Complacent [Duplicity Niall]

"We should make T shirts," I'm saying, opening the door to the rooftop part of the venue. We were not allowed to be up here, I was sure. But it was better to ask for forgiveness than ask for permission and be denied.

"We're not making T shirts," Louis shakes his head, holding out his hand. I pull out a cigarette from my pack, passing it between our fingers.

"No, no, like band T shirts-"

"I know what you mean, we're not doing it," He says, using his hand to block the wind, lighting the cigarette, slinging his legs over the roofs side.

"Or, hear me out, you learn to have fun, which is this crazy new fad I'm starting," Sticking the pack of marlboros in my jean shorts pocket, placing my hands on my hips, looking at him.

"Sounds stupid. Like you."

"I could push you off this fucking roof," I warn.

"And do me a favor? Princess, you could never," Louis shakes his head. The door to the roof opened, and an exasperated crew member looked at us.

"Where's Harry?" He asked, obviously overworked. Poor Joe.

"Probably doing lines in the bathroom," I shrug. "Did you check there?"

"...no."

"Fucking interns."

"Lou, you better get back down there before I do," He warns, the door swinging behind him.

"Yeah," I reiterate, taking Louis' ciggarette. He gives me a pitiful look, but pushes himself up, standing, anyhow.

I hold the door for him like a gentleman, and we get downstairs and in a part of the hall as Harry does, Louis and I coming up on Nialls side.

The blonde is grilling Harry about his whereabouts, which I could personally care less about, as I stub Louis cigarettes on the side of my sneaker, tossing it in a can.

"Hey, Madison," Harry says to me, and I nod at him silently, hand through my hair. "Gonna watch the show."

"I'd rather die, no thanks, babe," I wink at him, pushing my way through one of the exit doors.

My feet hit the pavement, the door swinging with a slam behind me, as I end up the back alley.

I have to get around to the front. Marissa was holding my spot in line. I had gotten her these tickets.

I didn't really know Marissa, not in real life, but we had been mutuals on Instagram since we were like 13. We went through a minecraft phase together, a fan account editing phase together. And when I got involved with Duplicity, I knew hot guys playing music would really get her going.

I was correct.

"Look there she is-" I spot Marissa saying to a blonde girl, and she points to me and waves, as I duck into the line.

"Hey, no cuts," A girl behind us says.

"Ill Cut you," I nod at her, and she gives me a snobby "wth" look, but retreats, her hands up.

The blonde girl with Marissa laughs, and Marissa said, "Madi, this is Aven."

"Hey," I grin and her, and Aven smiles back at me, as we get to the bouncer.

Marissa hands him two tickets, and I give him and wink. David shakes his head at me, waving me through.

"I like your shirt!" I said to Aven, over the noise in the area, as we followed Marissa through.

She wore a white V necked top, cleavage galore, and a cute tight black skirt.

"Thanks!" She shouts back. "You too!"

I smiled, nodding showing her I understood. I wore a simple gray cropped tank top with my shorts.

"Mar, you can't just push by everyone," Aven says to Marissa.

"Yeah, you can, thats how you get things done girl!" I encourage the anarchy. "You're gonna wanna see sweat dripping down the bass guitarist."

"I need that like I need oxygen!" Marissa exclaims. I laugh and Aven groans.

I follow Marissa to the front, Aven apologizing for us as we go along.

"Do you realize how many people you guys just pissed off?" Aven asks, shaking her head.

"It's a dog eat dog world," Marissa states, and we high five.

"You gonna take pictures?" I ask Aven, pointing at her camera.

"She's a total grandpa," Marissa laughs. "You know most people use phones, Av?"

"Get em developed and they look sick," I say, as Aven adjusts the settings on her camera.

"Right! Thank you!"

I pull out my ipod touch, incredibly outdated for the time, but it's cool for photos. I take a picture of us, getting us all in.

"And you are just as old," Marissa exasperates.

"You need friends you're own age," I pat her shoulder.

"Theres an elementary school playground we can visit after to find you some," Aven assures her.

The lights start to dim, and Marissa fangirled against the barricade. I loved the energy. I hated people who pretended they were too cool to be excited.

I watched Duplicity start their set. I know Harry saw me, because he threw up the stupid little west side hand thing when he looked my way during his song.

Aven was taking photos, which I would want to ask her for to look at the boys. Although I could tell she seemed to be focusing on Harry.

Hah.

Not hating, just observing, anyhow.

The other boys, Quincy on the drums, Niall and Louis with their guitars. Up front we had a view out of some teen punk rock fantasy.

I whisper to Marissa that I'm going to the bathroom, but I don't know if she hears, so entranced by the performance I've seen a million times.

He's gonna do the lighter thing...yeah yeah yeah, I know the ordeal.

In the bathroom, I emptied my pockets on the counter. Marlboros, coke, gold chain necklace with the little moon at the end. Crumpled up dollar bills. The stupid charm bracelet I took off because I hate the jingly noise it made (but also loved, depended on my mood). 4 assorted Polaroid pictures. I stick my jewelry back in the same side pocket. Set the marlboros upright, and open the plastic baggie.

I dump the coke on the counter, using one of my pictures to get it straight. It was of Harry and Niall. Harry in a yellow hat, Niall in a white one, doing the west side thing. They were barely even posing, and looked saturated as fuck.

I grabbed one of the dollar bills, flitting it on the edge of the sink, rolling it into a little tube, and use it to snort the line.

I quickly resort my things, keeping the baggie for the future. I fix my hair in the mirror, before deciding I seemed presentable.

I imagine I couldn't have missed anything outside.