Be My Bad Boy

We rushed through the streets trying to keep up with Andy and the rest of the band. I'd have thought they'd have a van for all their gear but they just had the guitar cases. He weaved through cobblestoned back streets until I had no idea where I was. Jake talked to me while we walked but my attention kept slipping to Andy's leather-wrapped buttocks. Those pants left nothing to the imagination and he sure had a sexy curve. I didn't want to look but he walked in front of me, practically forcing me to.
"Watch out," Jake said.

"Huh?"
"Don't fall for Andy. He's not a steady relationship kind of guy. I'd hate to see you get hurt."
"You're kidding, right? He's a jerk."
"He's not a jerk, he's just got some serious baggage. But I shouldn't really talk about that."
"What makes you think I'd fall for him? You saw us back there. I'm more likely to kill him than fall for him."
"You're the kind of girl who's had her own way for most of her life. Then you meet a guy like Andy who stands up to you. You can mistake that kind of thing for love.”
“Not me, buddy."

Jake shot me a shy grin and I couldn’t help but grin back.
When we got to the bar, he told the owner I was their manager.
“Not yet, she isn't."
"She's our manager at the moment and she's on the guest list."
The owner let me in without paying and got me a glass of wine for free while the band set up. This bar looked so different from the one the other night. The stage was low key with red velvet curtains lining it. The room had tables and chairs, not just standing room, and a mural of a night sky covered the ceiling. Also, the place didn't reek of stale beer and sweat.
I sat at the bar drinking my wine as people filled the place up. It was a decent-sized crowd for a Tuesday night. I tried to look entertained while I sat there but really it was not that interesting. I got out my phone and played a game of solitaire, wishing they'd hurry up and get started. I'd have ordered another drink if I'd thought I could afford it.

CC popped up beside me, ordering a round of beers and told the barman to put another wine on the tab for me too.
“Thanks."
"No worries. We'll be on stage in five minutes or so. If you want any more, just let Charlie know. He'll be happy to put it on the tab for you."

I nodded but to be honest, I didn't really drink that much. Charlie grinned at me.
"Here, try this. I've been experimenting with cocktails. I reckon you'll like it.”
Since I didn't have much to do but sit there and drink, I figured I might as well give it a try. I took a sip. It was sweet and fruity. I looked around for Angie but couldn't see her in the crowd. I thought she might be here for something like this but the crowd seemed a bit older than the other night.
Everyone clapped as the guys went on stage. They didn't cheer or get raucous though.
When Andy began singing, I turned to the stage. He sat on the stool quietly. No posturing or over-the-top moves, just him sitting there singing, with Jake and Jinxx playing along and Ashley and CC in the background. A soft spotlight shone on him as he sang about love and hurts and the things he couldn't get over.

His hair flopped onto his face as he leaned over his guitar but every so often he’d look up at the crowd, his eyes expressing the pain of the song he sang.
Charlie handed me another cocktail and I felt warm inside. Maybe Andy wasn't so bad after all. When I saw him like this, he seemed vulnerable. Maybe he just needed someone to take care of him, to lie beside him and stroke his hair until that hurt in his eyes went away.
What was I thinking? I shook my head to clear that thought. It was his on-stage image, acting like that to win across the audience. I knew better. I just had to remind myself what a jerk he'd been.
After a few songs, Jake and Jinxx left the stage and came to sit by me. Andy, CC, and Ashley continued on alone.
"It's magic, isn't it?" he said. He looked at Andy.
"He's not bad." To be honest, the other night the band had struck me as a cacophony of noise. This was different though. They really had something.
"What are you drinking?”
I took another sip. "It's some new cocktail. Want to try it?"
"No thanks. I'll stick to beer."

"Why are you being nice to me? The other two hate me."
"They don't hate you. Maybe it's a bit of a shock for them, having some chick show up claiming to be our manager. We've had a lot of disappointments. A few times we've nearly been signed to a label then it fell through. And Andy, well, he has this thing. This kind of 'it's my way or the highway' thing you know. He doesn't like to compromise and that means we might not be as good a deal to take on as some of these younger kids who do as they're told."
I nodded. I could see what he meant. Mr. Andy Biersack was going to be tough to deal with.
"Well, I've got to get back on stage. Take it easy with those fruity drinks. It’d be kinda embarrassing for our manager to get drunk and make a scene.”
As he walked off, I wondered how embarrassing. Embarrassing enough for them to want to get rid of me? Maybe I could get a little tipsy.
I got up to go to the bathroom. I'd gotten really hot sitting at the bar and needed to cool down. As I touched up my makeup, a girl came out of the cubicle and stood at the sink beside me.
"Great set tonight, huh."
I nodded. She had on a fabulous skirt. It looked just like one I used to have the year before. Almost identical in fact.
"Love your skirt," I said.
"Thanks," she shouted of the sound of the hand dryer. "I got it from that designer recycle place near the Arts Centre.”

“Designer recycle? What the hell is that?"
"You know, where rich people go to sell their old clothes."
I nodded but the idea didn't compute. Rich people don't sell their old clothes. They throw them out or give them away or something. I didn't even know. I just gave them to the maid to deal with.
Hey, those bloody maids – they'd been selling off my clothes and now this chick wore my skirt. And it was an awesome skirt. I wanted it back. I guess I couldn't tell her that though.

Notes

Thanks loves!