Bad Management

“10 minutes to show guys!” Shouted Harry our stage guy.
“Where is he? He should be here” Gerard panicked as I tried to fix his ticker. “Try him again Ray.” He looked over at the curly haired guitarist who already had the phone pressed to his hair.
“Will you stop ringing christ I’m here already.” Slurred out a voice from the far end of the corridor, followed by two more voices.
“Harry sort Mikey out please.” I looked over at him as he nodded, walking over to Mikey and Chelsea. I grabbed Frank’s ear piece and made my way over to him, instantly smelling the booze on him.
“You better hope to god it’s just alcohol that’s got you in this state Iero because otherwise get prepared for an arse kicking.” I glared at him as I went behind him to slip the pack down his back, instantly noticing the fresh purple bruises littering his neck.
“You jealous George?” He smirked as I came back round to his front, trying not to look at him.
“Jealous of what? Your ability to have complete lack of control over your liquor and body? So jealous in fact I’m going to go do exactly what you did to be just like you.” I said in a sarcastic tone glaring up at his dumb smirking face.
“You can pretend all you want, but we both know you wished it was you grinding on me the way she did.” He pushed his hips against me smirking.
“You do that one more time and you will be missing shows because you’ll be in hospital.” I spat as I pushed his chest. “You better get out there and make sure the fans don’t notice any difference in you. If I so much as see one review that mentions your behaviour then you will be bus locked got it?” I glared at him, just as Harry came other with his guitar, him staring at me intently. “Ok guys let’s make this the best show! 2 days before Christmas and my hometown I expect this to be a blast got it?!” I screamed as the cheered, we lined up and did our jog highfiving ritual before the lights dimmed as they ran on.

I pulled Chelsea to the side as she stood there dumbstruck. “Oh George you have the best job ever! You get to see this everyday!?” She looked over at me as I smiled, happy to see her again.
“I do. I also have to be a childminder and a cleaner so you know you gotta have some perks I guess.” She laughed nudging me as the guys burst into the first song. To say I was staring at Frank intently was an understatement. As petty as it sounded I wanted to find a fault in his performance so I could pull him up on it and bus lock him. Something about what he said hit a nerve and to be honest I wanted to wipe that stupid immature smirk right of his face. But, he was a great performer and not once did I notice anything different, and if I couldn’t, then the fans wouldn’t be able to either.

The show carried on until we got to the encore bit as the guys ran off. We quickly gave them a towel to wipe themselves down and a bottle of water as Gerard gave me his feather bower that someone in the crowd had thrown at him during I’m Not Okay. They ran back on stage after a few seconds of the crowd chanting about wanting more, as I pulled Chelsea back a little steps, looking over at me questioningly.
“They have pyro’s don’t want you to get burned.” I laughed as she nodded, her gaze going back to the stage. Once they finished playing The Ghost of You and Helena they made their way off the stage smiling as they did so.
“You lot can go wild!” Mikey shouted as he smiled over at Chelsea and me before pouring the ice cold water over himself.
“Us northerners know how to party.” Chelsea winked shamelessly flirting with him as I rolled my eyes.
“Right shower and bus guys. The venue has said no signings tonight, but you have the in-store signing tomorrow, so I’ve made arrangements for the first hundred that got here today got wristbands for it.” I smiled as Gerard put his arm around me.
“You’re good to us George.” He kissed my cheek leaving a sweat patch on it.
“Thanks.” I laughed wiping my cheek as I looked round at them all. “Great show guys you all played amazingly well.” I looked over at Frank as I said it, but not with a thrilling look on my face. “I’m not coming back to the bus tonight, so Harry’s in charge of you all. Be good. I don’t get many nights off so don’t make me regret it.” I laughed as I looked over at Chelsea. “You ready?” I smiled as she nodded and I grabbed her hand walking off slowly.

We had been out for a few hours before we heard a little commotion near the door as we noticed the bouncers escorting a group of people in and towards the bar. I looked over at Chelsea as she shrugged over at me as we carried on dancing to the newest local punk band who were actually pretty good considering I couldn’t remember their name. “So Mikey is pretty dishy. Is he… you know taken?” She paused as she shouted over the music moving closer to me so I could hear her. I was about to answer when someone already did for me.
“No he’s not.” The soft voice of Mikey rang out as he held two shot glasses out in front of us. “So my buddies and I wondered if you pretty girls would like to join us?” He motioned over to the bar where all the guys were waving at us.
“Oh if the shots are on you then you better clear some space.” Chelsea laughed as she started to make her way over to the table, Mikey looking at me with that mischievous glint in his eye.
“Georgie. I need to ask you something.” He looked down at me as we started making our way through the crowd. “She’s a big girl I can’t stop you.” I laughed as we reached the table where Chelsea had already sat down on the chair that belonged to Gerard. Mikey motioned to the bartender for shots as I stood in between Bob and Ray as the two glass and salt being slid in front of us along with a lime.
“You know the rules. Salt. Shot. Lime. Salt. Shot. Lime.” Shouted the bartender who stood in front of us all. “First one to do both shots gets free drinks all night. The last one buys them drinks.” He winked as he started his count banging on the bar as we all licked the salt quickly once he shouted go. I slammed my glasses down on the table upside down first, putting the sucked lime rinds on top of them as the bartender smirked ringing the bell to indicate they had a winner as I noticed Frank was the last one to finish. “What’s your first drink sweetheart.” The bartender asked winking in my direction as he fixed the Gin and Tonic up for me as I heard Frank groan.

Notes