Alex smiled as the last chord of the song rand.  The crowd cheered, fists pounding the air.  It felt great to be on stage again.  And those kids out there had been singing along to their fucking songs.  They were screaming their name, wanting another song.  Alex felt bad, because the bartender was flicking the switch which meant "get the fuck off stage if you want to play another show".  She sighed, still smiling, and yelled into the microphone in front of her, "Thanks, everyone, for coming out to see us play! We’ve got to get the hell off stage right now, but we'll sure as hell be down there in a few short ass minutes."

The four of them waved as they ran off stage, Mason pausing as he threw a couple drum sticks to the ravenous crowd.  Alex collapsed on the couch in their "dressing room".  Beet threw each member a bottle of water; Alex guzzled hers down.

"Well, kiddies," she said, "that was fucking awesome.  Now, before a few short minutes becomes a lot of longs minutes, let's get out asses out there.  Besides, I could use a drink."

Alex rarely drank alcohol unless she was celebrating, and she could never "use a drink"; the only reason she approached the bar that night was because she'd seen a Jewish boy with beautiful blue eyes that she wanted to sit by as a subtle hint at conversation.  As she slid onto the stool next to him, he saw her out of the corner of his eye.

"Alex!" he exclaimed.

"Hi, David.  How are you today?" she grinned at her old friend.

"I'm damned good.  Meeting a guy I know from Hebrew school back when we were kids.  If you stick around, I'll introduce you."

Alex forced a grin.  She really had no intention of meeting David's friend from years past, but she couldn't very well say no.  She’d stick around long enough to say hi, and then she'd come up with some excuse to leave.  It would be easy.

"David? That you?"

Both of them glanced up at the tall boy standing next to Alex.  She nearly fainted.  Joe Trohman.  David knew Joe fucking Trohman.  She was extremely happy that she'd agreed to stick around to be introduced.  Maybe she could hang out with them and talk with the guitarist.

"Hey, Joe! Good to see you again," he gestured towards Alex.  "This is my friend Alex Taw.  Alex, this is Joe Trohman of Fall Out Boy."

------

She was cute, he couldn't deny it.  A little dumbstruck, it looked like, but her honey eyes made him swoon.  Joe wondered how many men had fallen prey to those lashes.  It took everything in him to keep from dropping to his knees and shouting out, "Take me now!"  Alex Taw.  Interesting name, very fitting for the girl; she had a very boyish appearance, but it strangely made her all the more beautiful.

"Hello.  It's very nice to meet you, Mr. Trohman," she smiled, and Joe collapsed into the seat next to her.  It was a good thing, too, because he could feel his knees give out as soon as his ass touched the stool.

"M-mind if I join you for a drink?"

Alex shook her head.  "Not at all.  The more the merrier, right?"  Apparently she was used to being in charge, because all power in the situation had been transferred to her.  Or maybe it was that David, too, was struck by her.

She swiveled on her bar stool as a kid ran up calling her name.  "Alex, I'm dying of thirst.  Buy me a soda, or something."

She shook her head.  "Sorry, beet, you're going to have to stick with Mason and drink water.  you're lucky enough they didn't care you two, punk.  I'm not buying you anything from the bar."  The kid sighed at his failed attempt and slunk away.

"Who was that?" Joe asked, watching Alex as she spun around to collect her Dr. Pepper from the bartender, who muttered just loud enough for him to hear, "On the house, pretty girl."  She smiled at him, and Joe realized that the man had been caught in the same trap he'd fallen into.  This girl knew how to use her charms against unsuspecting men.

"My bassist and male lead vocalist, Beet Adams.  He's only nineteen, so, he shouldn't actually be here.  But, you never get carded when you're in the band.  So, Joe," she said, taking a sip from her drink, and Joe felt his loins tighten, "you're in Fall Out Boy."  It wasn't a question, and Joe noticed the Cork Tree key hole tattooed on her left forearm.  His mouth twitched into a smile, and he nodded.

Several minutes later, and they were knee-deep in conversation.  David excused himself to leave.  Joe was glad he's left: Alex was his alone now; rather, for now.  Wait, Joe.  The hell are you thinking?  Yours alone?  No, no.  She probably has a guy.  She's just flattering you by pretending to bat those lashes in your direction.

"Are you seeing anyone?"  It came out before he even thought it.  He automatically blushed and shook his head.  "You don't have to answer -”

"No," she said, "I'm not."

------

She didn't look at him, but instead out at the floor, where the rave had started up.  Alex hoped Beet wasn't getting into the drugs that were likely to be going around.

I can’t believe he asked that...and I answered, too! Shit, now what?  Is he going to think I'm being too quick on him?  Hell, I haven't had a boyfriend since sophomore year, and he started hitting his own team after we broke up.  Fuck.

"Really?" Joe sounded thrilled; she glanced at him, and he grinned like an idiot at her.  "Well then, want to go to dinner with me sometime?  I know we just met, I hardly know you, but still.  What d'you say?"

Alex sat stunned.  Joe Trohman had just asked her to dinner, on a fucking date.  She wasn't sure what to say.  She wanted to say, "Yes, that'd be lovely," but maybe a "No, thanks.  Another time?" would be better.  Ah, hell with it...

"She'd loved to."

Alex spun towards the voice; it was Mason, standing on the other side of the white line that separated the bar from the rest of the club.  His face was solemn and serious.  Alex knew he wasn't joking around about "her" answer.  She sighed and turned to the puppy-like Joe.

------

He stared after her as she walked away, arguing with her band mate.  The guy obviously didn’t' like him, but Joe could understand why: any straight guy who spent too much time with Alex was bound to fall in love with her.  He figured he would eventually.  Probably sooner than that.  And they were going to dinner!  He couldn't wait; two nights from now and he'd have her to himself.  It would be awesome.  Whoa, hold up, buddy.  Don't rush it.  You want this to last, don't start off at a run.

He looked down at the number scrawled on the napkin in his hand.  Her cell phone number.  He hoped she'd give him his own tone, but it was unlikely.  Not like he'd be able to know, anyway.  Hell with it.  It didn't matter right now.  Maybe if their relationship continued for more than a month.  If it even turned into a relationship.

She disappeared backstage.  Joe sighed, smiling.  It would turn into more-than-friendship, and he'd make sure it lasted longer than a month.  He knew he was already falling in love with Alex, and for once he didn't care.  She was different than any girl he'd met since Fall Out Boy; she wasn't preppy, she was in her own band, and she didn't want him for his money.

To him, she was perfect.