By LC
“Does she honestly think we can get noticed on our first day in a new country?” Jess slid in next to me in the back of the taxi.
“Apparently. But god, the only way I’m going to get noticed is if someone trips over me as I pass out. I’m half a day behind with this jet-lag.” I strained to keep my eyelids open as the taxi pulled away from the curb.
“Where to ladies?” The driver asked.
Gaby swung round from the front seat. “Do we even know any names of places?”
I looked at Jess. She shrugged. “Er...” I glanced out of the window in hope, only to be met with cars in neighbouring lanes. “Just somewhere where the action is."
“Soho it is then.” The driver swung a left.
After a few hours of trudging from club to club we were at a loss.
“God LC I just want to sleep.” Gaby whinged as we stepped into the freezing night.
“I know.” I said. I hugged my jacket around me. “Let’s just get a taxi back to our hotel hey?”
Jess and Gaby nodded into agreement and we made our way into a busier street in hope of transport.
“Hey,” Gaby yanked my arm as we rounded the corner. “Look. The 303.” She nodded towards a noisy and brightly lit club. “That place looks promising."
I glanced over. I smiled. “Let’s take a look.”
“Oh god.” Jess started.
“No really- we’ll be quick. Just a look.” I begged.
“No way L. I’ve had enough. I’m going back. You go ahead.” She waved down a taxi.
“Aw Jesssss...” Gaby tried. “Don’t you want to meet celebrities?”
“Like who- the bouncers at the door? No thanks.” She shook her head.
“She’s always shitty when she’s tired.” I told Gabs as the taxi drove off.
“Doesn’t matter. Anyway, this place looks a bit exclusive don't you think? Let’s hang around outside.” Gabs shrugged.
We crossed the road to the club and tried to look like we were waiting for
someone. God we’re pathetic. Not that we really notice, being the
groupie’s in our band. A few years ago I would have waited forever to meet
Mark Owen or one of the Take That boys. Of course, they’d split up now.
And all for the better. Their later stuff was crap. Who needs ballads when
you can have synthesised pop beats instead? Of course my hormones had
settled lately. I liked to think.
A group of guys burst out of the club, laughing and talking loudly. They
looked like a bunch of badly dressed hippies. God. As if being raised by
them wasn’t enough, I had to skip countries to join more. No offence to my
parents.
Gaby looked mildly amused. I kept my eyes out for any faces I recognised.
One of the hippies, sporting a mass of floppy blonde hair, ambled over.
“Hello ladies.” He smiled.
I nodded. The smell of marijuana washing over me.
“Haven’t seen you round before. Can I be of assistance?”
“Oi Dodge- we’re leaving.” One of his mates called out. He ignored them.
“Do you need membership to get in here or what?” I asked.
“It helps. Or just being part of the In Crowd.” He grinned and began to chuckle to himself.
Gaby rolled her eyes.
“And that’s you is it? The ‘in crowd’?” I asked.
“That’s a really cool accent. Where are you from?” His eyes were amazingly blue and round. And bloodshot. But pretty all the same.
“Australia. I’m here with some mates. We have a band but we don’t know how to get started. We’re just sussing out London and all at the moment.”
“A band... Are you Australian too?” He asked Gaby.
“No. South American.” She told him, looking decidedly bored.
“That’s exotic.” He began to chuckle again.
“So I guess there’s really no hope of us getting in here right?” I looked towards the door of the club.
“Dodge, we’re gonna leave without you. Leave the women alone.” A guy with long brown hair came over and tried to drag ‘Dodge’ away. “Sorry about him. Thinks he’s God’s gift.”
“Oi, Jay, just leave it, I’ll find my own way home alright?” He shook Jay off and cast his attention back at us. “I’ll get you guys in. Drinks are on me.”
I glanced at Gaby who nodded and we followed Dodge into the club.
It was cool in a kid of smoky way. Weird sculptury art work thingys hanging from the ceiling. A border of neon blue lights lined the ceiling. Gaby and I plonked into a booth.
“What do you want?” Dodge asked.
“Um, vodka and orange thanks.” I told him.
“Same.” Gaby nodded.
He went off to the bar.
“My *god* L! We’re in! I don’t care if we never get a gig in our lives- we're in an exclusive little club in the heart of London. That’s enough for me.”
I watched Dodge at the bar. I’d never seen him before. Who was he? Was he in a band? A critic? A journalist? No way. With those clothes and his bunch of mates, he must be in a band of sorts. He carried the two drinks back.
“Aren’t you having?” I asked.
“Do I look like I need more?” He said.
“I guess not.” I smiled and watched him slide in next to Gaby. She raised an eyebrow at me and I drowned my smile in my glass.
“So this is The 303.” He said. “Over here you’ll see the bar, up the back you note the pool tables and um... if you keep your eyes open you may recognise a face or two. Bathrooms are through there and if you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask."
“So who the hell are you?” Gaby asked.
I giggled.
“Oh right, sorry.” He shook his head. “I’m Crispian. And you are?”
“Gaby.”
He nodded and looked towards me.
“I’m LC. As in the letter L and the letter C. Not ‘Elsey.’ Just call me L.” I told him as I down the remainder of my drink.
“And she has a passion for vodka.” Gaby added. I kicked her under the table.
Crispian frowned. “OK, so I’ll just call you L?”
I nodded.
“What does LC stand for?” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.
“Oh... you don’t want to know. It’s ridiculous. Damn hippy parents. They give the worst names.”
“Oi! There’s nothing wrong with a bit of paisley and tofu in everyone’s lives!” Crispian defended himself, grinning.
“Oh sorry.” I giggled, enjoying the feeling of the alcohol warming me up. “It stands for Lyric China. It’s awful, bloody awful. Don’t ever call me that. Just leave it as L.”
“Ah no, Lyric’s sweet. That’s a nice name.” He smiled, some of his hair flopping in front of his eyes. He shook it away.
He looked quite dishy but then the club wasn’t exactly well lit. I couldn’t say for sure. But I liked what I saw.
“Do you have a band too?” Gaby asked him.
He broke his stare and glanced at her. “Yeah. We’ve got a CD coming out soon. We’re touring at the moment.”
“Oh let me guess, weird spiritual ‘let’s save the world’ type of stuff?” I joked.
“Something like that.” He smiled at me.
Oh Lord. I was dying to get some sleep and here was this lovely boy trying his hardest to flirt with me. Luck comes at the worst times.
“Um, did you say the bathroom’s were through there?” Gaby indicated.
Crispian nodded and got up to let her slide out.
“Shouldn’t have had those drinks before.” She said and left.
I laughed. “You’d think she’s be able to control her bladder, drinking as much as she generally does, but it just seems to go straight through her.”
“Right.” Crispian nodded. “What kind of music do you play?” He sat down.
“Bit of this, bit of that. We try and be as experimental as we can. I guess you could call it schizophrenic angst.”
“Ha, that’s good. I like that.”
I nodded. I should really get to the point, I decided. Kali would kill me if we came back with nothing. “How would we go about getting a gig?”
He frowned and bit his lip. “What’s your line-up?” “Drums, bass, lead and rhythm guitar s and vocals. The usual. Nothing major. We’re prepared to fit in anywhere that wants us.”
“Well... see I know the guy who owns this place. He helped out with our band in the beginning, when we were doing shit. I could say a few nice words.” He suggested.
“Yeah! Could you? God that would be so great.”
“What would?” Gaby said, plonking herself down next to me.
“Crispian said he’d have a few words to the owner. See if we can get a gig.”
Gaby’s face lit up. “Oh that rocks- thanks!”
I dug around in my bag. “Look, here’s the number of the hotel we’re at. We’ll be there for a few days until our instruments and stuff arrive then we’re moving up to Kilburn. Relatives have a house there and stuff. Yknow.”
“Cool.” Crispian took the paper.
Gaby nudged me. “Can we go now?” She asked in hushed tones. “I’m bloody tired.”
I turned to Crispian. “We should be going. It’s our first day here, we need to sleep off some of this jet-lag.”
Gaby got up. “Nice to meet you.”
“Sure.” Crispian stood up, trying not to look disappointed at our leaving.
I stood up and shook his hand. “I’ll hear from you then?”
“Yeah, hey listen, we’re supporting Oasis at Knebworth- are you going to that?”
I raised my eyebrows. “No. Woah, you guys must be good. I really want to go anyway. I guess we have more of a reason to now.”
“I’m not sure if it’s sold out or what but yeah. If you wanna catch us...” He shrugged.
We walked out of the club, the cold cutting through me. Gaby rushed over and grabbed a taxi before it left.
“See you then Crispian. Thanks.” I smiled.
“No problem. Bye then Lyric.” He grinned cheekily and I shot him a look.
I shook my head and climbed into the warmth of the vehicle. He waved as we sped away.
“God.” Gaby sighed. “What a wanker.”
“He got us a gig. Don’t be so harsh. Anyway.” I said as I settled back into the seat. “He was really cute.”