Part 12
It was far more exciting than she had imagined it would be. The nervousness was still very much alive but the thrill of the whole thing almost overwhelmed that feeling. The guys were amazing. There was so much energy and passion and love for being up on that stage and she loved watching the whole thing play before her eyes.
It was her first concert, both to watch and to play, and she was aesthetically stunned by it all. The costumes, the lights, the stage set; it was all so extravagant and amazing.
When the curtains fell down – figuratively as there weren’t any curtains – and the audience screamed and applauded their appreciation, she could barely contain her own excitement or the race of her pulse. She almost felt heady with it.
And the energy continued to flow through her even as the last note was played and the lights were dimmed and the audience began to dissipate. Even as she walked off the stage, the feelings remained. And she loved it.
…
Alex made her way to the dressing rooms to change. Almost in a europhic state she walked down the hall and into the room, grinning at her fellow band mates who were already changing into their street clothes.
As she made her way to the clothing rack and went to her section she noticed two more shirts – a long sleeved black tee and a tan cord shirt – along with black cargo pants. A note was attached; she looked at it curiously before opening it. It was from Charlie. According to the note, it seemed someone had mentioned to both Richard and Charlie that Alex might not have ready funds available to her. And that she should go see him tomorrow about getting an advance on her paycheck. He and Richard also took the time to get her a few more things for her concert wardrobe.
Alex put the note in her back pocket still staggering over the fact that someone had told Charlie to help her out. She was a little embarrassed that someone had noticed her plight but in all honesty she felt more relief than anything else, now she wouldn’t have to worry about it so much.
She decided to wait until she got back to the hotel to change out of her clothes. At least then she wouldn’t look like a complete fool in front of the other guys for going somewhere else to change and she’d have some privacy. Well, if Leo wasn’t around. She couldn’t help but shudder at the thought. She was really going to have to try and get a new roommate.
She looked up and noticed the object of her thoughts walking her way. He put an arm around her shoulder and grinned down at her. “So, are you going to the party?”
She refrained herself from shoving him off her before saying anything. “What party?”
“The one the guys are having right now in their dressing room.”
Alex looked baffled. “Oh.” She felt a sliver of sheer terror crawl down her back and she shivered. She felt her old insecurities emerge. Parties. They were things the popular people did. She remembered being in school and hearing people rave about the party they had gone to the night before. She had always wondered what they were like. And now it seemed she was getting a chance to see and it made her nervous.
“C’mon!” Leo said moving her out of the room and into Nsync’s.
Alex shrugged his arm off as she looked around the room. A number of people were in the small dressing room, the majority of them female, and the guys were scattered around the room.
She glanced around, her eyes unintentionally seeking out a specific frame; she saw him lounging on a sofa with Vella. JC was talking to her and she was snuggled up against his chest. Alex did her best not to react. She wasn't interested in JC after all. That brief feeling she felt when she had seen him kiss Vella earlier probably had more to do with indigestion than any kind of heartache. Heartache, right.
She purposefully turned her back on them and then abruptly stopped. Leo had disappeared into the crowd and was now at the side table helping himself to some alcohol. Everyone seemed already pre-occupied and she felt awkward standing there trying to find someone to talk to.
“Alex!” Joey walked over to her grinning. “Stop standing around like you’re lost. Let me introduce you to some people.” He said this with a slight leer as he looked around the room.
Alex, grateful at Joey’s appearance, ignored the suspicious gleam in his eyes and followed him around. They circulated the room and Joey introduced her around. Mainly to women. It wasn’t until Alex was introduced to a particular amorous group of girls that her suspicions became full blown distrust.
She groaned inwardly when she finally realized that Joey was trying to hook her up.
She almost rolled her eyes at him as he introduced her to a busty blonde. “This is Andrea. She specifically asked me to introduce you guys. So, go on kiddies. Have fun!” He patted their heads and walked away.
Uh…? Oh God.
Andrea smiled shyly at Alex. “You were really amazing up there tonight,” she said, her brown eyes wide with admiration.
“Uh…thanks,” Alex said uncomfortably.
“You’re probably wondering who I am,” she said looking up at Alex through her lashes, which must have been a pretty hard feat considering she was only about a half an inch shorter than Alex.
“Uh…sure.”
“I’m Linda Stewart’s niece. I’m interning here for school. I want to do the same thing as Linda, so I’m actually following her around. I’ll be here for a few weeks...” She left the last part hanging, almost as if she was waiting for Alex to insert some sort of invitation.
“Uh…cool.”
Andrea giggled. “You’re so shy. That’s so cute.”
Alex could feel herself panicking. The full implication hit her that Andrea was interested and wanted Alex to do something about it. She was going to kill Joey for getting her into this situation. Although she was sure he would be expecting something on the lines of complete gratitude.
”Are you thirsty?” Andrea asked suddenly.
“No.”
Andrea’s face fell at the response, but then immediately perked up. “I am. Can you get me a drink?”
“Yeah sure.” Anything to get away.
Andrea beamed at Alex as she walked over to the table. JC was standing in front of it when she got there. He was looking out into the crowd and she turned to see what or who was capturing his attention. Vella, but of course. She was talking to a couple girls in the center of the room.
Alex looked back at JC and found him looking at her.
“I think I have a problem,” he said as he glanced back at Vella. “With relationships.” He continued before Alex could say anything. “I’m not this big player…but lately every relationship I get into, never lasts long. Every time they try to get close and ask me to commit to things, I break it off.”
Alex looked at him in surprise and astonishment. Why was he sharing this with her? Wouldn’t the other guys be better for this?
“Now there’s Vella,” JC said jerking his head toward her. “I met her a few weeks ago when we were deciding on opening acts. She’s beautiful and talented and I like her a lot…but not enough. Not enough for me to want to commit to her – which she keeps pressuring me to do – and we’ve only been together like, three weeks. It’s fucked up, man.”
Alex didn’t know what to say. At all. She felt sad for him. He looked so confused and so openly upset about the whole thing that she wanted to just hug him.
JC took in Alex’s bewildered expression and suddenly looked embarrassed. “Dude, I’m sorry for putting all that on you.”
JC looked so embarrassed that Alex knew the best course was to pretend that it hadn’t been a big deal. “Nah. It’s ok. I don’t mind. It’s cool that you shared that with me and don’t worry I’ll keep it to myself. And since you did talk to me, I hope you don’t mind me saying something about it.”
JC smiled and shook his head. “No, go ahead. But if you’re going to tell me I’m a stupid fuck you can hold back. I already know that.”
Alex grinned at him. “No, you’re not. I think you’re just not ready for commitment and these girls that you’re with keep pushing for it, which you’re not comfortable with it and that’s cool. Maybe you should try to break it down to Vella before running away. Tell her that you don’t want a heavy commitment and you never know she might understand.” Alex blinked. Where had she come up with that? She knew nothing about relationships but common sense told her that it made sense.
JC nodded. “You’re right. I’ll give it a try. Thanks, man.” He chucked her chin, as he seemed to enjoy doing before walking away.
Alex stood staring after him, wondering why she had just saved JC’s relationship…then spent the next couple of minutes trying to convince herself that what she had just done was a good thing – until she was interrupted by Andrea coming over and asking Alex where her drink was.
Alex groaned inwardly. It was going to be a long night.