Strings (20 page)

             
‘Thanks – I guess I’ll see you around.’ He smiled and winked, then left her standing there, wanting the floor to open up and swallow her. ‘It’s a work in progress, but she’s warming up a little bit. I’ll marry that girl one day, you mark my words,’ Toby said once he was back outside with the guys. They laughed at how smitten he was, but he didn’t care.

             
‘Sure mate,’ Luke said, patting him on the back as they got into the car that was waiting to take them to a magazine interview. She might actually calm him down, if that was possible. Or he could ruin the girl forever, he thought, and laughed quietly to himself.

*****

As she left the gym after her dance class, Melissa cursed herself for parking so far away. It was dark and cold and she couldn't wait to get home and have a long hot shower, get into her comfy clothes and watch her favourite shows. Her satellite TV box was overflowing with recordings which had been building up for weeks. She’d been so busy, but hopefully she would be spending the next 24 hours with Luke before he went on tour. Tonight he was in London for a meeting with Jay-Den and yet another interview, then the boys were having a night out. Melissa was getting better with the idea of being famous, and she was learning to just get on with life – enjoy the good bits and ignore the unwanted attention. The dance group had helped, and they had welcomed her with no problem at all. Some were fans, but they knew her now so they treated her normally, so she felt comfortable with them.

*********

              She sighed with relief when she finally saw her car, and quickened her pace to get there. As she pressed the ignition, she looked out the front window and gasped as she saw a hooded figure standing only a few feet away. It had been weeks since the first incident and she’d almost forgotten about it, but this was definitely the same person. What do you want? She thought. Was it money? Or was this a weird fan? She couldn't even see if it was male or female as the baggy clothes gave nothing away. She didn't hang around, but threw the car into reverse and backed away as the figure threw something at the windscreen. A knife bounced off the glass and fell into the road. Melissa choked on her scream, and screeched the tyres as she accelerated away.

*********

She raced home knowing she had to make a choice – either keep it to herself or tell Luke. He wouldn't leave her to go on tour if he knew, and she was sure that Beth wouldn't keep it quiet a second time.

The options raced through her mind. She couldn't tell them
because it would make things difficult, and she didn’t want to put the tour and the band’s prospects in jeopardy.

But who was it and what did they want?
Once home, she raced into the house, locked every door and window, closed the curtains and switched on every light. She searched every room to ensure there was no intruders lying in wait. She knew it was ridiculous but she even looked in the oven and the washing machine. She showered with the bathroom door locked, then threw on her grey sweat pants and one of Luke's jumpers.

             
She grabbed a knife from the kitchen drawer, and was curled up in bed, not really knowing what to do next. Her phone rang, making her jump. It was Luke. He sounded in a very good mood as he chatted. Melissa wanted so badly to tell him what had happened, but she had convinced herself that it would ruin things for him. So she kept quiet and let him tell her all about his day.

Luke
was coming home in the morning, and he promised that she would have him all to herself for the whole day. So at least she had that to look forward to, if she could get through the night.

             
Luke kept his promise and was home by lunchtime. They spent the day watching films, which was perfect for Melissa because she had him all to herself for a change. She relaxed a little with him around again, and things felt a bit more normal. Again, she tried to forget what had happened, and hoped she had seen the last of the hooded stalker.

*****

‘Melissa, it's not that long, don't get upset,’ Jay-Den said as Melissa frantically tried to wipe away the tears that were threatening to spill down both cheeks.

             
It wasn’t that she couldn’t cope with being away from him – she wasn’t that pathetic – but in the back of her mind she was still terrified about the stalker, and part of her was regretting keeping it to herself. But she couldn’t tell Luke now, he was just minutes away from leaving to go on tour. No, she had left it way too late, this was something she was going to have to deal with herself.

‘I know. I'm just being an idiot,’ she said, trying to force a smile. She’d
managed to put on a brave face until Luke had left, but then she lost her composure and just wanted to curl up and cry until he got back.

*****

The Eagles were flying to Germany first. They would be travelling by air for most of the trip, with a tour bus for certain parts. Sky Storm also had to get their crew and kit from one venue to the next, but that would be done using less glamorous means of transport. It was a huge logistical task, but they had a very professional team to take care of it.

Toby’s old van, Alf, had now been officially retired, and they’d had a small party in his honour shortly after being signed. It was an emotional goodbye, and Luke had made a heartfelt speech to thank their old friend for so many happy and blurry memories. But Toby had assured everyone that there was no way he’d be getting rid of Alf – he’d be stored in the garage at home for now, and when they’d made enough money, he planned to have him restored ‘to his former glory’ as he put it. When Beth asked whether a 1989Transit van had ‘former glory’, she was told in no uncertain terms by the whole band to button it.

*****

             
Jay-Den watched Melissa closely as she dabbed her eyes with a tissue. He had sensed that Melissa was struggling with the thought of the boys going away for an extended period, and decided he needed to get her to talk to him. Luke needed to be focused on the tour – it was crucial that it went well. Needy girlfriends were a nightmare, so she needed to be calmed down. At least the other one hadn't shown up due to her being ill, so he could talk to Melissa without her gobby best friend sticking her nose in. Beth was trouble with a capital T, he thought.

             
‘Come on, let’s get a coffee. There’s a Starbucks just round the corner,’ he said, buttoning up his jacket and giving her his most charming smile. Melissa agreed and followed him to the busy coffee shop. They found a table in the corner, and she hoped nobody would recognise them. But this was London and the sight of celebrities was not uncommon, especially so close to the record company’s head office, so it wasn’t a problem. Jay-Den got the drinks and a slice of lemon cheesecake for Melissa, her favourite.

             
‘Thanks. I’ll have to go to the gym for a couple of hours to work that off,’ she joked, but it was sweet of him.

             
‘There isn't anything to work off,’ he laughed. She was looking stunning as usual and he understood why Ray had so much trouble getting Luke to put her down.

‘Flattery will get you everywhere,’
she joked, and then immediately wished she hadn’t said that in case it sounded weird. They chatted for a while about the album and how good it was. Jay-Den was over the moon with what they’d produced. The album
was
incredible and Melissa knew now that it wasn’t just her bias telling her that. She was as surprised as anyone by just how good it was. Some of her favourite tracks were included, changed and refreshed in places, but without losing the roots of the originals. What was really noticeable however was the huge improvement in quality that came from having the best in the business providing their expertise and top of the range equipment to optimise their sound, as Jay-Den put it. He spent some time explaining to Melissa how his team were able to use cutting edge technology to do this. She found it interesting, but didn’t understand all of it.

             
‘You must be very proud,’ Jay-Den said, taking a sip of his coffee.

             
‘So proud, of all of them. They’re just incredible,’ she replied as she cleared the last bit of cheesecake from her plate, and starting to feel more at ease with him.

             
‘Are you going to tell me what’s bothering you?’ He asked, wanting to know why she was so upset and deciding he had broken the ice enough to cut to the chase now.

             
Melissa took a deep breath and looked at him. If she told him, at least she’d have someone to give her advice without being too close to home.

‘Luke doesn't know, Jay-Den, and I don't want him to. Not yet
anyway, not till he’s home.’

             
Jay-Den promised her that whatever she told him would stay between the two of them. She told him everything.

             
‘Wow, that's not good.’ He was glad she had told him and not Luke. Luke worshipped this girl, so he would either spend the whole tour worrying about this, or he would have refused to go – either way it would be bad for business.

             
Melissa suddenly laughed loudly, and Jay-Den looked at her with a confused expression.

‘It's funny
when you think about it. If I walk out of a club, the shutter bugs are there like a pack of wolves. But when I get stalked and almost attacked and there’s not a single one to be seen. Typical!’ She threw her hands in the air.

             
Jay-Den laughed – she could be quite funny sometimes. Then he frowned. He knew she was worried about keeping it from Luke because it felt to her like she was lying to him, and this was the sort of secret that had a habit of coming out at the wrong time. But she knew the tour was so important to him, and she didn’t want to ruin it, which was good.

             
‘You’re not lying to him – you just haven't told him. It's definitely different,’ Jay-Den said as he reached over and placed his hand over hers, squeezing it tightly. A group of young lads at the next table looked over at them, and one smirked.

             
Melissa pulled her hand away, her heart almost skipping a beat. ‘Jay-Den, don't!’ She snapped. She was more than a little irritated with him. It was a stupid, inappropriate thing to do, especially in public.

             
‘I’m just comforting a friend, don't worry,’ he said calmly.

             
‘That’s not what they’ll print, and you know it. I don't need this blowing up, not with everything else.’ She got up and hurried outside. She knew that might make it look worse if people were watching, but she was angry with him.

             
‘Melissa, wait!’ Jay-Den tried to follow her, but she was already across the busy street and into the crowd. He cursed himself. She was right –that innocent little gesture could be made into something more than it was. He was normally much more professional.

Idiot!

March 2014

‘Woohoo, only two weeks to go!’ Melissa shrieked down the phone, excited to finally hear his voice after what seemed like a lifetime. She did have to admit that the time had flown by because she had kept herself busy with work, the gym, dance classes and various nights out with Beth. They’d also had a girls’ night with Cassie, Jo-Jo and Alli, which they manage to fit by finding a gap in Echo’s busy schedule. She had still been missing him terribly though – and she noticed it most last thing at night and first things every morning when she went to sleep and woke up on her own.

He’s called today because h
e had exciting news, which he was clearly bursting to tell her.

             
‘You’re coming home early?’ Melissa joked.

             
‘No ... but it’s still fucking awesome.’

             
‘What then?’ Melissa laughed. ‘This had better be good, if it isn’t you coming home early.’

             
‘Just listen ... if you could buy anything in the world right now, what would it be?’ he asked cryptically.

             
There was silence for a few seconds while she thought.

‘A pair of Jimmy Choos,’ she said firmly. ‘And Christian Louboutins, of course. But I guess that might be a while.’ He laughed
– he knew that was what she’d say. ‘OK, tell me the news.’