Smooth Criminal

I couldn’t help but constantly pull and tug on the simple gray halter top Amanda somehow gotten me to agree to wear. I wasn’t used to showing this much skin. And as much as my dear best friend didn’t want to admit, the high waisted skinny jeans I was crammed into didn’t make up for the space where my shirt was supposed to be. You could very well see my stomach. And if any one of my father’s cop buddies saw me, they’d immediately report their sightings to my father and I’d be murdered.
“Would you knock it off, Stella? You look amazing,” Amanda reassured me as she tugged her personally cut off Green Day tee down a little lower to show off more of her cleavage.
“You can see my stomach…” I whimpered pathetically.
“Yeah, um, hello. Why didn’t you tell me you were working on a six pack, love? You look hot as fuck. It’s time we embrace this gorgeous beyond gorgeous body of yours.”
I couldn’t help but smile at her encouragement and my worries seemed to flee my mind for once. The two of us hooked arms and walked our way through the parking lot to the doors.
“Ten dollars for the ladies. Hands please?” the bouncer smiled down at us. Amanda gave him her most flirtatious smirk and held her hands up to the man so he could mark her with the X’s. I chortled quietly at her behavior as he went to mark my hands next.
“You’re so ridiculous,” I laughed as we walked away after Amanda sent a wink to the bouncer.
“He was hot. What can I say?” Amanda shrugged innocently and I laughed even harder.
“You, my dear, are hopeless.”
“I resent that.”
We quickly made our way to the forming crowd that was building around the stage and waited for the band to start the show. I absentmindedly tugged on the bandana that was keeping my bangs out of my face to make sure that the knot was kept to the side where Amanda tried for several minutes to make it stay. After twenty excruciating minutes, the house lights went dim and the crowd began to go ballistic. Amanda grabbed my right hand and started jumping up and down with excitement while I kept my composure for the two of us and just smiled at her.
“Baltimore!” the front man we all knew as Alex Gaskarth, yelled into his mic. “How we doing tonight?” The crowd screamed frantically before him and a massive grin developed on his face. “We’re a band called All Time Low. Enjoy.”
The guitarist, Jack, who was in my fourth period history class, started to play a riff and the concert officially started.
“When it all comes down to a sunrise on the east side, will you be there to carry home…” Alex sang out from the stage.
“The remains of my wasted youth!” Amanda shouted out next to me, holding her fist in the air and shaking her hips to the beat. I bobbed my head along to the song and was suddenly caught off guard when Amanda yanked me forward, carrying us both to the front of the mass of people singing and shouting along to the song. We finally came to a stop when we were in front of the barricade in front of the stage and Amanda went on, singing at the top of her lungs along to the boy who sat three rows in front of me in English class.
“The taste of your lips says we shouldn’t have met like…” the bass player who’s name I didn’t know since he didn’t attend Dulaney High School sang out.
“I can keep a secret if you can keep me guessing. The flavor of your lips is enough to keep me pressing,” Alex sang in a hushed tone. I eyed all of the band members, taking in their stage presence as they performed. As my eyes fell on Alex, we were suddenly making eye contact and a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “The flavor of your lips is enough to keep me here. Keep me here,” Alex sang as he smiled at me once more before winking at me and breaking the eye contact we had going and finished the song. As the music faded out, I finally let in a sharp inhale, unaware that I had been holding my breath.
“What the fuck was that?!” Amanda shrieked at me. “Alex Gaskarth totally just had a moment with you! Alex fucking Gaskarth just had a moment with my best friend! My best friend who was standing right next to me! Holy shit!”
I let out a laugh and shook my head at the frantic girl. “That meant nothing, Manders. He was just in the moment. I doubt he’ll even remember any of that happening by the time he steps foot off stage.”
“He’s a fucking idiot if he forgets this beautiful face,” Amanda coos at me, pinching my cheeks between her fingers.
“He’s a fucking idiot in general, babe. He’s in eleventh grade English and he’s a senior.”
“He’s still drop dead gorgeous…”
I rolled my eyes at Amanda and turn my focus back to the stage, allowing myself to finally let go and have a good time for once in my life.

When the concert ended, Amanda and I made our way to the bathroom to do our business before we made the drive home.
“Hey, I’m gonna go grab a bottle of water for the road,” I called to my friend through her stall door and made my way to the bar to make my purchase.
“Can I get a bottle of water please?” I said politely to the bartender who seemed very tired from dealing with all of the drunken idiots all night long. He smiled wearily at me and nodded before turning to go get my beverage.
“Baby, you can have whatever you want.”
I jumped in my spot, startled by whoever decided it was a good idea to sneak up on me. I quickly spun around and was met by a very tall, very sweaty Alex Gaskarth. I felt my body relax at the realization and I turned around to collect my purchase.
“Thank you,” I smiled at the bartender, handing him my five dollar bill. “Keep the change, love.”
“She’s absolutely stunning and polite. Wow, you’re the complete package,” Alex chirps from my side. “Alex Gaskarth.” He puts himself directly in front of me so that I have no other choice but to stop walking to avoid crashing into him and making an ass out of myself.
“I know. You’re in my English class, Alex,” I stated dryly, not in the mood for whatever game he was trying to play.
“No shit. Am I really? I think I’d remember those eyes if I ever saw them before.”
I roll my eyes and go to make my way around the lanky teenager, but he acted faster than I did and side stepped to block my way again. “Stella Underwood,” I finally say, my aggravation growing bigger by the second. Alex’s eyes grow wide with sudden recognition.
“Oh! You’re Parker’s little sister! Isn’t your dad, like, some big-wig cop?”
“As a matter of fact, he is. And I’m pretty sure he’s arrested you at a few parties before. Meaning you’re totally wasting your time on me, Alex. I’m not interested.” I finally make my way around Alex and disappear to go find Amanda who was standing by the entrance, waiting on me.
“You okay, babe?” she asks as I walk up to her.
“Yup,” I reply, popping the ‘P’ a little too much. “I’m just ready to go home, dude.”
The two of us made our way back to Amanda’s car, chattering about how good the show was and how amazing pancakes sounded at the moment.

“He was totally eyeballing you the entire show,” Amanda started as I pulled the pancake mix out of the cabinet.
“Good lord, child. No he was not,” I countered, opening the fridge to get the necessary ingredients. “He was too wrapped up in his own little world to even notice me. And it’s not like I care anyway. No boys, remember.”
“So you’re just going to be a nun for the rest of your life to maintain status of ‘Daddy’s Little Girl’?”
“Amanda, knock it off. I’m not about to go looking for trouble with my dad. Rory already causes the man enough stress for the three of us kids put together. And Parker isn’t exactly any better than Rory. I have to be the sane child. It’s how this works,” I explain to her. “Whisk.”
Amanda hands me the whisk from her post on the countertop and lets out a wistful sigh. “It’s just not fair to you, y’know? You’re a good kid and it pisses me off that he doesn’t see it. He holds you under this microscope, waiting for you to do something wrong so he can finally come unglued on you. It’s bullshit, man.”
“It’ll all be fine once I go away for college.” I focus on mixing the batter and try to not let the anger bubble up inside of me. My dad was such a touchy subject for me and Amanda knew this.
“Stella, we still have a year and a half left of high school. That’s way too long to deal with his bullshit any longer.”
“I’ve dealt with his ‘bullshit’ for over seventeen years, Manders. I’m fine.”
“You’re not though! You’re seventeen years old and you just went to your first concert to see a band where half of the members are in your classes. And you had to lie to go see the concert. That’s a problem…” Amanda pulled her knees into her chest and rested her chin on her knee caps, staring at me with a hurt gaze.
“Can we just… Not talk about this anymore? I promise you, I’m fine.” I looked over at my best friend with a reassuring expression.
“You promise?”
“I promise. Now. I made the batter. You make the pancakes. I’m not doing all of the work here. I’m not your slave, ma’am.”
“So bossy… It’s kinda sexy.” Amanda winked at me and hopped down from the counter.
“You are so hopeless,” I laughed loudly.

Notes