how could it be

The first band started to play. Tub Ring. The lead singer screamed. It was the keyboard player who interacted with the audience. Of course, no one was budging. Eric told her, "You've got to save your energy for Jimmy." Of course, she wasn't sure she heard him. She kept looking around. Seeing people in Mohawks. Old women were even dressed like her.

Ellie felt a little lame now. A true poser, in fact. It was then that she saw them together. Kyle wasn't in anything special. Something dark, of course, but he was next to Roxie. Maybe it was an accident. Ellie wasn't sure, but it still hit a nerve. How could he do that?

Just as that set was over, she went to bathroom while Eric went to buy water.

Ellie decided to call Leia.

"I'm at an MSI concert," she said.

"AFI. Cool," Leia was happy that she'd called. "I love AFI!"

"Me, too." Ellie had to think. Damn, she thought thats who they were here to see. Not MSI. Who were they? "MSI. Its MSI."

"Oh, that guy." Leia sounded let down.

"Its still cool. Birthday Massacre is up. I really like them."

"Great. Who'd you go with?"

"Eric."

"Eric?" Leia was stumped. "You and Eric?"

"Yeah."

"That's cool. I'm glad you're there for him and all. I guess the poor guy is still stuck on Cory, huh?" She made it sound as if it was sad about Eric.

"Its not like that," Ellie said wondering how to explain it without it sounding strange. "We're together. Actually."

"OMG. You are kidding, aren't you?"

"No. I'm not. We're shockingly amazingly disgustingly happy. I really like him." Ellie felt genuine when she said it too. And she didn't care what Leia thought. Things had changed. She wasn't going to live by Leia's rule about who to date and what to wear. And she'd probably scream even more if Leia knew about her hair.

"That's great. I'm happy for you as long as he makes you happy." Leia told her.

"Roxie's here." Ellie told her what she was calling about. "I think she's with Kyle."

"Kyle? OMG, she has stooped to a new low, if she's with who I think she's with?" Leia sounded shocked.

"Kyle? The guy who lives near me?"

"Yeah, that one. He's such a little shrimp. A punk too." Leia had nothing good to say about him.

"I see." Ellie wished she hadn't called Leia at all now. After all, Leia was Roxie's friend. "I just don't get how you could be her friend when she started a fight with me about her ex who was your boyfriend! How could you be friends with her?" Ellie started yelling into the phone.

Just then she saw Eric in the doorway of the restroom motioning for her to come on. She hung up on Leia before she had a chance to explain. Ellie shut off her phone then and went back to the floor with Eric.