Whoop!

The sun had just gone down over the park when I got back to my room. The hotel alarm clock read six and Utau's concert started at nine, so I had plenty of time to get ready.

I started with a shower, it was exceedingly necessary since I got soaking wet with gross pool water on a stupid ride. The hot shower water made me melt and sent all the sludgy grossness of the park swirling down the drain. I was standing beneath the scalding water for a good hour before I decided that I was genuinely clean.

Then, of course, after my shower came having to pick something out. I didn't have much in the line of party clothes; I had a sparkly tank top that went with a pair of dark blue skinny jeans and some glittery flats. I also had the dress that I packed because I was expecting a party, but as soon I recognized its presence in my suitcase, I regretted pulling it out of my closet in the first place. It was a short short black dress that slightly glittered gold and had one strap that went over my shoulder. It wasn't that it looked bad on me; it was that I felt that I would be overdoing it.

I turned back to the more casual outfit that I had laid out and thought about how it would go over at the concert. I could picture myself getting odd looks as I walked into a concert with such casual wear on. I turned to the dress and pictured the exact same scenario.

It was a half hour before my indecisive mind finally decided. I went with the dress and the flats from the casual outfit. I would look formal enough, but also casual enough, it was the perfect balance.

I slipped into the dress then went back into the bathroom to get some form of covering on my not so flawless face. I put a thin coating of powder on and some pale grey eye shadow that contrasted with brown eyes, making them look like gold.

I examine myself in the tall mirror that was in the room. I twirled and spun and danced around with a smile on my face. It was a rare occasion to feel pretty.

"I think I'm ready," I muttered to myself then grabbed my purse and headed to the Hard Rock Café.

The Hard Rock Café was themed much like the hotel was, rock and roll. There was a small gift shop, a café, a bar, and a small stage where Utau was getting set up.

There was a pretty good crowd of people, although it was a Friday night, so a crowd was expected. My skin was tingling with excitement and anticipation on how Americans would react to Utau's music. It's not every day a famous Japanese singer has a concert in a country that isn't hers. I remembered her struggling to write new material for the tour and how hard it was to write songs in English, but she was eager to expand her audience and she pushed through it.

I clapped as the lights began to dim.

"How's everyone doing tonight?" Utau asked loudly and the crowd hooped and hollered in reply.

As she began her first song, I walked over to the bar and requested a drink. Something simple and of course void of any alcohol. "Here you are miss," The bar tender said as he pushed a tall glass of sprite towards me. I took a sip and lavished in the sparkly lemon lime flavor of it.

A tap on my shoulder interrupted my enjoyment. I turn around to see that it was Nagihiko.

"Didn't think I would see you tonight." He said then sat down on a barstool. "You look fantastic by the way."

"Thank you," I said quietly, my voice getting lost in a tangle of sound waves that were coming from the stage. I blushed heavily when I noticed that Nagihiko's eyes were still glued on me.

Then of course the perfect moment was ruined because that is how perfect moments work.

"Hey stranger," a sickening sweet voice greeted.

"Hi Avery," Nagihiko said back, taking his eyes off of me and putting them on her. She was dressed in something more casual than me, a blue silk blouse with a pair of black shorts that went above her waist and black wedges.

I looked down at my dress and realized that I probably should've gone with something more casual; I stuck out like a sore thumb.

Avery's light green eyes looked me up and down, making me feel like I was the inferior human being who had the nerve to wear a dress to a concert. She turned to Nagihiko and smiled at him "Let's go dance," she said then dragged him to the dance floor.

As I watched them fade into the crowd, I took another sip of my sprite, savoring the flavor. Then I noticed something strange. I let the liquid sit in my mouth and I analyzed the taste, it still had the pungent lemon lime flavor… but there was something else, something that tasted vaguely familiar. I almost pinpointed the taste when a voice stopped me.

"Hey Rima," I looked over my shoulder to see that it was Zach.

"Hey," I replied quietly, letting the worries of my funny tasting soda drift away in his dark green eyes.

"Do you wanna go-" he attempted to speak then got lost in his own words. "Sorry." He coughed.

"It's okay," I giggled then hopped off of my barstool. "Let's go dance."

I didn't know how to dance. At all. But the steady beat of Utau's music and the gentle look in Zach's eyes told me that it didn't matter. I was enjoying myself while I flailed around in a sort-of elegant way in my flats.

In the midst of the pounding music, I saw Zach's lips move but I didn't hear anything come out.

"What!" I shouted in reply, hoping that he would hear me.

"You look really pretty!" he shouted back.

"Thank you!"

Utau had several songs left and I was still dancing like a maniac.

I didn't know if it was the dancing or the heat of the moment thing, but I suddenly felt woozy. Like I had stood up to fast or something. My vision got hazy and my thoughts turned to jelly. I wasn't sure what was going on.

I heard the music.

I saw Zach.

I saw people dancing.

My head was so overwhelmed with so much going on; I thought I was going to pass out. Instead I just kept on dancing and having a good time. And I guess I was having too good of a time because the next thing I knew I was locking lips with someone with olive skin, dark hair and deep green-

Oh my goodness.

My head snapped out of its fog when I realized what was going on. I pulled away from him, too stunned to speak. I put a hand over my mouth and started weaving through the thick crowd of people.

This vacation was not going as smoothly as expected.

Yay! Update.