Spirit Desire

"I just don't know why we have to be here," I muttered as Natalie stood beside me at the bar. She twirled her hair between her perfectly manicured nails as she tried to flirt with the bartender—there will never be a day where Natalie will willingly pay for her own drink. She would flirt and smile until her gums hurt if it meant she didn't have to pay for her screwdrivers.

"I told you Adriana," she had the small red straw between her teeth as she smiled triumphantly, "you're done with school and it's time to celebrate. God knows you would've stayed locked in your mom's house if I didn't force you out here."

I rolled my eyes as I turned to survey the small club we were in. Club wasn't a perfect word for the establishment—it was more of four walls that hosted a too tight space cleared of tables and chairs that worked as a dance floor, a small stage, and a mediocre bar.

I only call the bar mediocre because the only form of alcohol it seemed to have was a couple of bottles of vodka, a bottle of tequila and one of Jack Daniels, and too many shitty beers. The only decent drink offered were screwdrivers, Natalie and I were trying to get as many possible and for no cost.

"Chris' band is playing tonight," Natalie said happily as bodies began appearing on the stage. "They have new songs and they're going to play them and have some tapes on sale." She looked around the club awkwardly as it must have clicked in her head that I had come to the correct conclusion that the only reason we were here was for her boyfriend's band and not to 'celebrate'.

I shrugged my shoulders, I was used to Natalie bringing me to shows, and she was after all really into the local music scene. Her older brother Javier—the target of my affections during my teenage years—had been in a band when we were younger and still had a presence in the small and close-knit music community. Ever since we were sixteen and he had been able to get us fake ID's we had been going to shows almost every week. Countless of bad shows from bands that would break out a month later to some that actually toured around the west coast but still never hit the big break. Even living so close to Los Angeles and Hollywood they still could only get small tours.

"Is he still in that one band he was in with Javier?" I asked as we pushed our way through people in the 'dance floor' who were obviously here more for drinking and dry-humping on the floor than for the music. Natalie dragged me along while apologizing to everyone who she seemed to elbow or step on purposely.

"Oh no," she shook her head and waved at Chris when she caught him looking at the audience, "they broke up a while ago, Javier said the singer had too much of a big ego and you know Javier. If anyone has an ego it's him, he's not doing anything right now."

I nodded my head before finishing off my drink. The band then walked on to the stage, some of them awkwardly took their place with their instruments. Chris shyly looked out into the audience before giving a small intro of the band—which still had no name—and explained they would only be playing covers that night.

The band quickly delved into a cover of The Smith's 'This Charming Man'. Although I would never stand to listen to any covers of what I felt was the greatest band to ever exist this one didn't bother me, Chris' voice was different than Morrissey's but it still fit. Natalie smiled and sang along as she stared at Chris who was still too shy to look at anything but the water bottle he held or Natalie.

Natalie started pointing them all halfway during their set and at the beginning of their cover of 'Moshi Moshi'. The drummer's name was Matt, he was the oldest of them all twenty-five but with the glasses and striped sweater he wore he might as well been seventeen. The two guitarists were twins, Jack and James; they were the youngest at twenty-two and dressed the same except for the different colored beanies they wore over cropped brown hair.

The bassist name was Leone and he was by far the most attractive one in the band. Halfway throughout the set he and the drummer Matt had decided to take off their shirts—I could very well understand since it seemed as if we were in Death Valley rather than in an air conditioned club. I couldn't help but stare at his chest as his hands moved quickly on his bass and he sang with Chris. It was a good look for him, the being shirtless and up on stage.

He was lean and his body was fit in a way that doesn't draw too much attention. What drew attention were the colorful tattoos on his chest and arms, they gleamed brightly underneath the thin sheet of sweat and the unnecessarily bright lights. Sea sick was framed by his collarbones and colorful images littered his chest along with text. Two thick lines circled around his biceps and Roman numerals were placed above them. He smiled and shook his head, the thick strands of dark hair framed his face before he began to sing along to the chorus of 'Jude Law and the Semester Abroad'. I swear to God the room seemed to get hotter and hotter as I continued taking it all in.

"They're Chris' cousins," she pointed towards the twins, "and the other two are high school friends. He said they rarely play together but they were offered a chance to play so they went for it." She explained more as everyone around us sang along to a cover of 'Constant Headache', I was glad she had begun talking because if she hadn't my staring the at the attractive bassist would've been made painfully obvious—if not by him catching me staring then by Natalie telling Chris I had been looking at him all night.

"They're pretty good."

"I know!" she exclaimed before turning to Chris and blowing him a kiss to which he blushed profusely and stuttered a bit, "if they actually get to writing songs and playing more often they could do great things."

I nodded my head, "Just tell Chris to stop being so shy and awkward when he's onstage."

"It's adorable," she sighed before turning towards me again, "let's go get something to drink!"

I nodded my head before we began pushing through the crowd expertly again. At times like these Natalie was vicious and nothing could stand between her and the bar, not even the group of punk boys who were acting all too tough and trying to hit on her. One glare was all it took for them to make way and us to reach the bar.

"Two screwdrivers," she smiled at the new bartender who ogled her more than the previous.

He smiled before grabbing vodka and orange juice and making the drink. "No charge for the lovely ladies," he said as he turned around and grabbed two shot glassed and filled them tequila. "For you two."

"That's so sweet!" Natalie exclaimed and grabbed the shots, "Chris loves tequila no?" I nodded my head as her eyes widened, "we'll wait until they get off the stage and give these to them." She hopped off the stool before running towards an empty booth.

I caught up to her and sat down, "Jesus," she sighed and fanned herself, "he was creepy. You'd think we would be in a sauna with how hot it is in here."

I nodded my head and turned towards the stage as Chris thanked the crowd and said the next song would be their last. The band all smiled before huddling together and choosing a song to play. The punk boys sang along as they played Interpol's ‘Obstacle 2’. Natalie nodded her head along to the beat and smiled once they finished.

"Do you want to go see them now?" I asked as I started standing up.

She quickly snatched my wrist and pulled me down. "No," she almost yelled, "no, we have to stay here if we go to them it seems too desperate. Plus they're all probably tired and want to sit or something." I nodded my head, Natalie quickly drank the two shots of tequila and I wondered why she was so nervous.

Chris and the two twins came up to the table, Chris immediately being pulled into a hug and kiss while Jack and James stood by awkwardly. Chris cleared his throat, "Guys you know Natalie," they waved before turning to me, "this is Adriana her friend"

"Adriana," I'm pretty sure it was Jack who said it, "that's a pretty name," he extended his hand out.

"Thank you," I mumbled before reaching for his hand and before I could stop it he had pulled me into an extremely tight hug. His arms locked tightly around my body as I tried to keep my dress down so I wasn't exposing myself to the group of punk boys or the weird bartender.

"You scared her idiot," his brother rolled his eyes before also hugging me, thankfully not as tight and my feet still touched the ground.

"Where's the rest of the band?" Natalie asked as they all sat down and ordered themselves some beers.

"Matt had to go take care of some business," Jake said and wiggled his eyebrows at the word business, "and Leone left. He has to work early tomorrow." They all nodded their head in agreement before beginning to gulp down the beers they had ordered.

Chris always being a gentleman had order both Natalie and I some screwdrivers, even though it was obvious Natalie didn't really need any more alcohol. The two shots of tequila had a quick effect on her.

"Bathroom break, excuse us!" Natalie smiled before grabbing my hand and pulling me up with her towards the bathroom.

Natalie proceeded to run her hands through her mess of hair. "What did you think of the show?" she asked before rummaging through her purse before pulling out a small tube of lipstick.

"It was fine," I shrugged my shoulders as I tried flattening down my hair, the humidity was causing what had been perfectly straightened hair to begin to curl. I frowned at my reflection before giving up and throwing my hair into a messy bun atop of my head.

"Chris is a great singer," she nodded at her reflection, "but that's not why I'm asking." She pulled herself on top of the black sink and looked over at me, a mischievous grin on her face.

"Why are you asking then?" I frowned as I tried to wipe the black smudge my eyeliner had left below my eyes.

"Chris asked me to leave with him, I just don't know how you'd react," she mumbled as she looked at her nails and began picking at the red nail polish.

"That's it?" I asked as we both made our way out of the small bathrooms. She nodded her head quickly and stopped us both at the door.

"Salvador is coming to pick me up, he's going to pick me up at around two so it's fine," I waved my hand in front of me, "you can go run along to Chris, he's probably waiting for you." Natalie smiled before hugging me tightly and running—though it looked more like wobbling due to her five inch heels and the many screwdrivers she had taken—toward Chris who had been ready to catch her if she fell.

I waved goodbye to them all before exiting the club and relishing in the crisp air and the lack of cigarette smoke. My hands tugged at the hem of my dress before I began walking to a coffee shop across the street. If there was one thing I needed at that moment it was a cup of coffee with little sugar and no cream accompanied by a cinnamon roll. Since we were old enough to drink and not get carded it had been almost a ritual between Natalie, Javier, and I to finish the night off with coffee and cinnamon rolls.

I quickly placed my order with the extremely energized barista. The coffee shop was packed with people I could tell had come for the various clubs around, it was obvious by the guys who smelled heavily of alcohol and the girls in tiny dresses who kept swaying to the nonexistent music. I moved towards the end of the counter and waited to hear my order being called.

"Did you like the show?"

I must have gotten whiplash from how fast I turned around to identify the speaker. In front of me was Leone—his chest now unfortunately covered by a white Unknown Pleasures shirt. My eyebrows furrowed as I thought of a response, but the only thing that came out of my mouth was a 'what show'.

"At the Tavern," he referred to the club, "my band was playing a show. You were there, unless I'm mistaking you," he sipped his drink.

"Oh that," I mumbled, rocking back and forth on my heels, "it was okay." I shrugged my shoulders nonchalantly.

He laughed loudly, "I saw you there with Natalie, Chris' girlfriend." I nodded my head in response as I grabbed my coffee and two cinnamon rolls from the barista. "So what did you think?"

I shrugged my shoulders once again, "it's pretty easy to cover songs isn't it? Especially pop ones."

"Here I thought I was going to get a compliment or some nice comment from you," he smiled.

"Trust me, you'll have to work harder than singing along to Brand New to get a compliment," I smirked as I poured sugar into the coffee.

"I guess I'll have to try harder," he nodded his head and scratched the small hairs appearing on his chin.

I nodded my head before my phone started ringing loudly. I quickly answered it to hear my brother ordering me to the front of the coffee so he could quickly pick me up and not get stuck in downtown traffic. I could feel his eyes looking at slowly me as I spoke to my brother. From the messy bun on my head, the too tight and too short black dress—which showed more than I would've liked—and the five inch heels I was desperate to kick off. My breath hitched as I saw him nod a bit to himself and I ended the call with Salvador.

"I'm Adriana," I smiled as I turned to face him completely.

"Leone," he answered and crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned on the wooden counter. His muscles constricted under his tight shirt and I got a glance of his tattoos again. "We have another show in a few days." I raised my eyebrow as I took a sip of my coffee. "You should definitely come by."

"Maybe," I answered as I decided I should really get moving if I didn't want to risk Salvador getting angry.

"Do it," his voice lowered, "I'm sure I'll show you something to be impressed by, maybe even to receive a compliment."

I nodded my head, "Maybe," I said again before smiling and grabbing my things of the counter, "I have to go now."

"Come by Adriana. You'll have a good time."

His eyes twinkled as I gulped and turned from him. I could feel him looking at me as I exited the small coffee shop and I prayed I wouldn't trip as my knees trembled a bit. The charm was gone as soon as I was out of the shop and heard Salvador's obnoxious honking a few cars down.