September 17th, 1971
We had arrived at the
festival grounds in Lancaster by ten on Friday morning. There would be
six bands performing over the two days—Amoeba and a Chicago-based group
called Madman would be doing both nights—and each had been assigned a
trailer to use for the day they’d perform. Our hired driver parked the
bus beside Amoeba’s trailer, and by the time we’d been given our access
passes we could see throngs of fans piling onto the grass.
My laminated badge, strung on a lanyard to be worn around my neck, said “VIP” in large, bold letters. Geoff’s lanyard presented him as “Manager” whereas Cameron and the others’ passes clearly labelled them as “Artist.”
Cameron, Willie, and Geoff were pulled into an impromptu meeting with the festival organizer almost immediately after disembarking the bus. This left me standing near the trailer with Lee, Colin, and Dale, the latter of which left in search of a strong drink soon after.
“I’ll be on time,” Dale shouted as he walked away from us.
“He’ll be hung by his balls if he isn’t,” Lee muttered under his breath.
“You’re right about that,” I replied. “I’m going to walk around the grounds, see what’s happening. Do either of you want to come along?”
They both declined, so I said goodbye and headed in the direction of the main grounds. I tucked the lanyard under my shirt collar, knowing very well that I would get a skewed response from others if it was clearly visible I had an access pass.
It was quite a walk to reach the area where the fans had begun to congregate. I passed the outdoor toilets, medical tents, and refreshment stalls, and kept walking for another few hundred feet when I overheard a conversation nearby.
Two men who seemed to be my age, or perhaps a year or two younger, were discussing the lineup. I approached them as I called out.
“Hey, I heard you guys talking,” I explained. “You looking forward to the shows?”
“Can’t wait!” one of the men answered. He held out his hand and introduced himself as Fred.
I accepted his gesture, and shook his hand. “I’m Emily. Nice to meet you both.”
“Same here,” the second man interjected. “Name’s Bill.”
“Who are you looking forward to the most today?” I asked curiously.
“Goblin, definitely! I’m hoping Downtown Rundown do stuff from their new album, too. It’s better than their last one.”
“I haven’t heard it yet,” I told him. “Been a bit of a hermit lately.”
“Oh, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it,” Fred assured me.
The two of them each had tickets for Saturday as well, and it would be their first time seeing Amoeba. I told them that I’d seen them before, and they put on a good show that was very easy to enjoy.
We chatted for a little while, though soon I wished them a good time and continued on my way. From the few conversations I had afterwards with other attendees, it seemed like this festival was gearing up to be one hell of a weekend.
The first performance on today’s bill was a relatively popular four-piece called Absolute Zero. Mainly sticking to straight-ahead rock, they’d had a few radio hits and were well-loved by Californians, especially since they’d formed in nearby Irvine.
Absolute Zero had been on stage for about half of their set when I wandered into the large area behind the stage that was reserved for bands and their people. I glanced at my watch; it was nearing four o’clock. Amoeba would be on in another four hours, after the loud rockers Goblin and the aptly named Madman had finished their sets.
I stood at one of the many tables covered with liquor bottles and other drinking options to pour myself a glass of water from the large jug with a spigot. Once I’d drank the water and quenched my thirst, I filled the same glass halfway with what looked like wine and took a sip.
There were at least two dozen people mingling backstage, if not closer to thirty. Everyone wore an access pass on a lanyard that identified their role at the festival, making it easy to see that it was an artist who walked up to me with the swagger of a teenage boy.
“Hi there,” he spoke as he came to a stop beside me. “Enjoying your drink?”
His tone irked me immediately, but I held my annoyance. “Yes,” I smiled. “No drink for yourself?”
“You’re right,” he announced, though I hadn’t said anything much. He took a disposable cup and filled it with a liquor whose label I didn’t recognize. “What’s your name, beautiful?”
“Emily,” I replied. I shifted a little, angling myself away from him as I spoke.
“A name to suit your looks,” he cooed. “I’m Rick.”
I mustered all the politeness I could to reply. “Hi, Rick.”
He smiled widely, and I saw he was missing a tooth. “I’m in Goblin, by the way. The next band up,” he added. “I see you’re a VIP.”
I nodded, and took another sip of my drink to keep my mouth shut.
“I like to get to know the VIPs a little more personally,” he said in a tone that almost made me laugh. “Are you here with anyone?”
“My boyfriend,” I replied firmly. He didn’t seem to get the message, but I didn’t want to be any more aggressive with my tone.
“I don’t see him around,” Rick chuckled.
“No?” I hummed the question, looking around before adding sarcasm. “Where could he be? Always disappearing on me,” I mocked.
“He’s not too smart, if he’s leaving a woman like you alone around here,” he warned.
His tone was almost condescending and it enraged me. “Oh yeah?” I scoffed. “What would happen to a woman like me?” I asked, repeating his words.
“Someone might kiss you,” he offered. “Steal you away from him.”
I laughed, nearly snorting. “I’d like to see someone try,” I mumbled under my breath.
I brought my glass to my lips, but it was Rick’s fast-approaching mouth that caught me off guard. I drew my hand back and slapped him with as much force as I could muster.
He staggered backwards and opened his mouth to speak, but I didn’t let him.
“Are you honestly that stupid?” I exclaimed. I could see a few heads turn towards us, but I didn’t care.
“You fucking bitch!” Rick held his palm to his cheek for a moment. When he straightened his posture, he looked angry.
“You know, Rick, you might need glasses,” I snapped. “It seems you can’t read body language even from this close.”
Two men approached us, likely drawn over by Rick’s shout. “Everything alright here?” one of them asked. I recognized him as a member of the staff I’d seen earlier.
“Now, yes,” I answered. “Thanks for the concern.” I turned my back on all three of them and shook my head as I walked away. “Talk about a fucking goblin.”
I came across Lee and Colin about an hour later. Goblin had begun their set, and the three of us stood near the backstage area as they played.
“I heard you slapped the singer to Jupiter,” Lee teased.
“He does look bruised,” Colin added with a glance towards the stage.
“He deserves it,” I assured them both. “He tried to kiss me.”
“I’d agree with your assessment, then,” Colin told me. “Was Cameron there?”
I shook my head. “No. I haven’t seen him in a few hours.”
“He’s in the trailer, if you’re looking for him.”
I thanked Lee for the information and headed in the direction of the trailers, only a short walk away. I was at the door within a few minutes, and knocked twice before walking in.
Cameron was the only person inside; he was sitting on the edge of the small sofa and looked up when I entered.
“There you are,” I smiled. I walked towards the sofa and sat down beside him. “Why are you here all alone?”
“I’m not alone anymore,” he retorted with a cheeky grin. He placed his lips to mine for a brief kiss, and then spoke. “You’ve been out and about?”
I briefly recounted my day to him, but couldn’t help laughing as I told him of the incident backstage.
“He’s lucky,” Cameron noted. “You could have done much worse than just a slap.”
“His face never reached me. But the sheer gall of that little creep amazed me,” I said with a laugh.
“Well, you taught him a lesson. Let’s hope he doesn’t see me later,” he quipped. “By chance, has Joe shown up?”
“Colin’s friend? Not that I know of,” I replied. “Why?”
“I was speaking with Colin earlier and he was wondering about it.”
I shook my head in reply. Deciding that it wasn’t of much importance to him at the moment, Cameron put his arm around me and pulled me closer to him.
“Feeling confident?” I asked him.
“Mostly.”
I chuckled. “That doesn’t sound too confident.” I turned my head and kissed his shoulder.
“We’ll do just fine, I’m sure of it.”
“It’s about time you start thinking that,” I told him with a huff. “Only three hours before the show, but better late than never.”
Amoeba, myself, and a handful of others stood backstage as it neared eight o’clock. The stage was just about done being prepared, and the band was doing the same.
Willie stood stoically, tapping his fingers against his side to a rhythm only he could hear. Dale and Lee were getting last minute drinks into the systems, and Cameron stood beside me with his hand on the small of my back.
“Just play like you always do, Colin,” I said as a reminder. He was feeling a little nervous, but didn’t have to be. “And don’t forget the important part of drumming,” I added with a sly grin. “If you make a mistake, glare at Lee.”
Colin laughed, and I hoped I’d eased his nerves a little. I gave Cameron a kiss when they called for them to get on stage.
“Go out there and rip it up,” I urged him. “Kick some ass.”
He winked and gave me a final kiss, then headed out onto the stage with the others.
By the beginning of the third song, they had completely won over the audience. I was beaming with pride, and felt elated at what this meant. The band would win over the North American audience, I was sure, and even the fans in Canada would hear about the festival and how it was going.
As they regrouped and began the slow intro for Dust, a popular track from their second album Osmosis, I was approached by a staff member and asked to follow him. I did, but asked what the reason was.
“Security says there’s a woman trying to get back here. Claims she knows you,” he added.
I furrowed my brow, but didn’t voice my confusion. Only a minute later when we arrived at the edge of the reserved area did I realize that I was rightly confused: I had no idea who she was.
“This is her,” the staff member said as he gestured to the woman. She had medium-length dark blonde hair and wore a striking shirt paired with mid-thigh shorts.
“Are you Emily?” she asked, not letting the security guard speak before she did. “I’m Autumn Dunn,” she explained. “Colin’s friend.”
A puzzled look crossed my features and I let out a dry laugh. “Where are you staying right now?” If she would answer correctly, it must be her.
“San Fernando. But we grew up together.”
A light flicked on in my mind. “Is your middle name Jo?” I asked.
“God!” she scoffed. “He’s still calling me that? It’s Joanne,” she told me.
I nodded to the security guard and thanked him. “I know who she is, it’s alright.”
The guard returned to his reserved manner after letting her in, and I walked with her to the center of the reserved area.
“We thought you’d be a man,” I confessed to her in a lighthearted tone. “He didn’t say you were, but he never said you weren’t.”
Autumn laughed, and the sound was contagious. “He can be private sometimes. But then again, sometimes he won’t shut up,” she chuckled.
“You want something to drink?”
We walked over to the closest liquor table and poured ourselves drinks, before I led her to a small table nearby. We sat, and there was only a short moment of slightly awkward silence before she spoke.
“Colin told me that it’s your boyfriend’s band,” she said, though it almost seemed a question. “How long have you two been together?”
“Since May of last year,” I answered. “Me and my sister visited a relative in Scotland and I met Cameron by chance.”
“Was it love at first sight?” she cooed, a large smile on her face.
I couldn’t help but smile as well. “It was something at first sight, that’s for sure,” I laughed. “He kept showing up at our aunt’s house and asked me to come see a show, but after a week I had to fly back home,” I added.
Autumn’s face clearly showed her interest. “But you’re with him now, so you went back?”
“Are you sure you don’t know the story already?” I asked with a laugh. She added to the sound but assured me she hadn’t, so I continued. “He made a big impression on me while I was with him,” I told her. “He asked me to come on the tour last year and I did. That was for the album before this one.”
“That’s so sweet!” she gushed.
“What about you?” Anyone back in England, or here?”
Autumn shook her head with a small frown. “I don’t have much luck with love,” she admitted. “From what I’ve seen, it’s true that men are from Mars and women are from Venus.”
“You’re certainly from Venus,” I retorted. “You’re gorgeous, look at yourself!”
Autumn blushed, and thanked me shyly.
“Men, on the other hand, are mostly idiots regardless of which planet they’re from. But you must be Colin’s age, or just about?”
She nodded. “A year younger. My birthday’s this Wednesday, actually.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it, then,” I said to her. “Honestly, you’ll never know when you find the right person. But it’s very rarely done without trial and error beforehand.”
We continued our conversation for a little while longer, until we needed refills. We both chose wine, and then walked over to the other side where we had a view of the stage. I swelled with pride once again, watching them perform. They were just about to head into the last song, and the audience’s roar when their instruments quieted was incredible.
“How many people are here?” Autumn asked in awe.
“A hundred thousand,” I estimated. “At the very least.”
“Holy.”
“They’ve outdone themselves,” I said happily.
I spoke to myself, mainly, but Autumn replied with a similar opinion. “They sound really great together! I didn’t think it would be bad, but it’s better than I expected.”
We stood and watched the rest of the performance, and as the last notes tapered off we made our way closer to where the band would come from after leaving the stage. Dale was first, Willie following on his heels towards the closest liquor table. The rhythm trio exited the stage together; Cameron nudged Colin’s arm when he spotted us.
Colin’s head whipped towards us and his face lit up. “Jo! You’re here,” he exclaimed as he darted over. “I’m thrilled to see you!”
The pair hugged, and it was nice to see their reunion. Colin had previously told me that they’d last seen each other at Christmas, and Autumn seemed just as happy as he was.
“No one calls me that anymore, Colin,” she scolded him in a playful tone.
He looked at her in surprise. “You’re using your first name?” Autumn nodded in reply, but Colin kept their conversation short. “Encore,” he explained to Autumn with a wink, and headed back out onto the stage with the others.
With Amoeba’s performance ending just after nine-thirty, we all got into the bus and headed back to the hotel. Everyone split up to their rooms, with Autumn accompanying Colin, with a plan to congregate in the downstairs bar once everyone had cleaned up.
As soon as Cameron closed the door behind us, I gave him a look of confusion. “Did you see Willie back there?”
Cameron chuckled softly. “I did.”
“I can count on one hand the times I’ve seen him laugh at someone else’s joke,” I said in exasperation. “I’ve said some funny shit that he’s barely cracked a smile at.”
“It’s funny,” Cameron began with a small laugh. “I think I saw his brain explode when she asked if he’d changed the pickups on his guitar.”
I nodded. “Should I bring a mop to the bar, or do you think he’ll be able to keep his jaw shut?”
When Cameron and I walked into the bar downstairs, Lee was already sitting at a table with Dale. Only three other guests were present; one man seated at the bar chatting with the bartender, and two people who I assumed were a couple sitting at a table on the other side of the room.
“How’s the drink?” I asked Dale. I was eyeing the amber liquid in his glass longingly.
“Very drinkable,” he replied. “Want one?”
I nodded. “Absolutely.”
“I’ll get you one,” he told me. Dale then stood and walked over to the bar, where Cameron was already ordering a drink for himself.
“We did well tonight, didn’t we?” Lee spoke, his tone prideful.
I nodded, a smile on my face. “You killed it,” I assured him. “I think the headliner was worried about following you guys.” I laughed, and Lee joined in.
“I’m quite certain tomorrow will be the same.”
I agreed with Lee, then thanked Dale for my drink; he had just sat back down at the table and placed a glass in front of me as Cameron took a seat next to me.
We chatted for ten minutes or so, until Colin and Autumn joined us, followed a few minutes later by Willie. I noticed Willie's hair was dry, but I knew he’d been dripping after the concert and I was sure he had showered. 'Did he use a blow dryer?' I asked myself.
With Cameron, Lee, and Dale to my left, Autumn sat beside me. Colin and Willie took the last two seats at the large table, after having come from the bar with drinks in their hands. As they sat, I thanked no one in particular that the table was round and big enough for us all to sit comfortably.
“A toast!” Dale proclaimed as he raised his glass. “We did fucking great!”
A chorus of agreement and cheers followed as we all raised our drinks.
“You too, come on,” I told Autumn with a wink. She smiled at me and raised hers as well. “Drink up, fools!”
The bartender took more steps to refill our glasses than he would have if he’d participated in a half-marathon, and I’m positive that he was annoyed at our constant requests by the time our celebration turned into lighthearted chatter.
“So, Autumn,” Cameron asked during a lull in conversation, “how can you stand to be friends with Colin?”
“He’s insufferable!” Lee added dramatically.
Autumn chuckled and I noticed Willie looking at her intently, though he was trying to be discreet about it. “He’s a bothersome weirdo, but he understands me,” she answered with a wink at Colin. “What else can I say?”
“And your boyfriend doesn’t mind Colin’s terrible good looks?” Willie asked inquisitively.
“Oh,” she muttered shyly. “I’m not seeing anyone.”
I could feel the shyness coming off of her, and decided to put a joke in. “Colin’s not that good looking, anyway.” Autumn gave me a sideways glance of appreciation; I knew the feeling of being bombarded with questions from strangers.
Colin himself laughed, and a few other chortles joined in.
“Be careful how you reject men,” Dale interjected through his laughter. “You might end up having to be like Emily.”
“What does that mean?” I indignantly.
“I heard you slapped that Goblin bloke,” he replied.
“Oh, yeah,” I nodded, and couldn’t help but smile. “I almost had to beat Crusty McGee with a stick.”
Everyone burst into laughter except for Autumn, who looked at me with shock on her face. “You had to beat someone?” she asked in concern.
“No, no,” I assured her. “I just slapped him really hard. He went away after that.”
“Oh, good,” she mumbled. “I’ll save the bartender a trip,” she added. “Anyone want a refill?”
Nearly everyone replied with a yes, so she stood and brought three empty glasses to the bar. Willie stood as well, and took the remaining glasses with him to the bar, standing beside her. I could see them chatting from the corner of my eye, but the conversation at the table continued.
“What’s the next date we play?” Lee asked.
“We’re heading up towards San Francisco,” Cameron informed him. “Tuesday and Thursday we’ve got shows in the area.”
“Oh, speaking of! Autumn’s birthday is Wednesday. Maybe we should invite her with us tomorrow?” I said, rather than asked. We were planning on having a post-festival celebration at multiple locales, which sounded like a good way to spend a Saturday.
“Why not?” Dale asked rhetorically.
Autumn’s voice was the next one to be heard. “Maybe,” she said to Willie, who was walking beside her with drinks in his hands. “Are you seeing anyone?”
Colin’s eyebrow raised but he didn’t say anything.
“Sort of,” Willie replied to her. They spoke as if no one else could hear them.
“I only date men who are sure they’re single.” she replied firmly. She sat beside me once more, but Willie stood motionless for a moment.
“Hold on,” he said, as if it was an announcement, then walked back over to the bar.
I turned in my chair, but I would have heard Willie even if I hadn’t. He demanded the bartender let him use the phone, and once it was in his grasp he dialed. I wasn’t the only one squinting at Willie in confusion, but once he spoke, I realized what was happening.
“Hi, Dena,” Willie greeted the recipient of his late-night call.
“Is this actually happening?” asked, though my question was barely audible.
“Something’s come up,” he said into the receiver. His tone was blunt but had a hint of remorse; even I knew that Willie wasn’t one to shy away from the upcoming event by doing it over the phone. “You should see other people. Don’t wait around for me.” He curtly said goodbye to Dena and hung up.
It was jarring to see this unfold. I had met Dena before we’d left for the tour, and I liked her, but it seemed that Willie didn’t want her anymore.
He strode back to the table and sat down, ignoring the stares of incomprehension to look directly at Autumn. “Will you go to lunch with me tomorrow? I’m sure I’m single.”
It neared one in the morning when Cameron and I left the bar and made our way to our room. We spoke briefly about what had happened downstairs, and Cameron revealed he was just as surprised as I was to see what Willie had done.
“Though, I can’t much blame him,” he added as an afterthought.
“Why not?” I asked with a chuckle.
Cameron smiled at me as he answered my question. “I suspect he’s got the same feeling I had when I met you,” he said quietly. “Urgency.” Without another word, he took his shoes off and then stripped completely, going into the bathroom to shower.
I thought about writing a short letter for Liliane, and completing it tomorrow, but I was too tired to put pen to paper. Instead, I took my shirt off and laid on the bed. I lost track of time, but when I sat up Cameron had shut off the water and was just about to come out of the washroom. When he did, moments later, I gasped.
“A naked man!” I said, mocking surprise. “The horror.”
Cameron’s soft laugh filled my ears, and I stood to walk towards him. He didn’t speak, but looked at me lovingly.
“You did great tonight,” I told him. “I’m proud.”
A smile spread across his face and I mirrored the expression. “Thank you, Emily,” he said softly as he pulled me into his arms.
“You’re welcome.” I looked at Cameron, and saw the softness in his eyes. A breath caught in my chest, and he leaned forward to kiss me.
He pulled back after a moment, but I didn’t let him end the kiss. I put my hands on his hips, gently moving my fingers across his warm skin. Our lips parted at the same time, and with the heat of the kissing I wasn’t surprised when I felt him reacting.
“You’re beautiful when you blush,” I cooed. The shyness on his face grew, and I giggled. “Really. You are.”
He kissed me once more, though this time he was the one who didn’t let go.
‘You’re gonna play like that?’ I said to myself. ‘You’ll regret it.’
I trailed my hand downward, all while keeping my mouth on his. I had no doubt that he was feeling turned on; I was too. My fingertips brushed his hair and then his skin, and he moaned quietly.
I pulled back to chuckle, but the sound cut short when I saw Cameron’s eyes. Brown irises, usually strong and solid as if made of wood, now looked like an endlessly deep pool of mud. I felt my own cheeks redden as I touched him with more determination, a shaky exhale escaping his lips.
“Don’t do this to me,” he begged in a whisper.
I looked at him with innocence on my features. “Do what?”
Cameron moved his hands along my sides but kept his eyes on me. “Tease me,” he whispered. “Drive me wild.”
I bit my bottom lip in thought, just as he groaned softly. I put my lips to his collarbone and gave him a series of quick kisses, slowly dragging my lips lower. His skin was still warm, and he smelled of flower-scented hotel soap.
I dropped to my knees, and as I passed his navel, I flicked my tongue across his skin. I felt his muscles tense for a quick moment before relaxing again, and I smiled, moving lower and putting my mouth to him.
The quiet sounds coming from him only made me want him more. I could feel my body vibrating, as if electricity was surging through me, and pulled back just long enough to speak.
"You taste so good." It was nearly a moan, and Cameron's body jerked at my words. I put my mouth back to his skin, making him moan this time.
I worked on him until he put his hand to my cheek, surprising me. I pulled away from him and giggled, wiping my mouth as I did so.
Cameron sank to his knees and kissed me forcefully, pushing me backwards until I lay on the floor under him. He popped the button on my jeans and pulled them off in one movement, along with my underwear.
"Bra," he said in a firm tone.
I lifted my back off the floor and unhooked it, pulling it off of my chest and tossing it to the side. His hands and mouth roamed over me; I inhaled sharply when his fingers grazed between my legs.
He raised an eyebrow and looked at me with a sly grin. "Reap what you sow," he muttered, at the same moment he brought his dominant hand downward.
"What do you—oh!"
My laminated badge, strung on a lanyard to be worn around my neck, said “VIP” in large, bold letters. Geoff’s lanyard presented him as “Manager” whereas Cameron and the others’ passes clearly labelled them as “Artist.”
Cameron, Willie, and Geoff were pulled into an impromptu meeting with the festival organizer almost immediately after disembarking the bus. This left me standing near the trailer with Lee, Colin, and Dale, the latter of which left in search of a strong drink soon after.
“I’ll be on time,” Dale shouted as he walked away from us.
“He’ll be hung by his balls if he isn’t,” Lee muttered under his breath.
“You’re right about that,” I replied. “I’m going to walk around the grounds, see what’s happening. Do either of you want to come along?”
They both declined, so I said goodbye and headed in the direction of the main grounds. I tucked the lanyard under my shirt collar, knowing very well that I would get a skewed response from others if it was clearly visible I had an access pass.
It was quite a walk to reach the area where the fans had begun to congregate. I passed the outdoor toilets, medical tents, and refreshment stalls, and kept walking for another few hundred feet when I overheard a conversation nearby.
Two men who seemed to be my age, or perhaps a year or two younger, were discussing the lineup. I approached them as I called out.
“Hey, I heard you guys talking,” I explained. “You looking forward to the shows?”
“Can’t wait!” one of the men answered. He held out his hand and introduced himself as Fred.
I accepted his gesture, and shook his hand. “I’m Emily. Nice to meet you both.”
“Same here,” the second man interjected. “Name’s Bill.”
“Who are you looking forward to the most today?” I asked curiously.
“Goblin, definitely! I’m hoping Downtown Rundown do stuff from their new album, too. It’s better than their last one.”
“I haven’t heard it yet,” I told him. “Been a bit of a hermit lately.”
“Oh, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it,” Fred assured me.
The two of them each had tickets for Saturday as well, and it would be their first time seeing Amoeba. I told them that I’d seen them before, and they put on a good show that was very easy to enjoy.
We chatted for a little while, though soon I wished them a good time and continued on my way. From the few conversations I had afterwards with other attendees, it seemed like this festival was gearing up to be one hell of a weekend.
The first performance on today’s bill was a relatively popular four-piece called Absolute Zero. Mainly sticking to straight-ahead rock, they’d had a few radio hits and were well-loved by Californians, especially since they’d formed in nearby Irvine.
Absolute Zero had been on stage for about half of their set when I wandered into the large area behind the stage that was reserved for bands and their people. I glanced at my watch; it was nearing four o’clock. Amoeba would be on in another four hours, after the loud rockers Goblin and the aptly named Madman had finished their sets.
I stood at one of the many tables covered with liquor bottles and other drinking options to pour myself a glass of water from the large jug with a spigot. Once I’d drank the water and quenched my thirst, I filled the same glass halfway with what looked like wine and took a sip.
There were at least two dozen people mingling backstage, if not closer to thirty. Everyone wore an access pass on a lanyard that identified their role at the festival, making it easy to see that it was an artist who walked up to me with the swagger of a teenage boy.
“Hi there,” he spoke as he came to a stop beside me. “Enjoying your drink?”
His tone irked me immediately, but I held my annoyance. “Yes,” I smiled. “No drink for yourself?”
“You’re right,” he announced, though I hadn’t said anything much. He took a disposable cup and filled it with a liquor whose label I didn’t recognize. “What’s your name, beautiful?”
“Emily,” I replied. I shifted a little, angling myself away from him as I spoke.
“A name to suit your looks,” he cooed. “I’m Rick.”
I mustered all the politeness I could to reply. “Hi, Rick.”
He smiled widely, and I saw he was missing a tooth. “I’m in Goblin, by the way. The next band up,” he added. “I see you’re a VIP.”
I nodded, and took another sip of my drink to keep my mouth shut.
“I like to get to know the VIPs a little more personally,” he said in a tone that almost made me laugh. “Are you here with anyone?”
“My boyfriend,” I replied firmly. He didn’t seem to get the message, but I didn’t want to be any more aggressive with my tone.
“I don’t see him around,” Rick chuckled.
“No?” I hummed the question, looking around before adding sarcasm. “Where could he be? Always disappearing on me,” I mocked.
“He’s not too smart, if he’s leaving a woman like you alone around here,” he warned.
His tone was almost condescending and it enraged me. “Oh yeah?” I scoffed. “What would happen to a woman like me?” I asked, repeating his words.
“Someone might kiss you,” he offered. “Steal you away from him.”
I laughed, nearly snorting. “I’d like to see someone try,” I mumbled under my breath.
I brought my glass to my lips, but it was Rick’s fast-approaching mouth that caught me off guard. I drew my hand back and slapped him with as much force as I could muster.
He staggered backwards and opened his mouth to speak, but I didn’t let him.
“Are you honestly that stupid?” I exclaimed. I could see a few heads turn towards us, but I didn’t care.
“You fucking bitch!” Rick held his palm to his cheek for a moment. When he straightened his posture, he looked angry.
“You know, Rick, you might need glasses,” I snapped. “It seems you can’t read body language even from this close.”
Two men approached us, likely drawn over by Rick’s shout. “Everything alright here?” one of them asked. I recognized him as a member of the staff I’d seen earlier.
“Now, yes,” I answered. “Thanks for the concern.” I turned my back on all three of them and shook my head as I walked away. “Talk about a fucking goblin.”
I came across Lee and Colin about an hour later. Goblin had begun their set, and the three of us stood near the backstage area as they played.
“I heard you slapped the singer to Jupiter,” Lee teased.
“He does look bruised,” Colin added with a glance towards the stage.
“He deserves it,” I assured them both. “He tried to kiss me.”
“I’d agree with your assessment, then,” Colin told me. “Was Cameron there?”
I shook my head. “No. I haven’t seen him in a few hours.”
“He’s in the trailer, if you’re looking for him.”
I thanked Lee for the information and headed in the direction of the trailers, only a short walk away. I was at the door within a few minutes, and knocked twice before walking in.
Cameron was the only person inside; he was sitting on the edge of the small sofa and looked up when I entered.
“There you are,” I smiled. I walked towards the sofa and sat down beside him. “Why are you here all alone?”
“I’m not alone anymore,” he retorted with a cheeky grin. He placed his lips to mine for a brief kiss, and then spoke. “You’ve been out and about?”
I briefly recounted my day to him, but couldn’t help laughing as I told him of the incident backstage.
“He’s lucky,” Cameron noted. “You could have done much worse than just a slap.”
“His face never reached me. But the sheer gall of that little creep amazed me,” I said with a laugh.
“Well, you taught him a lesson. Let’s hope he doesn’t see me later,” he quipped. “By chance, has Joe shown up?”
“Colin’s friend? Not that I know of,” I replied. “Why?”
“I was speaking with Colin earlier and he was wondering about it.”
I shook my head in reply. Deciding that it wasn’t of much importance to him at the moment, Cameron put his arm around me and pulled me closer to him.
“Feeling confident?” I asked him.
“Mostly.”
I chuckled. “That doesn’t sound too confident.” I turned my head and kissed his shoulder.
“We’ll do just fine, I’m sure of it.”
“It’s about time you start thinking that,” I told him with a huff. “Only three hours before the show, but better late than never.”
Amoeba, myself, and a handful of others stood backstage as it neared eight o’clock. The stage was just about done being prepared, and the band was doing the same.
Willie stood stoically, tapping his fingers against his side to a rhythm only he could hear. Dale and Lee were getting last minute drinks into the systems, and Cameron stood beside me with his hand on the small of my back.
“Just play like you always do, Colin,” I said as a reminder. He was feeling a little nervous, but didn’t have to be. “And don’t forget the important part of drumming,” I added with a sly grin. “If you make a mistake, glare at Lee.”
Colin laughed, and I hoped I’d eased his nerves a little. I gave Cameron a kiss when they called for them to get on stage.
“Go out there and rip it up,” I urged him. “Kick some ass.”
He winked and gave me a final kiss, then headed out onto the stage with the others.
By the beginning of the third song, they had completely won over the audience. I was beaming with pride, and felt elated at what this meant. The band would win over the North American audience, I was sure, and even the fans in Canada would hear about the festival and how it was going.
As they regrouped and began the slow intro for Dust, a popular track from their second album Osmosis, I was approached by a staff member and asked to follow him. I did, but asked what the reason was.
“Security says there’s a woman trying to get back here. Claims she knows you,” he added.
I furrowed my brow, but didn’t voice my confusion. Only a minute later when we arrived at the edge of the reserved area did I realize that I was rightly confused: I had no idea who she was.
“This is her,” the staff member said as he gestured to the woman. She had medium-length dark blonde hair and wore a striking shirt paired with mid-thigh shorts.
“Are you Emily?” she asked, not letting the security guard speak before she did. “I’m Autumn Dunn,” she explained. “Colin’s friend.”
A puzzled look crossed my features and I let out a dry laugh. “Where are you staying right now?” If she would answer correctly, it must be her.
“San Fernando. But we grew up together.”
A light flicked on in my mind. “Is your middle name Jo?” I asked.
“God!” she scoffed. “He’s still calling me that? It’s Joanne,” she told me.
I nodded to the security guard and thanked him. “I know who she is, it’s alright.”
The guard returned to his reserved manner after letting her in, and I walked with her to the center of the reserved area.
“We thought you’d be a man,” I confessed to her in a lighthearted tone. “He didn’t say you were, but he never said you weren’t.”
Autumn laughed, and the sound was contagious. “He can be private sometimes. But then again, sometimes he won’t shut up,” she chuckled.
“You want something to drink?”
We walked over to the closest liquor table and poured ourselves drinks, before I led her to a small table nearby. We sat, and there was only a short moment of slightly awkward silence before she spoke.
“Colin told me that it’s your boyfriend’s band,” she said, though it almost seemed a question. “How long have you two been together?”
“Since May of last year,” I answered. “Me and my sister visited a relative in Scotland and I met Cameron by chance.”
“Was it love at first sight?” she cooed, a large smile on her face.
I couldn’t help but smile as well. “It was something at first sight, that’s for sure,” I laughed. “He kept showing up at our aunt’s house and asked me to come see a show, but after a week I had to fly back home,” I added.
Autumn’s face clearly showed her interest. “But you’re with him now, so you went back?”
“Are you sure you don’t know the story already?” I asked with a laugh. She added to the sound but assured me she hadn’t, so I continued. “He made a big impression on me while I was with him,” I told her. “He asked me to come on the tour last year and I did. That was for the album before this one.”
“That’s so sweet!” she gushed.
“What about you?” Anyone back in England, or here?”
Autumn shook her head with a small frown. “I don’t have much luck with love,” she admitted. “From what I’ve seen, it’s true that men are from Mars and women are from Venus.”
“You’re certainly from Venus,” I retorted. “You’re gorgeous, look at yourself!”
Autumn blushed, and thanked me shyly.
“Men, on the other hand, are mostly idiots regardless of which planet they’re from. But you must be Colin’s age, or just about?”
She nodded. “A year younger. My birthday’s this Wednesday, actually.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it, then,” I said to her. “Honestly, you’ll never know when you find the right person. But it’s very rarely done without trial and error beforehand.”
We continued our conversation for a little while longer, until we needed refills. We both chose wine, and then walked over to the other side where we had a view of the stage. I swelled with pride once again, watching them perform. They were just about to head into the last song, and the audience’s roar when their instruments quieted was incredible.
“How many people are here?” Autumn asked in awe.
“A hundred thousand,” I estimated. “At the very least.”
“Holy.”
“They’ve outdone themselves,” I said happily.
I spoke to myself, mainly, but Autumn replied with a similar opinion. “They sound really great together! I didn’t think it would be bad, but it’s better than I expected.”
We stood and watched the rest of the performance, and as the last notes tapered off we made our way closer to where the band would come from after leaving the stage. Dale was first, Willie following on his heels towards the closest liquor table. The rhythm trio exited the stage together; Cameron nudged Colin’s arm when he spotted us.
Colin’s head whipped towards us and his face lit up. “Jo! You’re here,” he exclaimed as he darted over. “I’m thrilled to see you!”
The pair hugged, and it was nice to see their reunion. Colin had previously told me that they’d last seen each other at Christmas, and Autumn seemed just as happy as he was.
“No one calls me that anymore, Colin,” she scolded him in a playful tone.
He looked at her in surprise. “You’re using your first name?” Autumn nodded in reply, but Colin kept their conversation short. “Encore,” he explained to Autumn with a wink, and headed back out onto the stage with the others.
With Amoeba’s performance ending just after nine-thirty, we all got into the bus and headed back to the hotel. Everyone split up to their rooms, with Autumn accompanying Colin, with a plan to congregate in the downstairs bar once everyone had cleaned up.
As soon as Cameron closed the door behind us, I gave him a look of confusion. “Did you see Willie back there?”
Cameron chuckled softly. “I did.”
“I can count on one hand the times I’ve seen him laugh at someone else’s joke,” I said in exasperation. “I’ve said some funny shit that he’s barely cracked a smile at.”
“It’s funny,” Cameron began with a small laugh. “I think I saw his brain explode when she asked if he’d changed the pickups on his guitar.”
I nodded. “Should I bring a mop to the bar, or do you think he’ll be able to keep his jaw shut?”
When Cameron and I walked into the bar downstairs, Lee was already sitting at a table with Dale. Only three other guests were present; one man seated at the bar chatting with the bartender, and two people who I assumed were a couple sitting at a table on the other side of the room.
“How’s the drink?” I asked Dale. I was eyeing the amber liquid in his glass longingly.
“Very drinkable,” he replied. “Want one?”
I nodded. “Absolutely.”
“I’ll get you one,” he told me. Dale then stood and walked over to the bar, where Cameron was already ordering a drink for himself.
“We did well tonight, didn’t we?” Lee spoke, his tone prideful.
I nodded, a smile on my face. “You killed it,” I assured him. “I think the headliner was worried about following you guys.” I laughed, and Lee joined in.
“I’m quite certain tomorrow will be the same.”
I agreed with Lee, then thanked Dale for my drink; he had just sat back down at the table and placed a glass in front of me as Cameron took a seat next to me.
We chatted for ten minutes or so, until Colin and Autumn joined us, followed a few minutes later by Willie. I noticed Willie's hair was dry, but I knew he’d been dripping after the concert and I was sure he had showered. 'Did he use a blow dryer?' I asked myself.
With Cameron, Lee, and Dale to my left, Autumn sat beside me. Colin and Willie took the last two seats at the large table, after having come from the bar with drinks in their hands. As they sat, I thanked no one in particular that the table was round and big enough for us all to sit comfortably.
“A toast!” Dale proclaimed as he raised his glass. “We did fucking great!”
A chorus of agreement and cheers followed as we all raised our drinks.
“You too, come on,” I told Autumn with a wink. She smiled at me and raised hers as well. “Drink up, fools!”
The bartender took more steps to refill our glasses than he would have if he’d participated in a half-marathon, and I’m positive that he was annoyed at our constant requests by the time our celebration turned into lighthearted chatter.
“So, Autumn,” Cameron asked during a lull in conversation, “how can you stand to be friends with Colin?”
“He’s insufferable!” Lee added dramatically.
Autumn chuckled and I noticed Willie looking at her intently, though he was trying to be discreet about it. “He’s a bothersome weirdo, but he understands me,” she answered with a wink at Colin. “What else can I say?”
“And your boyfriend doesn’t mind Colin’s terrible good looks?” Willie asked inquisitively.
“Oh,” she muttered shyly. “I’m not seeing anyone.”
I could feel the shyness coming off of her, and decided to put a joke in. “Colin’s not that good looking, anyway.” Autumn gave me a sideways glance of appreciation; I knew the feeling of being bombarded with questions from strangers.
Colin himself laughed, and a few other chortles joined in.
“Be careful how you reject men,” Dale interjected through his laughter. “You might end up having to be like Emily.”
“What does that mean?” I indignantly.
“I heard you slapped that Goblin bloke,” he replied.
“Oh, yeah,” I nodded, and couldn’t help but smile. “I almost had to beat Crusty McGee with a stick.”
Everyone burst into laughter except for Autumn, who looked at me with shock on her face. “You had to beat someone?” she asked in concern.
“No, no,” I assured her. “I just slapped him really hard. He went away after that.”
“Oh, good,” she mumbled. “I’ll save the bartender a trip,” she added. “Anyone want a refill?”
Nearly everyone replied with a yes, so she stood and brought three empty glasses to the bar. Willie stood as well, and took the remaining glasses with him to the bar, standing beside her. I could see them chatting from the corner of my eye, but the conversation at the table continued.
“What’s the next date we play?” Lee asked.
“We’re heading up towards San Francisco,” Cameron informed him. “Tuesday and Thursday we’ve got shows in the area.”
“Oh, speaking of! Autumn’s birthday is Wednesday. Maybe we should invite her with us tomorrow?” I said, rather than asked. We were planning on having a post-festival celebration at multiple locales, which sounded like a good way to spend a Saturday.
“Why not?” Dale asked rhetorically.
Autumn’s voice was the next one to be heard. “Maybe,” she said to Willie, who was walking beside her with drinks in his hands. “Are you seeing anyone?”
Colin’s eyebrow raised but he didn’t say anything.
“Sort of,” Willie replied to her. They spoke as if no one else could hear them.
“I only date men who are sure they’re single.” she replied firmly. She sat beside me once more, but Willie stood motionless for a moment.
“Hold on,” he said, as if it was an announcement, then walked back over to the bar.
I turned in my chair, but I would have heard Willie even if I hadn’t. He demanded the bartender let him use the phone, and once it was in his grasp he dialed. I wasn’t the only one squinting at Willie in confusion, but once he spoke, I realized what was happening.
“Hi, Dena,” Willie greeted the recipient of his late-night call.
“Is this actually happening?” asked, though my question was barely audible.
“Something’s come up,” he said into the receiver. His tone was blunt but had a hint of remorse; even I knew that Willie wasn’t one to shy away from the upcoming event by doing it over the phone. “You should see other people. Don’t wait around for me.” He curtly said goodbye to Dena and hung up.
It was jarring to see this unfold. I had met Dena before we’d left for the tour, and I liked her, but it seemed that Willie didn’t want her anymore.
He strode back to the table and sat down, ignoring the stares of incomprehension to look directly at Autumn. “Will you go to lunch with me tomorrow? I’m sure I’m single.”
It neared one in the morning when Cameron and I left the bar and made our way to our room. We spoke briefly about what had happened downstairs, and Cameron revealed he was just as surprised as I was to see what Willie had done.
“Though, I can’t much blame him,” he added as an afterthought.
“Why not?” I asked with a chuckle.
Cameron smiled at me as he answered my question. “I suspect he’s got the same feeling I had when I met you,” he said quietly. “Urgency.” Without another word, he took his shoes off and then stripped completely, going into the bathroom to shower.
I thought about writing a short letter for Liliane, and completing it tomorrow, but I was too tired to put pen to paper. Instead, I took my shirt off and laid on the bed. I lost track of time, but when I sat up Cameron had shut off the water and was just about to come out of the washroom. When he did, moments later, I gasped.
“A naked man!” I said, mocking surprise. “The horror.”
Cameron’s soft laugh filled my ears, and I stood to walk towards him. He didn’t speak, but looked at me lovingly.
“You did great tonight,” I told him. “I’m proud.”
A smile spread across his face and I mirrored the expression. “Thank you, Emily,” he said softly as he pulled me into his arms.
“You’re welcome.” I looked at Cameron, and saw the softness in his eyes. A breath caught in my chest, and he leaned forward to kiss me.
He pulled back after a moment, but I didn’t let him end the kiss. I put my hands on his hips, gently moving my fingers across his warm skin. Our lips parted at the same time, and with the heat of the kissing I wasn’t surprised when I felt him reacting.
“You’re beautiful when you blush,” I cooed. The shyness on his face grew, and I giggled. “Really. You are.”
He kissed me once more, though this time he was the one who didn’t let go.
‘You’re gonna play like that?’ I said to myself. ‘You’ll regret it.’
I trailed my hand downward, all while keeping my mouth on his. I had no doubt that he was feeling turned on; I was too. My fingertips brushed his hair and then his skin, and he moaned quietly.
I pulled back to chuckle, but the sound cut short when I saw Cameron’s eyes. Brown irises, usually strong and solid as if made of wood, now looked like an endlessly deep pool of mud. I felt my own cheeks redden as I touched him with more determination, a shaky exhale escaping his lips.
“Don’t do this to me,” he begged in a whisper.
I looked at him with innocence on my features. “Do what?”
Cameron moved his hands along my sides but kept his eyes on me. “Tease me,” he whispered. “Drive me wild.”
I bit my bottom lip in thought, just as he groaned softly. I put my lips to his collarbone and gave him a series of quick kisses, slowly dragging my lips lower. His skin was still warm, and he smelled of flower-scented hotel soap.
I dropped to my knees, and as I passed his navel, I flicked my tongue across his skin. I felt his muscles tense for a quick moment before relaxing again, and I smiled, moving lower and putting my mouth to him.
The quiet sounds coming from him only made me want him more. I could feel my body vibrating, as if electricity was surging through me, and pulled back just long enough to speak.
"You taste so good." It was nearly a moan, and Cameron's body jerked at my words. I put my mouth back to his skin, making him moan this time.
I worked on him until he put his hand to my cheek, surprising me. I pulled away from him and giggled, wiping my mouth as I did so.
Cameron sank to his knees and kissed me forcefully, pushing me backwards until I lay on the floor under him. He popped the button on my jeans and pulled them off in one movement, along with my underwear.
"Bra," he said in a firm tone.
I lifted my back off the floor and unhooked it, pulling it off of my chest and tossing it to the side. His hands and mouth roamed over me; I inhaled sharply when his fingers grazed between my legs.
He raised an eyebrow and looked at me with a sly grin. "Reap what you sow," he muttered, at the same moment he brought his dominant hand downward.
"What do you—oh!"
Rick is a dick and really Willie, going after Colin's friend. Very interesting the interplay between them.
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