Page 18 of Rock Star

Gradually, the rest of our party started arriving for breakfast. No sign of Axel, though, and I felt a mixture of relief and agitation. He had such a strong effect on me, dammit. How was I gonna get through the next couple months with my integrity intact?The San Siro Stadium, home to the AC Milan and Inter soccer teams, was freaking enormous and absolutely amazing. I stood on the stage recently erected by the crew, every nerve in my body tingling. So many famous musicians had performed here, including Bruce Springsteen, U2, and the Rolling Stones. I couldn’t get my head around the fact that little ‘ole me was gonna be singing her heart out in the same venue. It was the craziest, hugest, most rock ‘n roll thing ever to happen to me, and I was like a particle of sand caught up in a tsunami, about to be tossed into the maelstrom.

Boots stomped on the wooden planks and the guys took up their positions. I gazed at Axel, my eyes soaking him in, and I caught his smirk as he noticed me staring at him. With a huff, I glanced away.

Focus on the task at hand, Phoenix.

The technicians in their booth relayed their instructions. They would be insulated from the crowd by banks of soundboards, computers and monitors, their ears covered by headphones, but able to communicate with us via our in-ear pieces. ChiMera always refused to participate in what they called ‘cheating’ and declined the use of auto-tune during their concerts to correct any missed notes or even to mix their live singing with pre-recorded vocals. I was glad of that… they were truly authentic. The backline boys stood by with their supply of guitars and extra drumsticks and skins, ready to be switched at the right moments, and we were good to go.

We launched into ‘Ghost in the Heart’. Once the music had taken over, I relaxed into my supporting role, totally pumped to be doing something I loved so freaking much.

Tomorrow night would be different. Tomorrow night Axel would come into his own and feed off the fans’ adoration, but I kinda liked the way he was performing now. More subdued. It reminded me of our practices together, when it was just the two of us and I could almost believe he was singing to me alone.

Stupid girl.

We got to the end of our main set and Jake spoke through our in-ear monitors, telling us we’d done good. The techies had gotten what they needed and the helicopter would arrive shortly to take us back to the villa.

“Oh, by the way, your support act is here for their sound check and rehearsal. They’re waiting to meet you all in the press room once you’ve cooled down.”

We trooped off the stage and I left the guys to go to their dressing room while I went to mine. Hayley and Camila were waiting for me… they’d ridden in with us and had gone shopping at a prestigious outlet during our rehearsal. I went through my humming routine while they showed me a couple new sparkly dresses that they’d bought for me to wear on stage—like I didn’t have enough already—plus a cute Trussardi clutch purse Camila had purchased and a pair of Armani jeans Hayley had gotten for herself.

“Come with me to meet Vanilla Sky,” I said when I’d cooled down my voice enough.

Arms linked, the three of us sauntered down the corridor, reading the signs on various doors until we found the right one. “There you are,” Jake quipped as we stepped into the room. A warm, fuzzy feeling came over me. The guys were already sitting in a circle with the newbies, as charming as they’d been with me the first time we’d met.

Jake introduced Camila, Hayley and me to redheaded Thea, lead singer, dark-haired Liam, drummer, blond-haired Ethan, lead guitarist, and dark-haired Violet, bass player. (People’s hair color was what I always noted about them before anything else.) They told us a little about themselves, said they didn’t have a main songwriter, just jammed together until a song emerged.

Axel suggested they hang out with us after the concert. We were due to make an appearance at a swanky nightclub in the center of the city. He said it would be more fun if they came along, and I guess his flattery persuaded them because they were up for it.

Jake’s cellphone rang, interrupting talk about ChiMera’s inspiration for their music. He informed us that our ‘copter had arrived. We said goodbye to Vanilla Sky and made our way to the middle of the football pitch to climb on board.Back at the villa, jetlag hit us all like a sledgehammer, and we had dinner almost straight away before going up to our rooms for an early night. I took a shower, dressed in my pajamas then Skype called my parents. We chatted briefly—I was so tired— I told them about the rehearsal and that I’d call them before the concert tomorrow. I fell asleep almost as soon as my head hit the pillow.

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