Love By Mistake
Nice Ink
After getting through security and handing over her ticket Odessa began to wander, stopping every once and a while to look at various tents she finally came upon what she was looking for. There, like a beacon from her childhood, stood the inflatable schedule board. Scanning it quickly Odessa saw that the Used was playing on the Ernie Ball stage in an hour and a half and that Black Veil Brides would play right after them. Well, might as well stick around and see what the fuss is all about she silently decided.
Walking around, Odessa noticed that there were lots of kids here, many of them dressed identical to her sister and she just smiled, thinking back to the time when this festival was not very popular and definitely not this crowded.
She was 13 when she went to her first Warped Tour with her two best friends and Odessa always saw those years as her most favorite. But times change and she had to grow up, sadly leaving behind the lifestyle that she had always enjoyed.
“Hey, nice ink…” Someone called out to her and Odessa just nodded a silent thank you and kept on moving.
She was always getting comments on her tattoos, especially since most of them were visible in shorts and short sleeves, but they were also invisible when she had to go to meetings and even when it was 100 degrees out she remained covered. It made her sad that tattoos were still so frowned upon in normal society but that’s just the way things were.
Suddenly Odessa found herself getting lost in a wave of people and was beginning to feel the push and shove motion of the crowd. Collecting her thoughts she quickly stepped off to the left, grasping the pole of the nearest tent to hang on while the crowd passed her by. Appreciating the shade, she decided to hang out there for a bit, not even realizing that she was almost back to chest with the person behind her.
“That is an awesome Batman tattoo…” A deep raspy voice spoke from behind her and as Odessa turned around her nose almost bumped into a body paint covered chest.
Taking a step back she took in the person standing in front of her and smirked. Both of his lanky arms were covered in black paint while his face was covered in makeup very similar to what Moira was rocking earlier. His jet black hair was teased, making him seem even more gigantic than he already was to her 5’7 height. She figured he was probably waiting for the same band to come on that her sister was here to see.
“Uh thanks. He’s my favorite superhero of all time. I kinda felt I had to pay homage ya know…”Her voice was bell like compared to his deep raspy one.
“Good choice. So how’s your day going?” He asked her, taking a long drag off of the cigarette he was currently smoking. She smiled and looked up and gasped as she was met with the most breath taking blue eyes she had ever seen.
“It’s…uh…good I guess. I wasn’t going to come today but my little sister just had to see this band and I was asked to escort her.” She smiled, wrapping an arm around the pole she was leaning on to steady herself.
“Oh. Not your type of music I take it?” He ran a hand through his hair, his long fingers getting stuck in it towards the end.
“No actually I love this music and grew up listening to it. the Used it my all time favorite band. My little sister is in love with this new band. Black Veil Brides…ever heard of them?” Her eyes met his once again, her light green getting lost in his crystal blue ones.
“Uh, yeah. They’re actually a pretty good band from what I hear…”He laughed then and she cocked her head and couldn’t help feeling like he knew something she didn’t.
“I have heard some of their stuff. Mostly through my bedroom wall, but I do like one video they have out…Perfect Weapon I think it’s called. Oh I’m Odessa by the way.” She smiled shyly and held out her hand.
“I like that song…it’s one of the better ones that’s for sure. I’m Andy and I love your name…” He smiled down at her, his hand resting in hers and she could feel the spark as their skin touched.
“Oh thanks. I always hated it as a kid but my family is mostly Scottish and Odessa is a family name so I just got used to it. My friends mostly call me Dess…” Blushing she was unsure why she was divulging so much to this complete stranger but he was just so easy to talk to.
“Well I like it. So can I give you my number? Maybe we could meet up later and finish this talk since I have to head out…”He smiled down at her, his lip ring glinting in the light as she nodded and handed over her phone, taking his in return and punching in her number.
“Well enjoy the rest of your day and make sure you check out BVB’s set. You won’t be disappointed.“ He laughed, wrapping his lanky arms around her and gave her a quick hug and then walked off in the direction of the stage that the Used was currently getting ready to play on.
Smiling to herself Odessa headed off towards the stage gearing herself up to hear one of her favorite bands play. She slowly made her way up to the front, but stood off to the left to avoid the crowd surfers and moshers that would probably start up as soon as the show got going.
Finally after waiting ten minutes in the sweltering sun the Used came on stage. Their set was amazing and Odessa closed her eyes and sang every word along with Bert. She had always felt a connection with this band, kind of how kids seemed to feel about BVB these days.The band played her favorite, I Caught Fire, as their last song which was the perfect ending to such a special performance. Odessa was only reminded more of why she loved this band so much. She would try and meet them, but wanted to stick around and watch Black Veil Brides perform, just to see what all of the hype was about.
Finally after a twenty minute wait between set changes a loud overture began to play as the drummer of the band came on stage to wild applause and sat down behind the drum set. Finally two guys, both covered in body paint and wearing leather pants, ran on the stage, their guitars swinging with the movement as they took their places on either side of the stage. Another guy, this one shirtless and caring a bass came running out and stood almost right in front of her. She looked up and met his eyes, which were outlined in heavy black circles and noticed the OUTLAW tattoo that ran across his stomach.
Screams pierced the air as the overture stopped and the lead singer stepped out on to the stage.
His hair was wild, his body covered in black streaks and his leather pants were so tight that they left little to the imagination. He screamed into the mic, his voice guttural and raw as the guitar riffs picked up in the only BVB song Odessa knew. Looking up she was face to face with him, her eyes peering into those crystal blue eyes that she had just been staring at for the past hour while they talked.
“Odessa…this one’s for you!” He screamed loudly as he squatted right in front of her, his hand resting on her cheek for just a moment before he ran off to the other side.
They were playing Perfect Weapon…the only song she knew.
“Oh good God…”She laughed as she watched him strut around the stage coming over to her every once and while to sing, almost just to her and not to anyone else.
She didn’t know it then, but Odessa had just made a connection with one of the most desired musicians on the entire tour. Now what was she supposed to do?
Walking around, Odessa noticed that there were lots of kids here, many of them dressed identical to her sister and she just smiled, thinking back to the time when this festival was not very popular and definitely not this crowded.
She was 13 when she went to her first Warped Tour with her two best friends and Odessa always saw those years as her most favorite. But times change and she had to grow up, sadly leaving behind the lifestyle that she had always enjoyed.
“Hey, nice ink…” Someone called out to her and Odessa just nodded a silent thank you and kept on moving.
She was always getting comments on her tattoos, especially since most of them were visible in shorts and short sleeves, but they were also invisible when she had to go to meetings and even when it was 100 degrees out she remained covered. It made her sad that tattoos were still so frowned upon in normal society but that’s just the way things were.
Suddenly Odessa found herself getting lost in a wave of people and was beginning to feel the push and shove motion of the crowd. Collecting her thoughts she quickly stepped off to the left, grasping the pole of the nearest tent to hang on while the crowd passed her by. Appreciating the shade, she decided to hang out there for a bit, not even realizing that she was almost back to chest with the person behind her.
“That is an awesome Batman tattoo…” A deep raspy voice spoke from behind her and as Odessa turned around her nose almost bumped into a body paint covered chest.
Taking a step back she took in the person standing in front of her and smirked. Both of his lanky arms were covered in black paint while his face was covered in makeup very similar to what Moira was rocking earlier. His jet black hair was teased, making him seem even more gigantic than he already was to her 5’7 height. She figured he was probably waiting for the same band to come on that her sister was here to see.
“Uh thanks. He’s my favorite superhero of all time. I kinda felt I had to pay homage ya know…”Her voice was bell like compared to his deep raspy one.
“Good choice. So how’s your day going?” He asked her, taking a long drag off of the cigarette he was currently smoking. She smiled and looked up and gasped as she was met with the most breath taking blue eyes she had ever seen.
“It’s…uh…good I guess. I wasn’t going to come today but my little sister just had to see this band and I was asked to escort her.” She smiled, wrapping an arm around the pole she was leaning on to steady herself.
“Oh. Not your type of music I take it?” He ran a hand through his hair, his long fingers getting stuck in it towards the end.
“No actually I love this music and grew up listening to it. the Used it my all time favorite band. My little sister is in love with this new band. Black Veil Brides…ever heard of them?” Her eyes met his once again, her light green getting lost in his crystal blue ones.
“Uh, yeah. They’re actually a pretty good band from what I hear…”He laughed then and she cocked her head and couldn’t help feeling like he knew something she didn’t.
“I have heard some of their stuff. Mostly through my bedroom wall, but I do like one video they have out…Perfect Weapon I think it’s called. Oh I’m Odessa by the way.” She smiled shyly and held out her hand.
“I like that song…it’s one of the better ones that’s for sure. I’m Andy and I love your name…” He smiled down at her, his hand resting in hers and she could feel the spark as their skin touched.
“Oh thanks. I always hated it as a kid but my family is mostly Scottish and Odessa is a family name so I just got used to it. My friends mostly call me Dess…” Blushing she was unsure why she was divulging so much to this complete stranger but he was just so easy to talk to.
“Well I like it. So can I give you my number? Maybe we could meet up later and finish this talk since I have to head out…”He smiled down at her, his lip ring glinting in the light as she nodded and handed over her phone, taking his in return and punching in her number.
“Well enjoy the rest of your day and make sure you check out BVB’s set. You won’t be disappointed.“ He laughed, wrapping his lanky arms around her and gave her a quick hug and then walked off in the direction of the stage that the Used was currently getting ready to play on.
Smiling to herself Odessa headed off towards the stage gearing herself up to hear one of her favorite bands play. She slowly made her way up to the front, but stood off to the left to avoid the crowd surfers and moshers that would probably start up as soon as the show got going.
Finally after waiting ten minutes in the sweltering sun the Used came on stage. Their set was amazing and Odessa closed her eyes and sang every word along with Bert. She had always felt a connection with this band, kind of how kids seemed to feel about BVB these days.The band played her favorite, I Caught Fire, as their last song which was the perfect ending to such a special performance. Odessa was only reminded more of why she loved this band so much. She would try and meet them, but wanted to stick around and watch Black Veil Brides perform, just to see what all of the hype was about.
Finally after a twenty minute wait between set changes a loud overture began to play as the drummer of the band came on stage to wild applause and sat down behind the drum set. Finally two guys, both covered in body paint and wearing leather pants, ran on the stage, their guitars swinging with the movement as they took their places on either side of the stage. Another guy, this one shirtless and caring a bass came running out and stood almost right in front of her. She looked up and met his eyes, which were outlined in heavy black circles and noticed the OUTLAW tattoo that ran across his stomach.
Screams pierced the air as the overture stopped and the lead singer stepped out on to the stage.
His hair was wild, his body covered in black streaks and his leather pants were so tight that they left little to the imagination. He screamed into the mic, his voice guttural and raw as the guitar riffs picked up in the only BVB song Odessa knew. Looking up she was face to face with him, her eyes peering into those crystal blue eyes that she had just been staring at for the past hour while they talked.
“Odessa…this one’s for you!” He screamed loudly as he squatted right in front of her, his hand resting on her cheek for just a moment before he ran off to the other side.
They were playing Perfect Weapon…the only song she knew.
“Oh good God…”She laughed as she watched him strut around the stage coming over to her every once and while to sing, almost just to her and not to anyone else.
She didn’t know it then, but Odessa had just made a connection with one of the most desired musicians on the entire tour. Now what was she supposed to do?
@TheQuietOne
Aww well I'm glad you liked it so much and that I was your first. Some times I reread this story because, honestly, it's my favorite out of the ones I've written.
7/25/15