A chill evening wind rushed into the car as soon as Bobbi opened the door and stepped out of the passenger seat. Theo threw the driver's door shut and Bobbi met him at the trunk. She raised her sunglasses and rested them on top of her head, looking around. The low lighting of the slowly fading sun cast a warm glow over the parking lot.

Theo had the trunk open and was passing Bobbi her guitar case when the band van pulled up beside them and everyone else hopped out. Alfie jumped out of the drivers seat and immediately started filling the air with words as Sam opened up the back and Rosie joined him to help unload.

"Rosie. Seriously. What are you getting us into?"

Bobbi followed his gaze towards a steady flow of college students all heading in the same direction.

"Calm yourself, Alfred. They're just youths. They won't kill you."

Rosie came and stood by him, thrusting the case containing his bass into his stomach. The force shut him up momentarily and Rosie started for the current of kids. Sam slammed the back doors shut, and with the rest of his drum set in arms, he followed Rosie. Theo shut the trunk of his own car, and, with guitar case in one hand and Bobbi's hand in the other, he started off. Bobbi laughed as she turned back to see Alfie rolling his eyes before falling in line with the rest of them.

Rosie led their small caravan and kept up the pace as she crossed the parking lot and stepped up onto a path winding through a sprawling lawn spotted with trees and ancient looking brick buildings. Alfie soon got over himself and caught with Theo and Bobbi as they kept a few steps behind Rosie and Sam.

"Dude, Alex came through with those rentals." Alfie said.

Theo smiled and looked over at him.

"Seriously. Thank goodness, too. I was gonna go mad if we had to keep relying on Frank to take us everyone."

"Alex still wants me to take Frank with me when ever I go out, so luckily that means he not out of a job." Bobbi said.

"Good thing, too. I doubt that Aaron kid would try anything if you've got Frank keeping an eye on things. I mean, the dude's got a heart of gold but a serious arm of steel. Still slightly scares the crap out of me."

Bobbi laughed but Theo nodded his head in agreement.

Rosie's laugh burst through the darkening twilight and floated on the wind back towards Bobbi, Theo and Alfie. Alfie's brighter mood dimmed again and his face was set back in a scowl.

"Why are we even doing this? This is so stupid." He grumbled.

"What are you talking about?" Bobbi said. "We use to do this all the time."

"Obviously. It just seems like, recently, we just do everything Rosie tells us to do." Alfie said. "And Sam just goes along with it."

"Dude, you're just still mad that her lyrics won out for the bridge on 'Part-Time Friendship'." Theo said.

Alfie shook his head.

"It's not that, man."

He paused before continuing, glaring at Rosie as she leaned towards Sam, her laughter causing her to double over.

"Ever since Rosie's hijacked the pool house, everything's in chaos. I mean look! She's got Sam cracking jokes. What the heck? Do you know he said a pun the other day. The dude is the epitome of dry humor and he resorted to a pun. That ain't right."

Bobbi started to speak, trying to figure out a reply that would settle Alfie down. But Rosie called back to them before she could, urging them to hurry up.

Bobbi picked up the pace and Theo and Alfie followed.

"Look," Theo said, "She's doing us a huge favor by helping write this album. We need her. Its gonna be an adjustment but I seriously think its gonna be worth it."

Alfie shook his head and sighed.

"Yeah. Yeah. I guess you're right. Let's just do this."

Their little group was the tail end of the arriving college students and they found themselves able to make their way through the campus in relative obscurity. They only started to draw attention to themselves when Rosie approached the house pulsing with loud music. Theo gave Bobbi's hand a quick squeeze before letting go as they started to approach other people mingling out on the front lawn.

Bobbi saw a few double takes as they made their way towards the entrance. But it seemed it was more of the fact that Rosie and Sam were each carrying half of his small drum set. As a whole, each of them had toned down their wardrobe for the occasion, most everyone in jeans and tee shirts. Bobbi even purposefully went with out her heavy eyeliner and tied up her signature long black hair in a bun.

Bobbi, Theo and Alfie started for the door that lead into the brick two story house but Rosie whistled and beckoned them over to the side gate.

"Rosie, please. Please. Just tell me you know what you're getting us into." Alfie said.

Rosie kept looking from her phone to the peephole in the wooden gate, her half of the drum set resting on the ground.

"Trust me." Rosie said. "Seriously, Alfred, you need to chill. Besides, from all the stories I've heard, you guys used to do this all the time. You're fine."

"It was different then." Alfie countered.

Rosie looked up at him and shrugged. "How?"

"We weren't nearly as big then as we are now."

"It's a college keg party. What's the worst that could happen?"

"We don't even know this guy!" Alfie said.

"Yeah. How did you even find out about this?" Theo cut in.

"A fan on twitter." Rosie said. "The kid told me he was throwing a party at his house on the UCLA campus and his live band bailed last minute. He asked me if I could step in. Seemed legit."

Bobbi laughed and shook her head.
"This is crazy, Rosie."

Rosie crossed her arms and looked between her four companions, her face taking on a serious expression as she paused to stare each of them dead in the eye for a moment.

"Crazy? Really?"
She paused for dramatic affect before starting again.

"These past few days, you guys have been talking non-stop about wanting to find your original sound for this new album. Make it the most honest and authentic album possible. I mean, that is what you've been saying, correct?"

She leaned away from, her scowl traveling over the group, her eyebrows raised in a threatening manner.

Bobbi, Theo and Alfie nodded in response.

Rosie gestured to the party happening inside.

"This is how you find that sound."

When she was met with blank stares, she continued her rant and upped the intensity rising in her voice.

"This is how you get back in touch with your roots! You need to get in touch with your fan base and the people who believe in you and got you where you are today! Remind yourselves why you're doing this in the first place. That's where you'll find your original sound."

Sam was the first to break the silence that descended after her rousing speech.

"The host promised you free beer and pizza, didn't he?"

Rosie nodded, a sly smile crossing her face as she looked up at Sam.

"Yup!"

Before anyone could say anything in reply, a young man only a few years younger than themselves, opened the gate and stood, wide-eyed, staring at the five people looking right back at him.

"Hi there. You Chuck?" Rosie asked.

The kid finally nodded after a missed beat or two, his mouth hanging slightly open.

"Great!" Rosie's smile went wide. "I'm Rosie Mulligan." She turned to gesture back to the rest of the group.

"And these are The Wild Wallflowers. I believe you requested a live band for your party?"

***********

Chuck led everyone past the house and out onto a wide open lawn. The boys started for the small stage set up at the end and a more serious energy descended upon the troupe. Alfie was even the first one up on stage, checking out the equipment and starting to get set up. Chuck stood back from the stage a bit and watch as Rosie lifted up the drum to Sam. Bobbi followed up the rear and came to stand next to Chuck.

"Hi, I'm Bobbi. Chuck, right?"

Her sudden appearance and the use of his name made him jump a bit. His cheeks had successfully turned bright red and his brown eyes were wide and he glanced back from the stage over to Bobbi.

"Hmm?"

He shook his head to regain his composure. He laughed lightly and glanced down at his shoes. Bobbi had a soft smile ready for him when he looked back up and his shoulders relaxed a bit.

"Uh, yeah. That's me."

"Hope you don't mind us crashing your party." Bobbi said, nodding towards the commotion happening inside.

A few people stood around outside on the patio but paid little attention to the band setting up.

"Oh, yeah, no problem, what so ever......I mean......This is..... This is crazy and I......"

Bobbi waited for him to finish a full sentence, his shock slowly wearing off. Chuck laughed softly and shrugged.

"I just didn't think she would reply. Let alone bring you guys. It was kinda of a Hail Mary."

"Yeah, well, Rosie tends to do what ever she wants. And apparently tonight, that's dragging us here to your party." Bobbi said.

Chuck's stare flip flopped between Rosie and Bobbi, his mouth refusing to close entirely. Bobbi glanced up and saw that the boys were nearly done setting up and they still had a job to do. She clapped her hands and the sound brought Chuck back down to earth again.

"Alright," Bobbi said, her voice going full business mood, "What kind of music do you want us to play?"

"Uh, I mean, aren't you guys just gonna play your stuff?" Chuck asked.

"Bird."

Bobbi turned to look in the direction of Theo's voice and found him on the edge of the stage, gesturing to her guitar case.

"Oh, right. Here you go. Thanks, Ted."

Bobbi turned her attention back to Chuck.

"We can definitely play our own set list. We also have a few covers up our sleeve, just in case not everyone here is as familiar with who we are as Rosie seems to think everyone in the world should be."

Chuck laughed softly and glanced back at the house.

"I think you'll be fine. But just in case you want to mix it up, anything that keeps the party going."

Bobbi nodded and slapped Chuck on the shoulder, moving towards the stage.

"Can I get you guys anything?" Chuck stammered.

"Water bottles. And lots of them. Just put them on the edge of the stage anywhere. Thanks."

Theo strode towards the edge and held out a hand towards Bobbi. Pulling against his strength, she hopped up on stage and took her spot in the middle of the crowd.

"Alright. Boys." Bobbi said.

Alfie stopped fiddling with a nob on his amp and came to stand by her, Sam climbing down from behind his drums to finish off the small circle. The sound of a quick ding going off from her back pocket diverted Bobbi's attention and she pulled it out only to roll her eyes at the name popped on her screen. Silencing her phone and setting on the nearest amp, Bobbi kept her scowl down to a minimum as she rejoined the boys.

"Aaron?" Theo asked, his arms crossed over his chest as he stared down at her.

Bobbi gave him a quick nod before standing up straighter and matching his stance.

"Alright, boys. Super easy set tonight. Typical college keg party. So, just like the rest, upbeat, fun, and high energy."

"What kind of music does the kid want us to play?" Alfie asked, nodding towards where Chuck stood talking to Rosie.

"He says we should be fine with our own set list. But that feels a little egotistical."

The others nodded in agreement.

"Any suggestions?" Bobbi asked.

"Bon Jovi's Living on a prayer is always a classic." Alfie said.

"Any Van Halen." Sam offered.

"We haven't done Fleetwood Mac recently." Theo said.

Bobbi nodded.
"Alright. Living on a Prayer, Jump and Go Your Own Way. Sound good?"

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Great. Let's do a quick sound check and then let's get this party going!" Bobbi turned back towards the mic set up center stage.

"Rosie, you and Chuck wanna go stand at the back and tell us how this sounds?"

Rosie sent her a thumbs up and dragged Chuck along with him.

"You wanna turn on some of these lights, too?" Alfie asked, gesturing to the white Christmas lights strung about the perimeter of the yard. With a quick flip, the back yard was transformed with a warm glow in the dark evening.

"Let's start with Only You. Rosie, tell us if the amps need to go up or down." Bobbi spoke into her mic, then turned to
retrieve her guitar. She was met by Theo holding it out to her, helping her slip the strap on over her head and then passing her a water bottle.

"Just like old times?" She asked, sending him a smirk as she took a long drink from her water bottle.

Theo smiled and nodded.

"Just like old times."

Bobbi stepped up to her mic and Sam counted out the beat. They started to draw attention to themselves as Chuck opened the sliding glass doors into the house and let the music drift in. The first audience was small but the crowd started to grow rapidly as Bobbi heard 'Rosie Mulligan' and "The Wild Wallflowers' whispered in the air. They had a sizable crowd waiting for them once they finished their sound check.

There was a quick moment of awkward silence as Bobbi cleared her throat before stepping back up to the mic. A cry came from the back of the crowd and Bobbi smiled when she saw Rosie already assimilated into the culture, a beer in her hand.

"Go Sam! Come on, Wild WallFlowers! WHOO!"

"Thanks for the encouragement, Rosie." Bobbi whispered in the mic, the sound resounding through the amps and out into the yard.

"Uh, hi, everyone."

"HEY, BOBBI!" Rosie called back.

This sent a small chuckle through the crowd and Bobbi could feel the atmosphere loosen up and the energy start to rise.

"Um, well, if you don't know already, we're the Wild Wallflowers."

"Wahoo! Yeah! Go Theo!"

"Okay, someone shut her up, please." Alfie said, shaking his head and laughing as Rosie raised her beer.

"We appreciate the support, Rosie." Bobbi said. "We wouldn't be here without you."

"Literally." Theo said.

"I still say this counts as kid napping." Alfie said.

"Shut it, Alfie!" Rosie called out again from the back.

"I love how she's supportive of everyone but me." Alfie said, turning to the rest of the group.

Their banter helped bring the crowd in closer and Bobbi could see excitement start to rise in the eyes of the people closest to the stage.

"Thanks for letting us crash your party. The scheduled live band canceled and apparently we're the best you can get last minute." Bobbi said.

The crowd laughed at this one and Bobbi smiled as her body started ramping up to perform.

"Thanks so much to Chuck for hitting us up. We love playing stuff like this because it gives us a taste of what actual college life would have been like." Bobbi said.

"Yeah, most of us didn't do great on the whole higher education front." Theo said. "Except Sam. But that's mainly because he's a genius."

Bobbi laughed as she saw Sam nod in agreement from his post behind the drums.

"And some of us barely graduated high school." Alfie said, nodding over in Bobbi's direction.

"I got my diploma. That's what matters." Bobbi countered.

"Just barely. You ran off the graduation field the minute you had it in your hand." Alfie said.

"Counts!" Bobbi said.

"Enough you two." Theo said.

The crowd was laughing along with them as their banter continued and seemed sufficiently warmed up. Bobbi glanced between Alfie and Theo who gave her a quick nod each. She received the same from Sam as she stepped back from the mic to take a sip of water.

"Alright. Enough chit-chat. I think it's time to rock." Bobbi said. "You guys ready to party?"

The crowd set back a loud cheer and a round of applause. This time, Rosie's cries were drowned out by the screams of those around her. Bobbi smiled as their excitement and enthusiasm flooded the stage and started to travel into the instruments until they were buzzing to play.

"We are The Wild Wallflowers and this is "Only you". Hit it, Sam!"

"1! 2! 3! 4!"

*********

The crowd of college kids were even better hosts than they were an audience, a fate Bobbi would have never seen coming. Through out all the secret shows they had done, in back yards, in living rooms, even that one time in someone's dirty basement, every crowd brought the excitement and the energy needed to make the band's job so easy.
But on that small stage, bouncing around in the cool night air of Los Angeles, Bobbi found it impossible not to give each song her all as the audience cheered and screamed back just as loud as she sang.

She was sweating and tired and exhilarated by the end of their set and they all joined up at the edge of the stage to give a small bow and a wave out to the amassed crowd in front of them. Their bow was met with yet another plea for an encore. Bobbi felt her throat start to squeak and she shook her head when she caught sight Alfie's raised eyebrows. Theo held out a fresh water bottle for her as stowed her guitar back in its case and climbed down off the stage.

Immediately met with guys and girls her age and a few years younger, Bobbi was led to the massive supply of beer and pizza waiting at the other end of the lawn. The pandemonium surrounding their status as a famous band luckily died down quickly and everyone treated them normal and acted considerably chill.

Bobbi spent the next few hours rotating through different groups of friends. Theo tagged along, casually making his way to where ever she was. They stayed side by side and engaged in the same conversations for the majority of the night, the mood of the party remaining relaxed between them as there no socialites to deceive and no facades to maintain.

After meeting seemingly everyone in attendance and scarfing down several pieces of pizza, Bobbi called the evening to its end after a humiliating round of beer pong.

There were cries for them not to go but Bobbi could see Alfie start to zone out in his conversation with a group of very pretty young girls and even noticed Sam checking his phone during a conversation. With such an act so rude for Sam, Bobbi knew he too was ready to go.

Rosie was harder to drag out as she proved the life of the party from the first minute. And she remained so until Sam grabbed her at the waist and hoisted her over his shoulder, carrying her away from the game of charades she was reportedly "killing it " at.

She was only released when Sam got her to agree it was time to head home and he placed her back down on the stage to help pack up the rest of their stuff. Bobbi stood in the center of the stage, calling out directions and soon enough they were ready to go. Their system might have been a bit rusty from lack of practice but they still knew how to do a road show.

Chuck was waiting for them at the back of the house as the headed towards the gate leading back out to the road.

"See ya, Chuck." Rosie said, giving the kid a high five. "Thanks for the invite."

"Anytime." He said. "Seriously."

The boys each gave him some sort of farewell and Bobbi paused to say goodbye properly.

"Awesome party. Thanks for having us." Bobbi said, trying her best to give an authentic smile with her cheeks sore from the night.

Chuck's eyes were wide when he looked up at her.

"Anytime. Seriously. I mean it. This was the best night ever. Thanks so much for stopping by."

"No problem."

Chuck started in for a hug but froze then quickly retracted when Theo called out to them.

"Bird. Let's go."

Bobbi smirked when she saw him standing a few feet off, waiting with a scowl on his face. The color drained from Chuck's face as he glanced in Theo's direction and barely dared to look back over at Bobbi.
Bobbi laughed softly and gave him a quick pat on the arm.

"Thanks again, dude."

Chuck nodded and his cheeks regained a bit of their color as he blushed looking at her.

Bobbi laughed softly, shaking her head as she started moving towards where Theo stood waiting. She took his hand as they walked out into the dark street and onto the path leading back to the car.

"You didn't have to scare the poor kid."

"I didn't mean to." He replied.

"Uh, huh. Sure."

Theo nudged Bobbi's shoulder, sending her stumbling a bit off to the right, laughing. But he pulled her back in as he held tight to her hand and wrapped his arm around her shoulder when she returned to his side.

They walked slowly through the lawn, the campus seemingly deserted of all other life. With only the moon as their source of light, peaking through the branches above, they moved in complete absurdity, away from prying eyes and curious observers.

"Best small gig we've done in a while." Bobbi said, breaking the comfortable silence that had formed between them.

"Hmm." Theo hummed in reply. "Best night we've had in awhile."

"I imagine the charity event this week won't be so chill."

"Probably not."

The wind rushed through the empty branches and only the sound of the group walking up ahead was heard.

"At least it's just while we're in LA." Bobbi finally said, her voice quiet.

"Yeah." Theo said. "I don't think I could handle it otherwise."

*********

Author's Note:

HI!

THANKS FOR READING!

ONLY MILDLY STRESSING. OUT BECAUSE THIS CHAPTER ONLY HAS 3800 WORDs INSTEAD OF MY USUAL 7000!

TRYING NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT TOO MUCH!!!

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THOUGHT!

👍👍👍

😬😬😬

😘😘😘

Maria

*coughs to try and voice return to normal after yelling anxiously*

PS: short A/N this week to fit short chapter. Rant next week, I promise.

Comment what you want me to rant about.

(joymoment Cordillak this means you)