Searching for Estelle.

Dani gripped my hand and squealed excitedly. “This is so exciting!”

I couldn't help but giggle as I raised an eyebrow at her. We had not long arrived at Ruisrock, and there were large groups of people everywhere and a constant flurry of movement and excitement.

“I'll finally get to see what's so amazing about your boyfriend's band!” she said, nudging me as she stressed the word boyfriend.

I blushed and looked down at my beaten up converse.

“Everything! Don't tell me you've never heard HIM before?” an American voice said behind us, sounding incredulous.

Dani's face broke into a wide grin when she saw Bam there and she shook her head sheepishly.

“I don't think I have.”

Bam looked shocked. “Why the fuck not? Stella, please tell me you like the best band in the world?”

I giggled, thinking that Ville probably wasn't all that far off the mark when he accused Bam of hitting on him. “I do, don't worry Bam,” I assured him.

He let out a sigh of relief. “Good, at least there's some sanity in the world,” he remarked before walking up and wrapping his arms around Dani's waist. I noticed that some of the people around us were beginning to stare, obviously having recognised Bam.

Novak wandered up as well and winked sleazily at me. “Hey, gorgeous.”

“Hi, Novak,” I replied dryly.

Bam shook his head. “Man, haven't you learnt your lesson?”

Novak shrugged. “No harm in trying.”

“There might be,” a deep voice said, and I smiled seeing Jyrki walk over to us.

“Your bag's with all our stuff,” he informed me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders in a half hug.

I smiled up at him. “Thanks, Jyrk.”

He frowned at me. “Are you sure you want to go and stay with Ville tonight?”

I gave him a puzzled look. “Of course I am.”

“Okay,” he replied “Just... be careful, I guess.”

I blushed a little and frowned. “Ville's your friend. Why do you have such a problem with me being with him?”

Jyrki was silent for a minute. “I know he's my friend, but I don't know how I feel about him dating my...”

He trailed off and I raised an eyebrow at him. “Your what, Jyrk?”

He shrugged, thinking. “I don't know, but you're like a sister to me, Stell. I don't want you to get hurt.”

I felt my heart swell and couldn't hold a smile back.

“Awww,” I said, a teasing tone in my voice “That's so sweet.”

Jyrki blushed slightly, which was completely out of character and I laughed.

Mine and Jyrki's conversation was interrupted when I felt someone grab me from behind and lift me up slightly. I let out an unexpected squeal, making everyone else laugh, and once my feet were firmly on the ground swung around to scold the culprit.

However, when I saw Jussi standing there, grinning like a maniac, all I could do was smile back at him. “Jus!” I said with a giggle “You scared the shit out of me!”

“Sorry! I like your shirt,” he said, gesturing to my grey Misfits top. I smiled back at him.

“Thanks, it was a last minute change because someone,” I glared obviously at Jyrki “Threw out the Beatles shirt I was planning on wearing.”

He shrugged. “I hate the Beatles.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help but laugh.

“Besides,” he continued “You were taking way too long to get ready.”

I scoffed. “I did not! I just had no idea what to wear!”

He shook his head. “Anyone would think you'd never been to a festival before.”

I blushed and shook my head. “I haven't,” I said truthfully.

His eyes widened in shock. “Really?”

“Yup,” I said, and noting his dumbfounded expression proceeded to explain “I grew up and lived in a small rural farm town for most of my life until I moved to go to Uni. But even that was in a relatively small city. I always went home during the summer to help with the farm that my parents own, so no. I've never been to a festival.”

“I didn't know your family owned a farm.”

I smiled. “Yeah. A dairy farm. It's pretty good, actually. Mum always wins prizes for her cheesecake, because it's all fresh and made from their product.”

Jyrki frowned at me. “You can win prizes for cheesecake?”

Dani cut in at that point. “It's the best cheesecake ever,” she declared, almost beginning to salivate at the thought.

I giggled and nodded. “Yes. Haven't you ever been to, like, a country fair?”

He looked puzzled. “No. I've always lived in the city.”

I just shook my head. “You really need to get out more, rockstar...”

Everyone laughed at that and Jyrki just stuck his tongue out at me like a child.

“It's almost our turn,” he said, glancing towards the stage they'd be occupying very shortly “So, we'd better leave you.”

I grinned. “Okay.”

He and Jussi both kissed me quickly on the cheek before leaving and I noticed that the stares had increased tenfold.

I blushed a little and busied myself by looking at my feet until Bam declared that we all absolutely had to go and see the Sounds who were on some other stage before the Eyes and that they were amazing, and so dragged us all off in that direction.

I had to admit they were good, but I was excited about getting to see Jyrki and Jussi perform again and then, of course, see HIM for the very first time so I was pleased when we, along with masses of other people, were headed towards the stage they would be performing on soon.

Bam had a firm grip on Dani's hand and I held her other as he made his way through crowds of people, saying that he was tired of the crowds and wanted to hang “where the party was at”.

With that aim, he lead us past several burly security guards and to what I assumed would be classed as the backstage/VIP area.

I had very little idea what he was doing until we found ourselves standing side of stage, watching the crew set up for the 69 Eyes set that was only about 15 minutes away. I was giddy with excitement at the thought of watching my two favourite bands side of stage and I could barely wipe the grin from my face.

I felt a pair of arms snake around my waist and jumped a little before I glanced down and recognised them as Ville's.

“Hi,” he said softly.

I turned around and smiled at him, stretching up on my tiptoes to kiss him.

He chuckled at the height difference and I scowled a little.

“I really hate not wearing heels, now,” I admitted. He laughed and hugged me close to him, comfortably resting his chin atop my head, which just made me feel shorter.

“You are still coming home with me tonight, right?” he asked, his hand playing with the bun my hair was in before taking it out completely.

I sighed and frowned up at him. “I wish you wouldn't do that.”

He just smiled at me. “But it looks so nice out.”

I rolled my eyes, blushing slightly. “Yes,” I answered, returning to the original question “Of course I am.”

He grinned at me. “Did you bring everything you'd need?” he enquired, a sly smile on his face.

I frowned. “Yes, of course I did,” I answered, missing his point entirely.

“Everything?” he asked again, raising an eyebrow.

I blushed and giggled, poking him gently. “You'll just have to wait and see, won't you?”

He laughed.

“Willa!” Bam said, shoving him a little “Pumped for the show?”

Ville looked thoughtful. “I can pretty much guarantee this will be the best show we've ever done,” he finally replied.

Bam frowned. “Why?”

“Good incentive,” Ville replied before giving me a smirk.

I blushed and looked down at both our converses.

Bam looked confused for a minute, before he just shrugged and turned his attention back to Dani who was just giving me a knowing smirk that made me blush harder.

We chatted among ourselves, Bam acting every bit the teenage fangirl, until the entire band walked over to us, Jussi bouncing with excitement and pent-up energy.

I greeted each of the guys and wished them luck (that I was sure they didn't need) before they headed onto the stage, meeting loud screams and cheering.

I'm not sure whether it was because it was at Ruisrock and not in a bar or because I was watching from the side of the stage or just because the guys had their A-game on, but this show was even better than the first time I'd seen them, which felt like it was years ago.

Of course, it could've had something to do with the fact Ville was here watching with me, his arms still wrapped around my waist.

I watched Dani from the corner of my eye and she was watching intently, completely mesmorised. I smiled as I noticed that Bam was holding her similarly to the way Ville was holding me and thought back to her saying she'd “sworn of Americans”. Oh, how wrong she'd been.

The Eyes finished their set with 'Lost Boys' and came off stage a sweaty, adrenalin filled mess, causing Ville to sigh.

I turned and raised an eyebrow at him, confused. “Means I need to go and get ready to go on stage,” he explained.

I nodded and, smiling, leaned up to kiss him again, my hands instantly finding his hair and allowing him to deepen the kiss.

“Stop, please,” Jyrki said, holding up his hands. “I don't really want to see you two making out.”

I blushed and let Ville go, hugging my arms around myself instead. Ville scoffed. “That was hardly making out, Jyrki.”

I giggled and poked him. “You should go.”

He pouted and pretended to sulk. “Anyone would think you were trying to get rid of me,” he accused.

I smiled. “I am,” I replied, and before he could open his mouth to speak continued “I want you to be prepared to play a really good show.”

He grinned and kissed me again before walking off to meet the other guys who had just appeared. I waved at Mige who had just noticed me and grinned widely. I turned back to speak to the other guys but couldn't help but overhear Ville speaking to his band.

“I swear to God, if any of you fuck up tonight...” he said threateningly, which made me laugh.

Jyrki gave me a weird look and I just shook my head, wondering briefly how he'd react if I informed him exactly why Ville was so keen to play a good show. I giggled inwardly and dismissed the idea very quickly.

After what seemed like an eternity, the stage was set for HIM and they walked on to just as many, if not more, cheering and screaming than the 69 Eyes had.

Once Ville had stepped up to the microphone and began to greet the crowd, alternating between Finnish and English, I was completely absorbed. I wouldn't have noticed if anyone had spoken to me, or even if a small tornado had torn through.

“Well, this one's pretty new. So let's get started, shall we?” Ville suggested, earning a loud positive response before the band began 'Heartkiller'.

It was hard to compare them to the stage's last occupants and there was no way I could've said which band I preferred.

After finishing 'Wicked Game' Ville took a long drink of red bull before declaring “Well, that was sentimental.”

I couldn't help but giggle at him and I felt a nudge in my side. I looked up to see Jyrki trying to get my attention and I frowned. He pointed to my other side and I turned to see Dani and Bam making out, full force. Despite the fact that he was obviously busy, Bam was still watching HIM perform.

I stifled a laugh before giving Jyrki an incredulous look. He just grinned and shrugged before turning back to the stage. It was a flawless set and Ville was an immensely charasmatic frontman.

Once their set had finished with 'Buried Alive By Love' I had the biggest grin plastered on my face and Dani and Bam had managed to separate themselves.

Ville came over instantly and held his arms out to me for a hug. I screwed my nose up and shook my head. “No way, you're all sweaty.”

He sighed but nodded. “Fine.”

Mige appeared at that moment, just as sweaty as Ville and a wide grin on his face.

“Estelle!” he greeted, enthusiastically before enveloping me in a tight hug. I laughed, despite the fact I was now all sweaty, and hugged him back.

Ville raised an eyebrow at me. “Oh, so he's allowed to hug you?”

“Well, to be fair, he didn't give me a lot of warning,. But, seeing as I'm all gross now, anyway,” I said, stepping towards Ville to hug him.

He crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. “Nope, go back to Mige.”

I shrugged, fighting back a grin. “Okay, then,” I said before going to walk away from him.

Before I could get too far, though, he grabbed my arm, pulling me back towards him. “On second thoughts...” he said, looking sheepish.

I giggled and leant up to kiss him. “That was a good show,” I said softly into his ear.

He grinned at me. “Really? How good.”

I pretended to be thoughtful. “Very good,” I answered with a smirk, kissing him again.