Ronan hesitated a bit because they were already about to turn and leave. Now didn't seem like the best time to introduce the band members and start chatting.
But it was as if she'd caught the glance Ronan cast toward the band. The slightly taller of the two girls jumped in eagerly before anyone else could say a thing. "I know you guys. I mean, every single one of you!" She noticed the looks the band shot her way and, before anyone could question her, added, "He's the drummer, Ollie. He's the bassist, Maxim. And he's the guitarist, Cliff."
Spot on!
This was an absolute surprise—a real shock!
Sure, people had recognized the band's faces a few times before, but no one had ever named the band itself, let alone all four members. Usually, when they met "fans," Ronan had to introduce himself to avoid that awkward moment when the other person didn't know what to call them.
But today, for the first time, someone had clearly and accurately named all four of them. This was progress!
The band members' eyes lit up with excitement, their joy and enthusiasm bubbling over uncontrollably.
"Yes, totally right! Thanks for liking our performance," Ronan said sincerely. His words came out a little clumsy—he was too excited to think straight—but his tone and feelings couldn't have been more genuine.
The taller girl nodded eagerly, her bright eyes sparkling in the dazzling night. "I really, really love your shows. I mean, almost every song! So when I found out you were in Las Vegas, I dragged my friend all over the place looking for you."
The girl beside her nodded hard in agreement. "We wandered up and down the Strip all last night but couldn't find you."
"Ha, sorry about that. We were performing in the old downtown area yesterday," Ronan said with a light laugh, his crescent-shaped eyes radiating happiness. "There are fewer tourists there, and we wanted to connect with the people who actually live in this city. But apparently, their nightlife isn't quite as wild."
Both girls burst out laughing. "Because the nightlife's all here!" they said in unison, their words like the warm, heavy air of a summer evening, carried by a breeze that left you feeling a little tipsy.
Facing these two cheerful, lively girls—possible fans—Ronan still felt a bit stiff and unsure how to handle it. He instinctively touched his brow to hide his awkwardness, but he quickly steadied himself and flashed a smile again. "We figured that out too, so we came to the Strip today."
"Perfect timing! That's why we finally found you tonight. It's our luck—our persistence paid off!" the taller girl said, practically bouncing with excitement. Her feet tapped the ground lightly, her body bobbing up and down, her voice dancing along with her. Every part of her radiated joy.
Her gaze darted between the band members before settling back on Ronan. "So, does this mean we can watch you perform live tonight? Oh my gosh, I'm so excited! Your live shows are just so amazing!"
As she spoke, she started clapping her hands like an excited hamster.
"Uh…" Ronan hesitated, caught off guard by her enthusiasm. He wanted to say yes right away, but the situation wouldn't allow it. He glanced at Maxim and Cliff for help—
Truthfully, they shouldn't turn down fans. Especially these two girls. They seemed different from the curious onlookers they'd met before. These two genuinely liked the band, which was incredibly rare.
It was hard to say if this was the first time they'd met fans this sincere, but one thing was certain: on this road trip, among the countless people they'd encountered, these girls were the first to name all four of them correctly. This was a groundbreaking moment!
So, what should they do?
Should they just say, "We're about to grab some food. Meet us later at the MGM Grand entrance"?
Wouldn't that come off as too aloof or arrogant?
Maybe that's what a mature, rational band would do. But none of them had ever dealt with a situation like this before, so they fumbled, overthinking it. Even the usually level-headed Cliff couldn't bring himself to say the sensible thing hovering on the tip of his tongue.
"What's wrong? Is something up?" The taller girl immediately picked up on the glances being exchanged among the band. Her eyes fluttered as she took a small step forward. Her excitement and urgency dimmed slightly, replaced by a hint of disappointment she couldn't hide.
Ronan felt a little awkward, but he explained politely, "Here's the deal: the TV broadcast is on standby, and the debate's about to start. They're probably going to clear the area soon, so we were about to head out. The plan was to grab some food first, then perform at the MGM later."
His explanation was a bit long-winded, but he wanted to be clear. "How about this? We'll do a quick, simple song right here, then we can pick up the fun with music again at the next show tonight?"
In the chaos of the moment, Ronan had managed to come up with a compromise that worked for everyone.
To make it happen, he even gave up his plan to enjoy a big meal at the Venetian—
If they made a promise, tonight's performance had to happen, and they couldn't drag it out or miss it. That meant no time to fully enjoy a buffet, so why not save it for another day? The Venetian's buffet would always be there, but fans like these didn't show up every day.
It was a tough call, but Ronan made his choice.
The taller girl didn't hesitate. Her face lit up again as she bounced in place a couple of times, nodding enthusiastically. "No problem, no problem, of course no problem!" She rushed to agree, worried that if she waited a second longer, Ronan might change his mind.
Ronan's smile returned as he turned to his bandmates, silently asking for their input. Cliff and Maxim both realized this was the best way to handle it and nodded in agreement. But… which song should they play?
"Um… excuse me, can I make a request?" A voice came from behind them. This time, it wasn't the taller girl but the quieter, slightly chubby one who hadn't spoken much. Her cheeks still had a bit of baby fat, making her look adorably cute.
Ronan's eyes widened in shock—not from panic or fear, but pure surprise—
A song request?
That meant they really knew the band. They'd watched more than just one video and knew songs beyond "Chasing the Light." This was beyond rare—it was incredible!