First message
It was some last minute cancellation. He was nearby. Heard about it. The band agreed and they reached out.
Didn't pay as much as the usual but it was on the way.
They were performing Friday and Saturday night up town. Small crowd. Enough.
Still had a few hours to kill before the first night performing. Maybe they didn't know anyone but it wouldn't stop them from having a good time anyway.
They all bought food, found one of the tables set up. Laughed. Had a good time. Didn't get much of those. This was a rare one. Then he saw her.
Walking through the crowd. Arm in arm with another girl. Friends. Clearly. She wore boots, shorts, some tank top. But her smile it was lured him in. The laugh he could hear from where he sat.
Friend beside him nudged him. You can keep staring or go introduce yourself.
Drew his attention away. To him. I wasn't staring.
Defensive. Glanced back over. She was gone. Swallowed by the crowd.
Sure you weren't.