Meet-and-greets were a hectic time.

With every stop on the tour, a meet-and-greet was held so that the band could engage with their fans while on the road. It was an exhausting and long process, especially for Gabe who could barely tolerate other humans for more than five minutes let alone screaming fans.

As Mark had explained to Gabe when he first started, there was more to being a roadie than just lugging equipment around. They were responsible for stage production, merchandise sales, catering, hotel and venue bookings, pop-up meetings, security, promotion, advertising, management and more.

Despite his level of experience, Gabe was somehow put on door-duty, much to his chagrin.

A long table had been set up at the front of a large room where the meeting was being held. The stadium held many function rooms that were used for different purposes. Fans had purchased tickets in advance to this particular event and were streaming in by the minute.

Gabe watched the scene unfold into one colossal affair. His ears threatened to bleed from the level of screaming and the frown sketched on his face became more permanent with every fan that walked through the door.

The band was positioned up front where a long queue swallowed the room. People were craning their necks and standing on their toes just to get a glimpse of the band from the back. Security guards kept the rowdy crowd in check.

Tyler and Nate were the life of the party, flashing their dazzling smiles at young girl and putting on their boyish charm. They posed for photos, taken by a hired photographer, and signed a number of items such as photos and booklets before moving on to the next person.

Austin was all hugs and affection. He warmly enveloped each fan that greeted him and offered them a small wristband with the band's logo on it as a gift. He would wrap his arms around the fan once more as they took their photo.

However, it wasn't just girls that filled the room. A number of boys occupied the space too and would break out in grins when they reached the front of the line and met their idols. It was an even mix of young teens and adults as The Seventh Affliction had a very diverse fanbase.

The fourth band member sat right at the end of the table. Gabe couldn't see through the crowd from where he was standing but he'd seen a glimpse of the band's drummer that morning when they were setting up the room.

There was something about Harley Stone that drew fans to him, even with the lack of smiles he offered and cold shoulder he put out. Besides Tyler, he was surprisingly the most-surrounded by fans as they encircled him with beaming faces and loud screams of excitement.

It was hard to spot Harley through the crowd due to his all-black attire. Despite being a full-blown rock band, the other boys had chosen to don lighter clothes such as whites and greys, but Harley stuck to his usual goth aesthetic.

Gabe listened as fans shouted the names of their favourite band members, many in sync like a high-school cheerleading squad. It was tedious and gave Gabe a pounding headache within only twenty minutes.

Security kept the line moving at an even pace but a few fans had attempted to break through and run to the front. Gabe rolled his eyes as one girl made a break for it, only to be pulled back by Drew.

"These girls, I'm telling you man," Drew groaned as he let go of the pouting girl. "This is insane."

"No argument from me." Gabe replied, scowling in the general vicinity of the enraptured fans.

"I swear that last one nearly fainted at the sight of Nate." Drew drawled on. "How can someone have that much of an effect on you?"

Gabe cast a look at Drew, not bothering to reply as the question was rhetorical. Instead, they stood side by side, watching the chaos unfold.

Suddenly, Jordan came running over to them. "Can one of you watch up front for a moment? I've gotta go get more booklets!"

"I gotta stay back here, man," Drew replied sympathetically. "These girls are getting out of hand."

Jordan turned to Gabe with a desperate look. "Gabe?"

Gabe cast a glance towards the front where fans were swarming the boys. Just the thought of being so close to so many hysterical fans was enough to make him feel violently sick. "Definitely no-"

"Great, thanks!" Jordan cut him off, turning back towards the exit. "I'll be back in a minute!"

"What? Jordan, wait-ugh." Gabe growled under his breath, but the other boy was already gone.

Drew laughed. "It's only for a minute, Gabe."

"Fuck off Drew." Gabe snarled, not in the mood for his mockery.

Gabe could still hear Drew laughing from behind him as he stalked his way to the front, pushing roughly past overwrought fans who wouldn't move when he asked.

Jordan had been standing post right by the signing table. Fantastic, Gabe thought to himself as he stomped to the front of the room. Stuck right in a sea of animals.

Mark looked up at Gabe's approach but said nothing as the roadie took up post near the table. He was too busy managing the band to deal with a quick exchange in security.

Gabe stood with loathing look as he watched the crowd. The meet-and-greet was only an hour and a half in duration but he already had a splitting headache forming in the back of his mind. Though Gabe was used to running on two hours of sleep and large doses of caffeine, he couldn't deal with the band's manic fans and didn't know how they could either.

It may have sounded strange given the fact that Gabe worked as a roadie for a major band, but he had never really cared for the job the way one might expect. It didn't matter to him whether he was setting up a mixing desk or out on the street fixing some fat dude's blown gasket. Money was money, and that was all Gabe cared about.

Some days the thought would arise in Gabe's head. What would he be doing if Mark hadn't found him? If he had finished high school? Did he care enough to put in the mental effort to know?

Over the years, Gabe had found he cared about it very little, so that thought had been shut away and he kept his eyes forward. He didn't need a glamorous job. He just needed to get paid, even if it meant dealing with idiots for a good eighty-percent of the day.

Briefly caught up in his own thoughts, Gabe hadn't noticed how much the line had shifted while he was zoned out. A group of young girls now stood at the front, talking excitedly to one another as they prepared to meet the boys.

Gabe didn't notice it at first. One moment the girls were chatting and stepping up to take their turn and the next, the girl at the back was swaying slightly on her feet before she crashed to the floor.

Gabe reacted on instinct. He rushed forward and parted the crowd in angered tones before moving in to check on the girl who was unconscious on the floor. Having completed a compulsory first-aid course, Gabe could tell she had fainted. Oh, the irony.

He moved to pick her up when suddenly someone appeared beside him. Gabe expected it to be Austin as he was the more caring and maternal member of the band, but to Gabe's complete surprise, Harley appeared at his side.

"Position her on her back," the drummer instructed, taking the girl's hand. "And check her breathing."

Gabe followed without question. The crowd peered down at the scene with wide eyes, no one moving as they watched in awe. Gabe rolled the girl from her side to her back, checking for signs of her breathing. He nodded in confirmation to Harley.

Without a word, Harley placed his arms under the girl and lifted her up. "Get out of the way." he called as he began to walk to the front. "Move."

Mark took a step forward as the room went quiet. "Harley, is she-"

The band member sent Mark a look Gabe didn't understand before looking over his shoulder at Gabe. "You. Follow."

Gabe scowled but followed the drummer through the doors at the front of the room that led into a smaller room. Fitted with a couch and a series of tables, it was clearly a dressing room.

Silently, Harley laid the girl on the couch and stood back. He gestured to Gabe without looking at him. "Come here."

"I'm not a dog." Gabe spat as he moved forward. Harley shot him a look but didn't respond.

Leaning down on his knees, Harley gently shook the girl's shoulder, adding a little force when she began to stir. Opening her eyes, they widened at the sight of Harley.

"Y-you-" she breathed in shock.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Harley demanded.

The girl managed to shake her head but brought a hand to her forehead. "What happened?"

"You fainted. We have a medic here who can check you out but first I want to make sure you're alright."

The girl sighed and closed her eyes. "I don't need a medic. I know what happened."

"Why did you faint?" Gabe asked. Harley glanced at him briefly before turning back to the girl.

"I'm hypoglycaemic," the girl explained. "I guess I just forgot to eat this morning before coming here."

Reaching into a small cooler that Gabe hadn't noticed, Harley pulled out a bottle of Gatorade and handed it to the girl. He also produced a packet of sweets which the girl accepted thankfully.

"I'm glad it's not serious," Harley said. "But I would feel better if you allowed our medic to check on you before you go."

The girl seemed to contemplate the idea. "I don't want to be a bother."

"We hire people for a certain reason." Harley said, rubbing the girl's back gently. "It's no bother."

Gabe stood awkwardly in the centre of the room. He couldn't help the level of surprise that overcame him as what seemed to be an out-of-character move from Harley occurred as he took care of the girl.

"How old are you?" Gabe asked the girl.

"Seventeen."

"Are those your friends out there?" he asked and she nodded.

"Do they know about your condition? Can you get home safely?"

"We got here by train." the girl responded.

"If you would allow it, I would like to arrange for a car to take you home, on me." Harley spoke with an unheard tone of concern that shocked Gabe. "My mom is hypoglycaemic. I know what it's like."

"You really don't have to do that." the young girl frowned. "I'll be f-fin-"

"It would make me feel a lot better." Harley said.

Giving in, the girl nodded. "Okay. Thankyou."

"Can I speak to you in the hallway?" Gabe interjected sharply, looking at Harley.

Harley looked up at him with a blank look before turning to the girl. "We'll just be a moment. I will send for a medic shortly."

Standing up, Harley followed Gabe out into a hallway that opened on the other side of the room. Gabe waited for Harley to shut the door and turn to him before saying, "What the hell was that?"

"What was what?"

"You. In there with the girl. Since when are you all buddy-buddy with people?"

Harley didn't look startled by the question as Gabe had hoped. "How should I be?"

Gabe glared at him. "So are you just selective with who you care for or do you really not give a damn about anything?"

Gabe expected Harley to come back with a biting retort, but instead he leaned casually against the wall, arms folded over his chest as he raised an eyebrow. Calmly, he asked, "Is that what you think of me?"

The question caught Gabe off guard, though he didn't show it. "I don't think anything of you."

"Anything is better than nothing."

"Does it matter so much to you what I think?"

"Careful," Harley said. "Is that another question?"

"Elementary school has failed you. That's usually the tone people use when they ask a question."

"I mean," Harley kicked a leg up against the wall and leaned back. "It is my turn to ask a question, but I suppose I'll let your double-up slide. Are you sure that's what you want to use your question on?"

Gabe frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"You've asked me a question twice now and in return, I'll do the same."

Gabe's mind flicked back to the other night in the bar. It was the last exchange he'd had with the band's drummer and felt like centuries ago.

"You're not turning this into a game." Gabe scowled.

To his annoyance, Harley smirked. "Why shouldn't I?"

"Are you always this passive?"

"Are you always so subtle?" Harley shot back, a devil's grin on his face that he shrugged off carelessly. "You can ask me that, but that means it's my turn again."

"Your turn?"

"To ask a question."

"Just because I asked you one?"

Harley's form expression never faltered. "Use it wisely."

Gabe sighed in annoyance. "Fine."

The drummer watched him intensely and Gabe rolled his eyes. "Does it really matter to you what people think?"

"Should it matter?"

"You said anything is better than nothing. That doesn't answer my question."

"Then you should've asked it differently. Now it's my turn."

Harley went to open the door but Gabe stopped him. "I think it's fair that we lay some ground rules."

"There were no ground rules when you asked me. I believe the same rule should apply to you."

Gabe glared. "No personal questions."

Harley thought about it. "Okay. No personal questions. They're not what I care for anyway."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Harley only held his hand up. It could only be taken as an act of authority. "Careful Gabe, you used your turn. Now it's mine."

Harley opened the door and left Gabe alone. In two years, this was only the third encounter he'd had with the band's drummer, but Gabe had a feeling he wasn't about to like whatever had just started.

***

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