"I feel like my heart is seconds away from jumping out of my chest," Kiara said in a daze her eyes flitting about the venue as she registered the stage, the heat that rose with the swarm of people, the chatter around them, and the thought of seeing Emre in front of her.
"Please don't tell me you're going to throw up," Mila said sharply, pulling Kiara closer to her when she noticed passerby giving them odd looks.
"I just might," Kiara said nervously. "I don't...I don't think I should've come Mila. It's a mistake."
"What are you so worried about? It's not like you don't know the kind of music that the band plays...," Mila tried to reason with her.
"I just...I just...," Kiara was cut off by the swell of noise from the people around her as they noticed the lights around them dimmed. The crowd had started chanting the name of the band, and the sound vibrated through her body making her draw in a stuttering breath. There was some movement backstage which drove the audience wild.
She knew why exactly she was afraid, but the words refused to leave her lips. Her mind was working in overdrive imagining scenario after scenario. What if he saw her there? What if he recognized her? What if she saw the hate she imagined he felt for her on her face? The worst scenario of all was what if he didn't recognize her at all?
One after another thoughts swirled in her mind leaving her feeling dizzy and queasy in the last hour or more that they were there. She had endured the opening acts with confusion, not really knowing what was happening as her mind threw her in a tizzy.
Logically she knew it could never happen. She was pressed in a throng of hundreds by the stage. The lights on stage would be too damn bright for Emre to be able to pinpoint her in the mass of bodies. But still, she felt sick to her stomach and the smell of stale beer did nothing to alleviate it.
She thanked her stubbornness for wearing her acid wash ripped boyfriend jeans, pink Puma sneakers, and a long sleeved neon green baggy crop top to the concert. At least I can run away easily if I need to, she thought to herself. Kiara had given in to Mila's pleas that she do her makeup and was happy with Mila's handiwork. Her long black hair, the hair that she finally found the time to wash, was put up in a messy bun with soft tendrils framing her face. Her darkly lined black eyes framed with darkened eyebrows and spidery lashes. Her cheekbones were contoured to cut glass and her lips were a bright Barbie-doll pink.
Kiara didn't notice it, but she turned more than one head when she walked into the venue. As she continued overworking her poor mind, she didn't see the glares Mila would shoot the men who tried to approach the two ladies.
She felt her heart stutter when she saw some people running on stage propping up a shimmery turquoise guitar standing pretty on stage. The beam of the stage light as it hit the shiny body of guitar made it look like a whole universe of stars was embodied in that guitar. He's still using it, her mind screamed, her chest heaving as she pulled in quick, harsh breaths. It was too far away for her to notice the little dings and scratches it accumulated over the years.
Her heart thudded violently in her chest; her entire body vibrated to its beat. The lights on stage dimmed all the way down but instead of the wild chanting of the crowd all she could hear was the blood pounding in her ears. A sharp riff sliced through the arena and the lights were blindingly bright. Kiara blinked to adjust her eyes as the crowd undulated to the beats of the drums and the sound of the bass. People around her had thrown their hands up, excitement coursing through them to finally be able to watch their favourite band perform live.
She didn't realise she was grinning ear to ear when she heard Axel's voice as he spoke to the audience. She looked at Mila and found her grinning brilliantly back at Kiara. Throwing both their arms up, they jumped and whooped at seeing those familiar faces onstage.
"Bonjour Paris! How're you fuckers doing tonight?" Axel asked, his guitar swinging behind him. The sound swelled as everyone screamed their mounting exhilaration.
"You ready?" he asked, the LCD screen by the side of the stage showed Axel cocking his eyebrow waiting for the crowd's reaction.
"Alright then," he grinned cheekily, "Let's go Emmy-boy!" he extended his hand to the side, the camera now focusing on Emre and Kiara could feel the pulsating staccato beats of her heart all the way to her fingertips.
She looked at the man who reminded her so much of the boy that she used to know, and it scared her. It scared her how her heart jumped when he half smiled at something. Her heart skipped when he focused his glittering green eyes at the camera, and that terrified her. That deceitful muscle in her heart knocked against her ribcage as she took in the way his corded arms tensed as he played the guitar with rapt attention. There was no one and nothing else on stage except for Emre, and Kiara's heart wouldn't stop thrashing around in her chest for the entire time they were onstage.
She was shaken out of her stupor by Mila who pulled her back before she got trampled on by fans who were trying to be the first ones to leave.
"Hey! Connard!" Mila yelled at the group that pushed passed them.
Kiara exhaled shakily, shaking her head, and pulling Mila back before she started a fight that neither one of them would win. She pulled Mila closer to the stage that was emptier now that most of the audience members were rushing towards the exits. There were a few of groups still hanging around and Kiara frowned, pretty sure she could hear someone calling Mila's name.
"Mila, do you know that person?" Kiara pointed at a tall and lanky man approaching them with a bright smile.
"Louis!" Mila said happily, exchanging air kisses when he approached them. "How did you like the music?" she asked happily before realizing that Louis was looking between her and Kiara with raised eyebrows. "Oh my God, sorry! Kiara, Loius. Louis, Kiara"
Kiara smiled at Louis as she said her hellos. "...why are you speaking in English?" she asked with brows raised.
"Oh, we are...errr...practicing my English...," Louis said with a smirk, his English heavily accented.
"Louis was the one handling this account," Mila said to Kiara before turning back to Louis, "Did you get to meet the guys?"
"Non...I am going now...you errr want to...ah tag along?" He asked looking between both ladies. Mila said yes immediately but Kiara grabbed her arm, her nails pressing sharply on Mila's forearm.
"Juste une seconde Louis...," Mila said with a smile and allowed Kiara to drag her away from her colleague.
"Are you insane?" Kiara screeched. "I don't...I can't...Mila...This is a bad idea..."
"What? Why? I thought...I thought you'd be happy to be able to see Emre..." Mila asked confused.
"I...I...," she stuttered before looking in the distance. She licked her lips and inhaled deeply, "What if he doesn't remember...?"
"I...ah...I mean seriously?" Mila's hands slapped against her thighs, her frustration at an all-time high. She looked at her best friend, and finally saw that girl that she used to be all the way back in high school. Vibrating with life, with music. There was that hint of a sparkle in her dark coffee coloured eyes that Mila had longed to see for a while now. If it took for them to see Emre in person to get that full gleam of that spark back, then so be it. She would drag Kiara along kicking and screaming because she missed her best friend.
Mila grabbed Kiara's wrist and pulled her along, back to Louis and motioned for them to go. They followed Louis who spoke to one of the security guards who let them through after running a cursory eye on both the women. They walked past throngs of technicians who were busy packing up and finally reached the lounge area that was buzzing with energy.
Kiara could hear the boisterous laughter punctuating conversations that were happening all around them. Some in English and some in French. Her mind was in such a state that she could barely understand either. She felt herself coming to a harsh stop, bumping into Mila. Smiling and saying sorry to Mila her roving eyes were caught up in bright green ones, that looked blinkingly back at her. Confused, unable to place where he'd see those dark eyes before.
Before she could muster the strength to say something, to do anything; Emre broke out in that brilliant, dimpled smile that she had known so intimately as he hunched over suddenly with a laugh. A beautiful brunette was clinging on his back and saying something into his ear with a sexy smile. Small feminine hands were stroking the same strong arms that she had admired. Those same hands were lightly scratching up his chin winding into his hair. Kiara quickly turned away her heart finally stilling all it's crazy thrashing around in her ribcage. Without another word, she sped out of the lounge looking for the nearest exit.
"Hey...hey...hey...," Emre said forcing a smile overcoming the shock of someone jumping on him, as he held on to the obviously female hands that was roving all over him. He felt his skin crawl the more she touched him and whispered naughty things into his ears. He caught the stale smell of beer and tried not to wrinkle his nose in digust, keeping the smile plastered on his face. Sure, some people might enjoy it and he might too, if it was the right person doing it. And for a second, he thought he caught a glimpse of her too. Obviously...obviously you're being delusional because we're in Paris, he thought bitterly to himself as he disentangled himself from the girl that insisted on climbing him like he was a set of monkey bars.
He saw from the corner of his eyes Axel, Russell, and Malcolm cheering as they all took turns hugging a woman and he wondered over, curious.
"What the fuck dude, don't you recognize Mila? Robbie's girl?" Axel asked with a laugh thumping Emre's shoulders. "She was from your school!"
"You said you guys would hit me up when you finally got to Paris! I had to beg for tickets to this show from my boss," Mila slapped the back of her hand on Axels' chest.
"Hey, hey, no scratching the merch," Axel said rubbing his chest playfully.
"How did you like the show?" Russell asked, passing her a canned beer.
Shaking her head she said, "I am taking a cab with...Kiiaaa...," her voice trailed as she looked around frantically. "What the fuck," she said to herself, pulling out her phone. Her fingers moving with urgency on the screen.
"Kiara...," Emre cleared his throat, "Kiara was here? Just now?"
Mila nodded distracted, as she read whatever reply she was getting.
"Where is she now? How is she?" She heard the hint of urgency in his voice.
"I...," she looked up at Emre and stilled. He tried to feign nonchalance but the rest of them were looking at him knowingly.
"Stop it, guys. I'm serious, stop looking at me like that," he almost growled, running his hand roughly through his hair.
"I...I really need to go," Mila said as she dug through her purse. Pulling out her name card she shoved it towards Emre. "I...I don't know what to say to make you call me. But please do. Before you leave, please call me..." Mila pleaded earnestly before she quickly said her goodbyes to the rest making promises to keep in touch.
Axel, Russell, and Malcolm watched Emre in silence, charged with expectations on what they all thought he should do. They watched as he stared at the card, rubbing his fingertips against its sharp edges.
"Fuck, I can't take the suspense anymore!" Malcolm exhaled roughly and plopped down on the nearest couch. "You gonna call her or what?"
Emre shrugged, his shoulders moving up and down, but his eyes still glued to the card that he kept turning between his fingers.
"It's obviously about Kiara...must be something important," Russell said sitting down next Malcolm. "And I mean...She left without saying hi to us...That's some weird shit..."
"Yeah, that look on Mila's face wasn't all that right too...," Axel said thoughtfully, slowly sipping on his beer.
Emre huffed before he sat down next to Russell, throwing his head back into the couch. "I don't know," he said, pressing the bridge of his nose. "Maybe I need to sleep on it or something. But yeah...can we leave for the hotel now? I am done being pawed at by random women."
"Awww, come on man...," Malcolm griped, "next time redirect those grabby ladies to meeee." He finished by wiggling his eyebrows.
Emre pocketed the card and stood up, ready to leave and to get some rest. But he knew the niggling thought in the back of his mind and the card that was burning a hole in his jeans wouldn't allow him to get any kind of rest.