Part 389

"Oh my god, it's huge." Becca gasped as she entered the venue and stopped short. Like a scene from a bad sitcom, Nick, Sarah and Howie promptly ran into her, in a classic falling domino pattern.

Stumbling around her, Nick laughed. "Bec, it's just like all the other venues we perform in. Come on up on stage." He grabbed her hand and like a cow to the slaughter, began to drag her toward the stage. He had her halfway toward the side steps when Kevin wandered in.

Looking at Howie and Sarah, he grinned. "If he doesn’t slow down, she'll never set foot out there tonight."

"Then DO something," Sarah said, pleading with her eyes.

"Y’all wait here," he said quietly. Walking up behind Nick, he tapped his younger 'brother' on the shoulder. "Nick, I need to see you for a minute," he said.

"Not now, Kev," Nick said, ignoring him and talking a mile a minute to his wife. "So I guess you and Sarah will be right down here, center stage. Bec, it's SO cool. You can see EVERYONE from here, and the lights will be right on you-"

"Everyone?" Becca asked with a shaky voice.

"Nick," Kevin said sternly, "NOW."

"What?!" Nick finally turned around and caught the look on Kevin's face. Kevin was smiling, but he nodded toward Becca, hoping Nick would catch the drift of what he was trying not to say. "Oh. Umm … okay." Turning back to Becca he said, "Baby, I'll be right back. Wander around for a minute."

Kevin led him off the stage and back down to the main floor. "Nick, I know you're excited for Bec, but if you don't back off you're going to spook her and then she won't go on tonight."

Nick sighed, but had nothing really to say.

"I know you mean well, Nicky, but she's already scared." Sarah hugged him, resting her head against his back.

"Come on, Nick. Let's go find the other guys and see what's going on. Sarah can handle the rehearsal and besides, we can use some 'guy' time."

"Yeah, okay," Nick mumbled, looking up at Becca, still glued to the same spot on the stage where he'd left her.

Howie stopped on his way out and turned back to Sarah. "Don't forget to ask Becca about the blood pressure stuff."

"I won't, D, thanks," she smiled softly.

"What was that all about?" Kevin asked as the three exited the arena.

"Nothin'," Howie assured him. "I'll tell you all bout it. Come on."

Sarah smiled as she watched Becca and could almost hear the thoughts that were spinning around in her head. She knew Becca was going to wow the crowd, but first she had to get her in the mood and over her anxiety. Good luck. She sighed as she caught sight of the band members beginning to arrive and knew she had to get to work quickly.

"Sarah! Whazzup?" Mook laughed, giving her the 'secret handshake' they always used before a show.

"Did you get a chance to look over the music I sent you?"

"Yeah, it's pretty standard stuff. The guys are on it already. What about Becca?" He looked over Sarah's shoulder and had serious doubts that they were going to be able to pull it off.

"She'll be fine, just leave her to me."

"Okay, you're the boss," he grinned. "I'll go warm up the guys."

"Uh huh, rub it in cause you have the EASY job," Sarah grumbled, sticking out her tongue as Mook laughed at her.

He continued to laugh as the band began to play, going over the sheets that Sarah had sent down earlier that morning. It was a nice backdrop for Sarah to talk to Becca.

"Hey sis, you okay?" she asked, wrapping her arm around Becca's shoulder.

"This is insane, Sarah."

"No, this is FUN!"

"You are a sick and twisted individual, Sarah Dorough," Becca snorted, shaking her head.

"Yup, one reason Howie loves me," she grinned. Hearing a familiar spot in the song, she began to hum, and eventually added the words.

Becca looked over at Sarah, listening to the self-assurance in her voice, and wondered how she did this night after night.

Sarah stopped singing. "That was your part, you know. Come on, Bec, you remember this one. Help me out." She reached for Becca's hand and squeezed her ice-cold fingers reassuringly. She sang, "But does he love you"

And Becca echoed softly, "Does he love you"

Like he loves me … Sarah asked.

Like he loves me … Becca answered.

Does he think of you … Sarah asked one last time, her voice stronger, hoping Becca would follow along, and sure enough, she did.

Does he think of you …Becca sang, with much more confidence than she felt.

When he's holding me …they sang together, just like all those years ago in college, and for a few moments Becca's fear melted away and it was just two best friends making music. As they sang, Sarah had managed to lead Becca down front, and now they were standing in the exact spot from which they'd be singing tonight. Over Becca's shoulder, Sarah saw one of the stage techs give her a 'thumbs up'. The blocking was perfect, and they were in just the right place for the follow spot to highlight them at the end of the song.

Sarah held Becca's eyes as she motioned for a hand mic and continued to sing as one was pressed into her hand. She gave it to Becca and then held out her hand for a second one. Just as she'd suspected, the familiarity of the song had taken over and Becca never missed a beat, lifting the microphone to her lips as she sang.

But when he's with me
He says he needs me
And that he wants me
That he believes in me

Sarah's voice soared above Becca's, echoing from the back rows of the arena.

And when I'm in his arms
Oh he swears there's no one else
Is he deceiving me
Or am I deceiving myself

Becca echoed softly, smiling at Sarah with confidence.

The chorus repeated and as the song ended there was complete and utter silence in the arena. No one moved or said a word; not the band, not the stage crew, not even Lisa or Fiona who had taken a seat right down front. Sarah grinned as Becca broke out into a cold sweat and then laughed outright as a booming voice came over the speakers. It was Chris, the sound technician.

"Holy shit, Sarah, what rock have you been hiding her under?"

Lisa and Fiona began to giggle. "Bec," Lisa called out, "that was awesome."

Sarah hugged her as she began to shake with delayed reaction. "See? I told you you could do it."

"It was okay? Really? I mean, you'd tell me, right? Because if I suck then I'd never forgive myself for embarrassing Nick and-"

"Sis, if you sucked I'd have never even suggested this, and to hell with embarrassing Nick. It's MY ass that's on stage with you."

"Sarah, Bec, we need to run it from the top," Chris called out. "Bec, we have your mic color-coded, just like the guys', so if we need to we can adjust your levels as you sing.

Mook, take it from the top again and we'll have the lighting guys on it all the way this time, too."

The girls spent the next forty-five minutes rehearsing until Becca didn't have to think twice about the staging or the lights or any of it. Now, if they could just get her out there in front of the crowd they'd have it made.

"Come on, sis, let's go find our men. I need a hug." Sarah tossed her mic to a stagehand and began to pull Becca off the stage.

"Hug, hell, I need a nap," Becca mumbled.

"Poor baby," Sarah smirked. "A little bit of real work gettin' to ya?"

"Bite me," Becca grinned.

"Nope, I'd rather bite D, I’m sure he tastes a hell of a lot better than you."

"Oh god-" Becca stopped short.

Part 390        Index