XIX - Rocky Evening

As soon as Nerissa got out of her shower, she blew her black and white ombre hair with the hairdryer. The concert is tonight, and Nerissa has to prepare herself. She glances at the clock hanging on the wall. The time is now 6.07 p.m.

"Great. I still have time." She comments.

The first thing she must do is her face. She applies her base, powder, blush, and highlighter. Brow pencil to define her brows. Then, she uses her eye shadow, not too much, because she wants to keep that natural look. Her mascara enhances her lashes and opens up her eyes. A pencil eyeliner for a softer way to define her eyes. A tinted lip balm that moisturizes her lips. And her setting sprays for the finishing touch. She combed her hair and tried to make it look soft and healthy.

Now, for her outfit. She puts on her black leather jacket with dark red inner fabric that could absorb and capture her sweat. Pair that with a cool white T-shirt tucked into her black shorts with garters. She even uses a fishnet stocking under it. As for her accessories, Nerissa puts on some rings on her fingers, a choker necklace with a small pendant, and black stud earrings.

All done. Nerissa walks her way to the front door, and the lights begin to dim. She puts on her black heel boots before she goes outside. She could feel the night breeze as she opened the front door. Always make sure to lock the door. Nerissa struts her way down the exterior stair and approaches her black sports car. Once the engine starts and the gate automatically opens for her, the vehicle makes its way outside the house.

Nerissa just drives the car past the giant billboard. She feels the enthusiasm inside her. She could finally meet her idol, the vocalist of The Bliix, Helen Bax, who inspires so many youngsters.

She felt a tingling sensation on her skin and commented, "Can't wait to see her. Can't wait!"

* * *

Nerissa finally arrives at the music venue where the band will perform. However, she saw something strange there. The outside is empty. As she got out of her car, she could easily hear the loud booming sound from the building. The band will perform in 5 minutes. Indeed she is not late.

"Last ticket!"

Nerissa just heard those words," WHAT?!"

"Last ticket for The Blitz! Is there ANYONE who is up for the last ticket?!"

Suddenly, a loud slam on the table makes the ticket guy startle and fall from his chair. Turns out Nerissa demands the last ticket.

"ME!"

The cashier slowly rises from his fall and gently rubs his head in pain. And he continues to serve the excited girl.

"T-That will be 215 Ringgit, m-miss." He stutters.

She hands the exact money to him and exclaims, "Shut up and take my money!"

The ticket counts the money and types something on his keyboard. A piece of paper is printed as proof of transaction, and he hands Nerissa the paper with a QR code.

"Thank you for purchasing, and enjoy the performance!" He thanked her.

Nerissa proceeds to the security guards and scans the paper. The guards allow her to enter the building, and she's finally inside.

"Finally! I can kiss this night fucking goodbye!" He comments and puts the "SOLD OUT" sign on the cashier.

Once she enters the music venue, it is so crowded. Lots of guys and girls there are excited to see their favorite band. Many couples, too, are making out at the edge of the room. Some are drinking and chatting. Nerissa goes her way to the drinking station.

"Coke, please!" Nerissa ordered the drink half-aloud so that the bartender could hear her.

"Alright!"

The bartender then hands her a cold bottle of coke from the refrigerator. He even popped the metal bottle cap for her. She proceeds to the second floor, less crowded than the ground floor. People are free to do anything here, probably looking for someone to hook up with. Nerissa stands in front of the fences to view the crowds waiting for Helen Bax to perform.

"Nerissa?"

A person just poked her shoulder. Nerissa quickly twists her head to the left and gazes at a tomboy girl. She has short wavy hair and some freckles on her face. She wears some necklaces and wristbands. Black jacket with arms tucked, grey shirt underneath it, ripped black jeans, and black Chuck Taylor. Nerissa does recognize this girl.

"Amber?!" Nerissa gasps.

"Babyyy!" Amber wraps her arms around her back to hug her.

Amber is the first friend Nerissa made when she stayed on Rintis Island. They first met in this club, and since then, they have become friends due to their same taste in music. Surprisingly, Nerissa met her again after 3 months of absence. Amber is getting more different from what Nerissa remembered.

"What a surprise!" Nerissa comments.

Amber releases Nerissa from the hug, "Where the hell have you been?!" She gripped her shoulder and shook her.

"L-L-Long story." Nerissa tries to answer and save her coke from spilling.

"Tell me!" Amber still shook her.

Nerissa gets dizzy and demands, "Then stop shaking me!"

Amber then stops shaking her and apologizes for making her dizzy. After 15 minutes of explanation, Amber is still swayed by her story. Nerissa did not tell her about going to the outer galaxy but did tell her about Kaizo. It's amusing for Nerissa to see her friend staring at her with a blank emotion. She could see Amber trying to process the whole storyline. Amber gulps her beer and lets out a hoarse voice after drinking it.

The tomboy girl summarized, "So, let me get this straight."

"Yes, straight."

Amber snorts after hearing that word, "When you were on duty call, you met this captain named Kaizo. Is he Japanese? His name sounds like it."

"Probably," Nerissa answers.

"Then, both of you fell in love, and you two became a red hot item. End of the story."

"Yes, since then, I officially become a bottom." Nerissa gulps her coke.

"Shut... the fuck up!" Amber says in disbelief.

Nerissa then questions, "How about you, Amber? Any good news about your love life?"

"Good news? Pfftt... I wish." Amber answers in sarcasm.

She is confused about her sarcastic answer. She knew there was something wrong, "What? What's wrong?"

Amber gulps her beer and explains, "There was this guy from my faculty, you could say he's a popular guy. He said he liked me because I was "different" from the other girls. But I don't believe him because the way I'm dressed is probably why. I was afraid I'll be claimed as a pick-me girl. Yuck!"

"Wait a minute," Nerissa stops, "Did he even know you're a bi?"

"No." She answers her question, "But, he started distancing himself from her. One day I asked him why he did that. And then he said," Amber started mimicking his voice, "Because I realized that you're not my type, blablabla..."

"Then WHY did he ask you in the first place?!" Nerissa snarl.

Amber clicks her tongue, "Ugh, I know, right?!"

"But, you know, it should be considered lucky that you never told him the fact that you're a bisexual. If he knew, I bet he'll start some nasty rumors about you. You know how messed up our society is." She cheers the tomboy girl.

"Yeah, thanks for that."

Nerissa gulps her coke, processing the drama she just heard. And suddenly, she remembers one thing.

"Oh, right! Amber!" Nerissa calls her name.

"Whats up?"

"How's the thesis going?" She smirks.

Amber could not believe Nerissa had just asked that kind of question. She let out a heavy sigh thinking about that. Nerissa could the stressful look on her tomboy friend's face and chuckled.

"Fuck you." Amber snarls.

Nerissa cackles for a bit, "How is it?"

She clicks her tongue, "The damn professor wanted me to revise the whole chapter I just wrote! Did he even finish college?! If he did, he should've understood how much blood and sweat I put in that darned thesis!" Amber vents.

"Oof... That's harsh. I was expecting something nice from it. You're just," Nerissa puts her thumb and index finger together, leaving a tiny gap between them, "THIS, close to finishing law school!"

"You think I don't know that?" Amber raises her eyebrow, "Come on, a pinch of refreshment won't harm anyone."

Nerissa agrees with her friend and says, "Yes. But you've done great, Amber. I'm sure you could finish it with a Cum Laude. Besides, Helens gonna come out any minute. You know you have a crush on her." She teases her.

"My god, Nerissa. You still remember that."

Suddenly, a loud sound of a guitar riff just filled the entire building. It got the people's attention. Everyone swarmed in front of the stage. Nerissa and Amber are considered lucky because they're on the second floor, less crowded, so they could easily see the crowd below them and the whole stage.

Once the audience is successfully gathered, the host ends the riff on a high note. Then he holds the microphone.

"Y'all must have waited long enough, aint it?" The host questions.

Some guys just scream from the back, "Hell yeah!!"

Everyone chuckles at the reaction. Nerissa gives Amber a grip on her shoulder as support before seeing Helen.

"Aight! First of all, I'm sorry for the delay earlier, and I appreciate your patience. So, welcome to The Blitz Tour, yall!"

The whole crowd cheered, and the show had finally begun.

"Now, without further ado! Here comes our band, THE BLIIX!"

The entire band enters the stage in black marching outfits, looking fresh from the closet. They do look fine. And here comes Helen Bax. The white-haired female vocalist of the band. As she waved her hand, the crowd went crazy.

"Holy smokes. That's Helen. That's Helen Bax!" Nerissa enthused.

"Wow. She's..." Amber's face was stunned seeing her idol and crush, "Beautiful."

"HELLO, RINTIS ISLAND!"

The whole room went crazy after she screamed that.

"Thank you so so so much for coming to our tour tonight. We decided to make this tour as a promotion for our new song, Dance in the Dark. And since this is the very first place we've visited, you guys are lucky to hear this for the first time." She smiles.

"I LOVE YOU, HELEN!!" Amber screams.

Nerissa's jaw drops at the unexpected shout coming from Amber's mouth. Surprisingly, it got Helen's attention, much to her shock.

Helen responds, "I love you, too, baby."

Struck in her heart, Amber pretends she got a heart attack. Her face reddens like a tomato, and she clenches her shirt at the chest. Nerissa cackles at her reaction.

"S-Sh-She no-noticed me!" Amber stutters.

"You one lucky girl!" Nerissa compliments.

"Alright, then! I'm sure all of you can't wait any longer. Let's dance in the dark, shall we?"

The crowd screams and cheers as the music goes on. Nerissa enjoyed this concert, along with her friend. It was a crazy night to spend. She felt the dizziness from the flickering light shows. However, another happened.

She felt this urge from her head and nose, and she sneezed. And she felt some kind of liquid coming out below her after she sneezed. Nerissa had an uncomfortable feeling about this. It's that time of the month, and it has just begun.

"Shit.."

"Thank you all so much for listening to us. Now, how about we play some Love Game, huh?" She says, hinting at the next song.

* * *

The house gate opens automatically. Nerissa parks her black sports car outside her house. As she drops off the car and closes the driver's door, she feels dizzy because the lights were too bright back then at the concert. She needs to get some rest. However, there's something wrong with the house. The lights are lit. She was so sure that it was turned off before she left. Is there someone inside?

"Why are the lights turned on?" She asks herself.

She starts to ignore the dizziness shes having and tries to focus. She is now on guard. She carefully opens the front door, ignoring the fact she still has her shoes on.

"Grandia?"

"Welcome home, my lady."

She tiptoes to the living room. Only to see a man, a bit taller than her, standing in front of the window. Looking out to the night sky.

"Ah, Nerissa. How I have missed you for these 4 years of your absence." The man talks.

Nerissa questions, "Who are you?"

The man turns around to see her with his eyes. He has medium-length dark grey hair parted in the middle. Azure blue eyes, like Dezastarian's eyes. The man is in his black suit, more formal and sophisticated attire befitting his regal standing. Nerissa was stunned when she saw his face. She knew this man.

"Wow, Nerry. How could you forget your big brother's voice, hmm?"

She softly whispers, "Neil?"

It turns out that the man is His Royal Highness, Prince Neil. Her big brother. She couldn't believe she had just seen him after 4 years. She missed him so much. Nerissa felt the urge to cry, and She couldn't bear it.

"Well, first of all, I'm sorry to barge in without permission. You got this great house you live in, you know. Not to mention the ocean view and all. Grandia was helping you out and guarding here. And, wow, look at you, Nerry. You're all grown up. The last time I saw you, you were still a grumpy teenager. Looks like time really flows-"

Neil suddenly feels his body being tightened up. His younger sister cries out and sobs after she senses her brother's wrath. He felt her in his arms again and embraced her. He let her cry and cry. Letting her release all those longing feelings.

"Did you even have..." She sobs, "a single hint of how much I missed you?"

"I know. I missed you, too." He smiles as he gently caresses her hair, "Welcome home, Nerry."