Part 5 (1/2)
The rhythmic thud on the hotel door continues. Spilling out of bed, I head over to answer.
”What?” I snap as I yank open the door.
Will, far too perky for a guy who I swear drank as much as me last night, steps back, appraises me in my boxers and shakes his head with a small smile. ”Dude, you look like s.h.i.+t.”
”I'm tired. What do you want?” Unimpressed, I head to the mini-bar and pull out a bottle of water.
Will follows and crosses his arms over his chest, bright green eyes meeting mine. He matched me in drinking last night; why doesn't he look like c.r.a.p too? Although I'm pretty sure that's bite marks on his neck.
”Jax, it's one p.m. You're late for the sound check.”
I freeze. ”s.h.i.+t. Really?”
”First gig on a European tour with Phoenix and you're in bed! We have s.h.i.+t to do, man.”
I spot my jeans by the end of the bed and grab them. ”f.u.c.k. Sorry.”
”What the h.e.l.l happened to you? Since when can't you handle your booze?” Will sinks onto the end of the bed. ”Or your women.”
Before we went to the club, at the hotel bar, I knocked back more beers than I realised, distracted by Tegan and later by the prospect of a celebratory night. The night before Ruby Riot opens for Blue Phoenix on their European tour. Blue Phoenix. Unreal. Must've been the champagne. I never drink champagne. Yep, definitely that. I rub my head.
”Where're Nate and Ruby?” I ask.
”They've gone ahead to the venue. I've spent half an hour calling you and gave up, came here to haul your a.s.s out of bed.”
”And the Phoenix guys?”
Will pulls his lip piercing in his mouth and glances around the room. ”Dunno. Haven't seen them. No chick with you?”
”No.”
”That's right you couldn't stand up.” He laughs and claps me on my bare shoulder.
I shrug him off; pleased it wasn't Ruby outside the door. At least Will's laid back about my s.h.i.+t start to the first day of the tour. ”Give me ten. I'll grab a shower and meet you in the lobby.”
Will heads off, unperturbed. Often, I'm glad the twins are chilled guys. Reckon I've seen them fully stressed once and can't remember why. Life rolls over them and they grasp at the fun parts, letting the c.r.a.p sail by. I guess Ruby holds enough tension for the four of us.
The warm water flows over my aching head as I replay last night. I remember dancing with a chick, then she wasn't there, and I spoke to Tegan. No clue what I spoke to Tegan about. s.h.i.+t, I hope I didn't make an a.r.s.ehole of myself in front of her.
Months I've waited for this day. I'm playing a stadium gig tonight with the biggest band in the f.u.c.king world. Thousands of people. This is huge and what do I do to prepare? Get wasted and wake up half-dead. Ruby's going to lose her s.h.i.+t if I'm below par for our final rehearsal and sound check.
TEGAN.
”Morning!” I call to Bryn as I approach him in the hallway between our hotel rooms. I head back to mine as he leaves his.
He stops. ”Where've you been?”
”Where does it look like I've been?” I indicate my sweaty self, yoga pants, and gym vest.
”Working out? You didn't go to bed until three a.m.!”
”And?” I wipe a lose strand of hair from my damp forehead. ”I usually get up early.”
”I doubt you'll find anybody else does. Weirdo.”
I flick Bryn's ear. ”Funny. Did you find someone to take Jax back to the hotel?”
Bryn makes a derisive sound. ”Yeah. What a joke.”
True. I smile at the memory of Jax's performance. ”Sure, you never got wasted when you were on your first tour,” I say sarcastically.
”There's a time and a place, Tegan.”
I giggle at him. ”You seriously are an old man, big brother.”
”I'm stressed about the f.u.c.king tour, okay?”
Whoa. The tightly wound Bryn from yesterday remains; this has to be about more than me and my arrival. ”Are you all right?”
”Fine. Sorry.” He wipes a hand across his brow. ”Dealing with some s.h.i.+t; I need things running smoothly on tour at least. Call me when you've showered, or whatever. I want to talk to you.”
Before I can respond, Bryn stomps to the elevator, his heavy footsteps m.u.f.fled by the carpet. Jeez, I hope n.o.body gets in Bryn's way today.
Half an hour later, refreshed and ready for the world, I grab my phone and shove some cash in the back pocket of my jeans. First day of touring with Blue Phoenix, and I bounce down the corridor with excitement over what the day could hold. I've waited years to spend time in the thick of everything and watch how their world works. Playing the fan girl, I chose a Blue Phoenix sleeveless tee this morning. Will Bryn finally tell everybody who I am? My mind floods with ideas and possibilities. I can't wait to show pictures to people, I know that Phoebe is jealous as h.e.l.l. When we hit the UK leg, I'll find her some backstage pa.s.ses.
One small cloud on the horizon - what does Bryn want to talk to me about? He's agreed I can stay. As I wait for the elevator, I picture him giving me a list of dos and don'ts with that sulky look he's had since I arrived. Something's wrong with Bryn, he's not normally this uptight. Maybe once he's in his natural environment backstage he'll cheer up.
Distracted, I don't notice another person appear besides me.
JAX.
s.h.i.+t. No.
I stop.
Tegan, standing by the elevator, makes jeans and a sloppy Blue Phoenix t-s.h.i.+rt look like the s.e.xiest outfit on the planet. I am not nervous of chicks these days but she ties my tongue in knots. This reaction is because I'm unsure if I made a d.i.c.k of myself in front of Tegan last night, not because she stuns me.
Sure it is.
Tegan's full lips are pursed, a troubled line between her brows so I keep my distance and say nothing. She notices me almost immediately.
”Good morning, Jaxon,” she says with a knowing smile.
”Don't call me Jaxon. Only my mum and gran call me that.”