Chasing The Light: II

Unlike VIBEZ, this place had a ticket window outside. As I tried to walk into the venue, I heard a distorted voice from the window, informing me that I had to buy a ticket. I showed them the ticket I had purchased from Alyx, which I was to apparently exchange for a wristband here.

"And your ID?"

I didn't know what this was for, but I handed over my student ID card.

"Sorry, we cannot admit anyone under the age of 18 to a late show without an adult guardian."

Panic. I didn't want to have come all this way for nothing.

Think. It's obvious what I should say.

"I was invited here, by the band."

I didn't know if saying that felt cool or unbelievably cringe. I was definitely a poser.

"Well, unless one of them wants to come out to claim you, I will still have to refuse you entry. Sorry."

"I… I understand. Just a moment, please."

I stepped away and took out my phone. I hoped she wouldn't mind. I navigated to her name in my friends list, took a deep breath, and called her. The phone rang a few times, and I was worried she might not pick up. Luckily, my fears were unfounded.

"Hello?"

In the background I could hear a lot of chatter and noise. Laughing, and what seemed to be the sound of a guitar being tuned.

"Hello. It is Kirika. From the other week. I have arrived at the venue but they will not let me inside unattended. Could you perhaps be so kind as to escort me into the building?"

"Kirika, Kirika… Ah. You really came, huh?"

For a moment it sounded as if she had forgotten about me, and I hoped desperately that she hadn't forgotten about her offer to drive me home.

"Yes, I bought a ticket after all. I do hope this is not an inconvenience."

In the background I could hear someone shout something, and I heard her voice turn away from the phone to shout something back.

"Ah, no. It's fine. Just a sec, alright?"

And then she hung up.

I felt like an idiot standing around. I felt as if the ticket agent was judging me, thinking I was a liar. It took considerably longer than 'a sec', but she did actually come and grab me. She was wearing a plain white top under a faux leather jacket, with some denim shorts and boots. The whole outfit was not like anything I could ever wear, but something about it really suited her. She was also wearing some black eyeshadow which had the effect of highlighting her green eyes. It also made her face look rather pale, like a doll.

"'Sup."

She grabbed my wrist and pulled me along behind her, waving to the ticket window. This gave me a smug sense of satisfaction, though I don't know why. The ticket agent was only doing their job, after all. Her hand felt a little rough, her fingertips especially. Her grip was also strong, not so strong that it hurt, but I certainly felt her grabbing me. We passed through the main area and went through a door, bringing us to a corridor which lead to what I assumed was the 'backstage' area.

When she opened the door, I was immediately assaulted with the stench of tobacco. The ceiling, which I assumed was white once upon a time, had developed a yellowish brown tint, and the old posters which covered the walls also showed a little browning. A couple of who must have been Alyx's bandmates were also smoking. The first person to acknowledge us was the bass guitarist, a young man with short black hair.

"'Sup."

He nodded at me, cigarette hanging from his mouth. In his hands was a bright pink bass guitar, and the body seemed to be heart-shaped. The second smoker had no instrument in her hand, but was idling browsing her phone. She did not show much interest in all at my introduction to this room. An other girl, who had her guitar in her hand, did look up.

"Fuck me, a high school girl? Bit younger than the girls you usually bring to shows!"

What does she mean by that?

"Shut up."

Alyx responded, throwing herself down onto the sofa next to the girl browsing her phone. She picked up her guitar and plucked at it a few times.

"Kirika. Paul, George, Ringo."

She said while nodding to the other three. I suppose giving me their names. Not knowing what to do while standing their awkwardly, I decided introducing myself would be the safest place to start.

"Kirika Komori. Nice to meet you all. I look forward to your performance tonight."

This caused the other guitarist— Apparently called 'Paul'— to snickered at me.

"And such a polite young lady you've brought, Allie. I already like her much more than the last one."

The last who?

There was a joke somewhere here and it was on me. This time, Alyx didn't even bother censuring her bandmate. She just sat there, plucking at her guitar, twiddling with the little pegs at the top. I was still left standing, unsure of what to do, looking around this strange and grungy room.

"Y'can take a seat down there, Miss."

The bassist, 'George', spoke this time, gesturing to a worn leather sofa in the corner.

"Names Mako, by the way, nice t' meetcha. Don't get many kids at our shows, like."

Mako, not George. Noted. Of course the names she gave were all fake.

It didn't surprise me that the names were a fake, but I also hadn't discounted the possibility they could have been real entirely. This was a band, and sometimes people in bands take on stage names, and those stage names can sound very queer. Like Stacy. That almost certainly wasn't her 'real name' either. Still, Mako sounded more right. I sat down, as he suggested. Despite being beaten up, it was a surprisingly comfortable chair. I chose not to think about how clean this room was, I was just happy to be off my feet.

"Thanks. And likewise."

"So how'd she pick you up? Our Allie fallen so low she's taken to soliciting at school gates or?"

Again the guitarist had spoken up. I don't think she liked me very much, or perhaps it was Alyx she disliked. Maybe this was just her personality. As for her question, I didn't quite understand. For what purposes would I be getting picked up? Why would she think a university student would be hanging around a high school, for that matter? I thought back to the misgivings my mother seemed to have about me going to these sorts of places. I was starting to feel a little uncomfortable, myself.

"She saw me at a street performance the other week and was interested in seeing the band. That's all there is to it."

Phew.

I knew she was just defending herself from her friend's jibes, but I was happy the burden of responding was lifted. I was all the way out of my depth here.

"Wow, people actually stick around and watch those things?"

'Paul' stood up and stretched, walking over to what I could now see was a mini-fridge on the other side of the room. She squatted down as she continued talking.

"It's just jokes, kid, no need to look so scared. Ami. You're Kiri?"

'Ami' took out a couple of cans, and tossed one at me, causing me to flinch slightly.

"Kirika. Um… Sorry, I don't think I can drink this."

It was a can of beer.

"Sure ya can, I'm sure I was younger than you are when I was first sipping on these."

"Yeah but she's a good girl, goes to a fancy school."

Again, Alyx was chiming in to defend me. I think. It may have been a little mocking, and I wasn't thrilled with the 'good girl' label.

How'd she know about my school?

"Papa— Uh, my dad wouldn't like me drinking this."

"And ya mother?"

She probably wouldn't care.

I didn't say that. I didn't say anything. Ami just walked up and took the can back.

"Mina, catch."

And tossed it at the other girl, whose name seemed to be Mina and not Ringo. Mina dropped her phone on her lap and was able to catch it, before muttering a thanks and placing the can on the small table beside her. Now that I noticed it, there did seem to be a few empty cans scattered around the room.

Not much happened as I sat around. Mako tried to initiate conversation a few times, but these attempts faded pretty quickly. Ami and Alyx had a few back and forths, and a few more barbs were seemingly thrown my way, which I ignored and which Ami would laugh and apologise for. The drummer, Mina, didn't say much of anything. Ami explained this away as nerves. With nothing else to do, I took out a book and read for a while, until Alyx suggested I go into the main area about thirty minutes before they were due on stage.