Opening Night //open//

[Reed Turner]

Reed was behind the island bar in Nonsense. A club that he was the assisant to the manager who did nothing. The Sock Monkeys were coming tonight. In fact, they were setting up on stage now. The first day at school had ended and Reed didn't want to start THIS all over again tomorrow.

He watched as some of the locals gave the bouncer the ticket stub and entered the black floor, black wall haven. It was actually a pretty nice bar for getting trashed almost every night. Lights were strung against the walls. It was the first night Nonsense was open since August. It closed for remodeling for a month. Though, Reed didn't think it changed much. It seemed the same. Well tonight was suppose to be the Grand Re-opening. Beer was only going to be two dollars. That alone attracted the high-schoolers who wanted to drink for cheap tonight.

Reed bent his head down again to the text book. Yes, he was doing his homework. He already got a truck-full, and might as well start it now when it was still sane at the club.

[bridgetainsworth]

Bridget walked into Nonsense. She figured she would come and have a good time tonight. Her first day of school was over. She felt like it took forever, and it was also the Grand Re-opening. How could she miss that.

It wasn't very crowded in there yet. She was happy, many times it was way too crowded. She realized two dollar beer would attract a lot. It also looked better from the remodeling. Well, it would get trashed latter in the night.

Tonight Bridget wore a black fitted tank-top and a faded looking jean skirt. She also wore a pair of black heels. For make-up she wore mascara, eye liner, clear lip gloss, and shimmer powder. She walked over towards the bar, hoping to find someone she new.

[Min-Sook Park]

Nikki also walked into Nonsense. School was giving her so much stress. Studying here and there. Not enough time for her sports and social life.

She went inside and just sat at the island bar. Nikki saw a two chairs away from Reed but didn't notice him. She went inside the club and tried to have a good time-before school starts again.

Nikki didn't change at all to go to the club. It wasn't anything special anyways. She wore her denim jacket with jeans and a green shirt. All she had for make-up was a little lip gloss.

"I wonder if any special bands are here tonight," Nikki said to herself.

[sage]

Sage wondered into the club, not exactly sure what she was doing there.
‘Go, it’ll be fun!’ Cole’s voice floated inside her head and Sage was regretting telling him she’d heard about this place. Sage tugged nervously at the tie around her neck, her signature mark. The bangles on her wrist jingled loosely and Sage looked around, hoping to see someone she could pretend to know.

It was dim and Sage could feel the music pulsing threw her. The two dollar beer sounded pretty good too. Moving further into the club, Sage nodded her head. Yeah, this would be fun. She’d heard that some cool band was playing later on too, that would really rock it.

[Reed Turner]

He tapped his number two pencil against the text book as he slowly read the text. Oddly enough, he was able to concentrate amidst the band tuning their instruments. He was always use to loud noise. He swore his ears were going to pop one day. He could hardly concentrate though. It wasn’t the sound, it was his day. So many things had happened. He saw friends he hadn’t seen since well...a couple days ago. But, everyone again in one place. It had been awhile. And the ladies, hehe...well, he couldn’t complain there. Was in the Irish accent? The athletic-ness, the charm? Or maybe it was all of the above. Between the, “Reed, I haven’t seen you in, like, forever ” and the, “Looking good Reed ”to the, “How’s the club?” It seemed that was the only thing he actually enjoyed that day. He wasn’t going to deny he liked the attention, because he did. But, as some girl’s pushed fro his ‘full’ attention, Reed recoiled. He wanted a girlfriend, yes, just didn’t see her yet. He was sure once he saw her, he would be the one who pushed. Reed didn’t give up so easily.

Out of the corner of his eyes, he noticed someone. He looked up. “Hey Bridget.”
He left his book open as he stood up. He’d known Bridget for a bit. They had talked often in some of their classes together. “Here for the opening?” he asked as he stepped back and grabbed a couple beers. He didn’t know if she drank, they never gotten that deep into a conversation. He popped the cap off of both of them and slid one to her. “On the house,” he said and took a drink of his own.

Reed knew that he was underage. So did every other single kid here tonight. Reed wasn’t even suppose to be serving beer of any kind, he was underage. But, when did that stop the manager? He hired Reed, plus, the police in Valkyrie hardly do anything at all. This whole club could get torn down from serving alcohol to minors, but that would require the police to actually give a damn. [/size]

[bridgetainsworth]

"Hey Reed." she said to him. She had known him for awhile, but wished she had known him better.
"Thanks," she said taking the beer. She knew she was underage, but what the hell. The first day of school just ended, she wanted to have a good time. She wasn't much of a drinker, but tonight was the Re-grand opening. She had to have some.
"Did you get a lot of homework, too." she asked, noticing his text book. She had a lot, too. Nothing was really due tommorw except a survey on fashion.

[Reed Turner]

Through the glass of beer he saw Bridget take a drink. Reed was a little surprised though he wasn’t worried that he would need to call a cab for it to take her home. She didn’t seem the type that would drink, but as cliché as it sounded: You can’t judge a book by its cover.

He sheepishly looked down at his text book. “Yeah, it’ll be a long night. Grand Re-opening and all. Thought I would get a head start,” he said and closed the book. The pencil’s eraser sticking out of it, marking the page so when he returned to it early /early/ in the morning, he wouldn’t have to waste time finding the page. After sticking it under the shelf behind the bar he looked back at Bridget. “So, you like The Sock Monkeys?” he asked. He doubted she knew. The first he himself had heard of them was through the demo they sent to the club fo an spot. A lot of those bands you really don’t hear about come to Nonsense to get known.

He watched as the Sock Monkey’s lead singer got into position and nodded to read. That was the cue. He looked back at Bridget, “Hold on, B, got to introduce the band.”

Taking a few steps back to the bar he picked up the black microphone and turned it on. No static. Maybe they finally got a new one. “Hey everyone back to the re-opening of Nonsense,” his Irish accent thick as he started the intro, “I’m Reed Turner, the assistant manger of Nonsense. I see some familiar faces in the crowd,” he heard a few shouts so he waited and smiled at Bridget. “I’m proud to announce the first band of the re-opening....The Sock Monkeys!!!”

The crowd exploded into shouts and applauses, and he turned off most of the night that some white lights shone brightly off the walls, giving enough light to see the people around you. Reed walked back to Bridget, “Like the intro?” [/size]

[Min-Sook Park]

Nikki just looked around. This was her first time in Nonsense. There wasn't much she knew about this place. Which band was the best? Will a good band play tonight? Who's the Sock Monkeys?

Nikki walked over to Bridget. She didn't know her much, but it's great to make new friends.

"Hey," Nikki said,"I'm Nikki. We've seen each other non adn then but I just wanted to know you better." Nikki hoped that Bridget would not become her enemy. She didn't notice Reed next to her at all.

[sage]

Sage moved toward the bar, loving the live band. Things had never been like this back home! The thought made her stop and shake her head before continuing on. No, she wouldn’t ruin the night by dwelling on it. Sage was going to enjoy herself and party until the sun rose up or they kicked her out. The latter was bound to come first.

Noticing a few people from Valkyrie by the bar, Sage wondered who they were. Right, she remembered now. Nikki and Bridget. Sage was good with names, they just seemed to stick with her. Also, she knew Nikki was on dance and Bridget was just popular. Spotting the boy behind the bar, Sage slid two dollars towards him.
“Beer?” she asked over the music.

[bridgetainsworth]

Just as Bridget was about to take a sip she changed her mind. She realized she didn't need to drink to have fun. Anyways, she was underage and she could get in trouble. Also, she didn't want anyone to think of her differently.

"You know what," she said to Reed. She handed set the beer back down on the bar.," No thank you, and yes it was a great intro. I haven't really heard the band much but they sound good so far."

She turned about and saw Nikki. "Hey, nice to meet you." she said to her," I am Bridget. Yeah, I have seen you around the school, you are pretty good at sports."
She had seen her few times, but they have not really became friends.

[Reed Turner]

He noticed Bridget put back the drink and slid it back to him. "No worries," he said. "I've gotten kids like you who put down the beer five times before taking a sip." He grabbed the beer and put it under the shelf near is text book. Maybe she would want it later. "You know where to find it," he told her and winked.

A girl he saw only once that day came up to him and asked for a beer. “Can I have some ID?” he asked joking really, but looking serious. He did this to almost all the first-time comers to Nonsense. It was almost like a tradition. He saw the same faces over and over the same night. He felt like a teacher, remembering student’s names.

“Naw, only joking. He leaned over the bar and looked at her. “You’ve never been here before, I can tell. Let me guess the beer,” he studied her for a moment, “You for sure don’t look like a Bud...either of them. I’d have to say Corona,” he asked and cocked his head a little, taking the two dollars from the bar, and asking if he was right. He really only did this to the girls, with guys it was no fun. [/size]

[sage]

Sage balked when the guy asked for I.D. She'd thought most kids got away with it at the clubs! When he told her he was only joking, Sage relaxed and smiled a little. Hearing about what kind of beer girl she was, Sage was surprised that he guessed right.

Though she didn't want to be like her Dad, Sage liked a little taste of alcohol. She'd tried it all, most before the age of fourteen. That and some hard stuff, though she'd never touch whiskey or scotch again. Corona was good, if you added a few good things.

"If you've got some lime to go with it, I'm very happy." Sage said, leaning a bit on the bar, studying the guy behind it. She'd seen him once or twice around school, what was his name again?
"I'm Sage by the way." she added, deciding she could find out now.

[Reed Turner]

"What's a Corona without?" he asked referring to the lime. Taking a few seconds to find the good-tasting beer? He handing it to Sage. He leaned back down to continue the coversation, "I'm Reed."

He usually didn't use last names when he met new people. He was like Madonna, or Cher. He found it funny. "So, you just move here?" he asked as he took another drink from his own beer. The Sock Monkey's ended their frist song, and started with a new up-beat-ish song. He could tell that Sage would probably go and dance. But, he couldn't be for sure.

[sage]

Sage took the beer with a smile and sipped at it, the sour taste washing over her tongue. Sighing, she gently placed it down, toying with the lime on the top. The dim lighting still made the amber colored liquid glow, the lime wedge stuffed down inside looking like a tiny green ship. Lost at sea, floating in the frothy white waves.

Hearing Reed ask about if she'd just moved here, Sage nodded.
"Just moved here in the summer, not that far though. Used to live about an hour away." Sage neglected to mention that she'd left her Mom and Dad back in that hour, focusing instead on the music pounding around her. It entered threw her ears, but it made her whole body vibrate, an intense rush filled her and Sage wondered why people used drugs to get this kind of high.

Looking over at Reed, she pointed to the band.
"They're good, where'd you find them?" she asked, her voice raising to be heard over the music.

[Reed Turner]

"They found me," he said as his head slightly bobbed to the music. "The bands just sent a demo to me. It sounded good. Booked them a gig."

A girl he hardly remembered came up between them and asked for a beer. Reed motioned a 'one minute' finger and serviced the high-schooler that looked like she could barely take another glass. Reed pondered if he should call a cab for her. No, she'd be back for another round. He'll call it then. He wasn't in the mood to read in the paper the next morning about a girl dying in a 'drinking and driving' accident.

"So," he continued, "have you been to any of the other clubs yet?" [/size]