Page 6 of Ravaged For You

“Wait and see.”

She leads me all the way to the front, just two rows from the very front of the stage. We’re so close that I feel like I can just reach up and grab the microphone from off its stand.

Holy moly.

I did not expect this at all.

“Wow,” I say to my co-worker as we sit. “We’re really quite close to the action here.”

Marie taps me on the shoulder to make me look behind at the giant arena surrounding us. There must be thousands of people here. So many seats, and we’re practically at the very front.

“I know someone who works high-up in the ticketing office at this place,” she explains. “I was able to sweet-talk them into these seats, plus I’m willing to fork out a bit extra to be close to the closest guys our modern world has to Greek gods.”

I roll my eyes.

“It’s a great atmosphere alright,” I reply. “We’re in the thick of it.”

I decide not to thank her again. She’ll just get snappy at me for being such a damp towel.

The closest thing I’ve come close to something like this was a few years ago when I went to Comic Con in San Diego. Back then, I’d dressed up as a superhero and spent the day wandering around the conference floor, looking at the different stalls and seeing interviews with actors from big blockbuster films. That was a fun day. I’d saved up a lot of money to attend, which is unusual for me. I’m not a big spender, and certainly not for things like this or Comic Con. The truth is that my bank account is a bit dry and has been for some time.

It’s fair to say I don’t usually do things like see a band live, and certainly not on my own. I know who I am. Shy and introverted. Happier to spend the night at home than on the dancefloor. But I have made a commitment to change this year.

We make ourselves comfy in our seats and gossip about work as the pre-show ends.

Then, soon enough, it’s time for the main event.

The lights go down in LA Forum.

The music roars up.

The crowd goes crazy as everything gears up for Ravaged’s appearance.

Marie, next to me, is practically trembling in excitement, and it’s starting to rub off on me. The expectation is killing me now…

What will these boys be like, especially when we’re so close?

A thousand girls scream as the band sprints onto the stage. I feel myself let out an involuntary gasp as the boys take their positions just in front of me.

We really are so freaking close.

I could reach out and touch them.

The lead singer – I’m presuming that’s Drake – raises his hand in a welcoming salute. He bites his lip and smiles at the crowd. He’s wearing a silver chain around his neck and there’s a really cute solitary curl of hair dropped over his brow. Blue eyes that shine forth.

He. Is. Gorgeous.

Now I understand Marie’s dramatic comment about them being Greek gods. They are all perfect specimens of the male species.

Drake brings the microphone to his full lips and speaks.

“Los Angeles, ready to make some noise?”

The arena roars again. I find myself cheering along with Marie.

This is certainly not my usual style, but you just can’t resist the atmosphere. Even an introvert like me. I’m whipped up in it with all these other women ecstatic for these rockstars.

Drake points to the man holding a guitar next to him. “Give it up for Bishop.”