Wrapping his arms around her, he lifted her from the floor, kissing her harder now. Without removing his gaze from hers he spoke to his friend. “Lead the way, buddy.”
The concert venue was a lot bigger than either of them had expected it to be. Her eyes scanned aroundthe room looking for possible problem areas that may freak him out. Chris had joined them now, carrying out the checks with the band. Jez sat at the back of the stage helping the roadies put together his kit. He didn’t need to help, they were more than capable of doing the job but his kit was an extension of him. He got antsy if everything wasn’t just as he liked it. Alex hadn’t even bothered dragging him away to introduce Grace. There was no point until he was done tinkering. Max, the band’s other guitarist had freaked her out a bit. He had stared at her as though he could see right through her, not really acknowledging her as she spoke to him, merely going through the motions. If she didn’t know better she would have said he was as high as kite.
With Max and Ben now off doing sound checks or whatever it was they were doing, she was left with Alex, Chris and two security staff. Alex had gone over all of his worries, making sure he knew exactly how many staff would be in front of the stage. He kept reiterating that no-one was to be allowed to get past the guards onto the stage. Chris tried to calm him; again reinforcing the fact the first ten to fifteen feet would be VIP only. The general public would be behind the cordoned off front area.
“I’m not fucking around, Chris. If one of them getson that stage I am outta here. They’re all too close for my liking as it is.”
Grace slid an arm firmly around his waist squeezing gently to let him know she was with him.
“Is your girlfriend staying for the show? I mean, I can run her off a pass for the VIP area.” Chris didn’t look at Grace as he spoke, instead keeping his eyes locked on his artist.
“I don’t want her in the pit. I want her backstage; in fact I want a chair in the wings for her. I wanna be able to keep an eye on her. It gets fucking crazy down there and I do not want her in the middle of it,” Alex insisted.
Chris rubbed his neck, pulling in his eyebrows as he spoke. “I don’t know, Al, I don’t think th...”
“I said she stays with me backstage, got it?” Alex fumed as he spoke. The two security guys that had been standing with them were now backing off, pretending to read whatever was on their clipboard.
“Alex, I don’t mind. I haven’t been to one of your concerts. It would be good to get the full Uni-Fi experience. I’ll be fine out in the front, don’t worry about me.” The last thing she needed was for him to be freaking out about her safety when he really needed to concentrate on performing.
He looked down at her now effectively dismissing his manager instantly again. “No. It’s fucking mental. It’s not safe for you. Please. I need you where I can see you.” Leaning down now he whispered in her ear. “I thought I was giving you the full experience when we get home anyway.”
She couldn’t answer; she was unable to speak around the huge lump he had just caused to gather in her throat. Decision made. She was sitting in the wings to watch her boyfriend do his thing.
Sound checks over and one quick rehearsal down they now sat backstage with Izzie, who had arrived half way through yet another discussion as to where Grace would be safest. She had quickly sensed the tension between Alex and his manager, taking charge instantly, insisting that Chris wind his neck in, pointing out that she herself always stood in the wings when they were on stage. Grace had been grateful for her arrival. The girl was formidable, giving her an ally amongst all these executives.
Grace took in the chaos that ensued as the time grew nearer for the band to get on stage. Peopleswarmed everywhere, pulling her boyfriend one way after another. Hair, make-up and wardrobe people all dragging the band in different directions.‘This way, Alex. Over here now, Alex. Alex, can you just put this on please.’It was bedlam. Reporters, record company execs and then the management bigwigs all floating around kissing ass. Alex had been right with the mental bit, but Grace was sure this was somehow worse than being out in the front amongst the raging crowd. Izzie tried her best to keep Alex calm as the pandemonium swarmed around her brother. She knew the tell tale signs now. He was pacing behind Grace, not speaking to anyone. The beads of sweat forming at his temples gave him away. Izzie stood to address him but he just ignored her, continuing his ritual movement.
The room began to swim before his eyes, the sweat oozing from his every pore. His chest became tight as he tried to fill his lungs with air. Shit, he felt dizzy and nauseous now. Downing a full bottle of water he tried to suppress the need to vomit. As the walls began to close in on him the door flew open, a runner entering the room announcing their five minute call to stage. Grabbing Grace by the hand he pulled her from the room, dragging her behind him as he headed in the opposite direction to the rest of the band.
They almost ran down the long corridor that led to the back alleyway. Alex began frantically pushing doors open as he went, looking for somewhere he could breathe freely. He found sanctuary in an open doorway just prior to the exit. The room was dark and cool, nothing like the one they had just left. Slamming the door shut behind him he headed straight for the window on the opposite side. Alex flung it wide open, gulping in the cool night air as he did. Grace stood behind him, running her hand up and down his back trying to soothe him. When he turned around he was ashen, breathing erratically as he engulfed her with his arms. Neither of them spoke. They didn’t need to. She didn’t think she could form the right words anyway. The door cracked open allowing light to flood in. Ben and Izzie stood in the doorway. His sister just smiled sympathetically at him as Ben spoke.
“Oh, man, not again, Alex. We have to do this, bud. Can’t we do the show first then have the breakdown?” His best friend knew him so well. “Look, I’ve moved Max and my mic stands forward so we are almost in front of you. Max knows the score; nobody can reach you without getting past us first. What happened in Belfast is not happening again. Okay?”
Ben easily recalled the night that the freak got on stage. It had been a couple of years ago now but itobviously still bothered him. Adamant that Alex was an imposter, the lunatic had run up, screaming that he was going to kill him and tried to push Alex off the stage. It had taken Ben’s quick thinking and the lightning reflexes of Max to wrestle the idiot to the ground, preventing the idiot from carrying out his planned attack. Alex had been so shaken up that they’d had to reschedule the show. He had refused to get back on stage that night or the night after for that matter. Alex hadn’t been the same since the incident.
Alex let out a significant breath, steadying his vision once more, nodding imperceptibly at the pair stood waiting for him. Grace tightened her grip on her man, desperate to keep him safe. If it was up to her they would be on their way home now, not contemplating getting him on stage. Izzie noticed Grace’s stance along with the determination on her face.
“Grace, he has to do this. We need to get him out there now. His whole future rides on this.” Izzie was at their side now, slowly but surely propelling Alex forward in the direction of his fellow band members. He hadn’t spoken a single word for over thirty minutes. How he was going to get up there and sing she had no idea.
Reaching the edge of the stage the noise reached fever pitch; it may only have been a small crowd but,boy, could they scream. Jez and Max were ready to make their entrance, laughing loudly with Chris at some private joke or other. Ben indicated to Chris that they were ready to go on, signalling with his eyes not to mess around with Alex. Taking the hint, Chris headed out underneath the spot light.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome. It’s great to see you all here tonight. Please help me welcome on stage tonight Jez, Max, Ben and Alex. I give you Uni-Fi!”
The crowd went wild as the boys walked out one at a time in single file. Jez took his place behind the drums, starting to tap out a beat as Max and Ben followed on stage. Lifting their guitar straps over their heads, they joined in with Jez, strumming out chords waiting for Alex to materialize.
Alex turned to Grace. Holding her face in his hands he kissed her forehead. “Stay here, right where I can see you. Please don’t move. Stay with Izzie.”
Grace nodded; nothing she said would make any difference to him now. He was petrified. Kissing her one last time he took a deep breath and made his way out to the centre of the stage. The noise level escalated, almost deafening her. Izzie pointed to a chair, motioning for her to sit, but she shook her head. She wasn’t moving from where he’d left her.
Glancing to the side of the stage as the throngbegan to chant his name, Alex smiled at her before veering his attention back to the gathered crowd. The music surrounded him as he closed his eyes, lowering his head as he opened his mouth to let the words fall out. The whole room shook as the sea of people bounced up and down showing their appreciation for the intimate gig they were being treated to.
Half way into their sixty minute set he walked to the side of the stage where Grace stood. Leaning in to kiss her with sweaty lips he pulled his T-shirt over his head, taking the clean one Izzie held out for him and pulling it swiftly on. Grabbing a bottle of water he gulped it down greedily as he walked back out on stage, the nausea now subsiding, thankful he couldn’t see the swarm of people as the band continued to perform. Walking back to centre stage, safely bracketed between his two colleagues, he signalled for the band to stop playing. The audience fell silent at the interruption to their evening.
Clearing his throat Alex spoke to the dark room.
“We weren’t supposed to do this next one tonight but I’m hoping you’ll forgive me. It’s kinda special to me at the minute. You see there is someone here tonight that means the world to me and this is her favourite so if you don’t mind, I’d like to doFallen.” The crowd went wild causing a brief grin to lift hismouth. “I guess that means you’re okay with that.” Ben commenced the opening chords, ignoring Jez and Max grumbling together to the rear of the stage. Alex waited for his cue to begin. Turning to face Grace now, he sang to her alone, not the assembled crowd. Grace stood mesmerized as he poured all his feelings into singing the words for her. It might as well have been just the two of them back out on the deck at the lighthouse. Her heart pounded as she held his gaze, her emotions swirling around her body as he sang for her...just her. As he concluded the number a huge smile spread across his face, only to be pulled back to reality as someone shouted, “Who’s the lucky bitch!”
Turning his attention back to the chosen few he chuckled. “Play nice, ladies. Now, boys, where were we?”
