bio education or something navigate, loser trust no bitch

The stage lit up in greens, blues and reds and the strobe lighting flashed through the crowd of fans. Being up on a stage performing with your best friend, and your prized guitar in your hand. What more could a girl ask for? Thought Zoey as Liam grinned back at her from his place in centre stage. He was energetic tonight, which was a good thing for everyone else backstage. It meant that he wouldn’t go around yelling at the stage hands afterwards. The crowd was going wild for him. People were holding up banners and screaming out his name, and he hand that look on his fact that said, ‘Look at us. Nothing can ever top this’. She couldn’t help but agree.

Two hours later, the band had found their way to a local bar. Like always, it had been Liam’s choice, and like every time before, Scout had come along and his arm was now draped over her shoulders. It was more for effect than anything else, Zoey had noticed. She’d watch with a look of disgust on her face as he’d press his lips right up to her ear and whisper sweet nothings that no one else would be able to hear. 

“Disgusting, right?”

“I’ll say.” Zoey scoffed, turning around to face the bloke who had just addressed her. Sweet Martha, he was attractive. Dark hair, dark eyes, and probably a dark soul too, given the bar they were in. She couldn’t really see much of what he was wearing because of the lighting, but he looked smart. Of course, looks should never be judges before personality. He could have been hot and smart on the outside, but on the complete opposite on the inside. Cold and dumb. Now that was a mix if she ever did see one.

“What’s your name?” The man asked, taking up the seat beside her like he had been there the entire evening. Max would be mad when he got back. He seemed to have a soft spot for her, that one. He’d wait around after the show with a bottle of gin and a grin on his face. He was trying to get into her heart and failing because he didn’t have the right sort of affect on her. Pity, really. He was sweet.

“You don’t know what my name is?” She queried slowly, leaning back against the counter and resting her elbows on the edge of the marble worktop. Her eyes gazed across the room, and through the thick mass of dancers, she could see the Loupe siblings in the VIP section of the bar looking all lined up and looking pretty with their expensive clothing and shoes and jewellery. The youngest, was competition in the drug industry. The other two were a mere botheration that she didn’t even want to think about. Zoey couldn’t stand the authority they held over her. It was something she’d picked up from Liam himself. If he hated something, then she did too. If he thought someone was ridiculous, then she would join in with the jibes and the mockery. Like a sheep, she’d follow him to the end of the world, into the lion’s den and far, far worse. 

If he was the sun, then she was his Mercury. Always the first in line. Guess that made Scout his Venus.

The smile on the fellow’s face —  that she hadn’t noticed before — started to grow wider as tilted his head. Zoey noted how the fold of his collar met with his skin as he bent his neck. It was an action of amusement. Intrigue, even. He thought she was funny. “I know your name. I was just being polite.” He laughed, knocking back the rest of his drink before giving her another wide smile and motioning his hand for the bartender to bring him another.

Her eyes sparkled as her head shook and a smile of her own began to creep onto her face. Another scoff escaped her in the form of an exhale, the glass in her hand warming up from the extended contact she had given it. Next to her, he shifted, straightening up a bit when the barkeep came back with his drink and muttering his thanks. Well, at least he had manners. “What’s yours, slick?”

“Gustavo.”

“Zoey.”

He — Gustavo — raised his glass in her direction. His eyebrows rose invitingly and soon she mirrored him, holding up her own until the edges met and they clinked against one another.

“Nice to meet you… Zoey.”