MoonUnit - chapter 3-4

Usagi

Titania Avenue was most probably the most famous street in the city. Countless numbers of Georgian townhouses and stylish flats lined the pavement. Which in turn was edged with brass. It was meant to look like gold, but Selbie thought it just looked tacky. What kind of person lines the curb with gold? "Brendan said it was around here somewhere" Freddie muttered, doing a full 360 degree turn on the spot. "What are we even looking for Freddie? And what are we doing in Titania Avenue..." it dawned Selbie, "We’re not going to rob anyone are we?". Freddie turned and gave her a scathing don’t-be-a-moron look, before suddenly running across the road shouting "Eureka". "Oh sweet, sweet number sign, thank you! Divine provenance has brought us together" he kissed the metal plate that read: 1022 Titania avenue.

Selbie joined him reluctantly on the other side of the road. "Eeewww Freddie that’s gross" she squealed gently punching him, "anyway, regardless of your disgusting habits, you still haven’t told me why we are here". Selbie looked up at 1022 Titania Avenue; it was almost normal sized compared to all the others and looked slightly rundown. Someone had hung spaghetti on the magnolia tree in the front garden and the whole place smelt like incense. Freddie beamed proudly, "This, my dear friend, is where you and I will meet the great, nay, the legendary Rabbit Rowlands!”.

All Selbie could do was stare at him.

Rabbit Rowlands was the drummer for MoonUnit, and the childhood friend of Freddie’s older brother Brendan. Freddie had been dying to meet Rabbit ever since he had learned of their friendship. Initially, Brendan had said "no" but after the 40th time Freddie had asked him he had caved and agreed to let Freddie come along next time there was a party at Rabbit’s. "So as long as we act cool and don’t annoy them we can stay" Freddie beamed at his friend, "isn’t it just so frickin' awesome!". Selbie would have like to disagree, in fact she would have liked to tell Freddie exactly what she thought of his dumbass ideas, but he had already rung the doorbell.

The door was opened to them by a purpled haired girl in a silver leather jumpsuit. All around them people with vibrantly coloured hair and very little clothes swayed in time to the faint music coming from the living room. The smell of incense was overpowering and stale cigarette smoke stung Selbie’s eyes. A guy in a loincloth laughed while two pink haired twins spun him wildly on a desk chair. Another girl - wearing nothing but silver foil - pole danced around the banisters while a man covered in pierceings filmed her. Selbie had never been to a house party before, especially not one held by a rock star. She felt jittery and nervous, and also slighty sick. Freddie, on the other hand, was lapping it up, his eyes as big as dinner plates. He would have suited the life of a rock star Selbie thought, except that he couldn’t even draw a music note, let alone play one.

They found Brendan and Rabbit in the living room. Brendan was sprawled out on the sofa; Rabbit sat next to him occasionally sipping from a glass of what looked like green acid. Rabbit Rowlands oozed cool. He was tall, with short spiky blue hair and a ring through his lower lip. He wore unnaturally tight jeans and a grey pinstriped shirt with a purple tie. On anyone else this look would have been ridiculous, but on Rabbit it was devilishly hip. Brendan giggled as he introduced his little brother and friend, Freddie cringed at his brother’s low alcohol tolerance; he looked like he wanted to curl up and die. Being related to a drunk - in any way - was not cool. Rabbit merely nodded at them and went back to sipping his drink. He occasionally glanced over at Brendan, probably to check he hadn’t died on his sofa.

Eventually Rabbit spoke to them. His voice was deep and scarily sensual; he looked Selbie straight in the eyes when he spoke. "What did you say your name was again?" he asked quietly. For a moment Selbie couldn’t talk, Rabbit Rowlands was talking to her! HER! Selbie hadn’t been this star struck since she had met that local author at the library. "Um it’s um Selbie, Selbie Robinson". Yeah, reeeeeeeeal smooth Selbie. Rabbit nodded all knowingly, "Well stick around, Selbie". As they fought their way out of the crowded lounge Freddie whispered in her ear, "I think he likes you Selbie. Maybe you’ve scored!".

Selbie did stick around - until way after 2 a.m -. She was tired, her head was cloudy with incense and she might’ve drunk just a little too much. Selbie staggered around the house searching for Freddie, she was going home and he could just "eff off". In the end she gave up and stumbled down the stairs and out onto the porch. The night air made her feel dizzy and the sudden change in temperature made her want to be sick. Five minutes later she was. All over Rabbit’s doormat. Selbie didn’t know why she found it funny but she collapsed on the marble steps in hysterical laughter. Drunk and exhausted she fell asleep chuckling.

Homeward Bound

Selbie woke up on the cream leather seats of a silver Mercedes at 10 a.m in the morning. She had no idea how she got there and her first reaction was to scramble quickly out of the car. The lock gave way quite easily and the car door flung open sending Selbie sprawling on the street face first. "Hey, hey! Calm down, no need to fling yourself out the car!" a person was standing directly in front of Selbie and all she could see was the bottoms of their green converses. Sitting up Selbie’s head span, she rubbed her eyes and adjusted to the harsh light.

The voice sounded hoarse, like it had been screaming for too long. "Geez, you really were totally trollyed last night, I bet your head kills". A hand tried to drag her up but her legs gave way; strong muscular arms caught her before she hit the pavement. Selbie looked up into the face of her rescuer. It was a beautiful face, with surprisingly high cheekbones and electric green eyes. Unruly blonde hair stuck out at odd angles and the freckles on his face made him look like a schoolboy. It was Olly Glenpatrick, keyboardist and vocalist for MoonUnit, every teenage girls dream boy.

They were driving - a little to fast in Selbie’s opinion - through Downtown and out into the city centre. Selbie had been so shocked at being held by this heart throb that Olly practically had to buckle her into the car. Selbie had never really thought Olly was attractive, his posters were okay but he was nothing special. Only she had never seen him up close. The boy was gorgeous, and only seventeen!

So what? So what Selbie? He’s way too old and cool for you anyway!

"Your Brendan’s friend right?" Olly smiled, his voice was still croaky and he looked tired. Selbie shook her head, "h-h-his brother invited me, Freddie, only I haven’t seen him since yesterday". It was Olly’s turn to shake his head as he swerved around a sharp corner, causing the car to tilt and Selbie’s head to spin angrily. "Sorry `bout that" he whispered, his voice almost completely gone, "only got my licence last week. Yours is the next street right?". It was - Wenceslas Way - the most boring and dull street in the city. Olly laughed, or tried to anyway. "Your mam better have some aspirin for you. You’re in for a rough day kiddo". Selbie froze before a laugh could come out. Her Mother. If her Mother saw her get out of a rock star’s car with a hangover, Selbie would at the very least be seriously maimed! She had to get out and fast.

Looking back on that moment, Selbie decided throwing herself out of the car while it was still moving wasn’t the best idea in the world.