Draw Me In

Three – The Quiet One

–|*|–

.

.

*~ Well, who are you?
I really wanna know
Tell me, who are you?
'Cause I really wanna know ~*

.

Curiously, I don't look away instantly.

Despite what Alice and Rose may think, I really don't hate people. I don't even dislike them. I've just never been quite comfortable being one of them. Especially especially not when surrounded by so many of them. Some people think large crowds provide anonymity; a way to get lost, be invisible. But to me, they were just layers and layers of heat, wrapping around me until my heart felt like it might melt out of my chest, my lungs shrivel up from so little air.

So basically: en masse, bad.

But since I had spent so much time avoiding being in these situations, it meant that I was a little – alright, a lot – inept in the people-and-how-to-interact-with-them department.

Which brings me to the crux of my confounding moment now as, eye contact?

This is indeed in that department (see above).

I want to be high-fived by everyone around me in a way that's similar to the peace be with you handshake I remember doing when I had to attend church because my primary school was catholic; to be toasted to with a cheers from so many people as they clink their pint against mine down the local pub because I am managing to maintain eye contact with someone I don't know really, really well.

But my parade is sort of rained upon by the fact that it is actually impossible to tell if he's really looking at me.

Despite our near-to-the-front seats, there are still a fair few people swimming to the front and sides of me, and a complete tsunami behind me. This, coupled with the fact that the spotlight he's under looks reeeeally uncomfortable and utterly all consuming (vision wise), has me having serious doubts.

Despite this, or maybe because of it, my gaze drops.

I call myself many daft names – some meaner than others – in my head as I attempt to get my red face under control. I feel suddenly ashamed, silly, and so very uncomfortable again.

Please capillaries, calm down and I promise I will never ever ever let myself be coerced into coming to any gig, festival, concert, or just generally anything where there are lots of people ever again.

Looking down at my shoes, I find myself really wishing I could sit down.

The tidal wave behind me is not in favour of this idea.

–|*|–

When the concert finally ends and the backdrop drops back down, I ungracefully plonk myself into the chair behind me.

Beside me, Alice and Rose slowly come back down to earth again.

"Wow," Alice breathes, falling onto the seat beside me like she's boneless. "That was…"

"Blinding," Rosalie finishes for her, looking somewhat more composed than my other, more spiked friend, though no less starry eyed or flushed.

I'm not surprised. They were jumping around like a couple of nutters.

Alice turns to me, a sly smile on her face. "What'd you reckon, Bella?"

I'll probably be in for a lot of I told you so and the like if I tell her I actually sort of enjoyed it, so I just shrug and say, "So so."

"So so?" She looks offended. I feel a little bad. "So so?!"

"It was alright." I pat her shoulder, trying to wipe away the wounded look on her face.

She stares at me.

And stares.

And stares.

And –

"Can you stop that?"

Flopping back onto her chair, she mouths "So so" at the ceiling.

I look at Rose in worry. "I think I broke her."

She snorts. "I don't actually think that's possible. She's just all in a tizz over that lanky bloke with the guitar." She glances over my shoulder at Alice. "Away with the fairies, that one."

I raise an eyebrow. "What about your drummer bloke with the sticks?"

She raises one right back and deflects in an oh-so Rosalie manner. "What about yours with the piss poor hair and microphone?"

I gape. I'm pretty sure my gaze had only lingered on him for about ten seconds. No, even less.

For a wordless minute, I say nothing.

And then in my very own style of deflection, I shoot up and say – "Time to go!"

–|*|–

We're almost almost to the exit when we're intercepted.

After Rosalie – thankfully – let the subject drop (probably realising I'd just about reached my limit for the day) we had started to filter out. Also thankfully, it wasn't as awful as I'd been dreadfully anticipating, as a good portion of the audience had found their way to the front and sides of the stage, rather than the exit.

Meanwhile, we managed to make a sort-of smooth getaway up the aisle.

That is, until, someone steps in front of us.

Right in our path.

To avoid a collision, we halt.

"Excuse me," the man I absolutely don't recognise says. "Would you mind coming with me?"

I'm looking at his shoulder, so I'm not really sure who he's talking to.

But out of instinct and previous experience, I assume it's not me.

I glance at Alice, at Rose, but they're both looking at me. I look back at the man's black shirt covered shoulder.

"Miss?" he ducks a little, catching my gaze. He repeats, "Would you mind coming with me?"

My eyes widen. "Me?" I ask in disbelief, chest-pointing finger and everything.

His lips lift a little. "Yes, you."

I glance at Alice and Rose for help, but they look as surprised as me.

"Uh," I say.

"Mr. Masen would like to talk with you." My initial thought is, who? But then my eyes zone in on the small security stitched in white near the top of his shirt, and I recall – and can still hear – what the people swarming the stage were/are screaming . . . so I can make a pretty good guess.

But still.

I absolutely don't know what to do with this information.

"I would mind," I say instead, referring back to his previous question. "I would very much mind, actually."

Now he's the one looking surprised. "He was quite insistent."

"Yeah, well, I am too." My eyes dart to the glowing exit sign which is so close. "Insistent on leaving."

The nudge I give to Alice in an attempt to shift her knocks her out of her stupor. "Bella!" she whisper-yells, which I think is pretty unnecessary considering A) the guy can clearly hear her and B) the noise has dimmed so much that yelling is obsolete now. "What are you doing? You have to go!"

I give her a weird look. "I will go. Go home, that is."

She rolls her eyes. "Stop taking the mick! I think you should go and see him."

"I just saw him," I complain, looking down at my watch. "For about two hours, actually."

Alice lets out a frustrated growl, turning to the man in front of us with a – "two ticks, please" before grabbing me by the arm and hauling me away.

I don't think he minds. He looks sort of amused, actually.

"Bella," she says firmly, seriously. Planting her hands on my shoulders, she says calmly, "Are you mental?"

I roll my eyes, knocking her hands away.

"This is a once in a lifetime chance!"

"Well you go talk to him then!"

"He didn't ask for me, he asked for you!"

That stops me.

"I – "

She cuts me off with a look. "Don't even say it. I don't think I've ever seen you look at anyone the way you looked at him. For that reason alone I think you should go. It's not like he's asking you to marry him or anything, what harm can it do?"

I gape. I swear I had only glanced at him for a split second. "First Rosalie and then – " I break off, suddenly realising that Rose never followed us. "Where is – "

"Okay," Rose interrupts, suddenly appearing at my side. "I sorted it."

I stare at her, feeling dread curl in the pit of my stomach. "What?"

She hands me something, and then Alice. "I said you'd only go if we got to come with you." She shrugs. "He said it was fine."

My mouth drops. "But I – I don't – I never – !"

Alice squeals, Rosalie grins.

I look down. BACKSTAGE PASS. ADMIT ONE.

More than a little bitter, I spit – "Sod you guys."

–|*|–

.

.

.

A/N:

primary school – elementary school

daft – silly

blinding – awesome

nutter – mad/eccentric person

tizz – flustered, a state of nervous excitement

bloke – guy

away with the fairies – daydreaming, eccentric, not in touch with reality

piss poor – bad, of a low standard

mental – insane, crazy

taking the mick – to tease/taunt someone

sod – used to express anger/annoyance at someone/something (often collated with off as in "sod off")

And if anyone's interested, the handshake I mentioned was where we had to utter "peace be with you" as we shook hands with every possible person we could reach from our position in the pew. Not surprisingly, I didn't like it. Too much touching.

Also, just a quick note - if you're reading "Alone" as well, it will update either tomorrow or the day after. :)

See you soon!
(P.S. Anyone particularly good with photoshop and fancy making a banner for this story? Let me know!)