"MARNIE!" Valerie banged her fists on my door and I huffed out a breath as I opened it.

"I thought you died." She mutters and I scoff as she sits me down on the chair and opens her makeup pouch.

"Do you know the band that's playing?" I ask and she shakes her head before taking out several shades of foundation. She mixes a couple and then begins to dab them onto my face.

"I've heard of them, yes. But do I know them? No. One of my friends told me they'd be playing. They're called Badlands." She answers, her eyebrows knitted in concentration and I nod thoughtfully.

"I've never heard of them," I murmured scrunching my face as she wandered a little too close to my eye.

"It's a shady place, don't wander off. Don't accept drinks or food from any stranger. Be comfortable and act like you do this every day. Otherwise, you might seem like a target to those assholes." She explains and I roll my eyes.

"I'm not- going to drink. I'm 18 but still." I say in a pause as she dabs the foundation near my lips.

"Well just don't accepts drinks from anyone." She says sternly and I roll my eyes again a smile on my face.

"Okay, mom." This time she rolls her eyes as she takes out her eyeshadow pallet and I decide to play music.

I connect my phone via blue tooth and my autumn playlist blasts on full volume. We bop our heads singing once in a while as she does my makeup.

"Why are you doing so much on the eye?" I ask and she gapes at me.

"We're going to The Cameo. Of course, we need to do good make up." She says and I gape.

Cameo was the best club in town, dangerous, but the best. A lot of illegal shit went down in Cameo, underage teens could get in and have their entire lives ruined. Drug and arms deals going on daily. There is an illegal fighting ring underground. On the weekend's great rock bands from all over the city would play. Everybody would be dressed in scandalous and outstanding outfits with popping make-up. It was basically like the Euphoria show but in real life for the makeup and the met gala for outfits.

You are more likely to see a 12 year old drug dealer in Cameo than a drink that was not spiked.

"You don't like rock music." I trail off a and she smirks.

"I just want you to get out of the house." She answers and I nod again. Okay then.

Valerie places her makeup box down and grins at me.

"Done." She claps her hand excitedly and I grin getting up and checking the mirror.

I look fabulous.

I had lavender eyeshadow with golden graphic liner. My brown eyes stood out due to the light colour and my lashes were coated with thick mascara.

"I look... hot," I whisper and she laughs before going into the bathroom to change.

"You're welcome." She calls out and I laugh before slipping my feet into a pair of blue heels over lavender mesh socks.

"This is a bad idea," I whisper to myself as I look at myself over and over again in the mirror while slipping on my gold jewellery.

A very bad idea.

"How do I look?" Valerie appeared from the bathroom in a skin-tight yellow dress. The colour was so bold I wouldn't have dared to wear it on my darker complexion but she looked so stunning.

"So pretty," I reply and she grins before starting on her make-up. I open my phone to see some unread texts from Sadie.

Marnie: don't freak out. Please. (Emphasis on the please)

Sadie: I'll think about it.

Marnie: Cameo.

Sadie: hell to the fucking no. There is no way I'm coming to cameo.

Marnie: why not? You always go there.

Sadie: maybe because my brother got a job as the bouncer there? I love cameo but I love my life more :( have fun tho. Send me a picture.

Marnie: *1 attachment* okay :(( bye

Sadie: you look hot. Don't be dramatic. What's the worst that can happen?

Marnie: I get arrested? Or worse end up dead.

Sadie: ...that isn't the worst.

Marnie: gee thanks sads.

I turn off my phone to look at Valerie who's looking at me through the mirror with raise eyebrows.

"What?" I ask and she shakes her head shrugging.

"Let's go." She simply answers before sliding on her heels. I slip my inhaler in my pocket before taking off for the night.

•

I could feel the bass thumping from miles away. It was about 9 PM and the band was about to play in 30 minutes. Val decided that we should come here early so that I can loosen up and actually enjoy the music.

I agreed. I needed to loosen up anyway.

But that went straight out of the window when as soon as I entered I saw a 13-year-old boy buying some kind of drugs from a middle-aged adult. Then I saw a girl getting tongued down near the staircase. People dancing obscenely and a stage set up in the far corner.

A couple of old people here solely to enjoy rock music whereas the youngsters to rebel or be more punk.

I was here because I had nothing better to do anyway.

That's a lie. I could finish the book I started.

The crowd cheered as the music stopped and a few people appeared on the stage. I stood beside Val as she sipped on her 'non-alcoholic' drink while cheering herself.

But what I saw in front of me was horrifying enough that I wanted to bolt straight out the door.

On the stage, the lead singer stood with an electric guitar in her arms. Arthur.

Her hair was let down as it was this morning in school, she was wearing a black mesh top with a black bralette underneath. Black leather pants clung to her legs like a second skin. Through the mesh top, I could see the tattoos on her body.

"Holy shit," I mutter softly as her band starts to play.

"What?" Val asks me, her mouth stuffed with fries.

"I know her," I mutter and her eyes widen.

The band starts to play 'Bubblegum Bitch' by Marina and I almost lose my shit as her eyes meet mine. I was hoping she wouldn't see me so I can book it for the door but I guess that just went out the window.

My body freezes in its spot and I'm sure that Val is gaping at me and asking questions. Arthur's lips curl into a smirk as she leans slightly towards the mic.

"Got a figure like a pin-up got a figure like a doll,

don't care if you think I'm dumb I don't care at all." She sings, her voice is soft yet thick at the same time. It goes very well with rock music.

Her red boot-clad feet thump softly on the floor as everybody sings and dances while her eyes stay on mine. Due to the blue and purple lighting, she truly looks like a character straight out of a movie. Her smirk widens as she notices my tense body and wide eyes.

"Candy bear sweetie pie wanna be adored, I'm the girl you'd die for." She sings her smirk turning into a cruel, cruel smile as her dark eyes travel down my body and settle on my hands resting on my thighs clenching my denim overalls. Her eyes stay there for a while but then move back up my body.

"I'll chew you up and I'll spit you out.

Cause that's what young love is all about." Singing comes to her as effortless as breathing. The crowd goes crazy as everybody dances in each other's arms, hammered completely. While the only sober ones in the room, are staring at each other.

"So pull me closer and kiss me hard, I'm gonna pop your bubblegum heart." Her voice is low and melodic as she grins at me licking her lips before diverting her eyes and continuing to sing. Only then do I realise how blurry everything got.

"What the fuck just happened?" Val asks me and I tear my eyes away from Arthur before taking her glass and chugging the dark liquid down my throat.

My throat burns as I roll my eyes at her unmistakable alcohol-based 'non-alcohol' drink.

"I don't know," I answer, my voice shaky. I never realised how loud the music was, almost drowning out my thoughts. Arthur's body moves with grace as she takes out a lighter from her pocket and lights up an old mans cigarette.

Is she even old enough to play? I'm sure they check the band's ID.

"I'm gonna be your bubblegum bitch. I'm gonna be your bubblegum bitch." She sings, her eyes meeting mine again and I curse inwardly for even glancing in her direction.

"Queentex latex I'm your wonder maid, life gave me some lemons so I made some lemonade." Her eyes leave mine as she focuses on the crowd, they cheer at her and it seems like she is made for this. This life of performing and winning hearts.

"Soda pop soda pop baby here I come. Straight to number one!" She licks her lips once again pointing in my general direction but not straight at me.

"Oh dear diary I met a boy, he made my dull heart light up with joy." She mocks crying, closing her eyes. Only then do I notice her makeup. Red graphic liner blending into black at the wing. Her lips were painted a dark red and her eyebrows filled in with red at the beginning so it coordinated with her entire look.

"Oh, dear diary we fell apart, welcome to the life of Electra Heart." She sings, her voice melting in with her band playing in the background. They were dressed as bold as her some even bolder with their makeup. They truly looked out of this world.

Although Arthur intimidated the shit out of me she was truly born a rockstar. No kidding. She was made for this. Her band too. I didn't find one person with no talent standing on the raised stage. They laughed, took some shots between songs but never got tired of playing.