was like the most innocent high school boy ever.
“Fine,” Exie relented. “I’ll forgive you, Phoenix, but no more Sexy Exie jokes, yeah?”
“Yeah,” he breathed out a sigh of relief but with Exie’s startling blue eyes fully focused intently on him, he never really relaxed. “What about Sexy Rexie jokes? Are those allowed?”
I cringed, waiting for Exie’s reaction, but she simply shrugged and said, “I don’t get it.”
“Empire Records? One of the greatest movies from the 90’s? Maybe of all time!” Phoenix’s face widened in surprise as the three of us shook our heads, completely in the dark for most movies made in the 90’s…. let’s be real. “First Ivy hasn’t seen Austin Powers. Now this! It’s like not humanly possible not to have seen these movies.”
“Nope, sorry,” Exie smiled, turning back into her charming self. “I haven’t seen either of those.”
“Yikes, Ives, that was a close one,” Sloane mumbled into my ear while Phoenix jumped into the cliff notes version of Empire Records and then started dancing…. “Exie almost went apocalyptic on your new friends. Entertaining, yes. But oh so dangerous.”
“No kidding,” I grumbled. “You have to help me keep an eye on her. No more outbursts.”
“What is he doing?” Sloane looked over at Phoenix with open curiosity while he wiggled his hips at the same time he shook his outstretched knee and sang into a pretend microphone.
“I have no idea,” I blinked a few times just to make sure this was real.
“It’s from the movie,” Exie giggled. “Some character named Lucas?”
Kenna walked over from where the rest of the band was hanging out and smiled at us. “Hey, we’re all headed over to Amsterdam for some late night doner kabobs. You guys want to come?”
“Yes, curry fries!” Phoenix whispered excitedly while pumping his fist like a goofball.
“You’re such a dork,” I laughed, feeling surprisingly light after the concert tonight, even if I was going to have to get to the bottom of Ryder’s solo song disaster. Inconspicuously of course. I so did not want Kenna finding out her boyfriend wrote a song about a girl he apparently didn’t even like.
“Ives, you promised. You said you would be a groupie and do groupie things. Uh… some groupie things,” Phoenix reminded me, circling his abnormally long finger in my face. “You’re a Sugar Skulls fan for life now; you’re obligated to hang out with us after shows.”
“Ugh, you’re right,” I pretended to be annoyed. “I do love curry fries though so maybe it’s worth my eternal devotion.”
“Oh me too,” Sloane groaned.
I shot her a look completely surprised that she actually ate fries. I thought I was the only one that cheated on my diet. Maybe I wasn’t the only freak after all.
Maybe our mothers would send us all away.
At least we’d have each other.
We walked over to join the rest of the band while they gathered the last pieces of their equipment and headed for the exit. My cell phone vibrated in my pocket signaling a new text message and since Exie and Sloane were here with me I knew there was only one other person that would be trying to get ahold of me so late.
And it was not Chase.
I groaned before pulling out my phone to check the message.
Where are you? Nix is here. Home. Now.
My mother had this unique way of texting that reminded me of old school telegrams. In my head, after each phrase ending with a period I would mentally say “stop.” Where are you-stop. Nix is here-stop. The war is over-stop. And so forth and so on.
“I’ve got to go,” I announced to no one in particular, but everyone turned around.
“What? Why?” Exie asked a bit desperately which made me think she actually had a fun time tonight.
“I got a text from my mom. She wants me home,” I explained. My friends would understand. If my mom was calling me home it was so not to spend time with her.
“Bummer,” Sloane agreed. “Mom was out tonight and my curfew was forgotten.
“Hey you guys can still go. Why not? Just drop me off first and then you can meet up with everyone.” I gave my friends my brightest smile and hoped they wouldn’t give up on this night of normalcy just because of me. Plus, they would be able to have a better time if I wasn’t there.
“Ok, we could do that. If you’re cool with it,” Sloane asked Exie, not wanting to drag her to something she didn’t want to go to, but I could