Jenny looks round at the deserted car park and sighs heavily. Everyone had gone into the arena and if she didn’t make a move the doors would be shut. As she locks her car door she toys with the idea of telling Dan her car broke down and she couldn’t get into the concert. No, he wasn’t THAT dumb. She sighs again and starts walking towards the stage door. A few minutes later she’s inside the arena. A harassed looking man runs over to her.
“Who are you?”
She shows him her press pass. “Sorry I’m late.”
“Yeah…make my job easy why don’t you.” He skulks off and she rolls her eyes towards the ceiling before following him to her seat.
She is sat in the empty private area directly in front of the stage. It’s separated from the fans by a security barrier. She pulls out a notebook as the lights go down and the Boys appear on the stage. She winces as the screaming behind her reaches a crescendo and the Boys launch into their set. AJ keeps looking down at her and she pretends to be writing notes on the show. AJ manages to keep a grin on his face throughout the show but every time he looks at her, his heart feels heavy and it’s all he can do to stop himself from ripping that damn book out of her hands so she would HAVE to look at him. Kevin looks at AJ as the other guys move to the back of the stage to sit on stools. AJ nods at him slightly and Kevin touches his arm softly before retreating himself. AJ smiles at the audience and moves forward to sit on the edge of the stage, directly in front of Jenny. In an effort to get her to look at him, he throws his hat onto her notepad. She looks up startled and catches his eye. He looks directly at her as he speaks in a low intimate voice.
“Baby since you’ve been gone, everything’s gone horribly wrong. I know I was to blame but baby I can’t sleep without you. So I sing this song….just…to you.” He stands up and moves back as he starts singing. She stares at him.
“Every day girl I wake up and pray
That you’ll come back home
And don’t take too long cause
Since you’ve been gone
Everything’s gone horribly wrong
I wish you were here
Holding me near
You know I’d go out of my mind
If you ever left my heart behind
So I’m begging you please
Bring your sweet love back to me
If I don’t have you to hold on to
I can’t go on in this world alone
Baby it’s true if I don’t have you
If you said goodbye girl I would die
I’m a star with no light, a day with no night
If I don’t have you.”
Brian starts singing the next verse as AJ sits on his stool, hanging his head. He’s too scared to look at Jenny. This was his last chance, what if it had failed? He’d rather go on with hope rather than the cold knowledge that it was too late. He slowly becomes aware of Nick trying to subtly jab him in the ribs. He looks up and Nick looks pointedly towards where Jenny is sitting. AJ follows his glance and sees Jenny sat with her head bowed over his hat, her fingers slowly caressing its brim. The Boys all stand up and move to the front of the stage for the final harmonies. AJ can’t stop looking at Jenny, mentally pleading with her to look up at him. As they hold the final note the lights dim. AJ hands his microphone to Nick.
“Cover me this song?” Nick nods and watches him jump down to where Jenny sits. “Jen?” She looks up to see AJ kneeling in front of her. Behind him Nick is juggling the two microphones and grinning to the audience.
“AJ had to go get changed….split his pants!”
AJ momentarily glances at the stage and groans at the laughter coming from the audience. He looks back at Jenny’s tear-stained face. He reaches out his hand to slowly trace the path of a tear just falling.
She takes his hand in hers and kisses it.
“I’m sorry Alex.”
He kisses her deeply and wraps his arms round her. She lays her head on his shoulder.
“God, Jen…don’t leave me again.”
“I won’t.” She smiles at him and kisses him softly at first. He feels her warm tongue flicking around the corners of his mouth and pulls her closer to him.
“Alright lover-boy…time’s up.” The security man taps AJ hard on the shoulder until he breaks away from Jenny.
AJ rubs his shoulder with a pout.
“Owch. Wait for me Jen.” He kisses her quickly and races off backstage to appear on-stage by the time the Boys finish their song. He wriggles his ass at the audience and they scream. Jenny laughs.
Jenny leans against the stage door listening to the screams coming from inside the arena. She closes her eyes. She yelps as a sweaty body leaps on her.
Nick grins. “Hey, glad you came to your senses!”
“Urrgh…Nicky get off!” He steps back and AJ runs into him.
“Hey!” AJ rebounds off Nick.
“Sorry. I’ll be in the bus.” Nick bounds off to the bus grinning.
“Does he remind you of a puppy or what?” AJ gives her an odd look. “OK, just me then.”
The security guard comes over to them. “C’mon, get in that bus.” AJ nods and starts to steer Jenny towards the bus. She stops.
“Oh, I’ve got my car here. You go, I’ll meet you somewhere.”
“Car sounds good. Where is it?”
“In the main car park.”
The security guy shakes his head. “No way AJ. That’s huge security risk.”
AJ looks at him. “Man, like they’re gonna be expectin’ me to walk through the car parks?!”
“Alex, go on the bus OK? I’ll meet you.”
“Nuh, it’ll be fine Jen.” He looks at the security man. “I’ll wear a hat and shades.”
He rolls his eyes. “And that’s gonna help HOW?!”
“OK, I’ll go without. Look man, we pay you to advise. You’ve advised. I’ve ignored. Job done.” He takes Jenny’s hand. “C’mon walk with me.”
They leave the arena and start walking through the car park to her car. They get stuck behind two girls with an older woman and can’t help overhearing them.
“Mom, you like TOTALLY ruined my life!”
“Don’t be stupid, Clarissa.”
“True. Nick like gave me this LOOK.”
“Sayin’ what?” asks Clarissa’s friend.
“He SAW me like. And he was tryin’ to get me to stay behind.”
“Yeah? Oh that’s cool.”
AJ stifles a giggle.
“Did you see AJ lookin’ at you like that Danielle?”
“Huh? Oh yeah. He was lookin’ REAL hard at me when he sang Boys Will Be Boys.”
“Oh yeah, that’s such a sexy song.”
Clarissa’s Mom sighs. “I think it’s got a terrible message.”
“Yeah, well AJ wasn’t singin’ it to YOU Mom!”
AJ looks at Jenny and mouths “Oooooh!” Jenny grins.
“I’ll NEVER talk to you again Mom. You like RUINED my chance with Nick and Danielle’s with AJ.”
Her Mom sighs. “I think I’ll cope.”
“Hey, doesn’t AJ have a girl?”
Clarissa thinks for a minute. “Yeah, I saw a pic of them together a few months ago.”
“Yeah, me too.” Danielle sighs. “She was real pretty.”
Jenny grins at AJ and he mimes her head expanding. She hits him.
“Yeah, but he’d dump her like a shot for you.”
AJ nods vehemently as they reach Jenny’s car. “Damn, I never got her number.”
Jenny laughs and unlocks the car. They both get in. “I felt sorry for the Mom.”
“Poor woman. Wonder if Nick knows the love of his life got dragged home by her Mom?” Jenny shrugs and speeds out of the car park. “Geez, someone’s been spendin’ WAY too much time with Nick and his unique way of drivin’.”
“Hey, when YOU can drive I’ll listen, until that moment…” She puts her foot down on the gas pedal.
“Hey aim for the sunset.”
“Why?”
AJ grins. “Just seems kinda apt don’t it?”