Page 46 of sWitch

We arrived at the venue to a line wrapped around the building. Girls screamed for Remy as we walked by. She laced her fingers with mine and pulled me close as we skipped the line and were stopped by the bouncers.

“We’re with the band,” Remy told them.

A large man held out a basket. “No shit. We know who you are. You play the drums like a machine. Anyway, it’s a phone-free concert. Venue request for this show.”

“Are you kidding me?” Remy fished her phone from her pocket, and I did the same.

We made to walk past the guy when he stopped us again, gesturing to me. “Headphones too. Those look electronic.”

Panic tightened my chest, and I opened my mouth to speak, but Remy stepped in front of me protectively. “The headphones stay, or I don’t play. What would the venue overlords think of that?”

The man lowered his brows and finally huffed a sigh, jerking his thumb and gesturing for us to go ahead.

“Thanks,” I squeezed her hand.

Remy kissed my forehead. “Trev should be here somewhere. Sure as hell won’t be able to find him without a phone, though. Want to come hang out backstage where it’s less chaotic? You can watch us from back there if you want?”

I shook my head. “No, I’m going to be your groupie in the crowd tonight.”

With a skeptical glance, she conceded and went backstage. A big part of me wanted to go back there with her. Being hidden away sounded nice— but it wasn’t what I’d be doing that night.

The place was packed. When the Mall Ratz came on stage, the crowd roared with excitement. Remy counted down the beat with her drumsticks above her head, and in perfect time with her symbol crash— the band played. Joss, Lennon, and Rollo were all on point, and my heart was beating with pride as I watched them get all the love and recognition they deserved.

But at the same time, I knew my new friends well enough to know they were rocking just as hard at fifteen year old mall birthday parties. They were just good people, and that, mixed with their talent, was why they really deserved a sold-out show.

Remy was playing their most drum forward song, and it was my chance to sneak out of her line of sight.

PINK FOX MODE: ACTIVATE

Trevor was near a staff entrance by the doors, right where we had planned to meet. We’d exchanged emails over the week and, luckily, he was down for one more game with me.

“We got the goods,” he said, sipping a frozen umbrella drink.

“She’s here?” My heart sank in both trepidation and triumph. “Wait, is that a strawberry daiquiri?”

“Want a sip?”

“That is the girliest drink ever,” I teased.

“You’ve been hanging out with Remy too much. I’m secure in my masculinity. And drinks aren’t gendered— stop conforming to the patriarchy, Faun.”

I took a sip of the drink, letting the faint tang of alcohol steel my nerves. A horrible realization sprang to mind. “You talked to Chet about the passcode?”

“Yeah, I basically threatened to report him and his extracurriculars to our coach if he didn’t comply. The passcode is deactivated.”

My shoulders relaxed slightly. “Have you seen her?”

“No, not yet. What me stay with you?”

I shook my head. “No, I got this.”

After sneaking to the back room, I found the basket I was looking for, containing the purple-encased device I was after. Chet did something right in getting the passcode off. When the screen illuminated, I paused. The background wallpaper was… It didn’t matter. Quickly, I did what I came to do, though I was tempted to do more: to snoop more, delete more, check messages and texts…but I didn’t.

Once I was back in the crowd, thinking I was safe, someone tapped the back of my shoulder.

Prue pursed her lips. “Which Monroe twin are you fucking tonight, Fauna? Everyone knows you’re the town whore. Cheating on Trevor is bad enough. Cheating with his sister… That’s low, even for you. The whole university is talking about it.”

“I’m sure you’ve told them all about it.”Run. Hide. Crank the noise-canceling on your headphones. Cry.My brain screamed its habitual impulses.

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