Page 89 of Versions Of Us

I’m blissfully ignorant of what else is going on around me.

Until the last song anyway.

We get a quarter of the way through the final track and that’s when I fall apart. I dare a glance up at the crowd and it takes the breath out of me. My heart hammers against my ribs.

This can’t be happening.

Not now.

But I’m certain of what I’ve seen. Or at least I think I am. A tall long-haired guy whose face rises above the rest, a grimace adorning his face in the darkness.

He’s found me.

He’s foundus.

I stand suddenly, the drumsticks falling to the ground either side of me, the stool crashing to the back of the stage.

Mackenzie is the only thing going through my thought process. Then I see Kristen’s head angle to the side, a crease between her brows.

“Henley, what’s up?” EJ turns to me, his guitar still hung around his neck. He doesn’t look mad, just confused by my behaviour. “You okay?”

“I have to go.” The words leave my mouth, but I hear them as though someone else is saying them.

The whole band has stopped playing now, the only sound a low rumble from the crowd. I can’t see him anymore, blinded by the stage lights. I start to second guess myself.

Did I imagine him standing there?

Have I finally gone insane?

Either way, I’ve stuffed up the set and I need to get out of here. If my eyes haven’t failed me there is too much at stake. I jump off the back of the stage, reaching for the phone in my back pocket.

“Henley!” I hear EJ call.

I don’t have time to answer or explain. I need to find Mackenzie.

She picks up on the third ring. “Hey, what’s up?”

I exhale a long sigh of relief at the sound of her chipper voice. “Mackenzie,” I breathe.

“Yeah?” she answers. “Geez, what happened to you? You sound like you’ve run a marathon. You might need to get on the treadmill every once in a while if this is what drumming does to you, old man.”

I manage to choke out a laugh at her attempt to tease me. I’ve never been happier to hear an insult in all my life. “I’ll keep that in mind. Is everything okay there?”

“Yeah. Just watching tv and eating snacks so I’d say everything is perfect.”

I hear the crunching sound of potato chips echo through the phone.“Okay.” I say. “Good.”

“Everything okay there?” she asks curiously, no doubt sensing the stress in my voice.

I pause, contemplating if I should say more. I decide against it. There’s no point in upsetting Mackenzie for no reason. For all I know this is all in my head. It wouldn’t be the first time my mind has played tricks on me.

“Yeah,” I say. “Yeah, everything’s fine.

“Okay. In that case, I’m gonna get back to my Doritos and chocolate.”

“If those are Kristen’s Doritos, you know she’ll kill you,” I warn.

“I’m willing to take that chance,” she mumbles through a mouthful of food.

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