Backstage

by Mandy Bee

  “I’m not much of a beach person, and shopping got us in trouble once already so maybe we should just stay in.” When I see that his has stopped typing and has closed his eyes I know I have upset him. Crap.

  Without opening his eyes he says “Flower what happened back then was not over the shopping, it was over you being my girlfriend. They just used the money angle to try and hurt us.” He sighs “And it worked.” He opens his eyes and looks at me, the hurt in his eyes made me start to tear up.

  I turn around before he can see me cry. I take a few deep breathes and try to calm myself down. When he puts a hand on my shoulder I jump. “Shit you scared me!” I almost screamed.

  “Sorry.” He whispers. I don’t know if he is sorry for scaring me or for something else. “Please let me take you out for the day. We can stay in all day tomorrow, I promise, but lets go have some fun today.” He starts kissing my neck and his hands start to roam all over my body. I moan as I melt into him.

  After having some fun in the bedroom, we finally got ready to go out. We found a lovely seafood place not far from our cabin, I made a mental note to remember that they deliver. If we keep doing what we are doing, then I’m not going to have the energy to cook.

  We walked hand in hand down the street, just window shopping really. That was until I saw a beautiful light pink dress in one of the store windows. I bit my lip and pointed to the dress, he just smiled and held the door to the shop open for me. There was a little old lady sitting behind a desk and she smiled when we walked in.

  “Hello there, aren’t you two a beautiful couple.” She said in a thick Italian accent as she made her way over to us.

  I told her that I would like to try on the dress in the window. She went and pulled one off the wall without even asking my size. Then waved me over to the dressing room. As I’m trying on the dress I can hear Justin and her talking. I can’t make out the words but I hope he isn’t buying me something.

  When I looked in the mirror after getting the dress on I felt so pretty. It hugs me in all the right places, and flows at the bottom. It reminds me of the dress I wore to the opera but not as formal. I walk out into the store and Justin is still talking to the lady. Her face lights up when she sees me, this makes Justin turn around and he comes rushing over to me.

  “Oh wow! You look amazing.” He kisses my cheek then take my hand and twirls me around in front of him.

  “So pretty, so pretty!” The little old lady says clapping her hands as she walks over to us.

  “Thank you.” I blush then I turn to Justin “I can’t wait to wear this to the concert. Let me change then if you’re lucky I may drag you shoe shopping.” I giggle as I walk back into the dressing room.

  The little old lady yelled at me when I was fighting with Justin over who was going to pay for my dress. I was standing my ground and told him not to push it or he would be sleeping in the guest bedroom tonight. She came over and told me that a woman should never turn down a gift from her gentleman friend. Then said a few words in Italian that I’m sure were swear words. I lost out in the end, but I guess I’ll just have to get use to this. Not that I’ll like it, I’ll just have to get use to it.

  Shoe shopping was fun, well for me. I tried on about ten pairs of white sandals. Justin made sure to tell me that I already have four pair of white ones and I told him to shut it. I finally found a pair that have a ribbon that ties up around the leg, they will match my new dress perfectly. To show him that I wasn’t going to fight about who was buying them, I just handed them to him and walked to the check out.

  Outside on the street there were some street vendors that sold homemade items. I spotted a shell necklace that I wanted to get Chris, it was a cheesy vacation type necklace but I think he will like it. Then I thought it would be cool to get the whole band the same necklace and have them wear it on stage one night. When I picked out five and went to pay for them Justin gave me a weird look.

  “One for each of the band members.” I stated to him and hand the woman at the table a $20 bill and told her to keep the change. Justin gave me an evil look for buying the gifts but oh well.

  Later, as we are walking back to the cabin he asks me “What if I don’t want to wear that thing during a concert?”

  “I’m not asking you to wear it for every show, just the next one. I’m sure the other guys won’t fight me on it. I bet even Peter will wear it.” I smirk at him.

  “I guess you think we will just do anything you say then?” He asked while opening the door of the cabin for me.

  “No, not really. But if I have to beg I will. I know Chris will do it for me, and probably the others. Why don’t you want to wear it?”

  “The truth?” He looks at me, I nod and cross my arms “I don’t like it.” He bites his lip in that really sexy way.

  “Okay, if you don’t want to wear it you don’t have too, but I’m still asking the others if they will.” I turn on my heels and walk into the bedroom.

  I pack everything we bought today, including the necklaces in my bag. I don’t care if he likes them or not, I’ll find a way to make him wear it. I could walk on stage and put it on him so that he couldn’t turn me down without looking like a jerk to his fans. No, that would be wrong, I couldn’t do that, could I?

  After dinner we try to find our show on TV, but they only have the Italian version. You see them talk then hear the words in Italian, its hard to watch. So we ended up going to bed early, well going to the bedroom early that is.

  When I open my eyes the next morning I know something is wrong. My chest is hurting and I’m freezing cold. There is something in my mouth, I swallow and taste the blood. I snuggle closer to Justin and pull the covers tighter around me. This just isn’t fair. I’m in a romantic cabin with my wonderful boyfriend and I wake up sick. I hope he doesn’t flip out or get mad at me. I’m going to have to call Chris, he may need to fly back early.

  “Hey, you’re shaking. What’s wrong?” Justin asks while pulling me closer to him. I look up at him and I guess he could tell I didn’t feel good because he laid the back of his hand on my forehead. “Flower you are burning up. Is it your chest? Are you getting another cold?” He sat up and pulled me onto his lap.

  “Yeah, I woke up a few minutes ago. My chest hurts and I’m freezing. I woke up with blood in my mouth, and my throat is sore too.” I’m just starting to feel my throat. I’m not going to lie to him about this, I wouldn’t be able to anyways. I know Chris will tell him everything even if I don’t want him too.

  Justin reaches for his phone and hit’s a speed dial button. “Hey, hope I didn’t wake you but Flower woke up sick.” Guess he is calling Chris for me. “She said her chest and throat hurts, and her head is burning up to the touch but she said she is freezing. Plus she said she woke up with blood in her mouth.” I can’t hear what Chris is saying, I pull away from Justin and lay back down. He starts rubbing my back. “Okay, just text me where everything is and I’ll get it off the bus.” I could have told him where my meds were. “I will I promise, just don’t rush I’ll take care of her. See you soon.”

  “Is he flying back?” I ask turning over to face him after he hung up with Chris.

  “Yeah, sweetie he is. I need to go get your meds off the bus, will you be okay for a few minutes?”

  “I’ll be fine, but will you get my Duke hoodie for me? It should be on the couch in my room, oh and my box of tea from the cabinet?” He kisses my cheek then pulls the covers tighter around me.

  I hear him come back about twenty minutes later. I decide to get up and get some food. I find my favorite sweat pants and t-shirt in my bag and change before heading for the kitchen. He is on the phone again but walks into the living room away from me when he sees me. I should be hurt by this but right now I don’t care. I found my box of tea on the countertop so I start fixing me a cup. I search the cabinets for some oatmeal but couldn’t find any, guess I’ll just fix some eggs.

  I had just plated my omelet when he walked back into the kitchen. “Wh
at the hell do you think you are doing?” He yells at me.

  “I think it is called eating.” I answer him while sitting down at the table.

  “You know what I mean. You are sick you don’t need to be cooking!” He is still yelling at me and it’s starting to piss me off.

  “Whatever, we didn’t have any oatmeal so I fixed an omelet. It’s not a big deal. Who were you talking too?” I need to change the subject, I’m upset enough about being sick, he really doesn’t want to make me madder then I already am.

  “It was Chris again. They lucked out and got an early flight, they should be here around three this afternoon.” He still sounds mad but he better not push it.

  “Scot and Dave didn’t need to come back today. They should have stayed and visited with Dave’s family.” I’m not going to lie I’m super happy about Chris flying back but I hate that the others are leaving early for me.

  “Chris said he told them that but they wanted to come back with him.” He is making some coffee, I finish eating and put my plate and cup in the sink. “Your meds are over there.” He points to the end of the countertop. “Chris said to make sure you drink a small glass of orange juice after you take your cough syrup.”

  I just nod and do as I’m told. I have no energy to fight right now. I take my meds and drink my juice like a good little girl, then I go back to bed. It doesn’t take me too long to fall back to sleep but it’s not a restful sleep. I wake up coughing and then have to turn over to get comfortable again. The last time I wake up I have to pee. As I’m walking out of the bathroom I hear everyone talking. Looking at the clock I see that it is after five, crap they let me sleep all day. I pull my hoodie on and walk to the living room.

  Chris jumps up the minute he sees me. “Hey, I checked on you when we got in but you were asleep. You feeling any better?” He asks while putting his hand to my forehead. I’m still freezing but I guess my head is still hot, he keeps moving his hand from my head to my cheeks. “You still have a temp, did you take your meds?”

  “Yes I took my meds, and before you ask yes I drank my juice too.” I grunt then lean in to hug him. Just him being here makes me feel a little better. I curl up in one of the over sized leather chairs and look around the room. I’m just realizing that Justin isn’t here. Chris brings me a blanket and covers me up. “Where is Justin?” I ask trying not to close my eyes.

  “He took off right after we got here, said he had to go pick up a few things.” Scot says.

  I just shrug and cuddle back into the chair. The guys tell me about the Coldplay concert, and Dave tells me about his family’s farm. I try to listen but I can’t keep my mind off of Justin, where the hell did he go? I close my eyes and listen to the guys talk but I’m out in no time.

  Someone picking me up wakes me. When I opened my eyes I see Justin, he’s back. I smile but I know it is a weak smile. I lay my head on his shoulder and let him carry me to bed.

  “You where gone when I got up.” I said once we both laid down.

  “I needed to do a few things. None of us had the heart to wake you, even Chris agreed to let you skip your meds so you could sleep.”

  “Are you hiding something from me?”

  “Now why would you think that?” He laughs.

  “I don’t know, I just get the feeling that you are.”

  He kisses the top of my head and says “I’m not hiding anything, I promise. Now go back to sleep.”

  “What did you need to go do? The guys said you left right after they got here.”

  He doesn’t answer me. We lay there for a few minutes not talking and not moving. I finally push myself up so I can look him in the eyes. He sighs then says. “Okay, I made a trip to tomorrow nights arena. I talked to the manager and had him add a few things to our dressing room list. Things that will make you more comfortable while back there. Then on the way back I called Mike and had him find a doctor that will come and meet us before the show to check you over.”

  I slowly got out of bed and just stared at him. “Okay, first what did you add to the dressing room list and why did you have to go all the way down there to do that? And I’m not seeing whoever Mike finds! How dare you Justin! How could you think that I would be okay with this?” I’m screaming but with my throat hurting and my chest hurting its not a very loud scream.

  He gets up and stands in front of me “I had to see the dressing room so I knew where to tell them to put the stuff. There is a nice couch in there so I didn’t have to ask them for that, even though I was going too. I had them get an electric blanket and at least two bed pillows so that you can lay down and be warm. I made sure they would have the hot tea that you like, your oatmeal, and at least three different types of soup for you to choose from. Now about the doctor, I won’t take no for an answer on this. You need to be seen and I knew you wouldn’t go to the ER, so I found another way.” He seams pleased with himself on this.

  I’m actually touched about the dressing room stuff. He did put a lot of thought into all that, but the doctor I will fight him on. “Does Chris know about the doctor?”

  “No, but I’m sure he won’t care.”

  I walk around him and out the door. Dave is sleeping in the living room so I guess Scot and Chris are sharing the second bedroom. I knock really loud before opening the door. Scot is snoring loudly while sleeping on a fold out couch that I didn’t know was in here and Chris is sitting up looking at me.

  “Get up and come with me.” I snap at him then turn to walk into the kitchen. Justin is already there, he is relaxing in one of the chairs at the table.

  “What is going on? Are you okay?” Chris asked all worried.

  “No, I’m not. Do you know what he did?” I pointed at Justin as my voice raises. “He called Mike and had him find a doctor to come see me before the show tomorrow!”

  Chris looks at Justin and just shakes his head. “I could have warned you if you would have told me. She won’t see a doctor unless she really has too, and no one has ever been able to make her do it.”

  “Then I’ll be the first, she will see the doctor and that’s final.” He voice is so cocky that I want to hit him.

  I walk over to him “You may be the ruler of this band but you are not the ruler of me! If I say no then the answer is no, and you can go to hell!”

  I storm off back to the bedroom but Chris catches my arm first. “Flower you need to chill out. I know you don’t want to see this doctor but he did all of this because he is worried about you.”

  “No Chris he did all of this because he needs to be in control, well that ain’t happening with me! So he can sleep with you or on the damn floor for all I care but he is not sharing my bed tonight!”

  After slamming the door and locking it I get into bed. I’m pissed off to no end. I don’t care how much they beg me I’m not seeing that doctor. He needs to learn that he can’t control me, no way no how. I was still fuming when he knocks on the door.

  “Go away!” I scream.

  “Flower I need my phone and some clothes for tomorrow.” He yells through the door.

  I should make him wear his basketball shorts tomorrow until I get up. But I can’t keep his phone from him. I unlock the door and turn to walk back to the bed but he pulls me to him before I can.

  “Let me go.” I growl at him.

  “Let me talk,” He fake growls at me “I was only doing what I thought was best for you. I didn’t know it would cause this kind of fight, I mean I knew you would fight me some but I thought Chris would be on my side. But I called Mike, on Chris’s phone, and had him cancel the doctor. Then Chris made me promise to run anything like that by him first before doing it.”

  “My health is something that no one but Chris and I will ever be in control of. When I get sick like this, you will have to step aside and let us make the decisions. I’m sorry but you don’t have a choice.”

  “Okay, but I am sorry. I guess I need to get my stuff so you can get some sleep.” He kisses my cheek then release me.

 
I surprise him by grabbing his hand and pulling him down on the bed with me. “Now that you said you’re sorry you can sleep with me.”

  WE DIDN’T HAVE to be checked out of the cabin until noon but the guys had us packed and on the tour bus by eight. It only took an hour to get the to arena for tonight’s show, and they don’t have to be at sound check until three. So Chris, Scot and Dave are going to do what they do best while on the bus, they are going to play video games. I’m very grateful to have my own TV back here.

  Chris caught me searching one of my bags for a movie to watch and about busted my ear drums out when he screamed for me to stop. I am not allowed get out of bed unless someone is with me, and I’m not allowed to do anything for myself. I laughed when he told me this. I may be sick but I’m not going to be that babied! It’s not like I’m dying or anything, I have a freaking cold!

  When we were walking off the bus to head to the arena I heard screaming from around the doors. A large group of fans had formed at the back door, great just what I need. Luckily the security guards had already formed a human wall to block them from jumping us. Justin puts his arm around my waist and holds me close to his side as we walk past them. As we walk in the door Justin looks back and waves, I glance back too and almost faint when I see a woman flashing him!

  Before I can do anything we are inside and the door is shut. “Don’t worry it’s not the first time” he whispers to me.

  I don’t know what to think. What in the world would make someone do something that nasty? I mean what did she think would happen? Did she think he would walk over and start touching her or something? I don’t know about women like that, they are so gross to me. The women who throw their underwear on stage, the ones that fight their way back stage to kiss the band members, and the ones who flash the band, they just seem weird to me.

  Justin went all out on the dressing room, he did even more then he told me about. The electric blanket was already on and warm, and the pillows were the softest things I have ever felt. Along with the soups and the tea, he had them get a list of ice creams that could be brought to me in a moments notices. Also a list of take out places in the area if I felt that I could eat something other then the soup. And this was not soup out of a can, no way this was five star restaurant soup. There was a creamed broccoli and cheese soup, a sweet pear and fig soup, and a homemade tomato basil soup.