Mike and Valerie were exploring the backstage part of the club that his band was playing at. He pointed out specific rooms that were used for practicing or for other things. It was small so a lot of the people shared changing room space.
"It gets pretty cramped here sometimes. The other band we play with, Riverbend, do well enough to have their own hotel room while we sleep on the bus at night." Mike grumbled.
"Thats not fair." Valerie said.
"Being on the road has nothing to do with fair." Mike sighed as they approached the other guys rehearsing.
"Hey Val!" Micky called out from his sofa seat. He was air drumming with his sticks.
"Micky." Valerie nodded a greeting. "Hey Davy, Peter."
The exchanged greetings while reading some seriously out of date magazines.
"This is where we are." Mike said. "Its not much but its home."
"The first apartment Chris and I got was almost bigger than this." Valerie said. "People sure don't know how to treat their stars."
"Well we're not really the stars babe." Micky sighed.
"Right, this Riverbend group is. So where are they?" Valerie asked. "If the gig is tonight shouldn't they be here already?"
"They should be." Davy grumbled. "The lead singer picked up a new bird last night."
"Bird?" Valerie asked. "Why would he have a bird?"
"A girl...he means a girl." Peter said.
"Oh right." Valerie rolled her eyes. I must need more sleep, even Peter knew what he meant. A strumming noise was heard in the room next to them.
"Ah, there she is." Mike said. He grabbed Valeries hand and led her next door. There was a woman with curly hair tooling around with one of the guitars. She strummed a few notes on it then adjusted something on the next of the guitar. She looked up and saw Mike and smiled slightly.
"I don't know what your problem is. It sure isnt the guitar." She said putting it aside.
"This is Cassidy..." Mike said starting to introduce her.
She quickly stopped him. "No last names." She got off the stool she was sitting on. "You must be the famous Valerie. I hear alot about you."
"You do?" Valerie said looking at Mike who tried with much failure to look innocent. "What about?"
"Some pain in the neck girl he sees down south." Cassidy said moving into the already cramped hallway. "He talks about you so much, I think most of us knew you before we even met you." She laughed. Micky crept up and gave her behind a squeeze. She playfully slapped him. "Fresh!"
"You know me better than that." Micky said giving her a hug. "This is my new girl."
"New girl? Isn't there one in every port?" Valerie raised an eyebrow.
"That would be the Navy." Micky said. "But Davy comes a close second."
"Ah." Valerie said. A shorter blonde haired girl with a bandana tied around her head ran up to them.
"Bad news, the manager for Riverbend just called." This new girl said. "They won't be able to show tonight, it looks like you are doing a double set."
"A double set?" Mike said angrily. "We don't have enough songs for a full set right now."
"Make something up!" She shrugged. She smiled at Valerie. "Hi Val." She ran off into one of the many rooms attached to the hallway.
Valerie looked at the the trio who surrounded her.
"See what I mean?" Cassidy said. "We all know you. That was Nessie by the way."
"Nessie." Valerie said. "I see."
Davy and Peter dashed by with their instruments. It was clear they got the good/bad news.
"We oughta go tune up." Micky said giving Cassidy a kiss on the cheek. He then ran off into their own changing room to get his drum sticks.
"Will you be okay back here by yourself?" Mike asked.
"I'll be fine. You know me." Valerie said as he fetched his guitar.
"Thats exactly why I asked. I do know you." Mike smiled a little. Valerie frowned in response.
"I'll keep an eye on her." Cassidy said.
Mike kissed Valerie on the lips, then dashed off to find the stage. Valerie sighed and looked at Cassidy.
"What do I do now? This is a whole new thing for me." Valeried asked shrugging.
"We go out and watch them sing." Cassidy said. "Did you think we just hang out back here all night?" Valerie shook her head. "Come on, I'll show you where the food is."
"Food, I can deal with that." Valerie said. "Good thing we don't stay back here, theres a strange cheese odor."
"Half of the week the club is also a pizza place. Some of the harder up bands will eat the half-week left overs." Cassidy explained while she lead Valerie to a food table. There were crackers and donuts spread on a table cloth. There was also a pot of very cold looking coffee and cups in the center of it all. Valerie turned her nose when she saw the display.
"Its not much but it beats starvation." Cassidy sighed.
She poured a cup of coffee and went to sit down with one of the donuts. Valerie picked a donut that didn't look like it was three weeks old and joined her. Various people darted all over the place getting the club ready for the gig. There was already people taking seats. Most of the other girls Valerie saw sitting in the back stage area were now near the front of the stage.
"Do you got any like questions?" Cassidy asked.
"Whats this no last names thing?" Valerie asked.
"Its simple really. We're arent on the tour long enough to matter to some of this music guys. By the time you remember someones whole name they are already gone. That and there is somewhat of personal attachment. If you don't know a certain girls or guys last name, there is less likely to be a temptation to go stalking that guy back into their real life." Cassidy said. "Its harsh but it works for some people. Its worked for me for quite a while." She sighed. "The truth is some of us are quite disposable."
Valerie nodded as she listened to this. It was a little early in her stint on the tour to hear such stark reality, but she guessed she needed to hear it. Obviously Cassidy had been through a few pretty bad things happened to her to make her this way.
"Just a few words of advice." She said. "I didn't mean to bring you down. You are the first real person I can talk to. Everyone else is a bubble head."
"Like Nessie?" Valerie asked. "Is that her real name? I keep thinking Loch Ness Monster."
"You arent too far off." Cassidy laughed. "Shes one to look out for. Shes over the top, likes everything spotless." She pointed out a red headed woman talking to Peter. "Georgina." She said. "Been dating Peter since San Bernadino. One of the few girls I think will make it with one of the guys."
"Yeah?" Valerie asked. "Whos the other?"
"You and Mike." Cassidy said.
Before Valerie could ask any more the music started. While they were talking the whole club had filled up. Had time really flown that fast? Valerie decided to relax and enjoy the music. Halfway through the gig there was a commotion at the front of the club. A large group of people were trying to get in. A long haired lead singer was seen. Valerie got up and walked over to the front of the club followed by Cassidy who seemed interested as well.
"Let us in." The lead singer was heard saying. "We're in the show!" His voice was slurred.
"Getting hammered again Nigel?" Cassidy said addressing the singer.
"Ahhh Cassie." This Nigel slurred. Valerie could smell his breath from here. She briefly wondered if there was any liquor left in the county. "Tell em to let us in love."
"Not the way you are right now." Cassidy said. "Wheres your manager?"
"Right here." A familiar voice rang out. It had a bit of a Irish tinge to it. Valerie blinked. Nah, it couldn't be. She moved forward toward the voice. As she got closer she could see the man in question, but only the back of his head. Valerie had reached his side at the same time he turned completely around. It was him.
"You." Valerie said.
"Hello there." The man said with a smile. "Is that anyway to greet an old friend?"
Valerie reached back and socked him in the face.
"No, but that is, Elijah." She said rubbing her hand.
