Chapter 2
1894words
Much to my disappointment, we finally arrived at The Crescent Moon. Letting me dismount first before Loki got off. I tried to take the helmet off by myself, but after several moments of struggling, Loki wordlessly offered a hand. He had already removed his; hair messy. Those piercing dark eyes concentrated on a strap before darting up to mine. Even though he couldn't see them through the dark visor, it felt like Loki was looking into my soul. Finally, he unclipped it, and he lightly pulled it from my head.
Adam’s van pulled up beside us. Quickly, I stepped away from Loki, smoothing my hair. Storm jumped out and rushed over to me, worry all over her face.
“Are you okay?” Storm asked me, studying my face. “You were going so fast!”
“I'm great, Storm; you don't need to worry.”
“You just had to show off, didn't you,” Adam grumbled, getting out of the van. “If you got my sister into an accident, I would kill you.”
“She enjoyed it, and you know I'm a good driver,” Loki shrugged off, a cocky grin on his lips.
“Dude, Storm drives better than you,” Adam bantered. The backdoor of the pub opened, Asher and Shaun, the bass player and drummer, came out to join us before Adam and Loki could start brawling in the courtyard.
“You’re late,” Asher remarked, shaking his head at them.
“Sorry, mum,” Loki grinned, earning him the middle finger from the bass player. The guys had been mashing together since they were sixteen. I think, in the beginning, it had been about picking up girls. But now, they had grown to love the music and practised more often than not. They had only started to perform live last year, and we're slowly growing in popularity. Despite the fact, they were more alternative than mainstream. It probably didn't help that all four of them were hotties, and they on the football team for the local club. My brother Adam was the band’s primary guitarist though he also did backup vocal with Asher. Loki, on the other hand, was the lead singer. He also played the guitar, amount other instruments and wrote 90% of the band’s songs.
“Hey, Scarlett, Storm. Didn't know you ladies were coming,” Asher flirted, giving me a slow once over. It was no secret that Asher had the hots for me. The guy had asked me out on more than one occasion. I had never said yes. It wasn't because I wasn't attracted to him. The guy was built and was what you would call a pretty boy. Asher's eyes were amber, and his short dirty brown hair was styled to perfection. Asher was also the sweetest, most charming guy I had ever met. It would never work between us. He was also Adam's friend, which was just a big no go for me.
“That's because we never get invited,” I tell him loudly, shooting my brother a glare over my shoulder. “Karen insisted that they bring us.”
“Well, thank god for Karen,” He smiled, stepping closer to me.
“Ash,” Loki interjected. “Get your lazy arse over here and start setting up.”
“Yes, boss,” Asher grinned, winking at me before going over to the van to help.
It took around about an hour and a half for the band to set up. I had made a point to remind them we were not their employees. Even if they paid me, I wouldn't help.
When our food arrived, there were still 30 mins before their set was due to start, but they had finished getting everything ready. So instead of finding one of the nice empty tables to sit at, the band came and invaded ours. Helping themselves to my food.
“Oi!” I complained, slapping Adam’s hand away as he tried to grab a handful of chips.
“You stole my pizza,” Loki reminded me, helping himself. I glared at him, and he glared right back. Alisa, Adam's girlfriend, strolled over to us, carrying a large tray of drinks.
“Cheers, babe,” Adam thanked her, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. Alisa started dishing out the drinks, five pints of beer, six shots and two rum and coke.
“No problem, sexy,” she replied, giving him a wink, before walking back to the bar. Storm eyes wide, taking in the drinks.
“There goes our lift,” I raised a brow at Adam as he took a large gulp of his beer. He shook his head at me before sliding the rum and cokes over.
"We are not old enough,” Storm Whispered shyly.
“I won’t tell if you don't,” Loki supervised.
“Who knew you guys could be fun,” I teased. I took the straw into my mouth and sucking lightly. Unlike my best friend, I wasn't a total bore; I had gone to parties and been drunk on more than one occasion. Storm watched me, her eyes practically bulging out of her sockets. “Take a risk for a change. You can’t be a good girl forever,” I encouraged her. She glanced up at her brother and then at Adam.
“Does it taste good?” She asks, sniffing the drink.
“It tastes delicious—1000 times better than beer; I dunno how guys drink the stuff,” I Grimstead. After a few more curious glances, Storm took the tiniest sip of her drink; tasting it, a small smile spread over her lips, and she took a bigger gulp.
“You’re a bad influence on my little sister,” Loki remarked, a smile tugging at his lips.
“I couldn't be any worse than you,” I countered. “considering you brought them.”
“Feisty. I like it,” Asher approved.
“Not many people put Morgan in his place,” Shaun agreed. Loki slid a shot glass over to me. Tequila.
“You better not be trying to get my sister drunk,” Adam warned. “You be the one holding her hair back if she pukes.” Loki grinned, but his eyes remained locked on mine. He was daring me.
“After you,” I challenged.
“Alright”, he nods, his tongue darting out and licking his dry lips. My eyes instantly dawn to his mouth. Loki licks the back of his hand before pouring salt onto it, moving the lime wedge to his salted hand.
“Drink!” The guys chant. And just like that, Loki licked the salt, drank the shot, and bite into the lime wedge. He banged the glass back on the table with a loud thump.
“Your turn!” Asher and Shawn chime, turning on me.
“You don't have to do it!” Storm pleads. I smiled at her. I was never one to back down from a challenge. Loki and I were the same in that way, at least.
It amused me; he assumed I hadn't done shots before. I might not have had many friends, but I was no good girl. Adam knew better. He had seen me stumble home many times. Half the time, it had been him that gave me the drinks in the first place. So he sat back, shaking his head at me with a grin.
I licked the salt off my hand, took my shot and bite into the lime. I closed my eyes as the sour lime invaded my mouth. I spit it back out into my hand and then reopened my eyes—all four of them watching me.
“What?!” I asked innocently. They shrugged, not saying anything.
Shaun, Asher, and Adam all took their own shots. We chatted for a little while about pointless rubbish, laughing and teasing each other. By the time the guys were due to go on stage, I was well and truly buzzed.
“Storm, you’re so quiet,” I turned to her. The pub had filled up quickly, and the guys were now doing a final soundcheck before they when on.
“Sorry, I'm enjoying myself, I swear.” She smiled, her gaze slightly glassy.
“Seen anyone you liked?”
“Shaun is quite lovely,” she admitted, blushing.
“No way! I didn't know you were crushing!” I blurted.
“Shhh!”She hissed, check nobody had heard me. “What's going on between you and my brother?” She asked, changing the subject.
“Nothing, your brother is a dick!” I told her before downing the last shot of tequila that she wasn't going to touch.
“I might not be good at this, But I know something is going on between you two.”
“Trust me. Nothing is going on,” I reassured Storm. Though despite my words, I found myself looking over to Loki. He was standing on the stage, a matt black guitar strapped to his chest as he did a sound check with the mic. He gave the guy thumbs up before they all walked off the stage. The lights dimmed. Storm nervously grabbed my hand under the table.
“Please welcome to the stage, Chaos Wing,” somebody announced. The girls on the dance floor screamed as the band ran onto the stage.
“Hello, Crescent Moon!” Loki announced into the microphone, followed by a cheer from the crowd. “Thanks for having us back. We would like to start the night with a song called 'Play Pretend.’” A familiar tune erupted through the room. Then Loki started to sing, his voice breaking through the music.
“I hate this town.
It’s so fucked up.
EVERYONE IS FAKING IT!
Tell me it gets easier!
Show me how to stop pretending.”
Everyone was dancing, jumping, and singing along. I found myself swaying along, too, flipping my hair as I sang the lyrics to Storm.
Unlike most the thirsty girls in this place, I had grown to love the song after hearing it echo from the Morganstar's garage a million times over. It was probably one of the first songs the band had written that got recognised. To me, it was relatable. It was a person that didn't fit in that lived a lie. Pretending to be someone they were not, to fit in with everyone else.
Soon the song finished, and 'Another Bad Guy' started playing. I finished my drink and turned to Storm, shouting in her ear to be heard over the music. “Let’s dance!”
“Adam told us to stay here!” Storm objected, shaking her head at me.
“He said to stay where he could see us. If we dance near the front, he can still see us!” I claimed, gesturing for her to follow me. But as usual, Storm shook her head at me; she didn't want to dance. Hell, I had never seen her dance in my life. I took her hands in mine and stepped out of the booth. She was slid to the edge but refusing to stand. I turned to face her and started sing, moving my hips as I dance—her hands in mine.
“You like it when I'm in control,
even though you don't own me,
I'll have you break the rules.
I'll be your animal.”
I let go of one of Storms hands and danced like nobody was watching, shaking my arse and pushing my hand through my hair—a giant grin on my lips.
“You’re an excellent dancer!” Storm shouts to be heard over the music.
“Thank you!” I shout back, smiled at her, “dancing is all about confidence. Everyone is more worried about what you think of them than they think of you” I lightly tugged at Storm’s hand, trying to get her to move from the booth. To my surprise, she stood up—my smile widening.
