Chapter 3

Leo

The first two bands Jon and I watched were pretty good, but I knew Sabbath Sundae was coming up, and while I had the overwhelming feeling I should flee, I was there to have a good time. If I happened to rub that in Kya’s face, even better.

She probably wouldn’t recognize me anyway. I’d changed so much in the past five years, filled out, grown a beard, changed my hair, not to mention I had a much better sense of style.

“Leo!” I turned my head to see Breanna pushing through the crowd. “I thought that was you!” She was one of my friends from school, and when she saw Jon, she tugged her friend’s arm. “I told you he had a hot friend.”

Jon and I exchanged a look. Breanna wasn’t going to give up easily, and she apparently already had plans for playing matchmaker. The way Jon looked the other girl up and down, I could tell he didn’t mind one bit.

“This is Mindy, Jon. She’s my best friend from high school, and she’s down for the week.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Mindy. Are you enjoying the show?” The two made small talk while Breanna turned toward me.

“So, what are your plans for the summer?”

“Taking my bar exam and working.”

“The same for me.”

Jon overheard the subject and turned his attention to me. “I wish I didn’t have to study as hard as some. This asshole is probably not even sweating it, he’s so smart.”

“I’m building up anxiety too,” said Breanna. “That’s why I hoped to burn off a little stress here tonight.” I didn’t have to speak slut to know what she meant. She was down to fuck.

“Then why are we here talking about the fucking test? We should be unwinding and enjoying the music.”

We finished watching Rock and Mayhem’s encore performance, and before it was over, Breanna had cozied herself up against me, her arm locked in mine as if we were on a date.

The band left the stage, and the two girls stepped over to whisper and stare, both seemingly confident they had found their hookups for the night.

All I could think about was Kya walking out on that stage, and soon enough, the band was announced, and the music started. The energy shifted around me as everyone screamed. It was pretty amazing to see it was all for her and her band, and when they took the stage, I could barely breathe looking up at her. While everyone else in the room stared up at her like she was some kind of goddess, all I could think about was the girl who ripped my heart out and stomped on it.

I had poured my heart out to her and told her my true feelings, given her my virginity, only to have her give me some bullshit line about wanting to remain friends. If our friendship was so goddamned important, then why did she not call me and try to make things right? Instead, we’d never spoken again.

The music was so loud, and her voice was even more powerful than it had been when she was younger. I could see how in five years, she’d really matured in her art. She worked the audience on the other side of the stage, reaching down to touch their hands, and it gave me an idea.

I would make sure she saw me. I stood pressed against the stage, Breanna back at my side, and Jon and Mindy dancing and jumping to the beat, their hands in the air. When Kya made her way over, she reached down touching hands, and when she passed me, our fingertips touched a split-second before our eyes met.

Hers widened, and she flashed me a smile, not missing a beat as she got up and went back to the middle of the stage. After the song was over, she walked to the side as the band geared up for the next song and pointed me out to security. I waited to see if they were tossing me out or sending a message.

As the muscular guard approached, Jon leaned over and whispered to me, “I wonder what this is all about.”

“I have a feeling I know.”

Sure enough, he walked up to me with a backstage pass. “Hey, man, Kya Campbell said to give you this. She’d like to see you backstage after her show.”

“Thank you.” I glanced up to see Kya wave in the middle of her performance.

“I’ll come and take you back.” He turned and walked away, weaving through the crowd.

Breanna leaned closer. “You know Kya Campbell?”

“I grew up next door to her.”

Jon patted me on the shoulder. “Wow, man. You going to go back?”

I felt a little strange not having a pass for him too. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to.”

Breanna pulled Mindy to the side, and I could tell by her hard glances, she wasn’t happy.

“I thought I’d take Mindy home. You could see if Breanna wanted to hang with you. She’s willing, and you know she’s not the kind to be clingy later.”

I’d been with Breanna before, and while she’d been good about us not forming a relationship over our hookup, she did seem a little put-off and entitled about the chance meeting. I had come to the concert alone, and now she seemed like I was obligated to leave with her.

“Maybe you could take them both home. I’m sure Breanna wouldn’t care, and unless you’re planning on making more than a one-nighter of Mindy, then what’s the harm?”

“You planning on staying with Kya Campbell?”

“No, but I do want to catch up a bit, let her know what’s changed, catch her up to speed.” She needed a full course on the new me.

“Dude, I’m under enough pressure with the bar coming up.” Jon smoothed out his shirt as Mindy came over and took his arm.

“You’re more than capable of handling both.” I turned to see that Breanna was standing next to me with a frown, and if any good thing had come from the invitation, it was that she had given up on me for the night.

By the time Kya’s band left the stage, Jon had his arm around both women and was geared up to have what could turn into a better night than me.

I figured I’d go backstage and say hello, and we’d take a minute to catch up, and I’d have enough time to show her I wasn’t that nerdy little boy she could manipulate anymore and that my heart had recovered quite well. She wanted us to remain friends. I’d keep it friendly.

A few minutes later, the guard came over. I shook Jon’s hand and made a promise to call him later, assuring him it was okay to go and that I’d find my own ride home.

As I walked through the maze of halls that made up the backstage, I followed the bouncer who seemed like a nice enough guy and wondered how many had gone back to see her over the years.

“I suppose Kya sees a lot of men after the shows, so I’m probably not the first you’ve brought back, right?”

“Kya never sees anyone. She’s a good girl, so you’ll make sure to mind your manners or I’ll rearrange your face for you.” The guy opened a door, and they walked to the back lot where Kya’s tour bus sat. The guard walked over and knocked.

“It’s open.”

“Thanks, man. And you don’t have to worry about me. I’m an old friend.” He turned and gave me a hard look that said he was still not impressed.

I stepped into the bus, and Kya was standing there to greet me. “Leonard!” She pulled me in for a hug and then stepped back to look me up and down. “You look great!”

“I just go by Leo now. You don’t look so bad yourself.”

She wiped her forehead with a pink towel. “I’m a bit grimy from the stage. It’s always so hot out there under the lights.”

“Yeah, well, you were amazing. You really have come a long way since the garage days.” I always wondered how she’d turn out, and it seemed like she was doing well for herself.

“I’ve missed you. I tried to get in touch after graduation, but your mother didn’t want to give me your number.”

“Yeah? I didn’t know. I left for my new life as soon as I could. It wasn’t like I had any reason to stick around.” I wanted to be bitter, but she looked so amazing, her smile still as beautiful as always, as sincere, that I had a hard time not falling under her spell.

“Right. Look, I’ve wanted to apologize for that night a thousand times.”

“Please, Kya, that’s in the past.” I didn’t need her apologies, especially for sleeping with me. That would only be another kick in the balls. I’d learned to get over it and move past it, and now so could she. She certainly hadn’t had any trouble avoiding me that last week of school, but then I was sure it was easy with most of the class whispering about what had happened. The more space between us, the better.

“What have you been up to? You look like you spend a lot of time in the gym.”

“That and law school. I graduated today.”

“Wow, that’s amazing. I guess we’re all grown up now. You know, I haven’t had a friend as close as you since we were kids. Not even in high school. You really knew me, you know.”

“Yeah.” I thought of how well I had known her, how I’d crushed on her all those years, only for her to forget about me in high school. Then just when I thought I had her back, she went and turned me down.

“I know it’s silly, but I wish things had been different, with what happened, you know. I was stupid and scared.”

“Nothing to be afraid of now.” She looked so vulnerable, and I wished I’d had the chance for a redo too.

I closed the distance between us and brought my arms around her. She stepped closer in my embrace, looking into my eyes as if searching for the boy she’d once known.

I didn’t waste another minute and brought my lips down on hers as she relaxed in my arms as if giving in to the moment. The kiss had my blood pumping, and I moved my hand down to grip her ass and grind against her. I wanted her to know what she’d been missing all these years and how hard I still and always would be for her.

“Are you alone?” I knew her band had to be around there somewhere or at least on their way.

“Everyone else is inside celebrating with the headlining band. I told them I was meeting up with an old friend, so they don’t expect me for a while.” She ran her hand up my arm and rested it on my shoulder as the other dropped lower to my hip.

“Good.” As if a gun went off to start the race, the two of us collided once more, this time in a frenzy of passion.