Part 23 (1/2)
25 * BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR
KAZ.
Backstage everything looks the same, only every element is suffused with a certain magic a glamour in both senses of the word. The sun seems brighter, the people cleaner, the laughter louder. Flipping the lanyard over, I read the words guest pa.s.s skyfires to rea.s.sure myself. Sebastian gave Lauren and me one each with Ruby picking the short straw and risking a broken wristband that she's pinned back together. Not that anyone here seems to care one way or the other. The only security I can see are driving quad bikes of people more important (or more lazy) than us through the crowds, and everyone else is too busy to worry about what anyone else is doing. We pa.s.s a group of girls consulting the schedule as one of them pulls out her phone. ”I'm setting an alarm for eight forty-five. No way am I missing Gold'ntone.”
When I look at my own phone, I'm dismayed at how little time that means we'll have with Sebastian.
Catching myself thinking this feels odd. It's been so long since I had a crush on anyone other than Tom that I'm not even sure that's what this is. Do I fancy him? Or do I just really like him?
It could be both...
Sebastian leads us to a table, where I recognize the other members of his band. He introduces everyone: Nick the drummer and Ferris, who I think was the tall keyboard player, and Eve, the ba.s.sist. Apparently their guitarist has gone for a nap in the back of their van.
”He always does that,” Sebastian says to me. ”Don't take it personally. Now, let me get this right.” Sebastian points to Ruby first. ”This is Ruby and Lauren. And this is Kaz.”
My cheeks flush at the glance that Nick and Ferris exchange, but there's no time for awkwardness as Sebastian pulls over some spare chairs. Ruby sits down and shows no compunction in asking Nick if one of the beers is going spare. Something Lauren doesn't look too happy about.
”Drink?” Sebastian asks.
”Is there any water?” I can only see beer.
”I'll get you some.” And he stands to leave. My dismay must show, because he asks if I want to go with him.
Which I do.
”So. Er...” I walk with him to the bar, hoping to strike flirtatious gold.
”How's your day been?” Sebastian asks.
”Nice.” I'm useless at this.
”That's a very vague word.”
”I know. Sorry.” The queue for the bar here is tiny compared to the arena only two-people deep.
”Why say sorry?” Sebastian smiles into my eyes. ”Vague is permitted.”
”OK. How about your day?”
”Mostly fine, escalating to exquisitely nerve-wracking.”
I can imagine why. ”You didn't need to be nervous that set was amazing. You were amazing.” And then because this sounds a bit over the top, I panic and add, ”Your band were amazing.”
”Don't let them know you called them 'my' band,” Sebastian says in a whisper that's quiet enough for him to lean in.
”Well, SkyFires are amazing, then.”
”Oh, I know that.” His somewhat goofy grin dilutes the arrogance of the statement. ”I'm not a fan of fake modesty. I like the music we make we can draw in a good crowd and we've interest from someone who wants to manage us. We play to bigger crowds in our hometown than here.” Sebastian glances at me and then away, shuffling forwards towards the bar. ”That wasn't what I was nervous about.”
Performing here would still make me nervous, but... ”What were you nervous about, then?”
”Just a girl I met.”
”Oh,” I say, disappointed.
But Sebastian ducks his head, forcing me to meet his eyes. ”That girl is you.”
”Oh.” This time I do not sound evenly faintly disappointed. ”Now you've made me nervous.”
His laugh is uncomplicated and happy. ”You've no need to be. I'm not after anything sinister, just your company.”
”Really?”
Sebastian nods. ”So far I'm enjoying it a lot.”
And even though I'm smiling mostly at the gra.s.s between his feet, when I glance up, he's looking at me as if that really is what he wants from me.
”Water?” he asks and I nod.
I definitely have a crush.
RUBY.
I'm tired of having Lauren c.o.c.k-block me every time I try to talk to Drummer Boy Nick. Really f.u.c.king irritating when all I want to do is find out more about Sebastian ON KAZ'S BEHALF. Also, really f.u.c.king pointless. Lauren's a one-focus kind of girl, so she hasn't noticed that Nick and Eve are totally a couple. One of those really relaxed ones that are so comfortable in their togetherness that they don't need to advertise it beyond the familiarity of a hand-touch here or a secret smile there.
When I say I'm going to the loo, Lauren shuffles in closer to Nick and I smile at Eve, who winks at me. I guess if you're in a band with your boyfriend you get used to it.
The toilets here have had a lot less use than the ones in the main arena. They're like the ones down by the main stage: Portakabins complete with sinks, although these ones have functioning soap dispensers and actual toilet roll. There are a couple of girls in there, talking about having to take a picture to go with their write-up of the afternoon's gossip. The one with the plumage of a tropical bird plaited into her hair accosts me at the sink, accusing my outfit of being totally grunge-punk chic and cooing over my arm ”Is it real?” not waiting for an answer as she loops an arm around me and hauls me outside, asking if she can take a photo.
Before I can really decide whether I want that, the deed is done and Feather Head's friend/colleague, whose necklace looks like a pterodactyl clinging to the cliff-face of her collarbone, is asking me whether I'm eighteen.
Given that I'm planning on heading barwards at some point, I sneer slightly and say, ”Thanks a lot!” as if I'm ma.s.sively insulted that she'd even ask.
Necklace Girl holds the phone steady as she asks, ”What's your name, how old are you and do you mind if we post your picture as part of the festival fas.h.i.+on piece for Gozzip Magazine?”