"This is going to be so hot!"
Michael couldn't help but smile at Sara's enthusiasm. She was fairly beaming, her smile radiant. He couldn't remember ever having seen her like this; happy and carefree like any other teenage girl on her way to a concert.
He glanced quickly at his watch. He knew they had to stay on schedule if things were to run smoothly. He urged her along silently as they walked the cracked cement leading up to the theater entrance.
There was an up side and a down side to the location of the concert. Fluid Pain being a fledgling band was starting out in small venues. And while this was helpful in some ways it made things more difficult in others, one being the fact that security wouldn't be as tight in a smaller venue. But they had added several men to make up for the lack of security and Michael would know their locations at all times.
The upside was that unlike a huge stadium it would be less open and easier to canvas. At least there was an upside.
He bent down and adjusted his pant leg making sure his ankle holster was hidden safely from sight. It would be disastrous if Sara or one of her friends were to see the bulge and call him out.
He followed Sara into the theater entrance and stopped. He grabbed her arm when she kept walking.
"Where did you say your friends were meeting us?"
He remembered exactly where and only listened with half an ear as she told him again. He had merely needed to stall while he looked the place over. He took in his surroundings quickly and efficiently and then followed Sara to the lines in front of security.
He stepped into the line behind the many black clad males to await his turn.
When he stepped forward he met the agent in charge of the door's eyes. The man gave nothing away as he asked Michael to step forward to be frisked. He patted Michael down, his hand moving expertly over the concealed weapon resting against his ankle. When this was complete he swept Michael's body with a hand held metal detector, his thumb clicking it off as it passed over the gun. Once 'clear' Michael stepped aside and leaned against the wall waiting for Sara to make her way through the line of girls waiting to be frisked by the female guard on duty that night.
Sara smirked as the woman ran her hands along her body. She was wearing a black dress that hugged her curves nicely and Michael made himself look away for what had to be the tenth time since picking her up that evening.
He looked up when she joined him. She was smiling again, her eyes alight with excitement.
"Come on, let's go meet the guys."
Michael nodded and took a deep breath. He was about to be put to the test. This would be the first time he had hung out with Sara's black clothed friends. He had a feeling he wouldn't be a welcome sight in his black t-shirt and jeans.
XXXXX
He saw the look on the guy's face and knew right away there was a history there. There had been something between the kid and Sara, he was sure of it. The hostility was a tangible thing hanging heavy around him as they walked up.
"Hey, Jeff." Sara nodded, but her smile was measured, and then her eyes were back on Michael.
"This is Michael. Guys!" She repeated loudly to get the other four youths attention. "This is Michael. Be nice to him okay?"
Michael noticed the look of bored annoyance the four shared, but it was nothing compared to the daggers Jeff was aiming his way.
"Hey," he said and raised his hand in greeting.
Then they were all talking and he was being ignored for the most part.
He felt Jeff's eyes on him and met his glare with a steady look of his own. And then remembering he was a geek and not the school tough guy he forced himself to look away as if intimidated. He was looking down at the floor as Jeff approached him.
"I know you. I mean I've seen you around, at school. What I can't figure is what Sara sees in you. I mean you're not even her type. You're too…"
"Smart?" Michael couldn't help himself. This guy was really starting to bug him and he wasn't sure why. He was just a punk kid.
He just wanted the guy to disappear so he could do his job without feeling like he was going to be jumped if he turned his back on him.
"You never know. I mean opposites attract, right?"
He went to walk away, but Jeff grabbed his arm.
"I'm watching you, man. You don't fool me."
Michael pulled his arm way and backed up from him, his eyes intense. There was no way the guy even had a clue about him.
Michael shook his head. "I don't know what you're talking about, 'man'."
Sara was looking at the two of them. She came up and whispered in Jeff's ear. He shook his head but backed off leaving them alone.
"What's with your friend?"
Sara shrugged. "I don't know…Jeff is…well he's Jeff. Just ignore him."
She took his hand and pulled him over to where the rest of her friends were standing. He listened as the two guys and two girls discussed the drummer of Fluid Pain as if her were their own personal God, and then tuned them out. He scanned the area and let his eyes move back to Sara. She was looking at him.
"Come on let's…"
"Looky what I brought to the party."
Jeff was back and he had a small baggy in his hand. He stepped closer and dipped his hand into the bag. Sara held out her hand and he placed a small hit of X in it. Michael played dumb, but he knew it on sight.
"What is that?"
Jeff smiled snidely. "It's your ticket in my friend. Eat it or get lost."
Sara was opening her mouth probably to defend him, when Michael took the small pill from her hand and popped it into his mouth.
