“Drummers are hott. There must be a rule that they have to be, or something,” The first girl said as she stirred the drink she had in her hands.

“I guess,” replied the second girl, keeping he eyes locked on the stage.

“Seriously, look at his arms. Nice.” She nodded, “And look how into it he is. That’s hott.”

I had heard enough gawking over my fiancé- the drummer- so I rolled my eyes and made my way out of the venue. I had fought the crowd of girls who filled the venue and was standing in front of the old brick building breathing in the refreshing, damp air when a man wearing a brown hoodie stepped outside. From my spot leaning against the brick I glanced in his direction. It was just starting to get dark, and it was just cold enough to see white puffs of breath.

Lex was so excited about the shows in Chicago. I’m not sure why he was so excited but he said there’s a huge surprise. So far the only surprise is that the venue was actually filled for once, and it was with an overwhelming amount of girls.

Lex was in a ska band called Love of Belladonna. This summer is their 3rd tour, and even though that had gotten a little bit of publicity by being featured on Fuse, they were still touring the old way. When I say tour, I don’t mean driving across the country in elaborate tour busses, staying in fancy hotels and playing sold out crowds. I mean driving across the country is 2 vans filled with equipment, his 6 other band mate who all happen to be obnoxious boys who apparently don’t believe in showers everyday, and only one other girl. I mean playing in shit-hole venues begging the fifty people who actually showed up to buy a CD or two so that we have enough gas money to make it to the next show. I mean sleeping in the crowded vans some nights because there isn’t enough money for a hotel, and when there is a hotel involved there is no such thing as a private room, or any privacy at all. It definitely is not glamorous, but here we are for the third time around. I admit, I can’t say I hate it.

Last summer on tour we were so short on money that the guys actually convinced me and Annie, Topher’s girlfriend and the only other girl with us, to set up a kissing booth for extra money. We raised more money that night than the band did. Some days when I am fed up with the boys and I just want to take a hot shower and sleep in my own bed I remind myself that someday I will look back on these days and kill to have them again. I know I am lucky to be surrounded by my eight best (but worst smelling) friends, seeing the country and meeting (and kissing) tons of new and interesting people.

To quote the Lawrence Arms “I've been traveling with bottles, working close with cans, sitting up for hours with my best friends in a van. Now, they say that this ain't living but I don't know what they mean, cuz I don't feel dead, and baby, you look alive to me.” I guess I could say these are my glory days.

Through the slight darkness that was creeping in, he caught my glance and smiled in my direction. I returned a quick smile then turned back my gaze to focus on the parking meters in front of me. I blew warm air into my hands and shivered. I have never been very outgoing, and even though I had happily been dating my fiancé for over 3 year I still get nervous around guys.

I watched the cars drive by the venue, keeping my head forward while I nervously picked at my nail polish. I heard shuffling come from beside me, so I tried to sneak a glance in his direction. AH, not sneaky enough.

“Hey, you were up in the balcony, right?” the stranger asked as he learned his right shoulder against the building.

I bent my right knee placing my foot onto the wall and pushed my hands deep into my pockets returning my gaze to the parking meters. “Yeah,” I breathed out and rolled my eyes. “I couldn’t take the girls gawking at my fiancé so I came out here,” I explained, hoping he would catch the fiancé part and leave me alone.

I glanced at the stranger as he started to chuckle. With a smirk on his face he nodded and replied ”The drummer right?”

“Yep, that would be him.” After a moment I added, “Drives the girls crazy. God, I hate that.”

“Zac,” said the stranger.

“Huh?” I asked, looking at him confused.

“I’m Zac, not God,” He replied reaching his hand out in my direction. “And don’t worry, that was my wife,” he said, then after a moment added,” the gawker, not God.”

I took his hand and lightly shook it. “Jovie.”

“Jovie” Zac said nodding, “Did that hurt?” he asked squinting at my upper lip. I had a Monroe piercing that I always get questions about.

“Not as much as this one,” I said pointing to the hoop in my right nostril.

“I don’t get you guys.” He said shuddering at the thought of the piercing.

I raised my eyebrows and slowly inquired “I’m sorry, who are you again?”

“Zac, one of Lex’s old friends from back in Oklahoma,” He explained while I nodded slowly, “Lex never mentioned me?” he asked huffing, “What an asshole! He didn’t tell you we are touring together this summer?” I must have had a confused look on my face, because Zac gave me a funny look before he asked me “You ever heard of Hanson?”

He took the hood of his hoodie down, giving me a better view of his face. As soon as his hood was down I realized the connection. Lex always told me that he was friends with Zac back in the day, but I never believed him. I thought he was always mocking me because I used to have a crush on him, but apparently not. It became clear that those girls were really here for Hanson and had nothing to do with Love of Belladonna. I started to laugh but covered my mouth with my hand. After a moment I bit my bottom lip and nodded.

“Thanks,” He replied sounding slightly offended.

Instantly I started apologizing, “No, no sorry, yes. Well… it-yo- no. No, he didn’t tell me. And I wasn’t laughing at you. I-ju- it’s just, you know… Hanson.” I said as I struggled to regain my composure. I cleared my throat then repeated, “Sorry.”

Zac raised his hands to stop me but I kept going.

“No, really, I wasn’t laughing at you. I didn’t even realize it was you. You’re, you, you know and I totally had the biggest crush on you, and that’s why all the girls are here and we won’t have to do a kissing bo-.” I started laughing at myself, but was interrupted by Zac.

“And you look at me like I’m the crazy one,” he responding seeming amused with me.

“And I don’t like you anymore,” I explained, but realized how rude I sounded. I corrected myself, “Shit, I mean I don’t have a crush on you anymore.”

“No, it’s okay, I know I’m irresistible,” he said running his fingers through his hair.

“Right,” I rolled my eyes.

A cold rain started a second later and it was picking up speed. “Actually, on that note I’m going back inside.” I pushed off the wall with my right foot and dusted off the back of my jeans. I reached out my right hand toward Zac and said, “Well, it was nice to meet you. I guess I’ll be seeing you around,” before quickly made my way back into the venue. By the time I reached the door it was cold heavy rain. I looked behind me one more time before entering the club and losing Zac in the crowd.