"Pass me that lipstick over there."
I said to my friend, Tiffany, who was getting ready with me and my other friend, Jamie, so we could all hang out downtown.
"I still don't understand how we're gettin' in here."
I said nervously, looking down at the bright pink lipstick in my hands. My friends are bringing me to the Cathouse for a late birthday present. I was already excited enough when I heard this, I've always dreamed of going there, but I thought it'd be years before I had the chance. But they said there's an even bigger surprise waiting there. The problem is, I turned 18 early last month. This place only allows people who are 21 and older.
"I told you. I know a guy, who's sister knows another guy, who's apparently one of the bouncers who mans the back door."
Tiffany said, as if I was supposed to understand what ever the hell she was saying. I looked her in the eyes with my eyebrows raised.
"Oh, thank you, I understand EVERYTHING now." I rolled my eyes sarcastically.
"Whatever. I've been sneaking into that crack joint since I turned 17. As long as you look slutty enough, they'll let ya in." Jamie said, applying some mascara in the mirror, clearly proud of herself for this, "achievement."
I chuckled and shook my head at the two before standing up to change the vinyl in my record player. I'm the youngest out of my two friends, Jamie being 2 years older than me and Tiff being 11 months older. Even with that, I'd still say I'm the hardest partier out of the two. Not to brag or anything, but I've drank the two under the table more times than I can count.
I held the previously played vinyl in my hands, Faster Pussycat's self-titled debut album. Without a doubt one of my top favorites out of all the other albums I have. I brought it over to Jamie's house so we could listen to it while we got all dolled up. "What should we listen to now?" I asked them, staring down her vinyl collection that I'd kill a bitch for.
They both turned and looked at each other, making a few different facial expressions. I stared between the both of them, confused as hell, before they turned to me.
"How 'bout this one?" Tiffany said, walking over to her bed and pulling out what looked like a record wrapped up in paper.
I looked at them with the same confused look.
"This all seems too perfectly planned out." I laughed.
"Shut the hell up, just open it!" Tiffany exclaimed.
"Okay, okay." I said, slowly peeling back a corner of the paper. I saw what looked like grey. Then more gray. A few different shades of gray. Then a couple yellow letters in a swirly, almost hippie-like font.
I IMMEDIATELY knew what this was, and my jaw dropped.
Faster Pussycat's new album, Wake Me When It's Over. I couldn't find this anywhere, it's been sold out for the last month and I could never catch when it was in stock.
"No fucking way." I looked up at them, my jaw probably just about to the floor. You might say I'm overreacting, or that it's just an album, but it's a lot more than that to me.
"Happy fuckin' birthday, Rox." Jamie smiled, getting up from her chair to hug me, Tiffany following suit.
"Thanks dudes, this is so fucking cool! I can't believe I finally own this." I couldn't take my eyes off the album.
"Well there's a lot more where that came from." Tiffany smirked, sitting back down on her chair and finishing her makeup.
"I wish y'all would stop teasing me about it and just fuckin' tell me." I rolled my eyes. They've been saying little shit like that for the past 3 days, just giving me little pieces of information. And it's hard for me to wait for surprises like that.
"You'll see, you'll see." Jamie said, using up one of many cans of Aqua-Net she had in her drawer.
I rolled my eyes again, gently sliding the vinyl out of the sleeve, and setting it on the turn-table.
"Here we go girls, the best shit you'll hear in your entire life." I said, setting the needle in the groove of the record. "Where There's A Whip There's A Way" started playing, and as soon as I heard the first guitar chords, drum beats, and Taime's voice, I felt goosebumps rush down my spine.
"Oh my God, imagine actually seeing them play. Like, 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 them live in concert!" I flopped on Jamie's bed, still gazing at the album.
Silence. No one answered. I say shit like this all the time, and usually they say something. I glanced up at them to see them just looking in the mirror, dabbing some brushes at their eyes every few seconds.
"Hello? Did you guys just go deaf on me here?"
"What?! No, I-I was just thinkin' about what you said. I totally agree." Tiffany nodded quickly.
"Are y'all good? Every time I mention these guys you act all distant, like you didn't hear me or somethin'. Have I talked about them too much? Worn ya out?" I joked, still totally confused.
They looked between each other again, doing the same thing as earlier.
"Can you read each others minds or something, the hell are you guys doing?!"
"Should we tell her?" Jamie asked.
"I guess." Tiffany sighed.
Okay, NOW I was a mix of confused AND nervous.
"You know how you always say you wanna hug Brent Muscat?" Tiffany turned to me with a smug look on her face.
"What?! N-no! I just said he looks very, I dunno-"
"Adorable, hot, fuckable, we get it. Answer the goddamn question." Jamie rolled her eyes.
"Uh, yeah? I mean, I didn't use those EXACT words, but okay?"
"How would you like to make your raunchy-ass fantasies come true?" Tiffany smirked.
I was confused at first, but then it all clicked.
"Wait a minute... they're playing at the Cathouse tonight, aren't they?" I asked.
They just continued looking at me with a smile on their faces.
"Oh my God, they are. We're gonna see them. Are you guys fucking with me?" I asked frantically, shooting up on the bed.
"No, we're not fucking with you, cause we know that if we were, you'd probably kill us." Tiffany laughed.
"You're right, I totally would, and also oh my God, this is amazing!" I leapt up from the bed. Call me a fangirl if you want, and I'd probably agree. Tell me Motley Crue's releasing a new single, and I just about faint and die.
"Well, I'm glad you told me that, cause now I'm gonna make sure I look extra nice." I smiled, getting up and walking over to the large vanity mirror in Jamie's room.
"Gotta dress extra nice for Brent, don't 'cha?" Jamie teased, shaking my shoulder.
"Won't you guys shut up about him? I don't even fucking know the guy." I grabbed a makeup brush from my bag and applied some bright orange eyeshadow to my eyes.
"Yeah, we ask you the same thing everyday." Tiffany said.
"It ain't our fault you have a little crush." Jamie giggled, teasing her hair up.
"They're all hot, don't pretend they're not." I threatened Jamie with the end of my makeup brush.
"Oh, trust me, I know. We 𝘢𝘭𝘭 do." she chuckled, looking back at the album before grabbing the Aqua-Net again.
"Make sure there's still enough left for the rest of us."
"Don't worry, I got 3 more cans." she opened a drawer, and sure enough, there were more cans and brushes.
I was about to call her crazy for owning so much, but then I remembered how much of it we all collectively use.
After a while of us all finishing our makeup, getting all our clothes and accessories together, and singing and dancing like maniacs to my new album, we were finished. We stood next to each other, looking ourselves up and down in Jamie's vanity mirror.
"Well hot damn, don't we look like a bunch of sexy sons 'o bitches?" Tiffany chuckled, fluffing her hair up in the mirror. She was right. With our bright flashy makeup, leather-clad, chain ridden, perhaps revealing outfits, and our cocky, no-shits-given attitudes, we were the whole package, AND THEN some. We couldn't help but turn into completely different people around each other. Like our true personalities come out, and we just let loose. We felt like rockstars, and looked like groupies. And that's how we roll.
♡♧♢♤
After a while of speeding down the quiet streets of our neighborhood, we made it downtown. Ever since I was 14, I'd stay up at night waiting til my parents were asleep, get all dressed up, sneak out my window, and head downtown to the very depths of L.A. Every once in a while, I could sneak my way into a bar or club and just party my ass off. Walking down the busy streets, with a drink in my hand, while staring up at the shining neon lights is one of my favorite things to do. I love where I live. I love the people, no matter how crazy they are. I love the places you can go to, no matter how crazy they get. And trust me, shit can get REAL crazy around here. I leaned my head out the window as we slowly drove, and I saw all the punks, dreamers, rebels, rockstars, hookers, and crackheads that flooded the sidewalks and buildings, all lookin' forward to a night of gettin' high, and goin' crazy. I may have gotten in trouble by my parents, and maybe the law a few times, but it's all worth it.
We found an empty space of road to park on that was about two blocks away from the Cathouse, and we all got out of Jamie's car. We walked down the street, getting a few random catcalls from random dudes along the way. I just laughed to myself, watching Tiffany play along and flirting with those complete strangers. She loved it. I could never understand why, but she just loves the attention.
"Oh, these people." she laughed, shaking her head.
"I never understand why you welcome the creeps hitting on you."
"It's their way of complementing me." she shrugged.
I chuckled, looking up at the sign of the club, getting closer and closer.
"There it is, bitches!" Jamie said in a sing-song tone of voice.
I could feel the excitement bubbling up inside as we approached the building. We looked around, before sneaking down the back alley. Sure enough, there was a back door with a buff lookin' man standing in front of it with his arms crossed.
"Lemme talk." Tiffany said, fluffing up her hair and walking over.
"Hey there, Roger, is it?" she said, looking down at his name tag. He nodded his head, the stern look still on his face. Me and Jamie shared a look that totally said, "she's gonna fuck this up for all of us."
"I think you remember me, Tiffany, Linda's friend? I've been here before." she said, leaning against the wall. He nodded his head again.
"Rings a bell, yeah." he said in a gruff voice.
"Well you see, I'm tryna get my friends in this place tonight, a birthday surprise you could say."
Oh my God, I felt such first and secondhand embarrassment for her right now. He looked like he just wanted to go to sleep. He just nodded his head again.
"You're all underage aren't you?" he grumbled, not even needing an answer.
"Okay, the thing is-" Tiffany began, before she was cut off by a huge crash inside. The bouncer seemed to wake up, opening the door and looking inside.
"I swear to God, another fucking bar fight. I don't get payed enough for this shit." he complained, rushing inside. Me and the girls all looked at each other.
"Well, if not now, then when?" Jamie shrugged, pushing open the heavy steel door and rushing inside while no one was looking.
"Hey dipshits! Are y'all comin', or what?" she yelled over the loud music, holding the door open for us. Me and Tiffany rushed in after her. I saw the bouncer up front, chucking someone out of the front door. It seemed to be back to normal now. We quickly walked away from him, to the bar up front. As soon as we walked in, we were met with the awful/wonderful smells of alcohol, sweat, cigarettes, vomit, marijuana, fresh denim, and the overpowering scent of cologne and perfume from the people that walked by, probably trying to mask the smell of sex.
Even though Tiffany was the oldest, Jamie looked the oldest. She had a fake ID with her, and used it to buy three whiskys. She walked away from the bar, up to a table where we were standing by. We all did cheers before taking drinks out of the glasses.
"So, when are they gonna perform?" I said, looking up at the empty stage.
"It won't be long, probably a few minutes." Jamie shrugged, looking around at all the people. I'll tell you one thing, to actually be inside the Cathouse was worth the wait. All the chicks in town were here looking up at the stage in anticipation, waiting to get laid backstage.
"Y'know, I'm sure if we meet them you could ask to hug Brent." Tiffany smirked at me.
"What?! No, do you know how weird that is?! And also, even if it wasn't weird, I still wouldn't ask." I rolled my eyes, taking another sip of the whisky.
"Oh c'mon! I'm sure they've been asked for a lot more weird things than just a hug." Jamie laughed, elbowing my side.
While that was true, I still wouldn't ask for something like that, I'm sure I'm gonna faint on the damn spot as soon as they walk onstage.
A few minutes passed by, and we thought it'd be best if we find some spots close to the small stage to stand so we get a good view. Some people began to set up instruments and stage decor, and I was getting more and more excited and anxious by the second.
Eventually, after minutes of heart pounding torture, the lights dimmed down. The cheers from the metalhead dudes and the wannabe groupie chicks in the crowd was borderline deafening. We didn't plug our ears though, we joined them by shrieking at the top of our lungs.
I almost fainted when the band rushed onstage, playing the intro to their song Cathouse. It's so cool to be able to see them live. They sound so fucking cool. We were dancing and jumping up and down to the music, and every once in a while, I glanced up at the members. Seeing them RIGHT THERE. RIGHT in front of me, it's fucking unreal. It was kinda hard not to just stare at them intently, but I was able to sorta keep my cool. I looked back at all the people, with their hands up in the air, singing along to the lyrics. Girls sitting on their friends shoulders, some of them lifting their shirt up towards the stage. I could've gone without seeing that tonight.
I decided it'd probably be best to keep my eyes on the stage instead of the crowd, cause who knows what else I was gonna see?
I was pretty much in the front row, just a few people packed in front of me. I couldn't help but look at mainly Brent. I mean, I can't exactly deny that the stuff the girls were saying earlier isn't true, he 𝘪𝘴 one of my biggest rockstar crushes. His hair bouncing in the air along to the beat of the song, the way he smiled at the crowd, it's hella embarrassing to admit it all, but I was just about going crazy there.
I couldn't wipe the giddy smile from my face as the songs they played flew by, and unless I'm just really drunk and high from the secondhand smoke, I could've swore Brent's eyes met mine a few times. If that is the case, I can guarantee my face turned beet red as I awkwardly turned away. I don't remember, I was too in the zone.
I looked back at the girls, who looked just about as excited and adrenaline-filled as I was. I also noticed Tiffany and Greg smirking and staring 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 into each others eyes. Jesus Christ, I already know how the night's gonna end for her. Jamie also seemed to notice, her drunken laughter and pointing almost louder than the music itself. I know how the night's gonna end for her too. Probably throwing up in the nasty toilet.
Like all good things do, the show eventually came to an end. The band waved to the crowd, throwing out some guitar picks before walking away. Most of the guys in the crowd cleared out as the girls snuck backstage.
"What do we do n- huh?" I looked around, and Jamie and Tiffany were nowhere to be seen. "𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘮𝘯𝘪𝘵!"
"Jamie! Tiffany! Where the hell did you guys go?" I started making my way through the sea of drunks around the building to try and spot my friends. Of course, I see Jamie at the bar, more drinks in hand. I marched up to her and pull the just about empty whisky glass our of her hand. "Honey, I think you've had enough for one night." I winced at the way she looked, her half lidded eyes contorted in confusion as she stated down at me from her bar seat.
"I, am 𝘵𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 fine, Roxanne. Just look at me, I can walk JUST fine!" She slurred, standing up and stumbling over to where I stood.
"Sure, sure, sweetie. Uh, where's Tiffany?"
She thought for a while, before her face lit up.
"I remember! She walked backstage after they finished, and she uh, well, she went backstage." she nodded drunkenly.
"Son of a- whatever, you're coming with me." I sighed, dragging her backstage with me to look for our other little runaway.
It's not the backstage you'd picture, just a couple trashed out rooms. I made my way down the stairs and looked up at an old chipped door. I took a deep breath, not knowing what could be on the other side, before I quietly knocked.
It took a few seconds, but someone opened the door.
Of course, it was Brent.
"Hey there, what could I do for you? You ladies here to meet the band I'm guessing?" he smiled, chuckling slightly. Oh my God, I was an absolute WRECK.
"Oh, uh- no, I-I was trying to find my friend, I think she snuck off back here, I was just checking around." I stuttered, trying to keep the redness from engulfing my entire face.
"Oh, then of course, come on in." he led us through the door, and gestured around the room.
"There's a few girls back here, what does your friend look like? Name, or anything?" he asked, looking at a few of the girls around the room, crowding all the guys.
I looked around as well, until I was met face to face with Tiffany in Greg's lap, practically sucking each other's faces off.
"Oh, well there she is I guess." I cringed looking down at them from across the room. Brent laughed at them, before turning to me. "I can break them up if you want? This one looks just about ready to collapse." he said softly, looking at Jamie, who was humming nonsense to herself and swaying slightly where she stood.
"Y'know, Brent?" she asked, pointing at him lazily. 𝘖𝘩 𝘯𝘰.
"Yes?" he smiled, almost looking like he was holding back a laugh. I could tell he was trying to be sympathetic, I'm sure he's delt with drunken friends and strangers many times.
"My friend here, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 likes you, and, I even bet she wants like, a hug or something." she giggled, slurring her words. 𝘖𝘩 𝘯𝘰. 𝘕𝘰, 𝘯𝘰 𝘯𝘰.
"Is that right?" he laughed, smiling back at me.
"No! Jamie, y-you are REALLY drunk right now, you have no idea what you're saying." I said, desperately trying to shut her up
"No, Roxanne! I remember, you said that you wanted t-"
"Nope! Don't listen to her, she's delirious!" I cut her off, my face red as a rose as I held a hand over her mouth.
"If you 𝘥𝘰 want one, I'd be happy to help." he smirked slightly, looking back at me. I almost died on the spot. Jamie gasped excitedly.
"Oh yes, Roxanne! Go get it girl!" she drunkenly hollered.
I was so embarrassed.
Brent smiled down at me, and quietly mouthed, "𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘰𝘬" as he nodded his head slightly, clearly seeing how the situation affected me. Jamie was still absentmindedly cheering in the background of my racing thoughts.
"𝘑𝘦𝘦𝘻, if I do, will you shut up?!" I snapped at her. She nodded her head, giggling slightly. I turned to Brent again, about to say something, but then Tiffany walked up to me.
"Crazy night!" she said, drawing out the "A." Her hair was all messed up, along with her makeup and clothes, but she seemed more mentally stable than Jamie.
"Whoa, what did I interrupt here?" she smirked, one eyebrow raised as she looked between the three of us.
"Long story, how 'bout you try and get this one to the car, I'll drive you kids home." I said, shaking my head at the two. Tiffany nodded her head, taking Jamie by the arm and leading her out.
"If you need a ride home, I could drive you." Brent asked, putting a hand on my shoulder. I looked back up at him with a soft smile.
"Thank you, but I think I'm sober enough to take care of it." I chuckled. Before I could say anything else, I felt him gently bring me into a soft hug. My eyes widened in surprise as I slowly brought my arms around his back. It was warm, and it felt nice and caring, which is saying a lot, considering this is the first time I've ever met him. He eventually pulled away.
"You want me to walk you out at least?" he smiled, his hand still on my shoulder. I was too stunned to speak, so I just nodded my head. On the way out, he snatched a napkin and a marker off of one of the tables. We walked outside, and he handed me the napkin.
"I think I'd like to talk again sometime."
I looked down at the napkin, which had his phone number drawn onto it.
I looked back up at him, before saying quietly; "I think I'd like that too." After I said that, I heard Taime call him back inside. He smiled and patted my shoulder softly before jogging back inside. I was frozen in place, and was only snapped out of my thoughts by Jamie yelling.
"Jesus Christ, I'm coming!" I made my way back to her car, where I drive us home. Jamie passed out quickly, and Tiffany began asking me about my night as I looked down at the napkin in my hands. I couldn't believe it, or take my eyes off it.
Maybe, just maybe, my friends being wasted off their minds in public isn't such a bad thing.
.•♫•♬•✮•♬•♫•.
𝗢𝗛 𝗠𝗬 𝗚𝗢𝗗, 𝟯𝟵𝟰𝟵 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗦?!?!😭😭
𝗦𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝘁, 𝗜 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗳 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆. 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗠𝗨𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗧 𝗜𝗦 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗗, 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘 𝗠𝗬 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗗❤
𝗜𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲, 𝗜 𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗜 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝟯𝗔𝗠...
𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝘆'𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗱, 𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘀<𝟯