"Yep."
Nell nods, her expression softening with understanding. "Sounds like our drummer. Everyone knows when Jett's trashed. He's a fucking ugly, loud, egotistic drunk."
A surprised laugh bubbles up from my chest, the tension easing slightly. "You've got that right."
Nell flicks her cigarette to the ground, grinding it out with the toe of her boot. "Listen, if you need a place to crash, you can stay with the crew tonight."
"Oh gosh, I don’t want to put anyone out."
"One of the guys left to visit some friends in town, so his bunk is free."
"Are you sure?"
Nell waves a hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it. We're all down-to-earth guys. No drama, no bullshit. You'll be safe here."
The knot in my chest loosens, and I feel myself nodding. "Okay. Thank you. Really."
She shrugs, a half smile playing on her lips. "Us girls gotta stick together, right? Come on, I'll show you inside."
And then she gestures for me to follow her onto the bus.
6WENDY
I wake with a start,realizing that I’m not where I’m supposed to be. The memories of last night's bullshit flashes through my mind like the remnants of a bad dream. Rubbing my eyes, I sit up slowly, taking in the surroundings of the crew's bus. I slept in my clothes, and they’re all wrinkled. Whether I want to or not, I’ll have to go get my shit from the band’s bus. Besides, my phone is dead.
The bunks are all empty, but there’s noise coming from the common area, and I make my way there.
Keith, one of the techies, sits at the table, his eyes glued to his phone, his hand hugging a paper coffee cup.
"Good morning," I say, my voice still rough with sleep.
Keith shifts his gaze to me. "Hey." He tips his chin. "What’s up?"
"Is Nell here?"
"Nah." He shakes his head. "Out. Working, like everyone else."
"I see." I pause, feeling like I’m intruding. "You don’t have an iPhone charger by any chance?"
"Sorry. Mine’s android."
"Okay."
A knock at the door jolts me fully awake. "Wendy?" a voice comes from outside. "You there?"
"Your boyfriend?" Keith chuckles, getting to his feet.
"Sounds like it," I mutter groggily.
"Well, I’m out anyway." He grabs his phone and coffee and heads for the door. I follow him, running a nervous hand through my tangled orange hair.
He swings the door open and exits the bus, briefly greeting Jett standing there. With flowers.
And not just flowers. They’re goddamned roses. Their colors are almost too bright against the cloudy sky and the boring bus exteriors lined up behind them.
I freeze on the top step. The height advantage makes me feel a little better.
"Can we talk, babe?" Jett asks, his voice pleading, and he looks at me with an uncharacteristic softness in his dark eyes. There’s a tentative smile on his lips, and I think I understand why he has so many female fans. Most girls don’t know shit about drums, but a smile like that will surely grab your attention.
