I grabbed a jacket and my bag. Turner held the door open for me and I slipped through, locking it behind us.

“Don’t worry about being too late,” Turner assured me. “We won’t miss anything. The concert doesn’t start until at least an hour later than they say.

“So why not tell people the real time?”

It was a good question. Too many events were like this anymore and it was kind of annoying..

“Because the best part about this type of concert is waiting and anticipating the music. It also gives people enough time to get nice and drunk.”

“Why drunk?”

“Because the music is so much better when you’re drunk.”

I stared at Turner, wondering if he was joking or being serious. Oh geez, he’s serious. I realized it when he didn’t start laughing.

“Why?”

This time Turner did laugh.

“You want the truth?”

“Obviously.”

“The music sucks. Every year the music sucks. Drinking is the only way to get through it without wanting to rip the hair out of your head.”

“But then why continue it every year?”

Turner shrugged.

“It’s tradition. You don’t mess with tradition here. If you do, or even if you try to, you’ll be tarred and feathered before you know it.”

“Are you serious?”

“Deadly. This is serious stuff that happens here. You don’t try to change it.”

He began laughing.

“You’re joking aren’t you?”

“Sort of…”

The two of us stepped into the elevator and pressed the first floor button. Standing next to each other, Turner and I each looked different ways, lost in our own thoughts.

“If I haven’t said it already, you look really pretty tonight.”

“Thanks,” I said and felt myself warming. “I wasn’t so sure about the outfit. I thought maybe it was too….” Revealing? Slutty? “Not me,” I decided to explain. “I’m not used to showing so much of my body.”

Was I really trying to explain my outfit choice?

“Why not? You have a body that was made to be shown off.”

Almost immediately Turner put his hand over his mouth and closed his eyes. “I’m sorry, that sounded wrong, totally wrong. I didn’t mean to say that… Or at least to make it sound so pervy.”

“It’s fine.”

He had about the same amount of confidence that I had.

“I’m not that type of guy,” he continued to explain. “My mother taught me to be a gentleman and she would have my ass if she knew what I said.”

“Well, then maybe I should give her a call,” I teased. “I’m kidding. Turner, you worry too much, did anyone ever tell you that?”

I was the same way though.

“More than once.  I’m what they call a ‘worrywart’.”

“That makes two if us.” I smiled. “I’m a bit neurotic myself.”

The elevator opened and we stepped out into the first floor. Turner rushed forward to open the door. We stepped into the night, the warmth and humidity encompassing us like a blanket.

“Thank you.”

“My pleasure.”

Turner held out his arm and I linked mine through, letting him guide me towards the Great Lawn. Turner was a… Gentleman. It came off as a little cheesy but at least he was nice. Others were milling about, all slowly making their way to the grass. I could smell the booze from where we were and the hum of voices greeted us as we sifted into the crowd.

Sabrina was sitting on a rock, a cigarette in one hand and a drink in the other. Sabrina smokes? I couldn’t help but wonder if the cigarette was to look cooler and fit in better. Elizabeth stood next to her, nursing a red solo cup.

“Hey guys,” I said and waved at my roommate.

Sabrina waved back and the two of them blatantly stared at Turner and me as we passed. Turner nodded at them but didn’t remove his arm from mine.

“Have fun!” Sabrina cried out. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”

I ignored Sabrina’s comment and held Turner’s arm tighter. I didn’t want him to think that I spent my time gossiping about him.

“Can I get you a drink?” Turner asked when we finally stopped a bit of a ways from the crowd.

 I shimmed up on a rock, keeping my legs crossed and putting my jacket over my lap to stop myself from flashing anyone.

“Sure. Whatever you’re having.”

Turner squeezed my arm.

“I’ll be right back,” he said and disappeared into the crowd.

I shifted on the rock, trying to relax, as I looked at the scene in front of me. People were already drinking and dancing even though no music was playing. I averted my eyes from a couple of people grinding up against each other, the girl’s skirt riding up on her tanned thighs. Any higher and she would be showing off everything. That was probably her plan. She wanted to be noticed, no matter what it meant. She didn’t care about what people said about her as long as they were talking about her.

A twig snapped to the left of me and I turned my head to see a guy sauntering up to me, a cocky grin covering his face.

“Are you an angel because I’m sure I just saw you falling from heaven.”

You have got to be kidding me. Could he be any cornier?

“I’m sorry, do those lines actually work on girls?” I asked.

The guy paused and then threw his head back in a boisterous laugh.

“Usually, except now.”

“I’m so sorry that I have more than two brain cells in my head,” I retorted. “Can I help you?”

“I don’t know, can you?”

Oh, I was dealing with a smart ass. This was perfect. I looked around for Turner but didn’t see him emerging from any part of the crowd.

Come on Turner, come back already.

“I’m Nash.”

“And I should care because?” I said as I stared at him.

Was he seriously standing there and bothering me with his lousy pick-up lines? Did I not make it clear enough that I wanted nothing to do with him?

“I’m the main singer in the band you came to see.”

“Good to know.”

I looked Nash over. He was good looking, I would give him that. He had a mop of black hair, the color that most couldn’t pull off, but it complimented his green eyes and tanned skin that were covered in tattoos. He wore a button down shirt, opened, and I could see the faint outline of muscle tone. Against my will my body started to hum.

Come on Lily.

He’s sexy…

He’s also incredibly dumb.

His narrow waist disappeared behind loose fitting jeans, ripped at the bottom, and his sneakered feet.

“So…do you have a name?”

“Of course I have a name…”

Again Nash laughed but it wasn’t a malicious laugh. It was a whimsical laugh that disappeared with the wind.

“Okay, I’ll admit it. That was a stupid question. It’s probably one of the stupidest questions I’ve ever asked.”

He took another drink.

“Well at least we’re in agreement about that,” I said.

This time I smiled at him, my cold shoulder growing warmer by the minute. Nash shifted on his feet and ran a hand through his hair. It bounced once and then lay back down exactly in the position it started in.

“So can I have your name?”

“It’s Lily…”

I opened my mouth to say more when I finally spotted Turner. He carried two cups and was smiling as he walked towards me. His smile abruptly disappeared when he saw Nash.

“Nash,” Turner said.

“Turner,” he replied. “Long time no see. How are you doing buddy?”

“Fine.”

Turner stepped between Nash and me, blocking him from my view.

“Do you want to walk around a little? I want to check everything out.”

I wanted to ask Turner what exactly he hoped to check out. It wasn’t as if things changed a lot, at least to him. From what he told me, the concert was the same, year after year.

But Turner’s face lost all its color and his chin trembled just slightly. There was something between these two guys… What had happened between them? Why, when Turner saw Nash, did he change so much?

“Sure,” I said and carefully slid off the rock.

I peeked around Turner’s shoulder.