by K E Osborn
“How’d it feel?” Dad asks pulling back but leaving a hand on each of our shoulders.
I look at Ella, her grin is wide. “I was totally nervous, but once I started playing it all washed away and… well… it was amazing!”
“Annie?” Dad asks pulling me from my distraction of watching Aston.
I look back at him and smile shaking my head. “Best feeling ever, Dad. You tried to explain it to us, but everything you said doesn’t do it justice. Performing live is a rush I want to feel every day for the rest of my life.”
“I’m so glad, you did so well,” he says and I humph and shake my head.
“Except for my mic reverb at the beginning. Mmm, they actually booed me,” I say and Dad smirks and laughs.
“Sweetheart, out of all the things that could have gone wrong a little reverb is not that bad. And anyway, you quickly won them back over with your music. Don’t even think about it.”
“Dad, is it true there were record labels in the crowd?” I ask and Ella opens her eyes wide.
He looks at me raising an eyebrow and pursing his lips. “Where did you hear that?”
“When I went for some air,” I say not letting Ella in on the minions outside.
“I didn’t want to tell you until we’d heard from them. Yes. There were three here tonight and I’ve already talked with one of them, but I don’t want to say anything until I know for sure.”
“So that’s a good thing, right?” I ask and Ella looks at me smiling.
“My lips are sealed,” Dad says and gestures to zip his mouth shut.
I push his shoulder and laugh. “C’mon give us something,” I beg and he smiles and nods.
“All I can say is that we’re in discussions about possibly signing you to the same label as Slayed. But you didn’t hear it from me,” he says and Ella and I both scream and jump up and down.
“Shhh, don’t tell anyone else, okay? Not till I know for sure,” he says.
“It’s just between us and the lamp post,” I say and Dad laughs at my bad joke.
“Okay, c’mon let’s get out of here and go to the after-party,” Dad says.
I was hoping for an after-party, so I fist pump the air. We all walk as a massive group back toward our green room so we can have a little breather before we head to the party, which is at this venue. Peripheral and Red Velvet will be there along with Slayed and Staked, of course, and poor Ella and Chad will be the youngest ones there. I know there will be alcohol, but I don’t plan on going near that shit again!
We arrive at the green room and there’s a clothes rack with some clothes hanging neatly from it. I look at Mum, who looks at me and smiles.
“What’s this all about?” I ask. She pulls down a short black dress, similar to the one I wore at my birthday party.
“We thought you might all like to change for the party. So we brought you some new clothes. Don’t worry, everything is similar to stuff you already have.”
“Thanks Mum. I feel quite stinky in these clothes after that, so something new is perfect,” I say and she smiles and hands Ella her outfit.
“Okay, so there are some bathrooms down the hall if you want to shower?” Sia, Chad’s mum, tells us as she struggles to hold on to the twins.
“Okay, cool thanks, Sia. Mum, can I go?” I ask and she laughs.
“Sweetheart, I think you’re old enough to make your own decisions now, don’t you?” she replies.
I nod and take my new outfit and head to the bathroom with Ella following closely behind.
After a nice refreshing shower and a fresh change of clothes, I feel human again. The bathroom is a shared room but with six individual stalls. Luckily they all have doors because I heard Aston and Caleb come in not long after us and Chad not long after that. I couldn’t help but think of Aston as I showered and my mind wanders down to his abs and that perfect stomach he has. I’m surprised by the fact that I want to know what the rest of him looks like under his clothes and I find myself squeezing my thighs together to stop the ache between them. Caleb starts to sing breaking me from my trance and making me laugh.
“Sing with me guys, let’s celebrate,” he calls out and then continues singing.
I smile and sing along with him as I continue to wash. I hear Aston singing and I wonder why he doesn’t do backing vocals too, but I guess two backups are enough. Eventually after some yelling from Dad we all get out of the shower and get dressed in our new clothes. Then Ella and I take another half hour applying makeup and doing hair.
“Jesus girls, we’re going to be late to your own bloody party!” he says just as I apply my last stroke of mascara to my blackened eyes.
“Oh, chillax Dad. The party isn’t going anywhere,” I say and he huffs and walks across the room while Mum and Anna laugh. “Okay, I’m done,” I say.
“Well, if you’re finished trying to make yourselves look ten years older—”
“Just because we look better than you, you don’t have to get all pissy,” I tease interrupting Dad.
He smirks and raises an eyebrow. “Well, miss I think I’m perfect. When women scream and throw their panties at you because they love you so much then we can talk,” he jokes.
“Oh right, big headed much?”
“I’m hot, just ask your mother,” he replies.
“Gross Dad!” Ella groans.
“Yeah, don’t be feral,” I say and he laughs looking at Mum, who’s grinning widely.
I know she loves our witty banter way more than our outrageous fights.
We all walk around to the party room and it’s already in full swing. I can’t help but notice Aston is talking with the band members of Red Velvet.
“Right, now here comes the lecture,” Dad says.
I fold my arms over my chest. “Okay, go on then.”
“No alcohol… not even one sip, and if I catch you drinking or if I find out you’re drunk, especially in here with all the music professionals, I will be beyond angry. So do not disappoint me again, you got me?”
I nod and exhale. I deserved this. “I got you and don’t worry because I’m never going near that shit again.” Even though I know one day I will probably try alcohol again, but I can assure you today is not that day.
“Just remember that if you feel unsettled or like you want to leave come find me. Or if you don’t want to tell me, tell your mum, or anyone you feel comfortable talking to. And don’t go outside either, there will be a whole bunch more people out there now.” I nod taking in everything he’s saying even though I really hate mingling. I don’t want to deal with minions right now either, so going outside is not an option.
“The only person I feel comfortable talking to, you won’t let me be around,” I mumble and he raises an eyebrow at me.
“Well, if I didn’t see you making out in your bedroom then it would be fine now wouldn’t it?” he berates and I huff and fold my arms across my chest.
“Well, maybe if you weren’t such a dick about it—”
“Watch your mouth, young lady,” he interrupts.
“You’re forcing us apart and I don’t know why Dad. It’s not like he’s going to break me or anything.” I scowl and he scoffs.
“Sweetheart he’s starting out his career as a rock star, he will definitely break you,” he says and I furrow my brows at him.
“Whatever! You are just determined for us to not be together.” I shift the weight on my feet and place my hand on my hip.
“You’re right. Plus, you’re too young to be thinking about boyfriends. So just quit while you’re ahead and don’t make me regret this whole thing with the band. Because if your infatuation with Aston ruins your career Annie, you will have no one to blame but yourself,” he says and I roll my eyes.
“You don’t care about me at all. All you care about is that your daughters make it as big as you, so you can take all the credit,” I say and he exhales.
“Annie, look, I don’t want to fight with you. I want this for you because you want this for you
. Music is a part of you Annie, and you’ve worked too hard to throw it away on some crush,” he says and I shake my head. “Now stop misbehaving and go and mingle. You don’t have to spend all your time with your mates, meet some new people and make friends,” he says giving me the brush off.
“I don’t really want to mingle, I’d rather be at home—”
“Annie this is part of your job. If you want to be a rock star, then you have to put the effort in, not just on stage, but everywhere. Which, unfortunately, includes mingling with other musicians. Now go and be a good girl and work your charm, don’t make a fool of yourself. You got it?”
I shake my head; he just isn’t listening.
“Got it! Don’t worry Dad I’ll be on my best behaviour, I promise,” I reply laced with sarcasm.
“Now go and have fun. Mingle and keep away from Aston, okay?” He puts his finger up to stop me from talking. “Non-negotiable, Annie.”
“Colt, can we have a photo?” someone asks and he looks at me and I nod.
“Only if my daughter is with me.”
“Sure thing,” the photographer says. Dad pulls me to his side and we smile as they take a couple of snaps.
“Thanks so much, and you rocked it tonight, Annie,” the photographer says and I’m a little shocked that he knows my name.
“Thanks,” I call out as he walks off.
“See people know who you are already,” Dad says. “Now go have fun.”
He pushes my shoulders and I step forward then look back to see him walking off in the opposite direction. So I guess I’m on my own now. Be sociable Annie! I take a deep breath and walk up to the bar. The barman looks at me and I smile as he comes over.
“Can I just have a glass of OJ thanks?”
“Coming right up.”
I turn my back to the bar and look out at the crowd of people. The room is packed and yet there’s only a handful of people I know. I look around to find Ella talking to Guy from Peripheral, Chad is hanging at the Xbox station as usual, and Caleb is looking around the room aimlessly like he’s looking for someone. Probably his next conquest!
Then my eyes wander over to Aston, who’s talking with Amber from Red Velvet. I swallow hard as I look at her. She’s two years older than me, but she looks ten years older. Her beautiful, flaming red hair sweeps down across her delicate pale skin and even I can admit to her beauty. She’s a real stunner and I can see how any man would be attracted to her.
I lean against the bar and watch Aston as he laughs along with her and then she gently touches his arm. I glare even though she can’t see me.
“What the fuck?” I murmur to myself as she laughs at something he said and now she’s touching his chest. I bite my bottom lip. My anger is surfacing. My nostrils flare and I exhale forcefully through my nose trying to calm my breathing. Pain sweeps through my stomach and I’m not sure what it is until I see her lean in toward him and laugh at something else he says.
Jealousy?
I’m bloody jealous!
Amber Leopard Print Pants gets to be all over Aston and she barely knows him. Yet me, his best friend and possibly more, has to avoid him all night because her arrogant father is too pig-headed to let me live my life. I’m going to lose Aston before I’ve even had him, to some older woman. Maybe I’m just not enough for him?
I feel the tears surfacing in my eyes so I turn away and face the bar, noticing that my orange juice is waiting for me. I take a sip through the brightly coloured straw just as a tear slides down my cheek. I quickly wipe it away and glance back over at Aston and his new best friend. Suddenly the anger is gone and is now filled with a gut-wrenching despondency that makes me wonder why I ever let him kiss me in the first place. We’re going to make it big and there are going to be women throwing themselves at him every chance they get. So how can I possibly be enough for him? I’m not special. I’m not overly pretty and I have issues and anger problems. So why would he want me when he could have any girl that throws herself at him? I didn’t think this through at all!
I wipe another tear from my face and I hear the stool next to me drag along the floor with a scrape. I turn to see Ella sitting next to me.
“Today was the most amazing day and tonight is, well… wow! This is the best time of our lives and yet, here you are at the bar drinking orange juice and crying?” she asks and I sniff and swipe at another tear.
“I’m okay. I must be getting my period or something, just feeling hormonal.”
“I’m not stupid, Annie. I’m your sister, and even though we’re not technically related I can still read you like a book.”
“Oh yeah, what’s the prologue say?”
She laughs. “Well, it goes something like this … It starts out where these best friends become more than friends and when the guy is being hit on by someone else the girl gets all jealous and starts to think that she isn’t good enough for him. She gets upset and stands alone drinking at a bar.”
“Right, so what happens in the epilogue?”
“Well, the little sister goes over to him and smacks him one upside the head for letting another woman touch him and for upsetting her sister. Then boy realises what a douche he’s been and comes over and kisses the girl until they can’t breathe and they live happily ever after. The end!”
“If only it were that simple.”
“You know he isn’t flirting back though, right? Can’t you see he isn’t touching her at all or even really looking at her? He’s not interested in Amber from Red Velvet, Annie. He only has eyes for you, he’s only ever had eyes for you. I’ve known that for years, and deep down you know it too,” she says and grabs my hand squeezing it tightly. “I love you sis and I never want to see you upset. I know Dad has set some rules and you didn’t hear this from me, but rules are absolutely meant to be broken.”
I gasp in fake shock and place my hand over my mouth. “Ella, you never say things like that,” I joke and she laughs.
“I know, but seriously Dad’s being an overprotective dickwad. Don’t let him ruin the start of your relationship with Aston. If you want to spend time with him, find a way,” she says.
I nod and look back at him and now that she has pointed it out he does seem completely disinterested in Amber Leopard Print Pants.
“Right, I’m off to mingle. Talk to Guy, he’s hilarious. He’ll make you feel better,” she says.
“Thanks, Elle’s Bells, you always know what to say and when I need you.”
“That’s what family does, Annie. We’re there for each other… always.” She leans in kissing my forehead and takes a quick sip of my OJ and then walks off. I look back over at Aston and notice that more of the Red Velvet band members have joined in on the conversation and he seems to be chatting more to the men than to Amber. I smile and take my OJ and walk over to a red plush lounge suite and sit down just taking in the atmosphere. I wish I knew how to be more sociable. I’m fine with crowds, I just never know what to say and how to carry on a conversation with people I don’t really know. And one on one situations, well, they just suck.
I prefer to sit in the background and observe. I like watching people and seeing how they react to others. It’s like watching Animal Planet. It can be very entertaining. Watching the cougar stalk their prey or the lion hunting the gazelle. Single people are funny and so predictable, one always wants the other more and the desperation on their face is always clearly evident. Take, for instance, the brunette trying to chat up Caleb. She’s pretty, but nothing like he would go for. She is really slutty looking and maybe that’s what he wants tonight, but by the vibes he’s sending her she doesn’t stand a chance.
The hairs on my arms stand up and a surge flows through me. I look over to Amber and see that Aston isn’t with her anymore.
“Pssst, Lennox,” I hear Aston say, but I can’t see him. I turn around and look, but I still can’t see him anywhere.
“Aston?”
His head pops out from behind a partition that I didn’t even know was there.
I assumed it was part of the wall. He smiles and curls his finger gesturing for me to go to him. I look back around the room and see Dad talking to Guy and the rest of Peripheral along with Uncle Hux. I smirk and put my glass down on the floor and race around the partition to a waiting Aston. He smiles when he sees me and grabs my arm pulling me to him. I giggle as my heart rate spikes and I get a giddy feeling flutter through my stomach. He backs me up against the wall and leans his body flush against mine.
“I’ve needed to do this all day,” he says and then before I have a chance to breathe his lips are against mine kissing me passionately.
I run my hands up his strong arms and into his hair as I hold him to me. I open my mouth and let him kiss me the way I want him to, with lots of desire. He pushes me against the wall so he’s encasing my body in every way. His kiss is more forceful than the one last night, but I like this one just as much. I moan slightly and he chuckles and eases the kiss much to my disappointment. He pulls back and leans his forehead on mine as we pant trying to catch the air we both need.
“I missed you,” he whispers and gently kisses me again.
“I’ve missed you too. That, plus, I was having terrible thoughts about how to pull out Amber’s hair extensions out while you were talking to her,” I say, obviously speaking my thoughts out loud –insert foot to mouth filter here.
He raises an eyebrow and smirks. “You were jealous… of Amber?” he asks almost doubtfully. I look down at the ground and nod infinitesimally once.
“Really?” he asks with an elated tone.
“Aston!” I berate and finally look back up at him.
“Sorry, it’s just, I don’t think anyone’s ever been jealous over me before. It’s kinda cool,” he says and I slap his arm which is still pinning me to the wall.
“Wasn’t cool for me.”
