Stepping off the plane, I grinned, looking around the empty area outside of the plane. No one else in sight, except for the airport staff greeting everyone on their way out. So far, it only looked like the main acts and their friends were here, seeing as we'd flown together as one unit privately, instead of commercial like the crew and supporting acts.
I flicked my shades down and stretched out, my bag in hand, seeing the familiar face belonging to Hole's new drummer pop out of the plane. I didn't know why they'd kicked Patty. She had been a real powerhouse on the drums, a driving force behind Hole. But all Courtney had said was that "she didn't fit the vibe."
So, enter Samantha. She was nice, sweet even and got along with everyone extremely well. Just slightly unsure of her position in the band. To be honest, I would be too if I was her.
Courtney was particular and it seemed she went around replacing people every once in a while.
Of course, Eric and Melissa being the exception.
I'd known Eric since 1991, he was a quiet guy, good natured and extremely good at the guitar, WAY better than he would admit to anyone, or even show. Courtney liked him because he was a familiar face to her, and had been with her longtime friend Drew Barrymore.
Melissa, it had taken me awhile to get used to her, as she had replaced Kristen, a close friend, who'd only passed a few weeks after Kurt. So it was hard to watch someone else play the bass lines you saw someone else write and develop, as if it were their child. But I liked her and we got along well now. Good friends even.
Samantha grinned, nudging my elbow lightly "How does it feel to be back?" She asks, looking around excitedly.
"Pretty good. I love the people here, except for a select few." I say, shrugging my shoulders
Courtney is next to pull herself off the plane, she groans, flopping the script in her hands shut and then rubbing her eyes, ever since her role in the People VS Larry Flint, the roles had started coming in more and more for her. I was proud of her, AND of Celebrity Skin.
"Don't you dare even mention their fucking names. I'd rather hear about pretty boy." She says, moaning.
"Who are we talking about?" Manson says, making his way off the plane, accompanied by a few others and Rose McGowan.
"Courtney doesn't want us to say, but think...Birdie's point of focus." Melissa says, giggling a little.
"Got it. Yeah. They seem like fucking pricks anyways. Wouldn't want to waste air talking about them."
I laugh a little at that one, the group comes all together, listening as the airport staff brings out our luggage and piles it into the car we've decided to take to the venue for the first show we're all playing tonight.
Sitting between Courtney and Melissa, I listen to the chatter from everyone, glad to see that finally everything had calmed down. Even Courtney was getting along with Manson, something no one thought would happen. In fact, I thought the tour was going to end up cancelled because of Courtney.
I'd never say it out loud.
But she'd caused a lot of the drama on the first leg of it all.
The Beautiful Monsters tour had somehow managed to live on. With a bit of "group therapy" towards the end.
Just then, someone popped open a bottle of champagne, the cap blowing around the car, causing everyone to cheer before pouring glasses for everyone.
"To us and dysfunctional behavior!" I say, lifting my glass up,
Everyone laughs and does the same before downing their drinks.
"Alright what's the schedule for today? It's like what? 9 AM?" Courtney asks, looking around, a slight smirk on her face.
"We don't have anywhere to be till like three and management is supposed to take care of our bags and equipment.." Manson says.
See, It had become sort of an inside joke between all of us, he called me Pince and him Manson as a reference to how one another's management called one another.
We all share looks and then I say "We could go explore London, shop a little, live it up. You know." I shrug my shoulders
Courtney groans "Can't, get something fucking great for me, I already have to audition over the phone." She whines
The life of an actress never stops apparently.
Melissa looks over at Courtney and smiles "We'll bring you something nice and good, wrapped up in a bow. Packaged and all, sound good?"
She nods and then turns back to her script, reading over the lines prepared for her.
Rose looks around before motioning to the driver, whispering the requested location into his ear and then turns back to us, a wicked grin strewn across her face "We'll be going to London's hippest." She winks, before sliding back into her seat.
It was a bit of a ride before we finally came to a stop and everyone, except for Courtney and a few others tumbled out of the car, all of us looking in awe at the stores lining the roads.
Super Uber expensive shit most of us wouldn't have ever dreamed of being able to buy growing up. But now we could.
So here we were.
"Come on! I've always wanted boots from there!" Melissa yells, grabbing onto my wrist and then adding "We can get Courtney a bag or something."
Eric looks around, kind of lost before saying "What time are we meeting back here? Don't we need some sort of plan."
"Hm. Let's say like 12:00 we come back and meet up here." Rose says, nodding her head and looking over all of us. "Now go! Fuck off! Have fun."
I dash off, Melissa in tow once more, making our way through the major label fashion houses. While we could afford whatever they had in the shop, I felt uneasy, as if the employees didn't like our presence. It was weird.
"Check out the ribbons! This one would look dope on you." Melissa wraps one around my head and laughs a bit before saying "You're totally getting it. Right?"
I nod my head, knowing the cost of the ribbons wouldn't hurt me a bit. The store wasn't that busy, only a few people were there, mostly following/sticking around one another, traveling in their groups.
Thinking back to the British slang I'd learned during my last time here, I knew they were what Liam would consider "posh."
I bite my tongue. Even thinking of his name made me feel sick in my mouth. However, I was here in London. He was probably off in Manchester, hours away. I'd never have to see him once.
Which was good.
Pulling myself out of my thoughts, I hear one of the conversations between an employee and one of the customers, intrigued by the words I was hearing.
"Surely you can trust one of your biggest customers when I say to kick them out?" The woman asks.
"Ms. Kensit we understand the situation may be uncomfortable, but we cannot throw those out who are willing to pay. No matter their former relations. My hands are tired."
"Preposterous!"
"Er. No need for any issues, I'll just leave." I say slowly, looking up at the two and raising my hands up defensively.
Geez. What a bunch of freaks. I didn't really want to shop in a story that made me feel unwelcome, or that wanted me just for my funny, so putting the scarf down, I slip out and leave. There was a chance that hadn't been about me, but I wasn't sure. It had been pretty specific.
Whatever.
I reach into my coat pocket, digging for my pack of cigarettes and lighter, beginning to stroll the streets, smoking casually. Eventually slipping into what appeared to be a smaller type cafe, complete with tabloids, magazines and smoking was allowed inside.
Ordering a coffee, I plop down onto one of the open sofas, enjoying the environment of the building, soft jazz playing in the background. Curiously, I look over and grab one of the tabloids that's sitting on the small table in front of me, hoping for a glimpse of Damon or Blur.
Instead, there was nothing, no one I knew or anything.
Then again, I skipped anything titled Liam, Oasis, Noel or Gallagher when I browsed in papers like these.
Rising from my seat, the paper in my hands, I begin to make my way out and back into the city, as I do, the same blonde woman from the store enters the cafe, a dangerously violent scowl coming out when she saw me.
Kensit? That sounded unbelievably familiar.
And even more so, to my confusion, why did she hate me?