“This is Hensley. Hensley, this is Kyla.” I hold my hand out, introducing my two friends. They’ve spoken to each other over the phone, but this is the first time they’ve ever met in person.
“I feel like I’ve known you forever.” Hensley laughs, hugging Kyla before we head over to join the long line wrapped around the side of the building.
I check the time on the phone. We have about ten minutes before the opening band goes on.
“He’s gonna go crazy when he sees her.”
Glancing behind me, for a second, I thought I heard Kyla talking. She’s looking innocently between me and Hensley.
“Did you say something?”
“No, I think it was someone else behind us.”
She plasters a fake smile on her face, but I’m not buying it.
“Good try. What did you say?”
“I swear it wasn’t me. Someone back there was saying how their parents were going to go crazy when they found out they got a parking ticket or something.”
“A parking ticket?”
“Yep.” Kyla grins. “Parking here is a pain in the ass. You really should move back to CB.”
Rolling my eyes, I turn back around to find there’s like five feet between us and the group in front of us as we walk to rejoin the rest of the line. We don’t have to wait too much longer before our tickets are scanned and we head inside to find our seats.
“I’m so excited!” I shout, as we slip through the crowd of people to find our seats.
Kyla was able to score some incredible tickets, so we aren’t too far from the stage. Third row, right in the center.
Just as we make it to our spot, the lights go dim. The only lights are the ones circling the crowd like spotlights. The sound of drums kicks in, pounding a heavy beat, kickstarting the adrenaline coursing through me.
The crowd starts to cheer as I clap my hands. The guitar joins in as the neon-blue lights highlight the stage before focusing on the sign on the wall behind the drummer illuminating the name A Rebels Havoc.
My body goes rigid, my hands running absentmindedly over my arms. A spotlight begins to circle overhead as Tysin walks out, the guitar resting against his hip. One strum over the strings sends the crowd into a frenzy.
I search for any sign of Brix. When his voice filters through the speakers around us, I close my eyes to hold back the tears that threaten to fill my eyes at hearing his voice again.
My heart is beating in double-time to the drums, it feels like it is about to pound right out of my chest.
“How the fuck are we?” he bellows.
My eyes turn, falling on Kyla, tears filling her eyes as she gives me a sad smile.
“The parking here really is fucking terrible though.”
Shaking my head, she wraps her arms around my waist once again. This time, I feel like I’m holding her in hopes she’ll keep me stable because I’m not sure I’m ready for what tonight’s going to bring.
“It’s going to be okay,” she reassures me. She swipes her finger at the lone tear that escaped and is now rolling down my face.
“I hope so,” I mouth to her. Her hand finds mine, squeezing it quickly as we turn back to the stage.
“We’re A Rebels Havoc. If you haven’t heard of us, well it’s time you fuckin’ fix that.”
I can’t help but want to smile listening to him.
They play a few songs, ones I know from my time back at Whiskey Barrel. It dawns on me while Brix feeds into the crowd, drawing out their cheers, he hasn’t gone back to performing the way he did the first night I watched them.
I sing along with them as he plays. Multiple times I wonder if Brix is able to see me, his eyes squinting as he searches the crowd, but if he does, he doesn’t give anything away.