George and I sat on the sidewalk, enjoying our pitas. After a less-than-romantic walk around downtown, and at least two dozen autograph requests from eager Alexis fans, we had decided to purchase our dinner at the Pita Pit. We promptly returned to the safety of the main stage. An entire section of road had been shut down for the stage. The standing area was a parking lot. Jordan was skateboarding with Dallas and some of his friends. Dan from Attack in Black was taking a video of their failed attempts at kick flips.
Wade was sitting near us, playing his unplugged electric guitar. I hummed along between bites. Alexisonfire didn't play for another two hours, but we were enjoying the remaining daylight. All of the bands that George knew had played earlier in the day. All we had to do was hang out until 9 o'clock rolled around. George finished his pita and proceeded to wrap his arm around me. I rested my head on his shoulder. We're too cute.
It was hard to imagine that exactly one year ago, I was sitting in that parking lot, my back against the barrier. It had been a year since I had first been introduced to Alexisonfire's explosive performance. Three hundred and sixty five days since I had experienced the brutal pain that these boys created. After that show and some persuasion from Jordan, I had started listening to Alexis, occasionally. And now, a mere twelve months later, I was a part of it all.
Wade began to play a rather touching rendition of My Hero by the Foo Fighters, and I quietly started to sing along. Dallas skated by and began singing, too. A few members of the already gathering crowd looked our way. The boys didn't seem to mind the extra attention. On the other hand, the glares I received from some teenaged fan girls made me uncomfortable. I had always cared about what other people thought of me.
Moneen finished setting up and began to play. Apparently they were good friends with the boys from Alexis. George stood up and offered me his hand. I accepted it and he helped me to my feet. We walked onto the edge of the stage to watch Moneen's set. George was quietly singing to himself. Even though we stood near an amplifier, I could still hear him, although his voice was faint. He wasn't a fantastic singer, but he wasn't all that bad, either.
Near the end of the set, I recognized one of their songs. Alexisonfire had done a cover of it. Their version was called Passing Out In America, although I highly doubted that was the original title. George smiled to himself and walked onto the stage. He was greeted by tremendous applause from the crowd. The lead singer looked over his shoulder and grinned. George approached the microphone stand and began screaming in sync with his singing. The crowd went nuts. More and more crowd surfers were flying over the audience's heads. The kids in the pit were going nuts.
The song ended and George returned to my side. Moneen's set ended a few minutes later. We returned to the sidewalk while Moneen took down their stuff. George joined the rest of the band for pre-show rituals, and I found Jordan excitedly talking to Dan from Attack in Black. After a short introduction I joined the conversation. After a few minutes we were joined by who I recognized to be the lead singer and drummer from Moneen.
"Hi! I'm Kenny! And this is Peter! You must be that girl that George was talking about! Nice to meet you!" he said. He seemed enthusiastic, and he spoke like every sentence ended in an exclamation point.
"I'm Ellie. And it's nice to meet you, too," I said, extending my hand.
Instead of shaking it, he wrapped his arms around me. I laughed and did the same. I liked this Kenny guy. Peter, in turn, gave me a hug, too. I could understand the restlessness they must be feeling, I always get like that after I play at the cafe.
After a few minutes of light-hearted conversation, George tapped me on the shoulder.
"We're about to go on, if you guys want to head up to the stage," he said.
I gave him a hug and whispered break a leg into his ear. He smiled back at me, and handed me his glasses.
"You better not lose them, I'm almost blind without them."
Kenny interjected "Ooooooohhhhh! George wants Ellie to hold his glasses! He must reallllllly like you!"
I laughed at Kenny's stupidity and gave George one last hug. Jordan, Kenny, Peter, Dan and I headed towards the stage. There was definitely an air of community about this whole festival. Band members walked the streets just like all of the fans. Everyone was talking animatedly to each other, even those who they had just met. Band members and their friends all hung out in groups, and went to support each other's bands. Everyone was accepting. Everyone was welcome. Everyone fit in.
A few minutes later Alexisonfire took the stage. This time I knew the songs. This time I knew the words. This time I wasn't so concerned with crowd surfers or bodily harm. This time I was actually going to enjoy the music. I watched George. He was still the same guy from last year. He still seemed arrogant, full of himself. But I knew that he was just playing it up for the crowd. It was almost as if he had an onstage persona. They opened the show with Drunks, Lovers, Sinners and Saints. The band had great chemistry, although George and Chris stole the show. George was dancing around the stage like a maniac, and Steele was having the time of his life. I remembered his hair flips; I thought they were quite amusing.
After a few more songs, George took off his shirt. His chest was still hairy and his beer belly still hung over the waist of his short shorts. But it was different this year. It was like he did it to encourage the crowd. To get them excited, even. He wanted them to overreact. He wanted them to have as much fun as he was having.
George joked around with Wade, to the audience's delight. Then George announced, "This next song goes out to all the acoustic rockers. Hopefully we can convince you stop playing that emo stuff and join a hardcore band!"
He was probably addressing me. He did know about the Indie Hipsters and their never-ending quest to get me to join. I didn't have much time to think, though, because as soon as George's dedication was over they began to play No Transitory. I grinned and watched George jump around the stage. When Dallas began to sing he moved around the stage, trying to get the audience excited.
I glanced out at the crowd. A huge circle pit had appeared. I felt bad for the kids in the front row. I knew what they must have been going through. Right in the middle of the front row I saw two girls. They couldn't be more than 16 years old. They were getting shoved, elbowed, and generally beat up, but they were still grinning. Their eyes never left the stage. I assumed they had been waiting all day to see Alexisonfire.
They ended the set with accidents. A few guitar picks were thrown, as well as a few drumsticks. I smiled to myself as I thought of the similar one sitting in my bedroom. One by one the boys walked off stage, sweaty yet exhilarated.
"I would give you a hug, but I'm really gross right now," George half said, half screamed, to me. The crowd was still cheering, begging for one more song.
I grabbed the towel that George was holding and wrapped it around him as I hugged him. He laughed and muttered something that sounded like "You're a genius." Dozens of voices rallied behind a cry of "One more song!" and then I heard Wade and Dallas shouting out a few song titles. George looked at me and grinned.
"It's time for the encore," he mouthed to me. I just stared back at him. Neither one of us had broken our embrace. We stood there, just looking at each other, for what seemed like minutes, but could have only been seconds.
Time slowed down. George's face inched towards mine. I felt myself begin to lean forward. Our lips met. The kiss was gentle and sweet. I felt such chemistry between us, and I hoped George felt the same.
"Sorry to ruin the moment, but we're playing Get Fighted," Wade said, rolling his eyes at our little public display of affection. Our lips parted, and George gave me one last glance before following the others onstage. I giggled to myself and watched the boys play one last song.
"You're leaving in a week?" I repeated his words. One week. Seven days. That's no time at all.
It had only been ten days since S.C.E.N.E. fest. There was a pretty intense party that night. I followed George around like a lost puppy. I wasn't used to his lifestyle. I didn't go out drinking, I didn't stay up until 4 in the morning. It wasn't my style. Yet, I decided to accompany him that night, to get a taste of the rock star life. And I can't say that I didn't enjoy myself.
George and I sat at my kitchen table. He was relaying the details of Alexisonfire's latest tour.
"It's only two months. I'll be back before you know it. And we can still keep in touch while I'm on the road. I'll call you and you'll call me and it will be like I never left!" he said, trying to read my face for any clue as to how I was taking this.
Two entire months. He was going off to Europe and Australia, and I was stuck in stupid St. Catherines, waiting tables and making coffee. It didn't seem fair.
"This sucks," was all I could spit out. Not only was George leaving, but Dallas and Chris were going with him. Wade and Ratbeard/Jordan, who I had just met at S.C.E.N.E. fest, would be leaving to. I had grown close to Dallas, and I was getting to know the other boys better, too. I had come to expect their almost daily visits to the cafe. I couldn't remember the last time I was unaccompanied during my break.
"You'd better bring me back something really special," I said, trying to hide the fact that I was upset.
George forced a chuckle and replied, "I don't think I could find anything special enough for you."
I smiled. He always knew exactly what to say.
He had other people to tell, I had cleaning to do. We said our goodbyes and I silently decided to make the most of the next seven days.
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