You're clearly not the pizza man.
As we all dressed in skinnys and t-shirts, we wound our way down to Ruby's bar where this 'For Our Hero' was performing. Sapphire skipped into the place, looking like she was already drunk. We all followed behind, finding a table close to the stage. As Steph went to go get everyone drinks, I glanced up at the stage. No one was there yet, the only thing on there being a drum kit. After a few minutes, the band walked out onto the stage, carrying their guitars and microphones. My eyes trained on one of the band; he looked too familiar.
"I think I know that guy," I muttered, trying to squint at him through the light spraying onto the stage.
"Which one?" Steph asked.
"The one at the front."
"There's two at the front," she replied.
"The one on the right."
"Wait, there's another two on the right."
"Never mind," I grumbled, propping my chin in my hand. After the drummer introduced the band as For Our Hero, they began to play their first song. The singer's voice sounded so melodic and soothing that I feared I would fall asleep. I could feel my eyes drooping shut and snapping back open once I realised that I was nodding off. After the first song, I jumped up and made a hasty excuse to step outside. Once I was standing outside Ruby's I breathed in deep gulps of the fresh air, tainted with cigarette smoke. There were people standing around with the 'cancer sticks' in between their fingers, chatting away to one another while taking long drags on their cigarettes. I turned away, disgusted, and wandered around the back of the building where the bands usually went in. Surprisingly, there was no security standing guard outside the door, and no one noticed me slip around the back. A wave of mischief washed over me and I tested the V.I.P Door's handle, turning it over to see if it would yield. Surprisingly, it did, and I slipped inside. The corridor was a little darker than I would've liked but I didn't mind so much. It meant no one would see me that easily. The band had finished their set quite quickly and was just going to their dressing room as I ducked around a corner. Their voices were loud and giddy, happy with their accomplished show. Once the door to their room shut, I crept forward and tapped tentatively on the door.
"Come in," chorused from inside. Cautiously I opened it and stepped in. Once the six guys realised that I was a girl, they seemed more confused than anything.
"Hey, you're not the pizza guy!" One with facial hair and a piercing exclaimed.
"Minty?" My eyebrows shot up to my hairline as one of the guys stepped forward and spoke.
"Jay?" Now I was confused.
"What're you doing here?" Jay asked, smiling slightly.
"The door was open and I just sort of…came in. What are you doing here?"
"I'm in the band," he laughed. It all clicked. He was the one who looked so familiar.
"Oh!" My voice held too much surprise. The five others in the room chuckled.
"Well, before security kicks you out, I guess I better be polite and introduce you?" I smiled and nodded. "Okay so the one with the beard and piercing is Leon." Jay pointed to the one who proclaimed I wasn't the pizza guy.
"It's not a beard," Leon defended. "And you didn't bring pizza, either."
"Stop thinking about your stomach!" His Asian friend exclaimed, exasperated.
"That's Dave," Jay muttered to me. Dave shot me a friendly, blinding smile.
"Hi," he grinned. I waved shyly back.
"Now over here with the pixie hat is Geoffrey."
"Geoff," the guy corrected, nodding and smiling at me. Jay steered me over to an armchair where another Asian looking boy sat, his hair spiked haphazardly.
"Second last is Nax," he said, cocking an eyebrow at Nax who was half-asleep in the chair.
"And I, m'lady, am Beau. This one's much more charming and sophisticated brother," someone piped up from my left, standing and providing me with a sweeping bow.
"This is my brother, Beau," Jay said, almost sighing.
"Hey," I greeted.
"And I guess this is the band." I smiled around myself.
"Interesting," I muttered to myself. Suddenly, a big, burly security guard burst through the door, his beady eyes scanning the room.
"YOU!" He shouted, jabbing a chubby finger in my direction. My eyes widened and Jay stepped forward.
"Uh, hi, this is just – "
"BYE!" I exclaimed suddenly, running towards the door and ducking under the security guard's arm. I heard a growl of anger from behind me and I bolted down the corridor, knocking into the wall. I had no idea where I was going, but I knew that the exit was behind me. Hearing the guard's heavy footsteps close behind, I used an extra burst of speed to dart forward through a dim entryway and before I knew it, a blinding light was searing my eyes. I squinted and found myself on the stage, the audience staring at me quizzically.
"HEY! GET BACK HERE!" I heard the guard yell and I bounded right off the stage, dodging around the tables and towards the front door. I passed the table where my friends were sitting and I saw their eyebrows shoot up to their hairlines.
"Come on!" I shouted at them and heard as they scrambled to their feet and follow me out the door. As soon as I was outside, I made a break for it, streaking down the road. The laughter of my friends floated up from behind me and as soon as I knew we were out of the sight of the guard, I stopped and keeled over, bracing my hands on my knees.
"Oh my god!" Bandit gasped. "What the hell were you doing?"
"I…the…guard…" I could barely talk and just waved my hand in front of my face, telling them to give me a minute.
"That was craaazy!" Sapphire laughed, dancing on the spot. Hayley and Steph looked on with a dubious look plastered to their faces. Once I'd regained my breath, I straightened up and smiled at my friends.
"Guess who I saw?"
"Who?" They chorused.
"Just Jay."
"Ooooooh," Sapphire teased, using a suggestive voice.
"Sapphire please do not use that voice," Stephanie reprimanded.
"And their friend thought I was the pizza man," I laughed, shaking my head. Once Bandit's hysterical giggling had faded to hiccups of amusement, I sighed. Her hysterics could get rather frustrating after a few years.
"Come on, it's time to go home," Stephanie said, beginning to pull Hayley along by her arm. Slowly, we all followed, making our way back home by streetlight.
