The band kicked off their show with a bang. Filled to the brim with a screaming audience, the stadium was buzzing with high energy and loud music. Gabe watched from side stage, keeping an eye out for any falter in the system.

"Dude, relax. You're allowed to enjoy the show." Ryan said, coming up beside him.

"I've already heard the whole set." Gabe replied with a hint of annoyance. "It's not our job to be a crowd member."

In all honesty, Gabe didn't really like the band's music. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd had a favourite song. When you work in the industry all day, it began to blur the lines on the enjoyment aspect.

"Seriously," Ryan exclaimed. "What's got you so wound up? You're even more anal than usual."

Gabe shot a glare towards Ryan. "Nothing's got me wound up. I just want to do my job."

His vision flicked back to the band as Gabe watched Tyler dive into the crowd, moving carelessly through a sea of bodies.

Ryan watched the scene beside him, a look of adoration filling his eyes as he watched Nate solo on his guitar. "He's so good, isn't here?"

Gabe shrugged. "I haven't seen any bleeding ears yet so it can't be that bad."

To Gabe's surprise, Ryan turned to him with a deep scowl etched on his face.

"You know," he said angrily. "Just because you've got a stick up your ass all the time, it doesn't mean you get to shove it up everyone else's."

Without giving the other boy a chance to respond, Ryan stormed off. Gabe watched him leave with a bored expression. He was almost holding back the urge to scoff.

It was rare that humourous emotions slipped onto Gabe's face, but Ryan's antics had him almost on the verge of interest.

Turning away from the stage, Gabe left to find something to do until the show was over.

The show ended late and it was a quarter past eleven by the time security managed to round up the crowd and usher them through the doors and out of the stadium. The band had a three day break between shows so the atmosphere was calmer.

"Alright alright," Mark called when everyone was gathered backstage. "The stage doesn't have to go down tonight so you're free to leave as soon as the basic equipment is packed away for the night. We start at five o'clock tomorrow. Do not be late, and do not make me come looking for you. It'll be the last thing you ever do."

The band, still on a high after their performance, were rowdy and Tyler and Nate were virtually bouncing off the walls in anticipation.

Mark flicked his gaze towards them, pointing a finger at the pair. "You have one job tonight. Don't get drunk. Go and celebrate in a bar if you like but so help me God, if you're hungover tomorrow I'll whoop your asses to Pluto and back."

"Yes mom." Tyler bowed mockingly and Nate chuckled beside him.

Mark simply rolled his eyes and flicked them a dismissive wave. "Get out of here, just don't do anything stupid. As for the rest of you-"

The junior roadies looked up, eyes widened in fear while the senior roadies looked on with bored expressions.

Mark smiled, "-same rules apply. Now get out of here."

Tyler and Nate nearly tripped over each other as they took off running for the exit, firing up the junior roadies with their loud energy and herding them out the door.

"Yo! Gabe," Drew called from the doorway with Jordan. "You coming?"

Gabe looked at them and realised he was yet to move. He glanced back and forth between the stage and the pair before shrugging. "I guess."

They hailed cabs to take them downtown to the nearest bar. Ten minutes later they were out the front of a pulsing club with a line halfway down the block.

The band's limousine had beaten the crew there and screams ensued as Tyler climbed out of the vehicle, lowering his sunglasses as the club's patrons begin to recognise his celebrity figure and became hysterical within seconds.

Being part of the band's crew, the roadies easily cut the line and the juniors are directed onwards by a smug Tyler and Nate with the simple guidance of a hand on their back or the tug of a sleeve.

Complacent with the royal treatment they were receiving, the junior roadies blushed and nearly tripped over their own feet trying to get through the doorway.

Hands grabbed and clasped at anything they can reach in the form of Tyler, Nate and Austin as they cut through the hoard of people out front, clearly dying to get into the hot spot that is the club.

Gabe watched as security made way for the celebrities, pushing away any unwanted hands and keeping back the screaming fans.

Somehow, Gabe's eyes fell onto Harley, who hung back casually most of the time. Situated calmly by Austin, the drummer wore dark sunglasses and kept his head down, his face never giving way to a smile or anything but a frown as he ignored the screaming fans around him.

Obliviousness or ignorance, Gabe was yet to tell. Harley simply made his way into the club without acknowledging a single hysterical fan.

Rolling his eyes, Gabe followed behind Drew and Jordan through the crowd until they're behind the safety barrier put in place by security.

Inside, the roar of screaming fans is replaced by the pulsing, synthetic beat that defines any nightclub.

Wasting no time with trivial socialising, Gabe headed straight for the bar and ordered a round.

Tyler and Nate immediately claimed the attention of the club's patrons as they become the life of the party.

Gabe observed as they made their way up to the VIP section situated above the dance floor. Act like kings and they'll be treated like one.

Drew called out to him from where he, Jordan and Ryan had managed to snag a table. Gabe dumped the tray of drinks down on the table and selected his first poison.

"Which one is ours?" Drew called over the music, pointing to the tray of drinks.

Gabe glowered protectively over the tray. "Get your own. I'm sure one of the pretty boys over there will buy you a drink."

Ryan looked up to make eye-contact with a group of young, hungry-looking businessmen before dropping back down to Gabe with a smirk. "They'll buy me a drink when they want a snack."

"Yuck." Gabe revolted at the idea. "Keep your venereal fantasies out of my line of sight for one night, would you?"

"Oh Gabe," Drew laughed, taking one of the shots off the tray and downing it. "Don't be such a buzzkill. The tall one over there is any gay's guilty pleasure." He held up a dollar bill and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

If looks could kill, Drew would be six feet under. Gabe snatched the bill off him and pocketed it. "That's for the drink you stole."

"Look at them," Jordan sighed dreamily, staring at the band who's drawn away all the club's attention. "We're sitting right here and they're flirting with other people."

"Be glad you get a night off from potentially contracting herpes." Gabe grumbled.

Jordan straightened up. "This is what we get paid to do Gabe. Every person they flirt with tonight is money lost to us."

Drew laughed. "You're just jealous that Nate has his eyes on the brunette over there."

Jordan was up in an instant, scanning the crowd for said brunette. When he noticed Nate sitting with Tyler and Austin, he sat back down slowly, glaring at a snickering Drew. "You're an ass."

"I need another drink." Gabe growled lowly, standing up to head to the bar.

The bartender took his order and Gabe leaned against the bar top as he waited for. Looking around, he noticed that a few men around the club held his gaze. One must've taken his observation as a hint because he stepped towards the bar, coming closer to where Gabe stood.

Blonde, tall and clearly attractive, the stranger walked with a swagger that owned his ego. Gabe couldn't tell if he was confident or just full of himself.

The blonde stopped short in front of Gabe, a smile on his face as he eyed the roadie's dark attire.

"Hey, I'm Jake."

"I don't care." Gabe replied bluntly.

The man laughed. "Wow, playing hard to get huh? This is going to be fun."

"This isn't going to be anything. Fuck off, I'm busy."

Jake smirked, gesturing to the bar. "Can I buy you a drink?"

Gabe held up his glass, staring at the wall in annoyance.

Jake leaned against the bar, clearly not taking the hint. "Where are you from?"

"None of your business."

"What do you do?"

"Work."

"Well, can I at least get your name?" he asked.

Gabe took a sip out of his glass, sparing him no more than a two-second glance. "Gabe."

"Gabe." Jake tested the name on his tongue, smiling in approval. "Well Gabe, you're kinda hot."

"And you're kind of annoying."

Jake's grin was predatory. "Wanna get out of here? My place is just around the corner."

Well, that was fun.

"Look," Gabe turned to face the stranger directly. "I'm only here because my white-trash friends dragged me out on their conquest to acquire a piece of ass tonight. Why don't you go hit on one of them and leave me alone? I like to push the limits of my liver in peace."

Jake grinned. "Maybe, but I like a challenge."

"I'm not a challenge," Gabe glared back. "I'm a nightmare, and you're going to wish you picked a fucking daydream."

"Too bad," Jake sighed. "Because I've already seen you in my dreams."

Clenching his fists, Gabe took another sip of his drink before slamming the empty glass down on the bar and looked over his shoulder with a scowl. "This is the last time I go drinking with those assholes."

The blonde remained oblivious to Gabe's lack of engagement. "I like boys who appear tough. They make it more fun but in the end, I always win." He smiled with a look of hunger fleeting through his eyes.

"Yeah? I think that husband of yours at home would disagree."

Jake frowned. "How did you-"

Gabe tapped his finger once. "The tan line from your wedding ring is obvious, Malibu. Next time you want a piece of action that isn't the missus, think twice about sitting in the sun. Or doing it all. Now, can you please fuck off kindly? I'm trying to finish my drink and you're killing the mood."

"You already did finish it." Jake pointed out.

Gabe turned very slowly to glare at him.

Jake held his hands up in defence. "Okay, geez, I may be married but you should really fix that stick up your ass."

"That's usually how most guys like it." Gabe smirked unpleasantly.

Jake scoffed and walked away. Gabe ordered another drink. Sipping it slowly this time, he propped his elbows up on the bar and stared at all the people wasting their lives that night.

***

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