.....
Gus turned around, expecting to see Mark banging away at the drums. Instead, Gus saw me. Looking down on him, our eyes met, and I paused to wave, grinning. Gus was too surprised to wave back at first. He looked over at Mark standing beside me. Mark shrugged, so Gus looked back to me and NOW he waved. I rolled my eyes and got up, leaving the sticks where they’d been before. I jumped back down onto the regular, level stage. I walked over to where a few guitars were resting in holders. I went right to the red one. Staring in amazement, I slowly reached out to touch it. That’s when I felt a hand--Gus’s hand--on my shoulder. I stopped and pulled my hand back. Gus reached around me, took the guitar, and handed it to me. “Oh,” was all I said. I knew Gus was smiling. I slipped the chain and leather strap over my shoulder.
I turned around. Giggling, I asked, “How’s it look?” and struck a pose, putting my fingers near the end of the fretboard and getting down on one knee, guitar held high. Gus must’ve thought I looked pretty damn funny, because he actually giggle-snorted and almost tripped over his own feet. There came another equally strange sound from behind Gus. He turned his head, seeing Bob had actually spat his Ouzo out that he was about to swallow. His chin and nose were dripping, some of his hair sticking to his cheeks.
“Time to stop messing around, it’s a few minutes before the show starts!” Apollo yelled loud enough for everyone to hear. Kirsty, Flori, Katie, and JL all hopped off the stage and took spots in the moshpit area. I, instead of joining them, retreated back to the area in the shadow where the spare guitars were. Carefully, I slipped the red guitar off and put it back in its place beside Bob’s other guitar.