The Written And Beyond

Day 1; October 21, 2017

“Jesus Christ, that’s a lot of people,” was the first thing that slipped through Sage’s mouth as he peered into the small crowded room.

“‘Course it is, mate. Have ya seen me?” Sage’s best friend, Achilles, asked as he clasps Sage’s shoulder.

Achilles looks into the room as well. Holy shit, that was a lot of people. At least, more people then he would have time to meet.

“Well,” Sage starts, pulling away from the door. “You, my friend, are clearly a huge success in the States.”

Achilles nods in agreement before pulling away from the door. “Yeah, I was, huh? No worries, I’ll be back soon enough.”

Sage raises an eyebrow in questioning. They had known each other for 10 years. There are many things Sage could say a lot about his best friend, but the one thing stands out the most is his terrible work ethic. In other words, he’s a Bludger

“Soon?” Sage snorted at the thought, “Mate. It took you ages to finish an album with eight songs.”

Achilles waves his hand dismissively as he scouts out his leather jacket. “We’ll worry about it later. For right now, we’ve got some people to meet.” He grabs his leather jacket off of a couch and throws it on. “And if I’m not mistaken, I saw a few ladies out there who are just waiting for a good time.”

✧*:･ﾟ

Dakota and Cecelia weave their way through the crowded, and hazy bar room. All in hopes of meeting the famous Achilles Johnston.

It was all, of course, Dakota’s idea. In her own words, “If Achilles Johnston tweets to meet him at a bar in San Francisco, you do it.”

Cecilia, on the other hand, was enjoying the book she was reading in their shabby hotel room when Dakota saw the tweet. She wasn’t big on social gathering, or any social things to begin with. Although, she had a knack for bravado which is the only thing that got her through most situations.

Although Cecilia had the option of saying ‘no’ to going to the bar, she agreed. After all, friends don’t come around often, and she wouldn't risk losing this one. Especially since the two had plans for a cross-continental road trip that begins tomorrow.  

“Do you see him?” Dakota asked, keeping a firm grip on Cecelia’s arm. The two girls stood on their tiptoes to look above the sea of heads. Clearly, they weren’t the only people who saw the tweet.

“Maybe we should go?” Cecelia suggested as she felt heart rate quicken due to the diminishing room to stand.

“Oh! I see them! Yeah, there he is! Oh My God, his friend Sage is here too.” As if it wasn’t already tight enough, Dakota trapped her friend in an iron grip and shouldered her way to the front.

Cecelia yelped as she was dragged through the sea of people. The smell of alcohol, tobacco, and sweat filled her nose. Heat radiated off of the people she squeezed between. All she could hear was the crowd chanting ‘Achilles’ and her friend cussing out people three times their size.

After what felt like a century, the two made it into open space. From where they stood, the god-like Aussie and his friend were only a few feet away. “We could almost touch them,” Dakota whispered excitedly to her friend.

“So then why don’t you?” Cecelia asked as she glanced at her phone, it was almost 11 o’clock P.M.

Dakota threw her an annoyed look, “I’m not going to just poke him and go. I’m going to talk to him and win his heart. Or his friend, I can settle for him too.”

Cecelia gestured towards they two guys who were still only a few feet away. If she wanted to, she could easily throw a peanut at him to get his attention. “So then go talk to them. They aren’t going to stand there forever.”

“Can you come with me?” Dakota asks, batting her absurdly long lashes. (She claimed they helped protect her eyes from the sun.) This time Cecelia threw the annoyed look.

“I just came here to be moral support. I don’t want to talk to your prince charming and his sidekick.”

Dakota frowned, “Please. I’ll give you two of my music day during the trip if you help me.”

Cecelia was now stuck at a crossroad. She despised talking to people she had no interest in, but she hated her friend’s choice in music more. And two more days to play her music seemed worth the effort of just standing next to her friend.

“Fine, but only because I don’t want to listen to anymore Ariana Grande.”

Dakota grinned before dragging her friend off once more, “Thank you!” They two once more shoved their way past people, but finally ended up right where they wanted to be. In front of the worlds hottest male singer (at least for the next two years.) And for the first time in her whole life, Dakota was at a loss for words.

Achilles was slightly taken back and the unexpected appearance of the two girls, but smiled politely. “Good evening, ladies. Did you want me to sign anything for you?”

Cecelia elbowed Dakota in the ribs, urging her to say something. But her friend stood there with her mouth slightly open, unable to breathe, let along form a coherent sentence. Cecelia made a mental note to ask for another two days before continuing the conversation.

“Uh, no. Actually, my friend here is a really big fan. In fact, she literally dragged me out of bed so we could come here. Normally she never shuts up, I think she’s in shock.” Cecelia explained while raking a hand through her hair.

Achilles raised his eyebrows in surprise, “Well it’s lovely to meet you too. Uh, this is my friend Sage.” He grabbed his friend by the should and yanked him over. “We would love to buy you both some drinks.”

Cecelia glanced over at her friend who was still in a semi-shock. Dakota gave a nod. “Sounds like a plan, and also I don’t drink.”

And at that moment, Dakota finally chose to speak, or rather yell, at her favorite celebrity. “We’re going on a cross-country road trip tomorrow and you should totally come so I can talk to you. And you and your friend look so hot by the way.”

Cecelia looked at her as though she was crazy, but in Dakota’s defense, she was beyond starstruck. They both looked at the star and his friend, awaiting an answer.

Achilles looked at Sage expectantly for an answer. Sage shrugged his shoulder, “I mean it’s not like we’ve got some big tour to perform. But this is all on you mate.”

Not liking the answer, the singer consults his hand instead. Not surprisingly he had nothing planned for at least a month, and his parents wouldn’t mind. Nor would his little sister who knew that longer he was away more gifts she would get. He turned his attention back to the the two girls. “Why the hell not? I’ve got nothing to do for about a month. Maybe I’ll even be able to write a song.”

Sage look surprised at the answer but knew there was a very unlikely chance of changing his mind. “Right then, it’s settled. What are your names again?” This time Dakota spoke and introduced herself and Cecelia.

✧*:･ﾟ

“What the hell, Ace? You literally just agreed to go on a month long trip with two girls you just met about two hours ago.” Sage exclaimed the moment they walked into the star’s hotel room.

“Loosen up, Sage. Besides, they seem like good company. It’s not like we had anything planned.” Achilles kicked off his shoes before jumping into his bed. He had a few hours to get some rest before they would be up again. They had to meet their new travel friends in t-minus six hours at some old car rental place.

“I’m just sayin’, they could turn about being crazy. This whole thing could end up being a disaster.” Sage grumbled before lying down in his own bed. His friend turned the lights off before settling down once more.