130 Rock n’ Roll

@@

"Hey!" Bridget Briswell said when she saw Melvin reclaim his position at the bar, Joey only a step behind. Her face brightened with a wide smile. "Guess who wants us to come backstage!"

The blonde bartender appeared and handed Melvin a shot of something hard without asking, and Melvin nodded at her and downed it with a thrust of his head. He wasn't sure what it was, but it burned nicely going down.

"Who?" Melvin said to Bridget, trying to not make too much of a face from the liquor. He already knew the answer, but why ruin the surprise? He placed the empty shot glass on the counter.

"Hey, old buddy," said a familiar scratchy voice, and the purple haired pizza girl a.k.a. punk chick stepped from behind Bridget. She wore a torn purple dress with long purple boots and purple stockings, and Melvin thought she looked like a totally hot female Grimace, the big purple guy from MacDonald's kid meals.

"Stage name's Violet. Kinda sticking with the theme," she said, explaining the amount of purple she wore, matching her hair.

"You guys rock!" Courtney said enthusiastically, standing next to Bridget. Melvin couldn't help but notice the way Bridget had her arm wrapped around Courtney's waist. He hadn't been gone too long, had he?

"Thanks," Violet replied with a wink. "You guys want to meet the band?"

"Can we?" Courtney said, looking like a little girl who just unwrapped a brand new Barbie dollhouse under her Christmas tree. Violet gave Melvin a sly look and smiled impishly. Then she turned back to Courtney.

"Come on, bring all your friends," she said and pulled Courtney forward by the wrist. Courtney flashed Melvin a large smile as she passed and grabbed his wrist, pulling him with them.

"Rock n' roll," Melvin said with a low groan.

"You mean PUNK rock n' roll," Bridget said brightly, closing in behind him.

"Whatever," Melvin said, wondering what would happen to him next.@@