“Stephanie, wait up! I cant run that fast!!” I yelled and chased after my best friend.
“Casey, if you don’t hurry up then you wont get barrier!” Stephanie replied back and continued to run as fast as she could. What she didn’t seem to realize that my 197 pound body just lacked the capability to run as fast or as long as her tiny frame did. I could feel my heart beating in my chest. With every footfall was my poor ticker being pushed to the max. I started feeling dizzy. I felt my self slow down a little bit and watched as Stephanie’s figure retreated into the crowd of teenagers waiting to get their merch at the booth. I attempted to yell out, but could only gasp for breath. The world around me grew dim and Blurry. The last thing I remember was seeing a pair of leather boots as I plummeted to the hard concrete floor.
My eyes opened. I was in what looked like a teachers lounge. There was an ugly green couch in one of the corners and a wilted house plant in the other. My head felt like it was going to split in half. I tried sitting up but someone told me to lay back down. I recognised the voice but I couldnt figure out who it was. I closed my eyes and thought about who that voice might belong to. It took me less than a minute to realize who it was. I sat up so fast I nearly bumped into his head with my own.
“Careful!” he exclaimed and held on to my shoulders. I just looked at him with my mouth partly opened. I couldn’t believe that I was sitting on the same couch as the man of my dreams. The man that I have been in complete lust mode over for a year and a half. I was sitting with Nickolas Don Wheeler.
“Hi!” he said to me to break the awkward silence that had formed while I was staring at him.
“Hi”I replied in disbelief. Is this real life?! “What happened?” I added, trying to sound as cool and calm as I could. He let go of my shoulders when he saw I was able to hold myself up and scooted from the couch to the coffee table. I don’t know if I scared him, or he just felt more comfortable sitting across from someone he was talking to.
“Well I was walking over to the merch booth to pick something up from Mike C when you came charging into me and fell at my feet.” he said with a hint of a smile on his face and added “you went down like a tin barn in a tornado!” Thick Oklahoma accent and all.
Thrown off by his sudden country fried remark I just looked at him like he was insane, and then realized he said I slammed into him.
“Oh shit! I didn’t knock you down did I?” He laughed.
“No. you just sorta… fell” he replied and motioned with his hand how I went from standing to smack dab on my face. Embarrassed I looked away, glancing around the room to see if Stephanie had seen me fall and came back here with me. She was nowhere to be seen.
“Hey did you see a girl run past you? Medium length black hair? Shirt that says ‘Tyson Ritter is my future baby daddy’?” I asked him. He shook his head just as a familiar face walked into the room.
“I am WHOSE future baby daddy?!” Tyson exclaimed. Closely followed by Mike who had on his famous Dr.Pepper shirt. My stomach did back flips. Three out of four of my most favorite people in the world are in a room with me and…. Oh fuck, I probably look like 10 shades of shit. Awesome.
“I didn’t know you were with someone. If I would have known that I would have had someone get her.” Nick replied
“Its ok, she is probably front row watching one of the opening bands right now. Without a care in the world. Selfish bitch.” I was so pissed at her, I cant believe that she just left me there. I made a mental note to give her a slap when I met back up with her.
“Is it my future baby mama that is a bitch? She sounds good in bed. When can we meet?” Tyson said and plopped down on the couch next to me. Ah, passive in bed. Likes to be told what to do. That too was made into a mental note. Yes, I am a perv. Get used to it.
“Who is this girl on the couch next to me Nick? Does she belong to us?” Tyson added and smiled down at me. I felt my cheeks redden. This kid has charm, ill give him that much.
“This is…..” Nick paused. “I never caught your name.” I smiled and replied.
“Casey.”
“This is Casey, she passed out at my feet in the lobby so Mike C and I brought her back here to cool off.” Nick replied.
“You passed out at his feet? That’s a bit awkward.” Tyson said and grabbed a water off of the table next to the couch and passed it to me.
“Tell me about it.” I replied and took a drink.
“So… are you feeling alright now?” Mike asked me. My eyes darted to where he was leaning against the wall by the door. I almost forgot he was there. It really isn’t that hard to do. Kennerty was some what of a ‘stay in the background and keep to himself’ kind of guy. There were times I have actually forgotten he was even in the band, as horrible as that sounds.
“Yeah, I think so. I am a little pissed that I missed most of the show though, and pretty much lost all shot of getting barrier.” I sighed.
“What bands were you here to see?” he asked. I laughed without thinking about it. I so was worried about missing a show, but the band I was there to see hasn’t even gone on yet. They are just chillin’ here with me… with the exception of Chris, who I had yet to see.
“To be honest… just you guys.” I decided that I should try and go out and find a good spot to stand so I could at least see their set, and stood up. “Thanks for watchin’ out for me guys, but I should get out there before you go on.”
Suddenly Tyson grabbed me and pulled me back down.
“I don’t think so. You are going to head out there with us and stand side stage so we can keep an eye on you.” he insisted. I looked at the other two.
“Is that okay with you guys?” just then Chris walked in twirling his drum sticks.
“Is what okay with those guys?” he asked. Nick quickly caught him up on everything. Chris just shrugged and started going through the mini fridge. I never got the ‘social’ vibe from him so I don’t think it mattered to him where I stood as long as I was out of his way.
We sat and talked for the next 15 minutes or so until It was time for the band to go wait side stage. It was a surreal feeling. I was just hanging out backstage with my idols, but the feeling was more surreal than exciting. For the first time in all the years that I have looked up to this band, this was the first time I was seeing them as real people. With each passing moment I got more and more comfortable with them, but in the back of my mind I knew that it was just for tonight. After this one experience everything will probably be forgotten by them. I am just one of the many people they meet on tour. One of the blurred faces in a sea of thousands.
I must have been lost in thought because before I knew it Mike was standing in front of me.
“You comin’ Casey?” he asked. I shook off my thoughts and looked around. We were the only ones left in the room.
“Shit! Sorry, I was thinking about something.” I said and stood up.
“I do that a lot. What were you thinking about?” I smiled.
“How fast things can change.” I replied. We started walking towards the door.
“Ah.” and smiled. He allowed me to pass him and go through the door first. Aw what a gentlemen.
As we walked I couldn’t help looking up at him. I never realized how handsome he was. Never really given him that chance before. I always saw him as the one that looked like Jesus, and that was about as far as my thoughts on him went. I was too busy lusting over the lead guitarist, with the pouty lips, and tight jeans to notice Mike. I kind of wish I had taken the time though because he really was quite good looking.
Soon we made it to the stage area and Mike went to grab his guitar from Kadaver, their very tall, dread lock having guitar tech. I just stood there not knowing what to do, and not wanting to be in the way.
“Who is she?” I heard him ask Mike. Mike smiled.
“A friend of mine, bring her side stage?” he asked. Kadaver gave Mike a look and Kadaver returned the smile. I had no idea what that was about but Kadaver came over and introduced himself, and then brought me to Nicks side. There was less gear over there and more room for me to stand. I thanked him and he went back to getting the guys ready for their show.
The moment I looked at the audience I suddenly felt about 2 feet tall. The entire arena was packed. Everywhere from the floor to the stands. A sea of people. Just then the lights dimmed, and that familiar feeling of excitement crept into my stomach. The Cant Take It intro started and it was on like donkey kong.
