Page 4 of Ravaged For You
“So you’re saying that you don’t know who Ravaged is?” she asks me, completely bewildered. Like I said, we have very little in common.
“Of course I know who Ravaged are,” I reply. “I’ve heard their songs before. Everyone has. You’ve got to be living under a rock to not know these guys.”
“But you haven’t seen one of their music videos?” Marie asks.
Long pause.
“I don’t think so.”
Marie throws her hands in the air dramatically. “Maddie, are you crazy?”
“I mean, sure I know their songs,” I reply. “I’ve heard them… around in shopping malls and stuff. But I wouldn’t be able to pick any of the members of this band in a police line-up. I don’t think I could pick out any famous musician, come to think of it. Actually, no. I’ll be able to pick out Michael Jackson, for sure.”
“You’re such a geek, Maddie.”
“And you’re such a teenage girl for liking this band, Marie, even though you’re in your twenties.”
She twirls a lock of her brown hair cheekily.
“I can appreciate high art.”
I cock an eyebrow. “High art?”
“Okay,” Marie replies. “So I appreciate how gorgeous they are, is that what you want me to say? I might be an adult, but I’m still allowed to salivate over a cool rock band.”
“Look,” I say. “It’s not like I’m proud of not knowing who Ravaged are. I just don’t really pay much attention to things like this.”
“Yeah, you are totally a geek,” Marie remarks. She points up to four giant posters dangling above us just inside the arena. Each one has a different boy on it, staring sternly into the camera like they’re trying to be brooding. I can see teenage girls all around us looking up at said boys in open-mouthed wonder, practically drooling over the members of Ravaged. “See, that’s them.”
“I guessed.”
“At least now that you can actually see their faces I can give you a proper education on the best band in the world,” Marie says.
“Well, thank you again for the ticket.”
“My pleasure.”
“I’m looking forward to this education. It’s what I’m here for.”
Marie gets giddy at the prospect of telling me. Her face lights up.
“Okay, let me go through them all with you. Individually.”
“Shoot.”
“So, they were formed in some small town called Crystal River a few years ago. The boys all met at the same high school in that town; that’s where they made the band. None of their parents are famous or whatever, so you just know that they got to this position purely on talent.”
“Is that why you like them?” I ask.
“One of the reasons I do. That and how nice their faces are.”
“Ah, I see.”
“They’ve sold millions of copies and go on world tours all the time. I can’t believe their energy. I think they’re one of the top-selling bands of all time. Their closest rival is some other band called Tainted Lives.”
“Surely that’s a PR move? Rival bands like to make beef to sell tickets and all that jazz…”
“Nope. The two bands really don’t like each other. You should see how the fans react online. It’s crazy stuff.”
