The Keeper

Getaway

"Rowan, we have twenty minutes until we need to leave, hurry the fuck up please!" Melody's voice protruded through the beautiful hum of 'Getaway' coming from my speaker. Today was going to be one of the best weekends I've ever had: today was the day I was going to see Blossoms for the 7th time for my birthday the weekend after. As I stared into the mirror trying to perfect the smudge of my eyeliner, strands of red hair intermingled with mine and blocked my vision as Melody peered her head above my own. She'd been my best friend for two years now, we shared the same love of music and personality and everything in between. Melody was my rock, we'd been inseparable from the moment we first met, and had spent almost every weekend together since. 

"Right, yes, I'm coming. You're blocking my view, dickhead! You know I have to be the sexiest there for Charlie." As I finished my sentence, I dramatically threw my head back on her and left a twang of fake heartache in my voice. Melody giggled and held my head in her hands, "Okay, okay. I'll sit in the corner and cry while you choose him over me." We both giggled then, sharing a moment of pure love and endearment for one another. Charlie Salt was, by far, my biggest celebrity crush. I'd always had a thing for bass players, but there was something about this one that I couldn't ignore. Of course, it had never been para-social. I was aware he was a music god and I was a random fan in the crowd, but a girl can dream. The night before, Melody and I had shared a bottle of peach spritz while meticulously crafting a 6 foot by 3 foot flag, reading, 'Charlie > Tom!'. Melody had been a bigger fan of Tom since we both started listening to the band, but there was just something about him that got on my nerves. The way he dressed showed an arrogant confidence which annoyed me, the way he flaunted around on stage with his long hair and slender figure somehow frustrated me. Melody loved it all, though, so I tended not to delve into it too much. 

"I don't know how we're going to lug this around and NOT block anyone's view when we get there, babe." Melody cringed, holding the flag up.

"That's why we have to get barricade!" A smile plastered my face, I'd always been good at getting barricade for gigs, especially when it's my favourite band. 

As I finished my makeup, we both got up and made our way downstairs. My heart was beating unnaturally fast, electricity pulsing through my veins as I got my shoes on and imagined the feeling of being so close to the band. Melody ordered us a taxi to the train station, time ticking away before we'd actually have to be at the venue early enough to get barricade without using each other as a human shield whilst trying to get through. When we got into the taxi, Melody peered over to me, head lowered and eyes glaring into mine. I knew this look, and it could mean two things. She had either done something so tremendously stupid that it had made her think her entire life decisions, or she had done something so tremendously amazing that it would only strengthen our friendship further. 

"So... You know how it's our seventh time seeing Blossoms? And you're my bestest friend ever and your birthday is coming up soon?' She smiled, bouncing up and down like her blood was carbonated.

"You're scaring me, what have you done?'

"I got us VIP backstage passes to meet the band members!"

My mouth fell open. There was no way, in the four months we'd had this planned, that Melody had been able to keep this a secret from me. She was terrible at keeping secrets, so much so that I refused to believe her.

"No, babe, seriously. I mean it. We get to meet them after the show. You can get a picture with your baby!" At that moment, she pulled up the screenshot of the tickets on her phone. There it was, two VIP backstage passes to meet the band after the show. My eyes welled up, this has been my dream for years. I still couldn't believe it, my heart felt like it might have exploded out of my chest right then and there.

"Mel... Fuck me. Really? Are you serious? If this is a joke I will wring your neck I swear to-"

"No, look, they're real. You know I wouldn't pull a joke like that. Happy early birthday lovely girl."

She laid her head on my shoulder and I placed my head on hers. We each squealed and bounced in place as the taxi driver smiled at us.

"Going anywhere nice, girls?"

"Back-fucking-stage at a gig, mate. My best friend is fucking mint."