When I arrive at Madison Square Garden, I barely register how I got there. But I made it, just in time.
Queues are already forming, people clutching their handmade signs to their chests, and I know in my heart that today is the day my life has changed.
For better or worse? Only time will tell.
***
"Are you ready to do this?" Akira asks, her hair and makeup done, but still very much comfortably dressed in her faded black jeans and t-shirt, before it’s her turn to take the stage. "It’s not too late to back out," she teases with a huge grin that takes over her entire face. Her short, naturally black hair is tucked behind one ear, her dark green eyes glimmering with excitement. "And why are you side-stage so early? You’re not on for, like…thirty minutes."
"Even if I wanted to back out, you wouldn’t let me," I joke, nudging her shoulder with mine as we walk closer to the edge to get a better view, and that’s when I see it.
Holy shit.
I anticipated going into this tour that a small handful of people would arrive early to hear my set, and the majority of the crowd would arrive right before Akira took the stage. But this…I never expected.
"I just wanted to see if I could spot my family," I tell her as my eyes search the arena. Of course, the minute I see what looks like a billion torch lights in the air, my body picksnowto freak out.
Heat rushes through me, numbness creeps down my stomach and legs, and a headache starts clawing its way in.
All I want is to curl up somewhere and sleep for a week.
"Don’t panic now, Ol’ Girl. You look like you’ve seen a ghost." She ushers me back to my green room quickly, locking the door quietly behind us. I stand with my mouth wide open, heart galloping in my throat.
Am I…nervous?
I don’t get pre-show jitters. But suddenly, the thought of playing to a packed-out stadium with twenty thousand people just seems like something my nightmares are made of.
"Is that…" My words die off and lodge in the back of my throat before I can fully get them out. I’ve forgotten how to speak, yet I’m expected tosingan entire set?
"A full house?" she asks, finishing the thought for me. "It sure is. And they’re all here early to seeyou." She smiles, threading her arm through mine.
I grip the couch for dear life. It seems like such an unusual way to sit when you’re alone with someone in your dressing room, but I can’t find it in me to shake her off me. Her touch calms me.
"A full house," I repeat, swallowing the words, hard and fast. "I can do this." The last part is for me, but I know she hears meloud and clear when she nods in agreement, slowly loosening her arm, letting it drop to her side.
"You absolutely can." She presses a quick kiss to my cheek and leaves without another word. The door slams hard behind her, sharp enough to make me flinch.
But I don’t call her back.
Because, as much as I hate it, I need this. The quiet. The space to fall apart without anyone watching.
I can do this. I have to.
Chapter six
Avery
"Howlongdoesittake for two girls to get ready?" I groan loud enough for them to hear before burying my face into the palm of my hands. I check the time on my watch, thankful MSG is only a couple minutes away by car. "Hurry up, or we’re going to miss the girl you want to see." And I’ll have to pretend Idon’tknow the words to any Akira Rain songs while I sit through her set.
But I have a plan. Avoid her set entirely. Not because I want to, but I just don’t like being around…people. We’ll be there before Olivia starts, and be out the back door before her band can play their last beat.
"Two minutes!" The girls both shout back in unison, laughing to each other as though they’ve just shared some kind of inside joke.
I can literallyseeclothes flying around her room as Noelle and Leah search for options on what to wear, yet none of it seems to be good enough.
Yes, she has her own bedroom in my home.
Yes, it was my idea.
