after the show

Luckily, Ellie didn't see Kyle nor Roxie when MSI came on. Anyway, she was busy trying to see Jimmy Urine who was working the crowd with his moves and a baton. He was this jester that was more of a jackal in his spiked points of hair. He made fun of movies. The world. But most of all, "BUY MY STUFF!" During one song, he called some-one's mother on their cell phone. Eric knew all the words to his songs on their new CD "If". Of course, thanks to Leia, Ellie thought she was going to an AFI concert instead of MSI so she knew nothing. She didn't want to dare mention this to Eric.

She saw a few people moshing. She thought she saw Kyle being tossed about. It probably was.

It was so hot. So sweaty. After is was over, she couldn't even hear herself think. The lights came on. People still didn't want to see Jimmy go. Many lingered, but Ellie couldn't wait to to get out of there. Of course, she was pretty sure her eyeliner was dripping down her face.

They walked up the hill a few blocks to his car. There were several catwalk calls in the air. Then someone from behind yelled Eric's name. It was Kyle with Roxie.

Ellie tried to will Eric from saying anything, but they needed a ride.

"Oh, sure, we're going that way, anyway." Eric shrugged.

Ellie gave a deep sigh. She tightened his grip. He tightened his grip right back as if was a code to chill. They all ended up at Village Inn in a booth together ordering coffee and pie. Eric was being social. Talking about drunk people and the biker dudes.

"Its so classic. Not anything like the time I saw my sister making out with Connor at a Bright Eyes concert. But that dude is always plastered," Eric was telling them.

"That is awesome." Roxie was laughing. "I so wish I could be your sister. Well, meet her, anyway."

"No you don't." Eric left it at that. He looked over at Ellie. "So what did you think?"

"It was good." Ellie felt as if her voice was being sent through a tube. Everything she heard was so muffled.

"I think Sufjan Stevens is more your style." He grinned. "I'll take you if he ever comes here again."

It felt better to Ellie to think of Kyle and Roxie just people who needed a ride home. He couldn't be with her. Couldn't be. She so wanted to tell him that Roxie was a slut. She was bad news. But she kept her mouth shut and kept stirring cream in her coffee.

But when they dropped Roxie off first, Ellie was ready to crawl under the seat after the long kiss Kyle gave Roxie when he walked her to the door.

"What is he, the energized bunny?" Eric finally asked, even he was a little annoyed.

Ellie so wanted to beg Kyle never to speak to her again, but she didn't.

"So whats up with you and the Rox?" Eric asked Kyle as they drove toward Kyle's.

"Nothing."

Ellie rolled her eyes.

"It was definitely something, bro." Eric looked up in the rear-view mirror.

"What can I say, " Kyle shrugged as they came to his driveway. "I like leaving a lasting impression." With that he got out and slammed the door shut.

"Ugh." Ellie snarled mouthing 'a lasting impression'.

"Don't be so hard on him." Eric said.

"I hate him." It was true. That's what this had become. He loved what he was doing to her.

"You still want to change your clothes back at my place?" Eric asked.

"I don't care. I'm just tired. I just need sleep." She sighed. She was too tired to think.

"OK." Eric drove to her house then. "You're OK, aren't you? We don't ever have to go to another concert, if you don't want too."

"I'm OK." Although, she didn't sound like it. "It was great. I just could have done without a few people."

"Yeah, like my sister."

"No. Kyle. Roxie," she sighed.

"Don't let them ruin it for you." He stopped the car then. "I love your hair." He smiled and leaned in to kiss her. "And no, stop thinking it, you do not make me think of my sister." He nuzzled close to her neck then breathed into her ear which tickled. Then his kiss on her neck tickled her more. He whispered in her ear then that he loved her. It gave her a shiver.

She smiled. It sounded awkward too, but she managed back a "I love you too," before she Frenched him back. The porch light was blinking then. She knew she had to go. She didn't want too. Why couldn't her parents be asleep? Why did she have a mother who had to stay up for everything?

It was hard to let tonight go, but she had, too.