The guitarist's stare is mesmerizing. I know he's looking at the skinny blonde girl in front of me half-heartedly moving to the music (but not enough to mess up her hair), but just for a minute I pretend that fiery gaze is for me. I let it burn through to my core and try to imagine what thoughts are going through his mind. Do they match the furious, urgent melody he's playing? I allow myself to go further, closing my eyes for a moment, letting the bass line throb in my head, and picturing him (what was his name? Scott or Solomon or Sammy or something) alone with me somewhere dark, never breaking that intense eye contact as he shoves me down, pins my arms, andβ
"Fuck!" I gasp as cold wet liquid penetrates the front of my shirt. The blonde has spilled her beer on me. She gives a drunken, apologetic smile and turns back forward. The opening band, including beautiful Scott, is gone, and she has her sights set on the rail up front where she can maybe catch the eye of the headlining lead singer later. I join the bulk of the crowd heading away from the stage to the dimly-lit bar and the less-than-hygienic bathrooms to try and wring some of the beer out of my shirt.
The line for the bathroom is insane. I decide the alley outside is just as suitable for shirt-wringing and get my hand stamped at the door on the way out. After I have made a small puddle of Bud Light on the concrete I stay for a moment, enjoying the cool night air after the stifling heat in the concert hall. I start dabbing at my shirt with the stack of napkins I nicked from the bar. My bra is lamentably thin and the cold wet fabric is making my nipples pucker up.
His voice, slow and deep, makes me jump. "You're missing the show."
I whip around, away from the street, to see Scott leaning against the brick wall smoking a cigarette. I casually lean against the wall too so he won't notice that I lost my balance. God, how can he have this effect on me just by looking at me?
"Yeah, well I really just came for the opener."
He chuckles. "Are you kidding? They suck."