Chapter five

The next few days dragged by in a numb haze. But, when Cassandra awoke Friday morning, she finally felt happy about the concert later that evening.

Though she still felt so heavy-hearted over heartbreak, she knew going out with Eloise was going to be good for her.

She spent the next several hours catching up on her work, returning calls and emails; so that she didn't have to deal with anything work-related once Eloise came over for pre-concert cocktails later that evening.

Cassandra took a quick break to make a snack when she heard her text message indicator chime on her phone. She just knew that it had to be Eloise checking in on her and finalizing the details for their night out.

To Cassandra's surprise, it was a text from Johnathan.

She had not heard from him since a few days ago and had thought he had finally got the hint and given up.

Boy, was she wrong.

"Cassandra, I miss you so much. Please call me... I want to see you. I really want to try and work things out. Can't we start over? I love you! –Johnathan

Cassandra felt so disgusted. Like with all the others, she immediately deleted this message.

She would never be one of those girls that went running back after her partner cheated. Johnathan only wanted her now because he knew he couldn't have her.

He was the type of guy who was used to getting pretty much everything he wanted. Johnathan was a handsome and intelligent man with a great job, driving ambition, and a fat bank account.

He could be quite charming and always attracted attention from other women. Johnathan really could have just about any woman that he wanted, but sadly right now, the woman he wanted, he couldn't have.

Cassandra had met Johnathan during her freshman year of college but, they didn't get together until a few years after they had both graduated and Johnathan had just finished law school.

It was against her better judgment that she got involved with him in the first place because he had always been a player back in the day.

After much persuasion on Johnathan's part, he had finally convinced Cassandra to go on a date, and before you know it, she had fallen for him.

She had thought Johnathan had finally grown up and changed, but boy did he prove her wrong. Cassandra was not going to let Johnathan's latest attempt at reaching out to her ruin her evening.

She put her phone away and went to shower so she could start getting ready for the evening fun.

(•)

After Cassandra showered, she threw together a pitcher of strawberry margaritas for the pre-concert cocktail party.

Of course, she would need to make Eloise an alcohol-free version since she was the designated driver for the evening.

Cassandra took a small glass with her and stored the rest in the freezer for later. She spent the next hour straightening her long chestnut brown hair, all the while sipping on her frozen drink. She hated her natural waves and always took the time to flatten them out.

She put a little extra time and effort into her make-up as she wanted to look perfect for her first girl's night out in a long time.

Once she was done with her hair and make-up, Cassandra threw on the new outfit she had purchased just a few days before.

She topped off everything with an adorable pair of hot pink wedge heels and a silver dog-chain style necklace that gleamed against her tan skin.

Suddenly she heard a knock at her door and knew it was Eloise. She threw open the door and let her friend in.

"Hey Ellie… come on in the kitchen, and I'll get you a drink!"

"Looks like someone has been into the Tequila bottle," Eloise giggled as she followed Cassandra into the kitchen.

"Just a little liquid courage to get me through the night," Cassandra proclaimed as she handed Eloise a glass of her own.

They clinked their glasses together, "Here's to a perfect and well-deserved night out!" said Eloise enthusiastically.

"Cheers to that!" Cassandra responded as she threw back her high-octane version of the frozen strawberry cocktail.

(•)

After a few more drinks and emptying the pitcher, the girls headed out the door and made their way to the venue.

They talked and giggled all the way there, and thoughts of Johnathan had vacated Cassandra's mind. Tonight was the first time she had smiled and laughed in days. She was slowly starting to feel a tiny bit better.

They pulled up to the venue, and Eloise parked the car.

Cassandra wasn't sure if it was the margaritas affecting her. Or the fact that she was a little nervous about meeting the infamous threesome that made up Blue Moon.

But, Cassandra could feel little butterflies start to flutter in her stomach.

Cassandra thought back to the first time she had first laid eyes on the lead singer of the band, Jason Cole.

She had just gotten home from high school and turned on the TV to her favorite music video channel as she did every afternoon.

This particular day just so happened to be the world premiere of Blue Moon's first video for their song "Forever Girl".

Cassandra's jaw dropped when she saw Jason. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen, and she couldn't peel her eyes away from him.

Jason was in his early 20's then, nearly 6 feet tall with dark brown, almost black hair and cobalt blue eyes that gleamed beneath the wisps of dark bangs that fell across his forehead.

He had a chiseled, masculine jawline and the sexiest dimples she had ever seen.  Jason was wearing a white tee shirt with a black leather jacket and jeans that fit snugly in all the right places.

His muscular chest and abs showed themselves beneath the tight shirt, and at that moment, Cassandra instantly fell "in love". He had a pure, velvety voice that sent goosebumps up and down her arms.

Cassandra and Eloise listened to their music all through their high school days, but then after graduation, Cassandra became too busy with "real life" stuff to continue worshipping them.

The band was from the U.K. and spent most of their time touring throughout Europe. So, it was pretty much out of sight out of mind for her.

However, now that she was reflecting back to her high school years, and it was about an hour before she met with her teen idol, she was starting to feel pretty pumped up.

"Wow, it's just now hitting me that I'm about to meet Jason Cole in person," Cassandra stated nervously as the girls walked toward the venue.

"Yep! And I get to meet his guitar player Andy. I wonder if he's single?"

"Eloise!"

Both girls laughed together as they walked through the venue doors. Eloise looked over at Cassandra and exclaimed, "Here we go!"

(•)

There were about twenty other people in line for the meet and greet.

So, by the time the girls got to the designated area, they stood in a drab hallway outside of "Meeting Room 1" where they would be escorted two at a time to meet the guys in the band.

It was a unique and eclectic group of people that were waiting to meet Blue Moon.

There was a handful of young teenage fans, all wearing Blue Moon tee shirts and had CDs for them to sign.

Cassandra also noticed a small group of middle-aged women that looked to be in their mid-forties, the soccer mom type that was probably crossing something off of their bucket list.

Then there were a few "punk" girls with pink and purple hair, nose rings, and tats. She also saw a few guys but, they didn't really stand out to her one way or another.

They waited for about fifteen minutes before a large muscular man, and a short, balding, stocky man came to the door and started pulling the fans in two by two.

They were allowed about ten minutes each to get their memorabilia signed and take photos with the band.

Cassandra's nerves started to get the best of her, and she wished she had thrown back just one more margarita before leaving the house earlier.

The small buzz she had was wearing off, and she could use a shot of her "liquid courage" right about now to stave off her jitters.

{•}