bands I guess. I have only heard them once and people say there really good."

I felt as thought I was betraying him by wanting to flirt with another guy. Johnny and I had gone out many times before and he just found the seduction of tiny boppers to hard to pass on and me not being Mormon and all just found it to hard to deal with. It was over between Johnny and I and we both knew it but neither one of us wanted to accept it, I once told him that he was my Dawson to my Joey. I know corny but I'm the product of the 90's and that was my love role model.

"Okay well I'll just call you tomorrow I guess. Gavin will be here all night if you want a ride home."

The innocence in his voice was a little scary.

"I'll take my chances with the bus!"

I said with a laugh hoping to see a smile. Gosh why was this so hard I feel like I'm breaking his heart and why do I feel bad he's done it time and time again to me. Bringing girls into our apartment that we had shared, I couldn't stand that fact that there were girls in the bed where I slept! Well after that mental break I don't feel so bad anymore.

"I'll see you later Johnny."

I just wanted him to leave I didn't want him to ruin my chances with the heart throb on stage telling the scattered audience that this was his last song.

Johnny melted away in the crowd as I sat an listened to the words melt of his mouth like honey just making me feel so go inside I don't even know how to describe it.

"You know, and I know, and I know
It's always better when
You know and I know, and I know
It's always better when
You find out we've been lying, cheating

Baby
Give me a sign
Give me a reason
Make up your mind
Darling, only a fool
Couldn't see through us
Know what we do"

A few minutes past and they felt like hours I was afraid I had missed him or that he had seen a prettier girl. I mean I'm no Angelina Jolie, I am more of a Julia Roberts. Dark hair blue eyes freckles and I just want to apologize now but I actually eat and keep it down. I'm not fat but I look like a 20 year old healthy girls should, I have curves and I have never had a compliant yet.

"Hey"

A familiar voice said from the side of me.

I quickly snapped out of my inner thoughts of my bodies curves and awarded the "hey" with a smile.

"You sounded really great tonight."

He looked surprised. I probably did to I almost shit myself when my mouth returned more then a "hey".

"Thanks, Can I sit down?''

"Sure"

I'm actually looking at him and he must be the same age as me and he's more gorgeous now then before. Shaggy brown hair cut that falls into his eyes big brown eyes and a pretty good looking body if I can say so myself.

"Why are you here every night?"

The question caught me off guard, I felt like a complete dork! But I was glad I had a better answer then most crowd goers here just to pick up the musicians.

"My friends are in the band that played before you."

"So do you live around here?" He asked as if to already know the answer.

"Born and raised by the Jersey shore."

I said proudly because I was proud, I mean the place couldn't be half bad if so many people flocked to spend there 1 week a year vacations.

"Well is there anything fun to do?" he asked with a smile

I couldn't help myself but smile back at him he was just so damn cute.

"Well what have you seen so far?"

"My hotel room and this place."

"Awww…. What a life huh? You haven't even been able to at least go on the boards yet?" I said with a shocked look on my face that turned into a heart melting smile because right then and there I knew I had him hooked. He leaned in and put his hand on my shoulder to move the conversation as to ask …"wow what's the boards?"

"There great, roller coasters, junk food, games and the beach. I mean I think it the only reason people come to Seas Side Heights."

I said it as if I was a little kid all excited and seeing it for the first time.

"So what are you doing tomorrow night?" he said with confidence

"You're looking at it! I'll be here probably till the end of the week. Then hopefully they let me off the hook because school starts?"

And I said that with complete honestly I didn't even have to think twice which is a little depressing to me.

"Well do you wanna hang out tomorrow night?"

A sly smile crept across his face the like wolf in the old cartoons but even that turned me on a little.

"You don't even know my name!" I exclaimed with a sly smile right back at him.

"Well I'm Drake now that you know mine were half way there."

His name suited him well it was just as cute as he was.

"Ashlee, Gavin is on the phone he wanted to know if you wanted a ride before he leaves."

The horse voice of Larry the bartender trumped over the music and my moment.

"I can give you a ride home."

I looked at him as if he was crazy he had only known me for like 10 seconds. But I must have been crazy to because I took him up on it.

"Larry, tell him I'm fine I don't need a ride."

"So that's your name Ashlee"

"Yup... You don't need to give me a ride I was going to take a taxi anyway."

"You never answered my question…"

"What question?"

At that moment I looked around and saw all of the 13 year old girls looking at me some with disgust and others with total jealousy I didn't like either look I was very low maintenance I felt like I wasn't dressed the part me be in the spot light I glanced in the mirror and noticed every flaw. A curl out of place, one eye lid was darker then the other.

"Do you want to hang out tomorrow maybe you can show me around?"

Could this be happening is he really asking me out!

"Sure why not?"

I tried saying as casual as possible.