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scalpers and people waiting for their friends before going inside. I was starting to feel as giddy as Madison, and we both giggled with excitement as we walked up to the door.
    Madison handed over our tickets, and I felt a tinge of relief that no one searched our bags. I’d been to other shows where you couldn’t bring in outside food or drinks, and her box of Luna bars would have been gone in a flash. I didn’t really believe the plan would work, but we couldn’t even try it if she didn’t get the bars into the show.
    The light was just starting to fade outside, but when we passed through the doors into the concert, the entry area was dark and crowded. There were only a few lit areas where roadies were selling the band’s merchandise, stacks of black and grey tshirts between piles of CDs and posters. I grasped Madison’s hand as we made our way through the room, worried that we’d get separated in the crowd. At the far end, a bouncer was checking IDs and giving out bright pink wristbands. We walked past him, not bothering to try our fake IDs and risk getting kicked out over a couple of beers.
    As we made our way through the entrance into the arena where the concert would take place, the opening band was already in the middle of their set -- we had arrived just in time.
    Walking back to our row was depressing. Sixteen rows was pretty far, and even though the seats we walked past were only about half full, I could barely see the stage on my tiptoes. When the arena was completely filled, I’d be stuck watching the video screens that broadcasted the performance from the sides of the stage.
    It wasn’t so bad, I tried to tell myself. The point of being here was the music, and all I really needed to do was listen.
    But Blake, a little voice in my head whispered. I won’t even be able to see him. It’s not going to be any different from watching them on television.
    Madison looked at me with a disappointed expression, and I could tell she was thinking the same thing. Shrugging, she sat down and rested one foot on a seat in the row in front of us. Wrapping her hands around her knee, she looked up at me as if to say, now are you ready to try my plan?
    I shook my head. This was the last fun event I’d get to go to until college. I was determined to enjoy it, mediocre seats or not. I bounced in place a few times, trying to get into the song the opening band was playing. Madison scanned the rest of the arena with her eyes, then stood up again.
    Just tell me if you see Matt, she muttered. Probably better that no one will notice us back here anyways.
    By the time Moving Neutral came on, we had both mostly gotten over our irritation about the seats. We sang along with every song, dancing in place and placing bets after each song ended on what the next one would be. The first ten or so rows rushed to the foot of the stage, and we watched with envy as they waved their hands above their heads, one lucky guy catching April’s bandana as she threw it into the crowd.
    Watching on the screen wasn’t even that bad, I told myself. We were still having fun. I snapped a picture with the camera I’d brought, and then looked down to check it in the viewing window.
    I sighed. Blake was in the photo, but he looked like a little dot of army green on a giant stage. Also, half the picture was cut off by the head of the woman in front of me.
    Madison took a look at the photo and then pulled my ear to her mouth so I could hear her.
    They’re already an hour into their set, she yelled over the music. They’ve probably only got a couple of songs left, including the encore. If we’re going to try it, we need to go now.
    I looked up at the video screen, which was zoomed in on Sophie, the drummer. I could see the top of Blake’s guitar to the side of her drum set, fuzzy and dimly lit on the screen.
    I threw my head back, staring at the rows of spotlights on the ceiling of the arena.
    This was the last time I would have fun all summer. I had