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The music was blaring into James’ ears. Drums, guitar, bass, and the lead singer’s vocals were rumbling from the ground, beating into his body from his feet to his belly, through to his chest.
Sirius had insisted on coming to a rock concert, but it wasn’t James’ music taste at all. At least that’s what he’d thought. He’d always felt rock was more of a collection of loud, aggressive sounds that some called “music.” But being here in an atmosphere full of electricity that coursed through the entire crowd, he began to find the beating of the drums enticing his feet to tap, and in this last song, even to jump on his heels.
James turned to look at Sirius and Remus, a grin evident even through their eyes. He couldn’t help the laugh that escaped, but it was masked with the acoustics in the air.
He couldn’t believe the three of them were at a rock concert; it was probably the last place he’d imagine all of them to be. Sure, Sirius looked like he belonged. His matted black locks down to his shoulders had a ragged appearance, and with his leather jacket, he looked the part of a rock fan. Remus, on the other hand, did not fit in quite as well. The run-down jumper and jeans he wore weren’t what made him stand out, but knowing he was the quiet, studying type, having just been named prefect at the sixth form, it was comical seeing him leap and scream.
James could barely hear the timbre of his voice as he tried to call their attention, “Padfoot!”
Sirius was lost in the music, oblivious to his call.
“Padfoot!” James yelled again, his throat hoarse, but finally managing to get Sirius to turn. “I’ll go get us some pints!”
“What?” screamed Sirius.
“I’m getting us–oh, never mind.” He shook his head and pointed to the exit.
Shuffling out of the stands, squeezing past hot bodies and accidentally crushing more than a few feet, James managed to make it to the concession stand. The roar of the music was muffled now, and he realised there was a ringing in his ears as if they already missed the commotion.
He only had to queue behind another guy, but the wait wasn’t long.
“Three lagers,” he said once he got to the till.
As he waited, he leaned against the counter and immediately regretted it when his forearms crunched over the sticky surface.
Once the pints were ready, he did his best to manoeuvre all three of them into his grip. He was careful to look down, afraid of spilling any of the precious golden liquid that had cost well too much in the pricey arena.
When he looked up, his efforts were for nought. His sudden halt sent the beers to spill down onto his trousers, but he hardly noticed he’d gotten wet.
There was a girl in front of him, but no girl had ever made his heart both race excitedly and suddenly stop. She had waist-length hair in the shiniest auburn colour he had ever seen. When he looked at her eyes, he saw a smile in the vibrant green of her irises.
He didn’t notice her friend nudging her side, giggling.
“Hi,” was all that James managed to say.
“Hi,” the girl said, offering a half-grin. “Are you drinking all those yourself?”
“What?” He looked down and was reminded that his two best friends were waiting for him. “Oh, no, they’re for my mates. They’re inside.”
Her laugh was the most beautiful music he had ever heard.
“C’mon, let’s order,” her friend pulled her to the counter, and James was left to stand with three drinks staring into nothing as they moved behind him.
He didn’t know what else he could say, searching for any excuse to keep talking to her. Coming up with nothing, grudgingly, his feet carried his heavy weight back until he stood next to Padfoot and Moony.
He could still hear the girl’s laughter ringing in his ears. The percussion, the singing, and screaming, all of the other sounds receded into the background. He had to see her again, sod the concert.
James thrashed his pint into Sirius’ hands, who eyed it with glee and began downing it. Spinning on his heels, James ran back outside, frantically searching for the curtain of red.
They were no longer at the counter, but he sprinted there anyway.
“The girls, where did they go?” He yelled, his feet tapping wildly, ready to take flight after the mystery girl.
“Uh, that way,” the pimply guy said, pointing to the left.
James dashed, looking into another entrance to the stadium. His neck craned and ducked, searching until the familiar auburn hair caught his eye.
Suddenly at her side, he poked her shoulder and yelled, “I’m James.”
Her eyes widened at first.
“Lily.”
He didn’t have to look at the way her lips curved, hearing the smile she wore through her one-word answer.
“Can I buy you a drink?” He asked.
“Maybe a burger instead?”
“Anything.”
His heart throbbed as if were the bass that was coursing through the entire auditorium.