Rose smiled, holding the flyer in my face.

"So? I think we should go!" She smiled enthusiastically.

"I don't know, Rose. Mom and Dad said we had to stay home." I looked up at my sister.

"Oh, come on Connie! It'll be so much fun! I've always wanted to see SATCG, can't we just go for one night? Live a little?" I sighed, knowing I couldn't stop her either way.

"Fine. But Mom and Dad will be home at eleven, so I expect we'll leave at ten." I crossed my arms.

"Sure thing Connie!" Rose enveloped me in a hug. "Let's get ready!" She ran international her room across the hall, returning a few minutes later in a flowing pink dress. I, on the other hand, decided to remain in the light blue button down and dark blue skirt I was wearing.

We left the house at six, knowing the show would start in half an hour.

"Wow, isn't this exciting?" Rose asked me, as she twirled down the side walk.

"Not really." I replied, staring at the sidewalk.

"Really?" Rose asked, walk I.g normally.

"No. This is foolish, scary, against the rules, and overall a bad idea." Rose laughed.

"You need to lighten up a little." Just then, a brightly colored van blaring rock.music pulled up beside us.

"Hey, are you guys headed to the concert? I can give you a ride," The guy inside offered.

"Yeah, we are, thanks." Rose said with a smile. The guy stepped out of the van to help Rose up in.

"Uh, you might have to sit in the back," he said, looking down at me and scratching his head.

He appeared to be around Rose's age, only he was much shorter than Rose. He had long hair and wore a shirt with the sleeves ripped off that read, "Mr. Universe".

"Um... okay." He slid open the back door and I glanced inside. The back of the van was filled with boxes, and had no formal seating.

"It'll do..." I shrugged, stepping in and sitting on the matress on the floor.

"Sorry, I don't usually give people rides, he explained, sitting in the front seat. "I'm Greg," He said, turning to face my sister.

"Rose,"

"And I'm Connie." I greeted. Greg drove us the rest of the way to the beach.

"Okay guys, it's-OH MY GOD IT'S ALMOST SIX THIRTY!" He exclaimed, panicking. "I have to go do something, but I'll find you guys later!" He promised, running away.

"Hm, I wonder what that was about," Rose questioned, walking onto the beach.

Before I could answer, a wall of lights at the back of the stage illuminated the outline of a person.

Everyone fell silent, and the spotlight that had been set up in the life guard tower revealed... Greg?

"Did we just get a ride from..."

"Mr. Universe..." Rose finished, eyes full of stars.

Some

Say I have no direction

That I'm a light speed distraction

That's a knee-jerk reaction

His song began. Suddenly, I realised that the boxes in his van were filled with CD 's and T shirts.

Still

This is the final frontier

Everything is so clear

To my destiny I steer

I closed my eyes and listened to his guitar.

This life in the stars is all I've ever known

Stars and stardust and infinite space is my only home

The guitar got louder.

At the moment that I hit the stage
Thousands of voices are calling my name

And I know in my heart it's been worth it all of the while

And as the solar wind blows through my hair

Knowing I have so much more left to share

This path I've chose isn't easy but sure is one heck of a ride

But at the moment that I hit the stage

I hear the universe calling my name

I I know in my heart I have nothing to fear

I'll fly like a comet

Soar like a comet

Crash like a comet

I'm just a comet

Greg looked out at the audience with a smile, long awaiting the applause.

Which only came from Rose and I.

Greg briefly looked disappointed, then, looking at us, nodded his head to the left of the stage.

Rose grabbed my hand, and pulled me along.

Turns out, he had been nodding towards a table set up with merchandise.

"You were late. How many times do we have to tell you to get here on time?" A snotty voice asked.

I turned my head to see a pale girl wearing a miniskirt yelling at Greg.

"That's Pearl, the violinist," Rose whispered. It took me a moment, and I realized she was talking about the band.

Another girl walked over, a short, curvy girl with dyed purple hair.

"Pearl, don't worry so much. Its not like anyone actually cared about the opener. I told you we should've gotten that DJ."

"That's Amethyst, the drummer."

"Are they all named after gemstones?" I asked. Rose nodded.

"Here comes Garnet. She plays keytar." A tall girl with weird sunglasses and an afro walked over.

"We have a duty to our fans, lets go." She said in a thick, British accent. She grabbed a keytar and stepped up onto the stage. Amethyst followed her, carrying her drumsticks. Finally, Pearl stepped up with an electric violin.

"Why are they called Steven and the Crystal Gems?" I asked.

"Because it sounds cool."

On the now pitch black stage, a purple light shone up on Amethyst from the floor. She began to tap out a beat, and the light soon turned off with her still playing. Next, a light blue light shone up on Pearl, and she began to play an intricate tune on her violin. The light turned off, and Pearl continued playing. Finally, a red light shone up on Garnet, who began to play a simple melody. The light turned off, and Amethyst played rapidly in the dark until multiple lights shone on the group. (Me:*describing a concert that the main character won't even listen to*)

Rose grabbed my arm again and dragged me over to Greg.

"I had no idea they could be so  rude!" She exclaimed.

"Yeah, but... I kinda I we the gems. Heck, they got my career started." Greg looked.up at the stage longingly. "I kinda need the money. They pay me two hundred bucks for.every show I can make. Then again, that's only on the east coast and the money's about enough to get us food and gas, but it's keepin my brother and I alive." He jabbed his thumb towards a boy strumming ukulele.

"You take care of him?" Rose asked.

"Yeah. Here, wanna free shirt? Not to be rude or call you fat, bit I might not have one big enough..." They walked away and their conversation faded below the music.

"Hi. I'm Connie." I said, sitting down in the sand next to the boy.

"Huh? Oh, hi Connie! My name's Steven!" He replied cheerfully.

"Steven? Like the band?" I inquired. He smiled again.

"Yup! My brother Greg-that was him onstage earlier-says that my name impressed them so much that they give him lots of money for each show he does!" He finished. I went to correct him, but ultimately decided not to.

"That's cool, I guess." I looked at the instrument in his hand. "Can you teach me how to play? "

***

"So? Did you have fun?" Rose asked when we got home.

"Yeah." I held the slip of paper with Steven's email address on it tightly. "I think I did."