Moshed Noses

The music was pumping loud, deafening him. Everyone was moving to the sound, jumping, swaying. People started opening a circle, the front row cheering and clapping. The air was electrified. Seb was around the pit, he was sweating and looking around; he didn’t wanna be there. 

Layla had convinced him to come to the festival even though he didn’t really like ska. And though the music wasn’t his favorite, the bands were amazing. Everyone was jumping and bobbing their heads and scream-singing lyrics. The artists were giving it their all up in the stage, trumpets and battery and guitar and rhythm. Next to him, Layla was cheering along with everyone else. Her hair was plastered to her neck with sweat but she didn’t mind. 

When the chorus came around everything exploded. A general cry of joy erupted as the circle collapsed in on itself. Seb lost Layla in the center of the mosh pit and he got dragged into it too. He let himself get carried along and jumped and kicked like he had seen everyone else do. His arms were free and his beer spilled all over the people around him, but no one seemed to care. In fact, someone in the middle sprayed a bottle of water over their heads. 

A moment later though, his elbow crashed on something hard and he heard a yelp behind him. He turned and saw another kid grabbing his nose. A thin trickle of blood was on his hands. “Oh my gods, I am so sorry! Did I do that to you? Crap, let me help you.” Seb’s voice got lost in a drum roll, but the other guy must have understood because he didn’t flinch when Seb tried to steer him outside. 

Once they got to the first aid stand, the other boy explained what had happened and they made him seat in the back of the ambulance, pinching his nose while the girl in a medical vest examined him. “It seems to me like it’s broken. You’ll have to ride with us to the hospital so we can set it.” 

“Oh man,” Seb was mortified. “Hey, do you want me to call someone? Are you here with anyone? Should someone come with you?” 

“I actually came alone, and I don’t want to worry my parents.” The boy’s voice was little nasal, but Seb figured that was normal after your nose had been smashed by someone’s elbow. “But you could ride with me.” 

“What?” Seb flushed, confused. 

“Well, handsome, it’s the least you could do right?” He smiled and offered him his hand to shake. His teeth were stained with a little blood, but still his smile was dazzling and it lit up his eyes. “I’m Isaiah.” 

Seb flushed harder and shook his hand. “Seb. And you’re right, it seems like it’s the least I could do. I hate the music anyway.” He giggled and sat next to him.