CHAPTER FOUR
FIVE HOURS LATER
I had checked into the cheap hotel I had booked online, The Travel Lodge Inn. I had taken an energizing nap and drank enough of the bottled water to keep me relaxed after my long journey.
I was done bathing and now I was heading out towards the venue of the concert. My phone was well-charged, and I took along my jotter as well. I was going to kill two birds with one stone.
I would try and interview as many people as I could but I really wanted to get closer to the band…especially Blade. Maybe I could get a one-on-one story out of him if I was lucky.
I wore a short leather skirt that revealed my bare legs. I just wanted to fit in with the crowd. The skirt stopped midway up my thighs, and I added a short crop top with a denim jacket. I wore wedge-heeled sandals that would enable me to walk well.
Even now, as I looked into the mirror, I knew I had killed it.
I let down my wand curls; they tumbled against my back. I decided to go gothic with my makeup. So, my brows were dark while my lips were blue. I looked sassy and I knew I would fit in with the crowd.
Finally. I was ready and grabbed my perfume, Midnight Lace, and gave myself a spritz. I always wanted to smell good.
I hurried out of the hotel room. I hailed a cab; the concert venue was only a short distance away from my hotel, and I arrived in fifteen minutes. I paid and thanked the driver before getting out of the car.
After I handed over my ticket at the booth, I walked into the open park. I was awed by the turnout. I estimated there were over fifteen hundred people, and more were still coming in.
“Whew!” Sweat wet my brows. I had never been a crowd person but I had to start somewhere.
There was a stage that separated the band from the crowd, who were designated to the area with larger canopies.
Soft music hummed in the background. It was a love song from the band’s previous album piping through the speakers. This one could make someone weep.
My nose took in a plethora of smells. Tobacco, stale beer, and nicotine. Guys smoked openly, and some even made out with the girls they’d come with. Wow, this was going to be a hell of a night.
Where was I even going to start? I surveyed the people I could see; some were quite high on something.
“Would you like something to drink?” a guy asked me, standing nearby. “There’s an open bar over there.” He nodded over to the right.
“Thanks, but I got it,” I politely declined and strolled over to the bar to order me a margarita.
The next minute I was sipping the drink, which helped me to relax. When I was done, I walked to a stand and dropped the plastic cup in the trash can. Luckily for me, I found two people—a curvy brunette and an Asian guy—talking about the band. This was my golden opportunity.
“Um, excuse me, guys?” I smiled and did a little introduction which brought their attention to me immediately.
“I’ve read some great stories from Daybreak Journal,” the shorter guy, who was Asian, remarked.
“Thanks. I would love to ask a few questions about the band. What do you think about the music they make? Do you think Illicit deserves the hype it’s getting? Who’s your favorite Trash Monkey?”
The brunette answered. “First of all, I don’t even like the Trash Monkeys, nothing personal. I am not a fan of the music of any genre. I just came here because a guy named Brandon Kim, who happens to be my friend, invited me.” She pointed at the Asian guy next to her.
“Oh?” My face fell. I was hoping she would give me something more.
Brandon hit her lightly with his elbow. “I love the Trash Monkeys. They are the future of Rock and Roll kings. They are gifted and multi-talented. Not many rock bands can do what they pulled off in their latest album. They blend rock with electronic, jazz, soul, and even hip-hop. I love their style. They are musical geniuses.”
I didn’t need a magician to tell me he was a big fan.
“Wow. What’s one thing that you feel the Trash Monkeys could work on?” I asked.
“Ahh— I don’t like the newest member of the group, Steven Radcliff. He comes off as arrogant, but my best member remains Blade Benefield. I feel there wouldn’t be Trash Monkeys or Illicit without him. He even penned Illicit himself.”
I was satisfied with his response, but once again, I needed to do my research thoroughly on the band members.
“Thank you. Have a nice time.” I smiled and walked away.
What was it about Blade Benefield that made him so special?
“Excuse me. I am Kira from Daybreak Journal. Please, I’ll be quick with my questions.” I blocked a tall, wiry guy and slender lady. Her hair was dyed in an array of rainbow colors.
“Nice to meet you, Kira, you got to be quick. I was chilling with my guy,” she replied.
“Okay. Sure, I’ll make it quick.”
Briefly, she told me her name was Kelsey.
“Tell me, Kelsey, who is your favorite Trash Monkey and why?”
Her eyes were fidgety, and she kept turning back like someone was watching her. “Are you kidding me?” Her voice grew loud, and this attracted some attention to where we stood.
I swallowed.
“Blade, of course. He is the ‘IT’ guy.” She shrugged.
“Why is he the ‘IT’ guy?” I asked.
Her brows came together in confusion. “I don’t know, man, I just like his voice, and he is smoking hot. I would fuck him.”
Whoa. I couldn’t believe the woman said that in front of her man. The woman walked away from me once she was done answering my questions. Had she said she would fuck Blade Benefield in front of her boyfriend? Man, that was bold as hell!
A while later, I was getting exhausted and a little bit overwhelmed; I had not met anybody who had given me something that would secure me the big breaking news.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a massive giant of a guy standing far from the others. He was fiddling with the buttons on his phone. He had this Viking look; abnormally tall and roughly bearded with icy-blue eyes.
I was a dwarf before him.
“Hello, I am Kira from Daybreak Journal and I would love to ask you a few questions,” I said this with my best smile. My cheeks had started to ache from all the smiling I was doing.
I hoped I was imagining this guy threatening me with his looks and probably punching me in the face for disturbing him.
“Oh, I am Vance Kuhns.” Vance smiled.
I felt relieved.
“Do you live around the area, Vance?”
“I came all the way from Austin, Texas. I know it’s far, but I would travel anywhere to see the Trash Monkeys live. I love all of their songs, but like everyone, Illicit stood out for me. I also love the team spirit I see among the guys,” he replied in a thick southern drawl.
Vance mentioned ‘team spirit’, and that gave me something to think about.
“That will be all, Vance, have a swell night.” I waved at him and walked into the large canopy, straight to the front. I wanted to have a good look at the band, especially Blade Benefield.
I had to cut Vane’s interview short because the concert was about to begin. I rushed into the huge canopy straight to the front where I could have a better view of the Trash Monkeys live and in person.