I was currently hidden behind the wing of the stage curtain as Grey Lightening was in full swing. Luckily I was only standing in these heels for only a short time before a kind stage hand named Keith, brought me a stool to sit on.
One thing I knew for sure was that I definitely had the best seat in the house. I watched song after song as the boys did their thing, each of them getting lost in the music.
Johnny was to the back, rattling away on the drum set and until this moment, I didn't know that it was him that played the drums. I thought it was Maddox but clearly my visions were wrong. Benny was diagonal to his left, singing and contributing to the amazing music with his electric guitar. Straight across from his right side and in front of me, was Maddox. He too played the guitar but when Grey's voice needed a rest, he was singing.
Grey stood to the front of the diamond like layout. He was centre stage. He held an acoustic guitar in his hands, the strap going over his muscular shoulders as his mouth caressed the microphone. He was absolutely breath taking, something about seeing him up there...hyping the crowd and his voice filling the entire area and consuming me whole was a completely and utter turn on.
"How is everyone tonight?" Grey asked huskily into his microphone. He lifted a bottle of water from in front of him and took a few sips.
The audience was going wild, I giggled at the girls in the front row. If the security didn't stand below the stage, there would have been a stampede.
"I fucking love you Greyson!" A woman screamed into the only second of silence.
I watched as Grey smiled, looking towards the lady who was in the front row. He sent a wink her way causing her to wildly scream shaking her friends beside her.
"I see you girl." He smirked adding another wink.
I did not feel jealous. I did not feel jealous. Nope, not at all. They're just fans. They love his talent.
"We're going to change things up a little tonight for you all." He smirked, "We're going to need your help though." He told the crowd as they screamed wildly, flashlights dancing in the dark from near and afar.
"You may know this song, it's called...demon heart." Wild and frantic screams came from the crowd at the mention of the song, I watched as Grey turned to look at Johnny with a grin. He looked so happy and so comfortable on stage. "We're gonna need all of you to sing along...that includes you too beautiful." He told the woman who had previously shouted her undying love for him. He crouched down at the front of the stage and I watched as the group of girls at the front almost dislocated their arms trying to reach out for him.
"Johnny...do you want to kick this off?" He turned and asked him as the drums began to lay a foundation for the beat. "Let's fucking go!" Johnny shouted back and just like that, they were in full sync.
Music blasted my ears, the audience was deafening as they sang along. I have never seen something so inspiring in my entire life. These four men in front of me brought this entire stadium to life by the power of their talents. It was incredible.
"Would you like a drink Miss?" I turned to the kind stagehand called Keith, his red hair spiked on his head with little freckles going across his cheeks and nose.
He was cute but also looked quite young. He had a thin build to him, rigged in a black uniform.
"Sure, what do you have?" I asked sweetly causing his cheeks to flush slightly.
"Well...there's soda, water and...and wait you might want alcohol, yeah we have that too and.."
"Do you have any cocktails?" I asked right off the bat, it was one of my favourite potions to drink.
"We do and there's a really good one, I can't remember the name of it though." He scratched the back of his neck with a frown, "I'm sorry you probably think I'm being stupid." He rushed out, his cheeks bright red and a little pout playing on his lips.
"Don't be silly." I giggled, "How about you just whizz me something together? I'm not fussy in the slightest so anything will do." I told him with a kind smile watching as his face began to brighten up.
"I'm still kind of learning about the drinks and stuff, this is far from my expertise." He told me shyly with a shrug.
"So what is it that you normally do?" I asked him expressing my interest into his career path.
"English Lit." He replied, "Not the coolest of subjects, I guess." I smiled at the inspiring young man in front of me.
"It's the best of subjects, I studied journalism." I smiled, "My dad owns Theron Publications in the city." His face lit up at that and my heart almost broke at his sweet ecstatic smile.
"Really?" He asked with wide eyes filled with excitement, "That's awesome." He continued causing me to giggle.
"Really really." I smiled, "If your doing English Lit shouldn't you be working to gain experience in that subject instead of this?" I asked pointing at his uniform, he sighed.
"I tried, I contacted a few publishing houses but they wouldn't of couldn't offer me anything." He shrugged with a frown, "My parents don't really have much so I don't want to keep pestering them for funds, I took this position so I could have a pay check." He looked to the ground, shuffling his feet as if he was almost ashamed of what he just admitted.
Don't cry Emily. Do not cry.
"Your parents must be so proud of you." I told him, reaching my arm out and kindly rubbing his arm in a friendly gesture. "I tell you what, how about I give you my number and tomorrow you contact me. I want to help." I smiled as he nodded frantically reaching into his pocket for a crumpled piece of paper and a pen.
He handed it to me, I quickly scribbled down my number for him and when I looked back up I could see tears line his sea blue eyes.
"Thank you so much Miss." His voice trembling with emotion.
Oh fuck it, I was a goner. Tears line my eyes at his statement. Everyone needed a break once in a while, I was glad I was able to help him. I was quite lucky that way at college, my parents paid for it all and in return...I told my Dad that I would run his New York branch for him. I always aimed to make my parents proud of me and sometimes that pressure is unbearable on ones shoulders.
He reminded me of myself when I was younger, I would do anything for my parents approval or to make them happy and proud. Five years down that road and here I am questioning every decision I made in life, desperate for a change and probably about to break their Fathers heart.
"Don't worry about it." I smiled, "How about that cocktail huh?" I giggled wiping the inner corners of my eyes.
"Coming right up Miss." He beamed heading into a full blown sprint to collect my drink.
He was adorable.
I looked down towards my hands, lost in thought. I had only tomorrow left before I broke the news to my Dad about the publishing company. I know that it's going to hurt him but hopefully he can understand my reasoning for why and respect it. I'll test the waters before anything, my parents didn't have a family meal like this unless something was happening or going to happen so I'll keep my lips sealed until they fess up.
I'll need to find a house when I head back home to Lakeville. My small little village just outside of Washington and before Canada. My little safe haven.
I made a note to also speak to Jase when I was home, something happened that caused him to betray Grey and I intend to find out what before making any decisions or picking sides.
Hopefully it was a small rock that could be turned over.
"The first time you've ever seen me at a concert, giving it my all on stage and here you are day dreaming." Grey's voice spoke playfully as I snapped my eyes upto him, "We're finished Angel but I'm hurt...I thought you would have been my number one fan?" He frowned with a teasing glint in his eyes, playful Grey remained.
"I had the best seat in the house." I smiled taking in his beautiful physique which was glistening with a little sweat, I teased him...eyeing him from foot to head then locking eyes with him. "Benny looked great up there." I teased causing him to smirk wildly as he took long strides towards me.
He pulled my arms forward, slamming my body into his and pulling me off the stool. His hands reached down and deliciously squeezed my ass causing a gasp to escape my lips.
"Do you want to correct..."
"Here you go Miss!" Keith's loud voice boomed from beside us in a rush, did he run both there and back?"I made your cocktail, I'm not sure what's actually in it but it looks really good."
Like he had been burned, Grey stepped back instantly. Looking towards the young man standing in front of us and examining every bit of him. He placed his hands into his pockets, his mouth forming a thin line.
"You don't know what you put in her drink?" Grey asked him with raised brows.
"She told me just to whizz something together for her." He shrugged placing the drink down to the side, his cheeks going red.
"She has a name kid." Grey warned as Keith looked to me with an audible swallow. His cheeks were now beet red.
"It's fine Keith." I smiled, "Thank you." I told him sincerely, the drink to the side of him didn't look drinkable but I appreciate the effort.
"It's not a problem." He smiled, "I'll keep your number safe and I'll call tomorrow." He grinned, "Thank you so much."
"Your welcome." I smiled back at him
"It was nice meeting you sir." He nodded towards Grey as a farewell but Grey wasn't looking at the youngster in front of me, instead he was looking towards me.
His expression was unreadable and just by looking at his eyes, I could see my playful Grey went somewhere during our conversation. I couldn't tell his mood but I haven't done anything wrong so I couldn't be me, maybe it was Keith? I shook my head at the thought, the youngster didn't do anything wrong either.
"Do all nineteen year olds rustle your feathers Ems?" He asked the moment Keith had stepped out of the picture.
I turned to him examining his face looking for the slightest bit of humour and when I seen none, I broke out into full blown laughter. He would never admit it but Grey only would be acting this way for one reason, jealously.
"Grey-Bear you never fail to make me laugh you know." I giggled reaching out for him and wrapping my arms around his neck, he visibly flinched.
"Don't call me that." He half snapped out with a daring look in his eyes.
"He's a English Lit student." I confirmed, "He needs experience and needs to pay for college. I told him about the publishing house and I gave him my number to contact me, I should be able to find him a spot that could benefit him." Instantaneously, Grey's body relax in my arms and his eyes took on a soft touch.
"Your helping him?" He asked.
"Yes." I nodded, "He told me that his parents are struggling with college funds and he didn't want them to carry the burden so..."
"What's his name?" He asked wrapping his arms around my waist.
"Keith...I don't know his surname." I told him as he gave a small nod before leaning down to place a soft kiss on my shoulder.
I was shocked by the intimate gesture, his band mates and best friends were probably wondering around somewhere behind him. Considering he told me that this was basically "our little secret" he wasn't being discreet.
I looked at him, trying to figure this man out. Did he want to be seen publicly? I found it very unlikely that he could forget the thousands of people leaving this arena, the multiple stage hands and directors or his band mates behind him. It was confusing, he was confusing.
"We should go." As if he read my mind, he pulled away and checked the time on his dazzling wrist watch. "Party time." He smiled with a wink before walking away and leaving me standing there wondering what the hell just happened.
Maybe this was another game to him but whatever it was and whatever was happening between us, I needed the rules written down. His verbal rules were clearly different from his physical rules.
Or maybe it was one rule for him and another for me, if that was the case, I didn't want to play this game anymore.
I wasn't a product, I had feelings and Grey needs to remember that.