PROMPT: Feels Like Falling in Love by The XCERTS

Keep yourself sane

keep yourself sane, he said.

The music blasted from the speakers sitting on either side of the stage. Tara bobbed her head to the rhythm, soaking up the beginning of the song. 

Outside Lands was her first music festival, and she wanted to remember every moment. She had never heard of The XCERTS before today, but since Lorde wasn't playing until 5pm, Tara had time to kill. Which is how she found herself standing in front of a stage with a band she wouldn't remember after this set.

And it feels like falling, falling in love.

The powerful bass radiated out from the speakers. Tara swore she could feel the vibrations in her bones. Well, she guessed. Her beer sloshing around in one hand, phone up to record the band in the other; Tara was having the time of her life.

She wished she was at Coachella. All the photos of Weekend 1 which littered her Instagram feed for weeks looked so fun. When she begged her parents to let her go to Weekend 2, all she got was a hard no. Outside Lands was a good second, she told herself, just be glad you were allowed to go somewhere at all.

Her original plan involved two of her best friends, Poppy and Izzie, but they both cancelled last minute. Poppy had a family cruise she was expected to be on, and Izzie had a work function the same weekend. So it was just her, Tara, alone. 

Once her parents heard the news about Poppy and Izzie, they refused to let her go. 

"I don't care about how expensive the tickets were, you can't go to an 18+ music festival by yourself. What if someone offers you drugs?"

Miraculously, she was able to convince her strict parents that no, she wouldn't try drugs and yes, she would always be on the lookout.

Fat chance of being on the lookout. Her vision faded in and out of clarity as she felt the alcohol take over. 

Tell me, tell me, that love can save me today.

Where was she? Oh right, listening to a new pop band that was making their big debut at Outside Lands. And she, Tara, was having fun.

She flipped her hair to the time of the music, her brown locks flying in the wind. It wasn't cold in San Francisco, considering that August was normally as cold as a California winter. Thank god, she didn't think the shorts and crop top she brought would be able to survive the cold. 

Instead, she had went last minute shopping for a thick denim jacket just in case. Not that she needed it. Thinking back on her purchase, she thought about the $40 jacket she had purchased at Forever 21. What a waste of money.

"They're good, right?"

A hand tapped hers and yelled in her ear. She glanced over at the source of the voice and was surprised to see a teenage girl standing beside her.

"Yeah, I've never heard of them before but I'm digging it," She replied while wiping the strangers spit from her face.

"Me neither, I'm just trying to kill time before Lorde."

"No way, me too!" Tara giggled. Everything people said was automatically funnier when she was tipsy.

"I'm Lauren," The girl extended her hand to Tara.

"Tara." She replied curtly, before motioning towards the main stage. Lauren nodded and pulled out her phone. 

"What is this song?" She yelled into the microphone at Siri. 

"Let me listen." The automated voice replied. "This is Feels Like Falling in Love by The XCERTS." A click indicated that Lauren had relocked her phone.

"I like this song," She leaned into Tara's ear again. Tara only nodded, trying to soak up the vibe of the festival once more.

Lauren wasn't bad, she just wanted to get her first solo music festival experience. The guitarist on stage just started his intense solo, and Tara yelled along to the catchy beat. 

That I'm falling, falling in love.

Tara could hear the song end and the music fade out. She whooped along with the crowd, encouraging the unknown band to play more of their music. 

"Hey," She felt Lauren tap her again. "Could you take a photo for me? I want something to post on Instagram since I wasn't able to go to Coachella."

"Sure," Tara replied, smiling warmly at the girl. She knew what that felt like, and was prepared to ask the girl to return the favour. After all, a music festival wasn't complete with an Instagrammable photo.

--

hey reader, 

this chapter doesn't really have a set story, I just wanted to capture the essence of a music festival (even though I've never been to one myself). when I first heard the song, that's what popped into my head. staying true to the nature of this book, I wrote about it.

thank you so much for reading!