Page 4 of Exactly What I Needed
I leaned forward and hooked my arm on Sydney's elbow. “Give me the rundown on who’s who,” I said, and the entire group screeched in excitement.
Sydney faced me with a smile and spoke. “Okay, so we have the drummer. His name is Kieron, and we, as his loving fans, call him The Reaper. The lead guitarist, Drake, is absolutely incredible, and his fans call him Soul Shredder.”
Katie sighed in excitement. “Could you imagine what else his fingers can do?” she dreamily said.
“Annnyyway!” Sydney cut her off as my friends all chuckled. “Then there is the bass guitarist, Jaxon. We call him Slayer because, well, he slays!” I rolled my eyes, and Tera clicked her tongue but laughed.
“And the singer?” I hesitantlyquestioned.
Sydney went limp against me, placing the back of her hand against her forehead.
“He’s the Dark Banshee,” Megan answered for her, and I raised my brows. Perfectly fitting, for that was one way to describe his voice.
“His actual name is—” Sydney began, but two large men walked out front of those of us huddled around the stage, waiting for the meet and greet, silencing her.
“Ladies and gentlemen, if you will follow us over to the side, the band will re-enter the stage momentarily. We will have you line up by the stairs in an orderly fashion. There is no need to crowd or rush, you willallget individual time with each member,” one spoke, his voice bringing the final hush over the group of the thirty or so of us.
I couldn’t help but chuckle. The way he said that, made me only imagine how many times he’d experienced pandemonium from crazy fangirls who wanted to meet their idols.
Drifting around the T-shaped stage, we all quietly shuffled into a nice line. The front of the group waited by a makeshift set of stairs. I thought it was a pretty cool idea to meet the band on the stage they performed on, rather than in some back room or hallway or something.
Sydney couldn’t contain her excitement as she dug her fingers into my arm. I placed a hand over hers, feeding off her elation. Sharing this experience with her brought me joy. For one night, my life wasn’t dull. Wasn’t monotonous or plain. For one night, I was living the life my best friend always experienced.
Despite our major differences both in social class and personality, I was blessed that she stuck things out with me. I grew up poor; she had wealthyparents. My career was the only reason I could survive; she had plenty of wiggle room to go on adventures because of her trust fund. I was reserved; she was an extrovert. I lived vicariously through her adventures.
It never bothered me before. But tonight, I was grateful I was actually here and not just hearing about it—no matter how exhausted I would be tomorrow.
Screams shot chills through my arms as the stage lights brightened once more and from the opposite side of the stage, four figures stepped around the black backdrop. I could barely see them as the line went from calm and orderly to slamming into each other. People pushed to get up onto the stage.
Loud shouts from security had the chaos disrupted within just a couple seconds and everyone was back in place.
Before any of us began individual interactions with the band, they answered all different general questions. How they met, who they were dating, if they were dating anyone, what their likes and dislikes were. I remained hidden behind Sydney, barely aware of what was going on. Barely listening. No matter how desperately I fought to forget the singer’s stare, I couldn’t. Flecks of black amongst brightly flamed amber irises roared over and over in my mind. Drawing me along that cord twisting tighter around my core. No matter how hard I fought it, it was still there.
Eventually, the group discussion ended, and it was time for the individual meet and greet.
Slowly, the line began to shuffle forward, voices floating through the air. My small group barely spoke to each other; nervous anticipation sentadrenaline prickling through my veins. Even my heart pounded like a drum in my throat. Something new tapped at the back of my mind.
My stomach churned, twisting knots and nausea through me. I shouldn’t be this anxious, but I was. Maybe I was simply soaking in my friend’s energy as the stairs neared and we were the next in line.
I was the very last of our group when the security asked how many of us were together. He split us into two sets of four and let the first half of our friends up on the stage. The minutes seemed to drag by, and I attempted to avoid looking at what was waiting for us. I was excited to meet them, excited to also find a way home without bringing up this night again. The hurricane brewing within my soul twisted tightly.
“All right, ladies, you’re up next,” the short but stocky man in front of us said. He moved to the side and raised a hand up the stairs. Sweat beaded on my palms, and my body trembled while I followed Sydney, last in line. Footsteps sounded hollow against the carpeted wood, and then we were on the stage.
Standing in a line were the four members of Void—each one with a polite smile on their face. I could only imagine how exhausted they already were as Tera and Megan shot forward, rushing to meet them first with a squeal.
I cautiously followed until Sydney grabbed my hand and dragged me faster, then stopped in front of the group. Sydney headed straight toward the lead singer as my gaze darted around like the ball in a pinball machine.
“First meet and greet?” a slightly higher-pitched voice asked, startling me. Looking forward, a nervous smile slid across my lips at the bandmember in front of me. I nodded, my vision blurry and unable to focus on the features of this man.
He extended his hand. “I’m Kieron. Or I guess—”
“The Reaper.” I finished for him, and he chuckled, shaking my hand.
“Relax. We don’t bite. Usually.”
I grimaced and opened my mouth to speak as a hand shot around my arm, cutting me off. Sydney’s fingers ripped me away from Kieron.
“I need a picture with all of them!” she squealed and threw me into her newly vacated spot.
