Inked Chaos (3 page)

People, lots of them are
milling around.  All have drinks in their hands, and a few seem like they’ve
had more than their fair share already.

Nobody looks at us as we
walk in, everyone having too much fun to notice the newbie’s arriving.  Slowly
my eyes scan the room; noticing a couple of leather sofas, and a dining table
with eight chairs, all occupied, and a bar to one side laden with bottles.

I turn to Jen, lean in
and whisper in her ear.

“Babe this is a mistake.  Let’s go before
we’re noticed.” I plead, and turn towards the door, hoping to make a quick
getaway; only to have Jen step in front of me, halting my progress.

“Oh no you don’t.” she hisses under her
breath. “You know as well as I do, that if you leave now you’ll kick yourself
in the morning.  Not to mention, Davy will kill me for letting you leave.  Relax,
let’s have a drink and see what happens.  I can’t even see any of the band, so
stop panicking.”

It’s okay for Jen.  She has always been so
laid back, she’s almost horizontal.  She lives her life to the max’, and never
worries about the consequences.  She dates when she wants to, but not bothered
if she’s on her own.  Although I have to say, it’s not very often she’s without
a date; because she’s gorgeous.  She’s a small petite brunette, with what I call
a pixie face.  A little lady, with a very big personality.  She’d cope with
meeting the queen if she walked in.  While I’d be the one standing next to her,
a blithering mess.

She grabs my hand, and drags me over to the
bar, where we help ourselves to a glass of wine.  Turning around, we spy a gap
in the crowd over by the window, and head in that direction so we won’t clog up
the bar area.

“I can’t see any of them, can you?” asks
Jen.

Silently I shake my head, just as a tall
lanky guy walks over, and introduces himself as Joe.  He seems a nice guy, and
asks if we went to the concert.

We tell him that we’ve rocked the night
away at the concert, after receiving the tickets for my birthday.  I really
want to ask him where the band are, but that would not only make me appear
rude, but also desperate.

Informing us that he’s
one of the roadies, he enlightens us on how the tour works.  How the timing is
so crucial, to ensure the instruments and equipment are dismantled, transported,
and set up again at each new venue, in time for the next performance.  It
sounds like they work really hard and don’t have much down time; but he says he
loves the life, and wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.

“I see the world and listen to great sounds,
whilst being paid for the privilege.” he grins making Jen and I laugh.

He has a cheeky smile to go with his cheeky
character, and you can’t help but like him.

Asking us if we want a refill of our drinks,
he heads over to the bar promising he’ll be right back.

We watch as he starts talking to a man at
the bar.

“Isn’t that the chappie who gave us the
note?” I ask Jen.  She glances over at them and confirms my suspicions.

“Yep, looks like it to me.  I wonder where
the band are.  I don’t think I can stay awake much longer.  If they don’t show
soon I’m off.  What do you reckon?”

I glance at my watch and see that it’s nearly
one am.  I know what she means, we’ve been here over an hour already.  We
decide to give it another half an hour.  We’ll have the drink that Joe is
getting for us, so we don’t appear rude, and then head back to our room.

Joe is still talking to the note guy at the
bar, and now and then, they both glance our way smiling.  Jen and I exchange a glance.
 I hope they aren’t going to hit on us.  As much as Joe’s a nice fella, he’s
definitely not my sort, no tattoos for a start.

There’s a commotion over by the door, with
lots of cheers and back slapping, and behold the band appear.  Jen looks at me
with eyebrows raised, bugging out her eyes with a smile on her face.

We watch as they pile over to the bar, grab
a drink, and disperse into the crowded room.  Jason and Travis head over to the
leather sofas, and throw themselves down next to a couple of giggling girls,
who shriek with delight.  Zack heads over to the far side of the room, and
disappears into the crowd.  AJ and Razor stay at the bar, talking to note man
and Joe.  Once or twice they look in our direction, and then move away from the
bar and like Zack are swallowed up by the crowd.

“Oh well!  That’s it.” I say to Jen. “They
obviously regret asking us to come, and have decided to stay well away from us.
 We’ll have that drink from Joe, and I’m definitely off.  I told you it was a
mistake to come.  Boy, next time will I listen to my instincts and ignore you.”
 

“Oh, alright.” Jen sighs. “It was a good
dream while it lasted though eh? Do you really want that drink, or do you want
to leave now? I don’t mind either way.”

I open my mouth to reply that I’m quite
happy to leave now, but I’m forestalled by Joe returning with our drinks, a
smile on his face and note man in tow.  He hands us our drinks, and introduces
note man as Steve, the band’s manager.

Damn!  We just weren’t quick enough heading
for the door.  I hate being rude to anyone, so I accept my drink with a smile, and
murmur a thank you; deciding that this drink will not last too long at all.  I
just want to get out of here now.  I feel stupid and a little humiliated, but
also annoyed.

I suddenly realise, that while I’ve been
away with the fairies, making decisions in my head, Steve has been talking to
us.  So I try to pay attention, and focus on what he is saying; listening as he
explains that the guys have had an after show meeting, and then freshened up
before coming to the party.

“Is this not their suite
then?” probes Jen.

“No.” replies Steve. “We’ve taken over the
whole of this floor.  The guys have a suite each.  This suite is used for the
get-togethers, more of a communal use suite.  That way, each can have their
privacy when they want it.”

I hate to think how much it costs to take
over a complete floor of a hotel.  For the entire tour, that must add up to
mega bucks.

As Jen asks Steve about the tour, I cast a
discreet eye around the room.  I can see AJs head above all the others across
the room.  At over six foot tall he tends to be taller than most.  He’s talking
to Razor and they seem to be having a heated conversation, maybe even arguing.

I turn towards Jen, deciding to ask her if
she’s ready to go, but the room spins with me.  Oh hell!  That last glass of
wine was one too many, and I feel a little giddy.  I need to cool down, maybe
splash a little water on my face to clear my head.  Jen is having an in-depth
conversation with Joe, so I carefully lean into Steve and ask if I can use the
bathroom.

“Sure, follow me.” He
replies smiling.  

Signalling to Jen that I’ll be right back,
I follow Steve across the room and through a door at the far side, which opens
into what is obviously a master bedroom.  You could fit three of our room into
this space it’s so huge.  It has a couple of sofas over by the window, and the
biggest bed I have ever seen.

Steve opens a door which reveals the
bathroom.

“You okay?” he asks.

I assure him I’m fine, so he leaves me to
it, and returns to the party.  How embarrassing! I’m not likely to confess I’ve
drunk too much.  I’ll be fine once I’ve cooled down a bit.

Locking the door, I turn and stare at my
reflection in the mirror.  God!  What an idiot I feel.  Who was I kidding? Here
I am forty years old at an after-gig party.  Definitely more than slightly
inebriated, feeling the worse for wear and totally stupid.  None of the band
have shown the slightest intention of saying Hi, maybe they never did.

I splash some water on my face, tap it dry
with a towel, and try to salvage my make-up.

Great!  Now I look like a freak.  A drunk
freak to boot!

That’s it, I’m off.  I’ll go grab Jen, we
can make our excuses to Joe and Steve and escape.

I unlock the door, turn off the light, and
make my way back into the main lounge area.  The room is now so crowded, I
almost have to fight my way through the throng of people to reach Jen.

When I do reach her, I stop dead, my eyes
almost popping out of my head.  There is Jen, sitting very cosily I might say,
next to Razor; so called because of his shaved head.  They are so deep in
conversation that she doesn’t even realise I’m back.  I’m now in a quandary.  Do
I interrupt, or do I just leave her to it and head back to our room? I don’t
want her feeling obligated to leave the party with me.  So I decide to find Steve
or Joe, and ask them to pass her a message.  That way I’ll already be gone and
won’t spoil her fun.  

Trying not to draw too much attention to
myself.  I cast my gaze over the crowd looking for them, only for my eyes to
land on AJ, and draped all over him is Melody Forrester.  Conscious of myself
staring at them, I pull my gaze away, just as he glances at me with narrowed
eyes and a frown on his face.  Hell!  If looks could kill.  Why is he so mad? After
all, he’s the one who asked us to come.  

Feeling my face burning up with
embarrassment, I frantically cast an eye over the crowd.  Spotting Steve over
by the bar talking to Zack, I quickly push my way through the crowd, and gently
touching his arm to gain his attention, I lean into him, so he can hear me
above all the noise.

“Steve will you do me a favour? I don’t
want to interrupt Jen as she’s talking to Razor.  Will you just let her know
I’ve gone back to our room? Tell her all’s okay, and to stay and have fun.  If
I tell her, she’ll want to come with me, and I don’t want to spoil it for her.”

“Sure.  Hey,
are you okay?” he asks concerned with narrowed eyes.

“I’m fine.  I’ve just had enough.” I reply.

In more ways than one.

“It’s been fun.  Please thank the guys for
me.” I smile and lightly place my hand on his arm and mouth “bye”, before
making my way through the throng towards the door.  As I reach it, I prevent myself
from turning around and glancing back one last time.  What’s the point of
torturing myself? I was kidding myself anyway; it was all a dream.  What was I
expecting? For him to fall for me? That’s a laugh.  If anything he was probably
only after a one night stand.  What is it they say? Sex, drugs and rock ‘n’
roll.  Well!  He wouldn’t have gotten that from me anyway.

But if I had turned around, I’d have seen
AJ staring after me, watching as the door closes behind me.

I head towards the lift, smiling at the
bodyguards as I pass by.  They must see this all the time.  They certainly
don’t seem fazed by women coming and going around here.  

It doesn’t take long until I’m back at our
room.  I tiptoe in as quietly as I can, making sure the door closes silently
behind me.  I don’t want to wake Davy up, especially as she’ll want the
post-mortem on events.  I quickly strip out of my clothes, and crawl between
the sheets of the bed I’m sharing with her.  Curling up into a ball, I will
sleep to come claim me.  My last thought as I drop off, is that I still never
managed to get a photo or an autograph.

*****

I wake up the next morning, and lie there
with my eyes closed; listening to the sound of the shower running, wondering
which of the girls is up and about.  I soon receive my answer, as on hearing
the bathroom door open, I open my eyes and watch as Davy walks in, wrapped up in
a towel.  I follow her gaze, and observe the empty bed where Jen was supposed
to sleep.

“Well it appears Jens pulled as usual.” I
smile. “I left her talking to Razor.” I add with a smirk.  

Davy bursts out laughing. “I should have
known.  That girl has always struck out to get exactly what she wants.  I take
it you didn’t?” she observes questioningly.  

I grimace at her “Don’t even go there.  I’ll
tell all in a minute, just let me get my head together first.” I beg, as I climb
out of bed and scurry into the bathroom, and take care of business.

Peering into the mirror over the hand basin,
I stare at myself, shocked that I look the same.  I’m surprised there isn’t a
sign on my forehead saying ‘idiot’, seeing as that’s how I feel.  Taking a deep
breath to compose myself, I open the door and
walk out, prepared to tell all to Davy.

Half an
hour later, I’ve just finished my tale of ‘Happy ever after that went wrong’, when
we hear the lock on the door clicking.  Our heads swivelling in unison, we stare
at Jen as she walks into the room.  Stopping dead, she observes the expectant
expressions on our faces, and smiles that knowing smile that every woman has
the morning after the night before.  Yep, she did it.  You can just tell she’s
had a night full of lust fuelled exercise.  It’s written all over her.

“Ahhhh tell,” squeals Davy.

With a resigned expression upon her face, Jen walks over, sits on the
bed and let’s herself flop backwards.

“What
can I say?” she whispers. “He’s the man I’ve been waiting for all my life.”

Davy and
I look at each other and laugh.

“Yeah, right,” says Davy “so was the last boyfriend.”

“No.  Seriously
girls, we talked forever.  We just clicked.  We’ve told each other our past misdemeanours’,
everything.  He wants me to go over to LA next week and stay with him.  I know
I’ve spouted similar words before, but he’s really special.  He made me
feel
really special.  I also have to say, he has some seriously good moves in the
bedroom department too.”

Davy and
I are no longer laughing.  We are staring at her, our mouths agape.

“You’re
going to LA?” I ask in a stunned whisper.

“Yep.  He’s
paying for everything.  I’ve got to meet him and Steve shortly to organise
everything.  I’m going over, and we’ll play it by ear about when I come back.”