It’s the night of the band’s gig; the first one of the year. Milo peaks through the curtain backstage, looking out towards the audience where people sit at tables and are talking among themselves. Milo looks down at his Sidekick; the ball still flashing green.
Jennifer: Milo!
Milo looks up, putting his phone in his back pocket.
Milo: Hey, Pep; how are the vocals feeling tonight?
Jennifer: Better than last night, that’s for sure. I thought we were gonna have Nicki singing lead tonight.
Milo: Love Nicki, but that girl cannot sing to save her life.
Jennifer: *laughs* Dude, I’m telling her you said that.
Milo: Tell her! She knows it’s the truth!
Jennifer nudges Milo’s shoulder as they laugh it off.
Milo: I’m glad you’re feeling better after what happened with your family the other night.
Jennifer: *rolls eyes* Don’t even remind me. I’m just glad I didn’t lose my shit after being at that dinner table. Like whatever, it’s one thing to date the guy that left us 11 years ago, but to force me and Mars to have some sort of relationship with him just because he’s our dad. Like the dud has missed out on so much of our lives! Mars was a baby when he left! I was–
Milo grabs Jennifer by the shoulders to calm her down.
Milo: We need you, Pep.
Jennifer: *nods* Sorry, I just get annoyed having to even think about it.
Milo: Forget about it; we’re about to go out there and perform some of our new songs tonight. Let the music take you away and let’s have a goo time tonight.
Milo smiles; Jennifer returns one back.
Jennifer: Of course.
Milo and Jennifer look at each other for another brief moment until they are interrupted by noth Nicki and Danny entering the backstage area.
Nicki: So, we’re going to be the second to last performers of the night.
All of the teens nod their head in agreement besides Milo.
Milo: I thought you said we were going to be the closing act?
Danny: *intervenes* The lineup had to change because the their headliner isn’t going to show up until 20 minutes before for some odd reason–
Milo: *to Danny* I asked Nicki, as she is typically in charge of the band’s promotional activities.
Danny: And I’ve answered for Nicki since I was with her when she was asking the host of this event.
Milo: *annoyed* Nicki was able to do her job on her own way before you came long–
Nicki: *even more annoyed* And Nicki can speak for herself. Danny is right though; the headliner isn’t gonna be here until before the last performer, which in hindsight is the real opener for this event.
Milo rolled his eyes and walked away from the group once he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He takes out his Sidekick and flips the screen open: it’s an AIM message from Gwen.
Gwen: Hey! Just letting you know that I’m here. Good luck out there tonight!
The message makes Milo smile. His bandmates suddenly call for him, walking in his direction. He quickly flips the phone down and puts it in his pocket.
Jennifer: Dude, are you okay?
Milo: I’m fine, Pep. Just needed to get away from those two. Ever since he started the band, it’s like he’s constantly down Nicki’s back like she can’t speak or do things herself. It’s fucking annoying.
Jennifer: Danny likes her, Milo; of course he is going to try to impress her by being this big, protective man and shit. All boys do that with the girl they’re crushing on.
Milo looks at Jennifer, wondering if she’s ever had a guy do that for her.
Jennifer: Earth to Milo…
Milo: *snaps back* Huh?
Jennifer: *laughs* Just let Danny do his thing. *tussles hair* I know you’re protective of me and Nicki just because we’re your best friends, but Nicki would probably appreciate if you weren’t so overprotective of her.
Milo: *annoyed* I’m not; I’m protective of the band.
Milo walks away from Jennifer and look out to the audience from the curtain one last time. He scans the room trying to find Gwen in the crowd.
Jennifer: Come on, Milo–
Jennifer grabs Milo by the arm, away from the curtain. The show is about to start any minute now.
…
Milo: Alright guys, get into position.
Danny goes ahead the drum set and Nicki picks up her bass guitar. Jennifer walks to Milo before she walks behind the microphone.
Jennifer: Hey?
Milo looks up.
Jennifer: I know you’re nervous, but it will be fine tonight. We have a dope set we’re performing because of you. You’re smart, talented, and a badass lead guitarist. You’re a fucking rockstar, dude.
Milo: *smiles* Thanks, Pep. That means a lot coming from the rockstar herself.
Jennifer rolls her eyes and smiles; Milo laughs.
Jennifer: I guess it’s just a ‘takes one to know one’ type of situation.
Milo: Nah, I just know who the true rockstar is.
Jennifer doesn’t say anything back as they hear the backstage crew instructing them on their spots. The band gets in professional mode, looking out toward the closed curtain before it opens up. The host announces the band as the curtains finally swing open. The crowd cheers for the band. Milo looks out at the audience, scanning the room once before the set starts. He still doesn’t see Gwen out there.
Jennifer: What’s up, Brooklyn Heights! We’re Indigo Chemistry and we got a sick set to play for you guys tonight! To my left is our amazing bass guitarist, Nicki!
The crowd cheers as Nicki waves her hand.
Jennifer: In the back of me but never unnoticed, we got Danny on the drums!
The crowd continues to cheer as Danny plays a quick drum line for the crowd.
Jennifer: To my right is the mastermind behind all of our music! Our lead guitarist; the one and only Milo!
The crowd cheers loud as he bows in front of Jennifer before taking his own microphone off the stand.
Milo: Let’s not forget about our mad talented lead singer, Pep!
The crowd cheers even louder as Jennifer throws kisses toward the audience.
Jennifer: Alright. Without further ado, let’s rock out in this bitch!
The crowd cheers as Milo starts out the first song. Everyone genuinely looks like they are having a good time, including the band. Jennifer jumps around the stage with the microphone in one hand, going to every band member before starting the first verse of the song. Milo and Jennifer look at each other as she sing and he plays along. The two best friends continue to do what they do best together: put on an awesome performance.
…
During the set, Milo turns toward the audience to get close to them. He begins to play his guitar solo on their last song. He looks out to the audience one last time before the set ends. He finally spots Gwen sitting all the way in the back of the venue, dancing in her seat as she watches. Milo smiles and finishes off the solo and the set finally ends. The audience applauds and cheers on the band.
Milo: Once again we are Indigo Chemistry, thank you for coming out tonight!
The curtain begins to close. Once it closes, the band begins to get excited, running off the adrenaline that the crowd was giving them.
…
Shortly after the last performers of the night, Jennifer and Milo begin to wrap up their equipment to head on out.
Milo: I have to say, you slaughtered those vocals out there tonight, Pep.
Jennifer: Really? I feel like I had a rough time carrying out some of the notes towards the end part of the set…
Milo: *shocked* What? Are you sure we’re hearing the same exact songs? Because what I heard out there was probably some of your best singing yet.
Jennifer: *nudges Milo on shoulder* You’re just saying that.
Milo: Pep, please know that I will always tell you the truth despite how much it might hurt because I care about you. If I’m telling you that you were great, then you were great! You gotta stop second-guessing your singing ability; there’s a reason why you’re a vocal major at Waverly.
Jennifer: *under breath* Yeah, I guess…
Milo: *gently* Hey.
Jennifer turns around to face Milo; he takes a moment to look at Jennifer in the eyes. She looks at him with a sense of worry on her face. Milo brushes a piece of her hair away from her face.
Milo: Don’t be too hard on yourself. I know you’re a perfectionist, but rust me when I say that you are talented and looked so fucking cool out there.
Jennifer smiles. Milo does the same. The two teens looked at each other for a moment before the door of the dressing room opens. The two teens walk away from each other, looking at Nicki and Danny enter the room with another person.
Nicki: Hey, guys! I want to introduce you to one of my bandmates from school!
Milo looks at Gwen, who is also looking at him. He quickly looks away, focusing on Nicki.
Nicki: This is Gwen; Gwen, that’s Jennifer and that’s Milo.
Milo waves at Gwen; she looks confused.
Jennifer: Nice for you to come out to our show tonight! You’re a friend of Nicki’s?
Gwen: Uhm… yeah. We’re in the same band class…
Milo doesn’t say anything back.
Nicki: How’d you find out about our show?
Gwen: Oh, uhm; there’s this bulletin on the school website that shows all the extracurricular activities to attend; I figured a music show would be good.
Jennifer: Oh… okay…
A brief moment of awkward silence arises.
Gwen: I should get going; it was nice meeting you all. You guys were awesome tonight; a great way to represent Waverly High.
Gwen walks towards the door to exit the dressing room. The rest of the band says bye to her as she does besides Milo. When the door closes, The teens look at each other.
Jennifer: Dude, that was so fucking weird.
Nicki: She’s a nice girl; I felt bad she was here by herself…
Jennifer: *laughs* Maybe she’ll even start our fan club.
The teens start to laugh besides Milo. He begins to pack up his equipment.
Danny: She kept looking at Milo when she was here; maybe she came for him–
Milo: *annoyed* Yeah, I doubt it. I don’t even know the girl–
Nicki: She’s in our band class, Milo! Maybe she likes you and decided to come to one of your shows!
The girls laugh which angers Milo.
Milo: You guys are overdoing it now. I don’t even like her–
Milo grabs his bag and begins to walk towards the exit.
Jennifer: Good, because five is a crowd, and she does not look like she would actually find in our group anyway…
Milo rolled his eyes and walked out of the dressing room. Looking around, he sadly does not see Gwen at the venue anymore. He sighs and walks towards the back-exit of the venue.
Letters From Liz. 