by M. B. Feeney
When Jenny came in and sat next to me, I leaned up against her and sighed.
“You okay, baby girl?” she asked.
“Yeah, I’m just overwhelmed, I guess. The kids were due to come back today, so I need to give Dermot a call to see if he can keep them ‘til tomorrow. He’s back at work the day after, and I don’t want him feeling obligated.”
“I’m sure he will. Then we can have a blast tonight before we get back to real life tomorrow.” She gave me a quick kiss on the forehead.
“Actually, I might pop over there, ask face to face. Fancy joining me?”
“I can’t, sweetie. I’ve got some calls to make about auditions while I’m here.”
“Okay, you can use the house phone if they’re landline numbers. There’s another phone on the desk in my room if you need privacy.”
“Thanks, babe. That would be kind of great.” She headed upstairs.
I looked at Karina, who was sitting cross-legged, still reading and quietly singing along with the soundtrack playing in the background.
“What on earth did I walk in on earlier?” I asked her while I drained my drink.
“Matty thinks he’s oh-so-clever. He said that the best song in the film was ‘Sweet Transvestite’ rather than ‘The Time Warp’. I mean, come on!” She rolled her eyes.
“It’s that old ‘pulling the hair of the girl you fancy’ thing. You do realise that, don't you?”
“Whatever. I owe that boy a punch in the mush.”
When I stood to leave her to her book, she spoke up once more. “Gage told me something on the phone the other night. He said he almost phoned you a couple of times after you left Texas, but he always chickened out.”
“Did he say why?”
“He thought you’d have come home and sorted stuff out with Dermot. The main reason he phoned last night was because Matty’s been getting pissed off about him moping.”
I stared at her in disbelief.
“Oh, I have a confession to make, too.”
“Really?” There wasn’t much she could say that would surprise me more than I already was.
“Yeah. I gave Gage your address when we were talking on the phone. He wanted to surprise you, and I actually didn’t think he’d even show up. . .” She trailed off when I started to laugh. “You don’t hate me?”
“How could I hate you?” I bent to give her a tight hug. “I may have to get my own back at some point, though.” As I stood back up, Jo came into the room. Giving Karina a smile, I turned to my Welsh friend.
“How’s everyone at home, hun?” I asked her.
“Fine. I promised I’d be home tomorrow. It’s going to be a long train ride back, but I’m not missing tonight’s gig for anything.”
“Great. I’m just going to pop over to see the kids. When I get back, I’ll sort out some food before we go. There’s no way I’m drinking on an empty stomach after last night.”
“Okay, hun.”
I grabbed my bag and walked over to Dermot’s flat to see the kids. He didn’t mind having them for another day, but they needed to be back with me before he went to work. I spent about an hour with them before they headed to the park with my ex father-in-law and Dermot went to do a bit of shopping.
When I got back, Jo was upstairs having a nap, and Jenny was still sorting out possible auditions. Karina hadn’t moved from the sofa, but she had her headphones on and was scribbling in a notebook.
It was easy to go straight into the kitchen and throw together some ingredients to make a stir fry. I switched on the radio and sang along to the music while I cooked. Soon, I was able to call everyone to come eat.
Time seemed to fly while we got ready and organised ourselves for the evening. Outfits were chosen and makeup applied. Jenny made me check the weather to see if we’d need jackets. We didn’t.
“Do you want us to take a spare key?” Karina asked me.
“Why would you need a spare key?”
“So we can let ourselves in when you abandon us to get jiggy with Gage, duh.” She spoke as if it were inevitable.
“Did you seriously just say ‘jiggy’?” I stared at her. “I have to get the kids tomorrow. The only place I’m staying tonight is my own bed.”
“Oh, maybe we should get hotel rooms. But then again, I’m sure you could manage a quickie at the venue like last time.”
I slapped her arm, but I knew there was no malice in her teasing. “Funny.”
Once I’d checked that everyone was nearly ready, I phoned for a taxi.
We arrived at the venue and found a ridiculous queue of both teenage girls and women old enough to know better. There were a fair few Wings T-shirts. I hadn’t realised the merchandise was already on sale, since the film wouldn’t be released until the summer. We joined the back of the queue, which gave me time to light a cigarette before we went inside.
“You look nervous,” Jenny said to me.
Although I’d thought I would be, I wasn’t. My plan was to take the night as it came and not harbour any expectations.
Once we were admitted, we walked downstairs into the basement club.
“Woah, it’s creepy in here.” Karina looked around. “I like it.”
There were paintings of rock greats adorning the black walls at the bar where we stood.
She added, “I used to come here years ago, before it became the place of choice for emo teenagers. Now it’s full of ‘Wingers’.”
The younger members of the audience were clamouring round the front of the stage, waiting for the gig to start.
Since the guys had no support act while they were in the UK, they soon came on stage. Gage spoke into the mic, telling the crowd how much they were enjoying being on this side of the pond and how welcome they’d felt since they’d arrived. I could have sworn he looked right at me when he said that. The girls and I hadn’t left our place at the bar since there was more space.
“Come closer with me.” Karina spoke into my ear once the guys dived into the intro of ‘The Blind Man’.
Since I knew it was one of her favourites, I let her lead me through the crowd, which was busy screeching rather than listening to the music.
“Stupid screamers,” she grumbled when we found a spot near the side of the stage where Matt happened to be playing keyboard, wearing contacts instead of his regular thick-rimmed glasses, his light brown skin shining under the lights.
“Way to be subtle,” I teased her.
She ignored me and pulled her camera out of her bag. I couldn’t help but laugh at the fake look of complete concentration on her face while she took a few photos and then turned to look at me.
“Just shut up.”
I burst out laughing just as the song ended, which made a fair few heads turn our way, including Matt’s, whose face split into a wide grin when he spotted her bright red hair.
“Oh, wonderful.”
“Behave. You love it. There’s no way you are punching the pretty tonight.”
She rolled her eyes at me, but a smile played on her lips.
We were soon joined by Jenny and Jo bearing more bottles of beer. The opening chords of ‘Prayers in Song’ began, and we all began to jump in time to the beat. This time, the whole crowd sang along. I could see Karina attempting to throw dirty looks at Callaghan but failing. She was too busy eye-fucking him.
Back on stage, the guys were bantering with each other and the crowd when, out of nowhere, a girl no older than seventeen jumped up on stage and wrapped her arms round Gage’s neck. Karina looked at me as if to say, What the fuck? I watched the scene unfold in front of me with utter bemusement. It was hilarious watching Drew and Eli untangle the girl from Gage and escort her off the stage, although she shoved a piece of paper into the pockets of his jeans before they managed it.
The rest of the show passed in a less dramatic fashion, until Drew asked for improv ideas. Karina yelled out “The Time Warp,” and Matt glared at her. It wasn’t a surprise that the guys picked someone else’s idea.
When the g
uys announced their last song, I made my way outside for a cigarette, savouring the quiet. Although I loved seeing the guys live, in such a small venue, the crowd and heat were annoying. I pulled my phone out of my pocket to check the time, and it wasn't quite eleven p.m. yet. Just as I turned to leave the shadows and go back downstairs, I heard female voices drifting up the stairs. Two girls emerged, one of whom was the girl who had climbed on stage.
“Gage totally felt up my boobs. I’m so in there. I wonder what hotel they’re staying in.”
I rolled my eyes and decided to text Gage a warning that the vultures were circling, but before I could, Karina came out.
“Fuck, it’s hot in there.”
I pointed out the two girls sitting by the shop opposite the main entrance. “They’re waiting for the guys to come out so they can go to their hotel with them.”
Without hesitation, Karina walked right over to them.
“Hey, I’m with the band’s management team. You really caught Gage’s eye earlier, and he wanted me to let you know that they’ll be leaving by the back entrance, out round the corner opposite McDonald’s. The show finishes in about thirty minutes, so give them another thirty to pack their gear away.” The woman had balls of brass.
The two girls whispered to each other before thanking her and announcing they were going to wait in McDonald’s.
When Karina rejoined me, I said, “You are so evil.” I couldn’t help but cackle.
“That I am. Let’s go watch the end of the show. They’re doing an encore.”
We joined the others, who had managed to snag a couple of seats to the side of the stage. I filled them in on what had happened outdoors.
“That is priceless. I wonder how long they’ll wait.” Jenny grinned at Karina. “I like your style, chick.”
“Why, thank you.”
I looked at my phone and saw that it was nearly midnight. How had an hour passed already? After grabbing a last round of drinks from the bar, I returned to the others just as the guys finished their last song. The band said their thank yous and left the stage.
“I’m going to have to get going soon.” I couldn’t help but yawn. “I’m getting too old for these late nights.”
“I need to be heading off, too. I've got an early train in the morning,” Jo reminded me. “It’s been great, though. I’m glad Jenny told me she was flying over. Especially since we got to meet crazy over there.” She nodded her head at Karina, who was scanning the crowded bar.
“Did I look like that in Texas?” I whispered to Jo.
“A little, yeah.” She grinned. “I just wonder if she’s going to be as lucky as you were.”
Karina’s eyes scanned the crowd while she and Jenny chatted.
“I’ll have to sort out coming to Wales to see your lot soon.”
“That’d be great. Oh, the guys are coming out.” Jo indicated the sudden rush of bodies that surged towards the side of the stage.
Karina looked like she was going to be sick, and I knew how she was feeling. Jo and I watched her eyes follow Matt’s tall form while he moved around the crowd, chatting to the fans and signing T-shirts and CDs. When I looked over to Gage, he was staring at me. I smiled even though he was surrounded by women of all ages, clamouring for photos and autographs.
“Who wants another drink?” Jenny asked us. We all nodded.
“I’ll help.” I stood up, and we both walked over to the bar. “I want to apologise,” I said while we waited to be served.
“Why?”
I pointed to Karina, who was talking to Jo but watching Matt’s every move.
“I must have been a nightmare in Texas.”
“Believe me, you were worse than she is. At least she’s capable of holding a conversation while she’s eyeing him up.”
“Hey, I spoke. Didn’t I?”
“If grunts constitute speaking, then yeah.”
“I am so sorry.” I gave her a quick hug.
“Don’t be silly, babe. We all understood.”
It didn't take long for Matt to head over to our table. He picked up Karina’s beer and took a swig.
“Um, there’s a bar right over there,” Karina said.
“Yeah, I see it.”
I could see this conversation was deteriorating, so I escaped for a cigarette. Just as I got to the bottom of the stairs that led up to street level, Gage appeared next to me.
“You’re not leaving, are you?” he asked me.
“No, I’m just going for a smoke to avoid the potential hair pulling over at our seats.”
He looked back at our friends. “I’ll join you.”
While we headed up the stairs, I told him about the girls waiting for him in McDonald’s, and he burst out laughing.
“I really want a burger now.” He looked at me with an evil glint in his eyes. Rather than stop once we were outside, he kept walking. “So, where’s McDonald’s then?”
I lit a cigarette and led him round to where I could see the girls sitting by the window. We walked through the doors, but they were too busy watching the street instead, so we managed to get served and back out again before they saw us.
“Gage! Hey, Gage!”
I could hear them running after us. Gage turned to them, a smile on his face.
“Hi, girls. Did y’all enjoy the show?”
I, along with the two girls staring at him, melted at his accent.
“Yeah, it was great. It’s amazing that you’re finally in the UK.”
“Thanks, girls. Glad you had a good night. I’m sorry, but I gotta head back now. It was nice chattin’ with you.”
The look of confusion on their faces was epic. I wished I’d brought my camera out with me.
“I thought . . . We . . .”
“Thought what?”
The girl who had jumped on stage looked lost for words. If it hadn’t been so funny, I’d have felt sorry for her a bit.
“We were told that we were going back to your hotel.”
“Why would you be going back to my hotel? I’m not even going to my hotel.”
I looked at him, one eyebrow raised in question.
“It was nice to meet you, though. Enjoy the rest of your night.” He took hold of my hand, and we walked back to the club.
“Not going back to your hotel, huh?” I asked.
He just gave me a look of complete innocence.
“Don’t play coy with me, Weston.”
I preceded him down the stairs, and we joined the others, who were chatting with Drew, Eli, and Diamond.
“Uh, where’s Karina?”
Jenny pointed to the stage, where Karina was standing, arms folded, grinning while Matt put the last of the gear away.
“He didn’t believe she could dismantle an amp faster than him. She just proved him all kinds of wrong.” Drew was beside himself with glee.
When I caught Karina’s eye, she winked at me.
“Your friend is completely right for Callaghan,” Gage said to me.
“What do you mean?”
“He can’t stand girls who just agree with everything he says. He likes a woman to have a little bit of fight to her.”
“Well, she’ll definitely give him a run for his money, that’s for sure.” I glanced back over just in time to see Matt take hold of her hand and lead her somewhere more private. I grinned at the others. “Well, there goes my early night.”
It was nice sitting around being able to chat, music playing in the background. Every now and then, someone would come over and ask Gage for a photo or an autograph. He’d oblige with a smile and sometimes a kiss on the cheek, but it was becoming less frequent since the fans were leaving. Karina and Matt had been 'missing' for almost half an hour, but I was sure she could handle him.
"We need to get going soon if I'm going to wake up in time to make my train." Jo sounded a little sad g.
Since I didn’t want her to feel guilty about needing to leave, I rubbed her arm to let her know it was okay. "We'll go once Karina gets ba
ck." I looked in the direction she and Matt had disappeared in, but there was still no sign. "Unless you two want to take my key and grab a cab. I can wait for her and meet you at home. Let you get your rest."
Jo and Jenny looked at each other.
"If you're sure? We don't mind waiting."
At the sight of Jo trying to stifle a yawn, I dug around in my bag and handed them my keys.
"Of course not. Just make sure you text me when you get back. Leave the door unlocked. I can't see us being much later than you anyway." I stood up with them. "I'll walk you out."
We headed upstairs and walked along the main road to find a passing taxi.
"Thanks for putting us up this weekend." Jenny linked arms with Jo while she spoke.
"What, like I would have turfed you all out into the street? Come on. You're my girls. I love y'all."
They grimaced at my use of the word. I stuck my arm out to hail a passing black cab.
"We'll be about an hour, I reckon," I said before giving the driver my address.
"An hour? Will that be long enough?" Jenny asked.
"Stop it. Be safe." I gave them both a hug and a kiss and waved them off, then turned to go back in, walking straight into Gage. "There you go again, causing distress to unsuspecting damsels."
"You're anything but a damsel dressed like that." He looked me up and down, taking in my skinny jeans and vest top.
"What? " I wore clothes like these most weekends.
"That ass, in those jeans?" He rubbed his hand over said behind. "And those boots."
My boots were knee-high with a stiletto heal, worn over my jeans.
"What about them?"
"They are fucking gorgeous." He wrapped his arms round my waist, pulling me into his chest and bending his head to kiss me.
"Only sometimes? What kind of rock star are you?" I teased.
"I'll have you know I'm very rock and roll." Gage let go of me and began to strut along the street, much like he had in Texas when we’d spent the day together.
"Oh, yeah. I can see that." I couldn't stop laughing.
"Yeah, maybe not." He turned and held out his hand to me. "Let's go find those two crazy kids."
We re-entered the club in search of Matt and Karina. I was quite surprised to find them sitting at our table looking as if nothing had happened, even if his shirt was buttoned up at a funny angle and her hair was wilder than usual.