Maintaining eye contact with Jax while standing in line makes me feel so many different things at once. It's almost overwhelming with how excited I am, yet I want to run away and say forget this whole thing and go back to my jacuzzi and wine. I almost feel the need to impress them when I get up there, but at the end of the day, who are they going to remember? The ginger with a few tattoos, or Stacy over there with the fishnets and giant tits? They're rockstars for crying out loud. They're going to forget me the moment I walk out of their line of sight.

As for him smiling the way he is, though, I have to admit it's giving me a sense of hope that he does indeed remember me and isn't just smiling because I'm one of the many fans in line. The way his eyes shine from even this far away makes me wonder what kind of storm is brewing behind those blue eyes of his. They remind me of someone who's seen a lot of hurt in his life, but smiles through the pain either way.

His gaze shifts from me and onto the fan in front of him when I feel like I can finally suck in a deep breath to fill my deprived lungs. I adjust my top, suddenly feeling a little too exposed for where I am. I don't want them to remember me for how I look, but rather the interactions. With how much my mind is racing right now I'm sure my mouth with automatically forget how to function as soon as I get up there, anyway.

"Are you excited?" Ana asks with a wide grin.

"Yeah, I guess so," I say sheepishly, picking at my fingernails.

Ana notices my anxious tics and grabs my hands. "Just breathe, girl. They're just normal people. You know that since you spoke with him yesterday, right?" she asks, raising one eyebrow.

I'm pretty sure they're still trying to gauge whether or not they believe that it was indeed Jax Owens I ran into yesterday and not just some lookalike. It sounded crazy coming out of my mouth, so I understand the apprehension, but how on earth would I mix them up? There's not many people in Boston with a Welsh accent—I don't think, anyway.

Jax briefly looks away from the fan in front of him, a smile dancing on his lips when they meet mine again. I give him a small smile back as blush tinges my pale cheeks before I rip my eyes from his and onto the floor.

The line pushes forward at a quicker pace when my anxiety returns full force, my head starting to feel as though I'm in some sort of daze. I keep my gaze locked on the floor, feeling almost dizzy from all the overlapping conversations and rapid movements of the fans bouncing excitedly around me. Peering up to see how much further we have, I see the girl with long jet-black hair from earlier approach the band, swaying her hips provocatively.

She stands in front of them, asking each bandmate for a hug as they oblige until she reaches Jax. She outstretches her arms for him to embrace her, except he just sticks his hand out for a handshake instead. Ouch.

"Oh, that has to hurt," Ana chuckles beside me.

"Imagine asking someone for a hug and instead you're greeted with a handshake," Nora snickers. "Now I kind of want to ask them for a hug to see what happens."

My mouth pulls at the corner, trying not to laugh because I know if it were me, I'd probably crawl into a hole and die of embarrassment.

"I bet five bucks I can get them to say the word dick for the photo," Ana quips with a mischievous grin.

Nora chuckles loudly and holds her hand out to seal their bet.

"Hey, do you mind going before me?" I ask Ana. I know if I see her interact first, it'll make me feel a little more at ease.

"Whatever you need, Al," she says with a nod.

Without even a hint of nervousness, Ana confidently switches places with me and strides over to the bandmates and shakes each of their hands in introduction. I can't hear a single word of what they're saying, but whatever she said made Gareth laugh, which is shocking. Every interview I've ever seen of him, he's always been straight faced and serious.

Casey and James greet her with a handshake before pointing to her Doc Martens, most likely offering a compliment. While she chats with the band for a few moments, Jax chuckles at something she says as his eyes flick back to me when goosebumps tickle my arms and heat floods my cheeks.

"I wonder what she just said to them," Nora whispers next to me. "They seem to like her a lot. They've all been giggling the whole time."

Ana finishes up her conversation quickly before politely requesting the security team to take a picture of her alongside the band. They all pose side by side with their knees bent, point at the camera and shout, "Verga!"

Nora and I share a look of complete and utter shock and start cackling, unable to contain our endless laughter.

"Looks like you lost," I say to Nora in between laughs.

We watch Ana dance away from the band when Nora lightly nudges my arm. "Looks like it's your turn, Al. Unless you want me to go before you."

I give her a small smile and shake my head. "That's okay, Nor. Thank you."

My legs wobble beneath me as I walk slowly toward them, a swarm of butterflies assaulting my insides the closer I get.

"Hi there!" their bassist, James, greets enthusiastically. I'll admit he is way cuter in person, with both arms covered in tattoos, short black hair and shining green eyes.

"Hey, how's it goin'?" drummer Casey asks with a nod. He's the bulkier one of the group, his biceps I swear are bigger than my head. But no tattoos from what I can see, not even on his shaved scalp.

"Hey," the lead guitarist, Gareth, greets with the thickest accent out of all of them. He seems almost as nervous as I am as he runs his hand through his shoulder-length, light brown hair.

When my eyes meet Jax's, a radiant and infectious smile glows on his face with a single dimple occupying his right cheek. It's that type of smile that leaves you wondering whether it's from genuine happiness, or maybe an attempt to stifle a laugh.

"Hello again," he says, smiling a bit more now that I'm directly in front of him.

My face heats to the point I'm willing to bet I resemble a tomato at the mention of "again." I'm taken aback, searching for words to say when I just stand there and smile at him, also trying not to laugh.

"Crash into any more trollies recently?" he asks jokingly.

The comment prompts a laugh to erupt from me, unable to contain it anymore. "So, you do remember?"

"How could I forget the woman that introduced me to pink Moscato?" he says, his eyes crinkling at the sides.

"But to answer your question, no, I haven't hit anyone else. I figured I'd save it for other people I like. I'm thinking maybe Gordon Ramsay next time," I say, bringing my finger to my cheek, pretending to be in deep thought.

"That man wouldn't step foot inside a Wal-Mart," he chuckles.

"Were we planning to do a picture, or just stand here and talk?" the security guard asks, trying to urge us to move along. The same asshole that wouldn't let me use the bathroom earlier. I swear this guy has it out for me.

"Alright, alright, don't get your knickers in a bunch," Gareth says with annoyance laced in his tone.

I quickly hand my phone over to the guard with the camera open and ready, muttering a half genuine, "sorry."

Wedging myself in the middle of the guys, my heart stutters while they situate themselves beside me. When Jax raises his arm to rest on my shoulder, every bundle of nerves in my body comes to life when a sudden shock travels down my arm. It must have been more static electricity since he clearly notices it too when he immediately raises his arm and jumps slightly before placing his hand back down on my shoulder slowly.

"That was weird. Sorry about that," he whispers above me, his breath fanning against my ear as a chill shoots down my spine.

Just before the guard snaps the photo, Jax and the rest of the guys slowly raise their hands with their middle fingers up at the camera. I like to think they're actually flipping him off rather than doing it for the aesthetic.

Tearing myself from Jax's side, I stroll over to the guard to claim my phone back. The smug look on his face makes me want to sock him, but instead I keep my mouth shut and turn around and give the band my thanks. Of course my eyes linger on Jax a little longer than they should, but I can't help that I feel an insane pull toward him, almost like I'm being sucked into his orbit.

Watching Nora while she has her turn, I notice she looks more nervous than I was. Her face is suddenly white as a ghost while she attempts to walk over to them.

"Hopefully she doesn't pass out," Ana murmurs beside me, not taking her eyes off Nora.

Nora approaches James like a newborn baby deer learning to use their legs. After exchanging a few words, he smiles widely and throws his arms around her. Casey and Gareth return the gesture as well, both of them wrapping her in a warm embrace with big smiles plastered on their faces, unlike with the other woman who requested a hug. Ana and I observe from a distance, watching the ice thaw from an anxious girl to a confident woman.

When she finally approaches Jax at the end of the line, she holds her fist out toward him for a bump. He chuckles warmly, flashing his heart-stopping smile when he opens his arms wide for her. My heart warms while watching these guys interact with her. They look so intimidating, yet they've been so kind and gentle with each and every one of their fans.

The guys huddle together with Nora for a picture when Jax's eyes travel to meet mine again for several beats. It's like time stands still and I'm frozen in his piercing gaze, my feet glued on the floor beneath me. Maybe I'm overthinking it because I am, however, standing right behind the guard snapping the photo—but I think I want to stay in my fantasy land for a few more minutes.

Nora walks over to us with the biggest smile I've seen on her face since I've met her.

"I can't believe you got all of them to hug you, even Jax," Ana says with disbelief.

"Yeah, I didn't even ask! James said he could literally feel the nervousness rubbing off me and asked if I wanted a hug and the rest of them just joined in," Nora beams with excitement.

The three of us link our arms together while I pull us toward the front entrance.

"Where are we going?" Nora asks with a look of confusion.

"I just need some air before we go back in there," I say, pushing through the double doors.

Stepping out onto the busy sidewalk, the sun is smoldering and instantly makes me regret the need for fresh air. But I know when the concert starts, it's going to be difficult to catch my breath with everyone so close together.

"That was incredible, but that guard was such a dick," Nora remarks.

"Yeah, that was the same guy that tried to not let me use the bathroom before going in! His coworker said he's known for that," I scoff.

"He should probably get a different job then," Ana mutters under her breath.

Even though the air is thick and humid, it still gives the satisfying relief of being able to catch my breath and not worry about knocking into someone. With each step we take further away from the venue, I can feel my anxiety gradually dissipate.

"So, he remembered you, huh?" Ana says while bumping my shoulder with hers.

My smile grows rapidly before I turn to her. "Yeah, he did," I admit with a nod.

"See, you should have slipped him your number," Nora says through a chuckle.

I turn to look at her with my head tilted sideways. "Absolutely not," I say. I am not ballsy enough to just hand my number over without someone asking for it. Even in a friendly manner. Nora had to ask me for my number when we met at the park so our girls could have playdates because I was afraid of being too forward.

I pull my phone out of my back pocket to check the time, noticing the first band should be getting on stage soon.

"We should head back. It's probably already packed," I inform them and turn around toward the venue.

When we step inside the building, the surround sound reverberates through our bodies instantly, indicating the bands are preparing to go on. We push past a few people in an attempt to get down to the general admissions area to stand amongst other fans. The first band takes the stage when eager cheers erupt from the crowd when the band members rush out, wearing face masks resembling Slipknot. I was expecting the heavy growls that typically come with metal music, but their vocals are clean and powerful. I'm apparently not the only one taken aback when the rest of the crowd looks somewhat confused. The instrumentals sound heavier than their vocals until the chorus comes, and so doesn't the gruff screaming from the lead vocalist we've been waiting on.

While the band continues their performance, we head to the bar to watch from afar, wanting to conserve our energy for Bottom Line.

"Oh, this is better. Now I don't have to smell the stench of body odor until later," Ana jokes.

Letting out a chuckle, I shake my head at her. "Let's go watch from the balcony. We can get a better view up there," I say while gesturing toward the stairs.

When we reach the top, Nora grabs hold of the banister and leans over to observe the crowd from above.

"Wow, you can see everything up here!" she exclaims.

Ana and I join beside her and take a peek over the banister to see the crowd clearing out space. Everyone in the middle starts swinging their arms and legs through the air, almost knocking out a few bystanders. I could never understand why people do this. Isn't it more fun to actually watch the concert and not having to worry about the people around you? I know it's expected to be pushed around, but I would be concerned about accidentally hurting someone.

We stay up here until the two opening bands finish with their sets. While the stagehands set up the equipment, the surround sound comes to life while fans leave to shop the merch stands during intermission. Ana, Nora, and I take the opportunity to bolt downstairs and get as close to the stage as we can, with the crowd now thinning. We reach halfway through the crowd when the speakers start blaring Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline." My mouth drops as soon as the opening begins, forgetting my favorite part of going to a concert is the amazing intermission playlist every time.

"Sweet Caroline!" Nora sings along with the crowd while gripping my shoulders and shaking them excitedly.

"BAH BAH BAH—" Ana and I finish in unison and laugh together.

The crowd continues to sing a series of nostalgic songs when the speaker suddenly cuts off; the venue falling into total darkness. The only things heard are the hushed conversations around us and my heart beating in my ears. When the thunderous sound of an electric guitar echoes from the speakers and the bass vibrates the floor beneath our feet, the crowd erupts into eager screams.

James and Casey dash on stage first, their smiles beaming while holding their fists high in the air while they take their places. Gareth follows and stands at the front of the stage, waving his arms up to entice more cheers from the crowd. The moment Jax steps on stage, the entire venue shakes from the excitement of everyone in the room. He stands confidently at the microphone, waiting for the crowd to quiet down as he stands there with yet another one of his jaw-dropping smiles.

When the crowd settles down, he grips the microphone and chuckles. "How the fuck are we, Boston?" he yells, prompting another outburst from the fans that surround the stage.

The band quickly launches into their latest song, pulling everyone into a frenzy of singing and jumping together, making my feet leave the floor involuntarily. The energy is amplifying rapidly when I look to my side and find Ana and Nora, and quickly hold my elbows out for them to link with me. Getting separated would be hell trying to reconnect with this large of a crowd.

While the show goes on, it only gets more intense with every song. I'm being tossed around like a raggedy Ann doll, already feeling the whiplash in my neck. A shove from behind us feels as though a tidal wave came ripping through, forcefully separating Ana, Nora and I. We try to fight against the tide, desperately trying to reunite, but there's no use. There's way too many people, and I already lost sight of them.

"Open the fucking pit!" Gareth shouts into the microphone while Jax starts his guitar solo.

Looking around frantically at the many faces around me in search of my friends, my heart falls into my stomach while watching everyone back up to clear space. My friends are nowhere in sight, and I am completely alone in this sea of unfamiliar faces. Noticing that I'm right on the edge, I square my feet on the ground to hold my stance. I cautiously turn my attention back to the stage, hoping for a distraction, and am completely captivated by Jax's electrifying performance. The look on his face while he's performing is incredible. He seems so free on that stage and not nearly as closed off as he tries to seem in interviews.

I'm enraptured by watching Jax play his solo when the sudden feeling of hands on my back snaps me back to reality. Having no time to react, I'm already plummeting full force before my body smacks hard against the cold wooden floor. Everything turns black for a few moments before things finally come back into focus gradually. Stars sparkle subtly in my vision while everything sounds muffled around me, almost like I've been pulled into a current and I have water in my ears.

Intense pain shoots through my head while I cradle it, hearing nothing but a debilitating high-pitched ringing from my right ear. I squeeze my eyes closed, feeling frozen in place with the pain being too much to move any muscle in my body.

"Oh, my God! That girl just got punched," I think I hear someone say, although it's extremely muffled.

"I am so sorry! I didn't see you there," a tall man says, kneeling beside me. "Do you need help standing?"

I couldn't reply even if I wanted to. My mouth refuses to move while I lay here feeling paralyzed and seeing stars. It all happened so fast I didn't even realize the lights are back on and all music has ceased.

"Hey! Someone pick her up! Don't just fucking crowd around her like that. You see someone fall, you fucking pick them up, you don't just stand there with your thumbs up your ass," Gareth scolds the crowd.

My vision comes into focus when I see Jax zeroing in to see what had happened when his eyes widen with concern.

"Are you okay, Allie?" he asks through the microphone as it echoes in the now quiet room, and through my still vibrating skull.

Suddenly, feeling hands grabbing both my arms, I look up to see Ana and Nora helping me off the ground.

Ana moves the hair from the side of my head to assess the damage as she looks at Nora. "We should get her back to the house," she said with concern.

When I'm finally standing on my feet, my two best friends pull me away from the pit, my feet dragging along the floor while I try to shield my face from not only the blinding lights, but the humiliation.

"Not cool guys, you need to be careful and watch out for one another while having a good time out there," I hear Gareth tell the crowd as we're reaching the doors.

Tonight might have ended with me possibly having a concussion, but I'm not going to let it ruin the fact that Jax Owens remembered me today.

I was noticed.