Soon, the bus arrived. Fartstard came to gather us up. He did a double take when he saw me.
“Yeah, I’m here, despite your betrayal,” I said.
“Sorry, but if I’m going to be in anyone’s bad books, your books are much preferable to Damo and Polly’s. It’s just expedient, that’s all.”
He could say that, but he needn’t expect me to be friendly to him ever again.
Crow turned up just as we were ready to leave. I smiled at him, but he ignored me. That cut right down to the bone. We got on the bus, and Damo sat down beside me.
“Are you going to give me a proxy lecture from Polly?” I asked.
“Nope, but, Fay, you’re really interfering with my love life. She’s become totally focused on you. She has nothing left for me.”
I’d thought it might be like that, but I hadn’t asked to be Polly’s first priority.
“Maybe you should talk to her about that, not me. Her obsession with my sex life is becoming a bit creepy.”
“She feels responsible for you. The whole family thing. It’s not that she wants to make you miserable. She just doesn’t want to see you hurt.”
“Why does everyone think I’m going to get hurt? I can have a happily ever after,” I said.
“You can. I’m not denying that. What I am denying is that your happily ever after will be with Crow. He’s a great guy, a fantastic drummer, but he’s no knight in shining armor, by any means.”
I looked out the window, not answering him. Why would I want a knight in shining armor? Would a white knight push me against the wall and kiss me until my lips bruised and my insides screamed for his touch? Because, now I’d had that, I wouldn’t be happy with anything less.
Chapter 10
THAT SHITHEAD FARTSTARD had to give me an all-access pass in the end, because I couldn’t get in without it. The festival grounds thronged with people. The sun shone. The smell of greasy food filled the air, and the music was so loud, the ground trembled. Despite Crow’s reaction, excitement rushed through me. I loved a rock festival.
We jumped out of the van, and I looked around the backstage area. This place was lush. Tarpaulins separated all the different band areas, and slap-bang in the middle was a row of food trucks. I’d get to hang out with real rock stars, not this bunch of bozos. Sure, they might be the headliners of the festival, but I’d seen them at their worst. They held no mystique for me anymore. Well, except for Crow. He had plenty of mystique, but not rock mystique.
I had no idea why everyone was so against him. Not one single person could give me one solid example of why Crow was wrong for me. They just talked nonsense.
He got out of the van, but before I could say anything to him, he walked off. I stared after him, not sure whether to follow or not.
“Come with us and stop gawking,” Elijah said. “We have to find our space, and you won’t know where it is if you wander off.”
I took off after him. I really wanted to go watch some of the bands, but if I didn’t know where the Freaks were set up, I’d never find my way back.
When we got to their space, I gazed around. They had it all going on. A fridge full of drinks running off a generator. Sofas and a few beanbags set around the place. Lockers to put their stuff in. One day, all this would be mine. We’d be the ones headlining festivals. As much as Polly’s nagging bugged me, I could see why she wanted to hit the big time. Not that we were slumming it on the tour, by any means. We had those fancy hotels, but having luxury was so much more awesome when other people could see you had it.
I snapped a few photos. I needed to update my Instagram with this. The world needed to see me here.
“Do you get foot massages too?” I asked.
“Probably,” Elijah said. “If you ask for them.”
He slumped down on the sofa with a beer in his hand. Rose sat with him.
I tossed up between going to see some of the bands playing or waiting around for Crow. He might not come back for hours, though. He really didn’t want to be seen talking to me.
“I’m heading out,” I said. “I’m far too young and pretty to hang out here with you oldies all day.”