“So how do you know Bryony, then?”

Me and Austin were sat down on the sofa in the middle of the dressing room. After introductions we had just started talking about anything and everything for at least an hour. Conversation just flowed easily between us. It was refreshing to not have to think about what to say next, and whether it would make things awkward, and have to think about how the other person would react. I felt like I didn’t need to worry.

I just let loose.

“I know her through one of my good friends Tony. He’s a bassist in a band called Polaris, who Bryony’s the band manager for. How do you know her? You seemed pretty close earlier” He gave me a wink and a playful nudge. I just shook my head and let a light laugh escape my lips.

I pointed to myself and simply answered. “In Polaris”

He looked at me confused for a second, then recognition crossed his features.

“NO WAY!” He shouted, nearly blowing my ear off. I just nodded, a small smile on my face. He could see I was amused at his reaction and I don’t know whether he thought to believe me or not. “You’re the chick with the crazy vocals?”

“I don’t know about that, but I am the lead singer for said band”

“Dude, yes, your voice is insane!” He slumped back to his previous position on the sofa, beside me. Turning his head toward me and studying my features.

“Thank you” Quietly I thanked him, I’m not even sure he had heard me. I could feel a blush make it’s way onto my cheeks. I turned away from him, letting my hair cover my face so he couldn’t see what effect his compliment had on me, and started playing with a loose thread on my ‘The Cure‘ shirt I was wearing. I tried to act causal and cool, but I think he had already seen my red cheeks, I doubt it would have been hard not to notice them anyway, the way he was closely observing my every move.

I felt him move the hair away from my face and brush the strands behind my ear.

I looked back at him, small smile still on my face that I couldn’t budge no matter how hard I was trying to make it go back to it’s normal colour.

I don’t get compliments very often, and when I do get them, I never really believe what the person providing me with them says, but they still give me a tiny confidence boost, but only for a very short amount of time.

We sat there, I’m not sure for how long, could have been 30 seconds, could have been 3 minutes or 10 minutes, just staring at each other. It didn’t feel uncomfortable, though. Then someone interrupted us.

“Of Mice & Men, on stage in 20 minutes” A crew member for the festival walking passed the dressing room shouted, so everyone in said band and crew could hear him and gather together to prepare, warm up and do pre-show rituals.

“I’ll let you get off, then” I cleared my throat, sliding a bit further away from him on the sofa.

“You’re not going to watch us?” He gave me puppy dog, pleading eyes.

I nibbled on my lip slightly. I was planning on going for a nap after me and Austin had finished chatting, because I was absolutely shattered. I couldn’t seem to resist that face, though.

“Fine, but not because of them eyes! Don’t think you can make me do whatever you want once you send them my way!”

He leaned in closer to me, closing the distance I had put between us when we were interrupted.

“I bet I could, though” He whispered in my ear. I could feel his breath fan out across the side of my face, I could feel his lips move against my skin. I bit on my lip harder.

Before I had a chance to reply he was already stood up, straightening out his clothes and heading to wherever his band mates were.

“I expect to see you side stage or else I’ll be highly upset!” He turned back around to me, just before he exited the room, placing a hand over his heart. Then disappeared from view.

------------------

I stood behind a large speaker backstage, facing the stage which Of Mice & Men will shortly be taking to.

I could see the crowd from my position, but they couldn’t see me. Perfect.

The room was packed considering about 20 minutes ago during the last act that played there must have been no more than 50 people in here, now there was around 1500 to 2000 people, crammed, sweaty and chanting the next bands name loud and clear.

People were sitting at the bar, beers and alcoholic beverages of choice in hand. There were girls and boys sitting and standing on the stairs leading to the higher level, where people were leant up against the barrier, looking out over the crowd which soon will be going absolutely mental.

I could see the pain on the faces of the people at the barrier on the floor. People pushing and shoving to try and get the best view possible and get as close to the stage as they can so they have a chance to reach out and touch their beloved Austin Carlile.

The lights went down and if you thought it was loud before, the piercing screams of teenage girls and booming woops of excitement from the lads would have made you gone deaf.

I could just see through the darkness, Of Mice & Men taking the stage and getting into position.

The crowd quietened down for only a split second before they broke into Still YDG’N. Nothing would prepare you for the carnage that then occurred in the venues main hall. I could see kids scrambling out trying to escape the mayhem, while Austin just casually watched on, like a master puppeteer controlling his puppets.

As they moved onto Those In Glass Houses, the ground was shaking.

Austin looked my way for a moment to check I was there. Once he spotted me he sent me a wink and a cheeky smile, before turning back to the crowd and continuing to rock them all.

It was like the entire room was possessed, intent on destroying all and everything around them.

Phil was obviously keen to get in on the action and ditched his guitar during Ben Threw and leapt into the crowd.

Just before they played their final song Second And Sebring, Austin stood at the edge of the stage, demanding more security.

“I need more security right down here, because during this song I want to touch as many of you motherfuckers as possible!”

Let’s just say there was a lot of motherfuckers in that room.