Page 28 of Introvert

"But I'm nobody," I said with a laugh.

"If you say so."

Before I could respond, the guys were there, having their instruments and in-ear monitors stripped from them by members of the crew. Felix raised a brow.

"You look happy," he said.

"I am," I said. "I got through it."

"You did more than that.They loved you."

I pushed my hands into my pockets. "Nah, they loved youand the guys. I was just back-up."

He shook his head.

"You're a pretty good bass player."

"Thanks. You don't suck at violin."

I laughed. "Such high praise."

Felix gave me a real smile then. He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could,Santino came over, wrapped me up in a hug, and spun me around.

"You did awesome," the bassist/current triangle player said.

"You too," I said.

Felix was frowning at his friend. "She's not a sack of flour. You shouldn't throw her around like that."

Santino rolled his eyes but stepped back.

Ryker and the others joined us followed by a few burly guys. They were all dressed in black suits. The menushered our group toward the back of the building.

"Ready to get mobbed?" Santino said, and I looked up in alarm.

"Not really," Ryker said. "He just means the fans who hang by the bus."

"Who will grab whatever they can," Elliot put in.

"Yeah," Hayden said with a grin, "so hold on to something or someone."

"No worries," Felix said into my ear. "That's what security's for."

The big guys surrounding us suddenly made sense.

As they threw open the doors, we walked out into a wall of sound and flashing lights. Women and men—mostly girls of every age—went crazy when they saw HERS. Several of them were also chanting Felix's name, and some even had posters that said things like "I LOVE YOU, FELIX! WILL U MARRY ME?" and "CALL ME MRS. CORDOVA!" I looked at Felix with wide eyes as one of the fans ripped a chunk of his shirt from his body.Flashes went off, phones taking pics and video.Felix caught my hand and pulled me along behind him, probably so I wouldn't get left behind.It couldn't have taken more than a couple minutes.The security team hustled us onto the bus, and from the driver's seat, Essie cackled.

"The fans are rowdy tonight," she said.

"First show. You know how it is," Hayden said, and I noticed his shirt collar was stretched, looking like someone—or several someone's—had gotten their hands on it. "Everybody okay?"

"Yeah, they didn't get my glasses this time," Elliot said, though his hair looked a little crazy.

Ryker nodded.His shirt was torn, but he didn't seem shaken at all.

And Santino…

"Lost your jacket?" Hayden said to a completely bare-chested Santino. "Mercury's going to be pissed."

---