Chapter 24

JAKE

I wake up the next morning with a bang against my door. I can not really remember how I fall asleep after eating so much food. I feel so exhausted after my change last night and now someone is breaking down my door. Then I realized it must be Mark and he is probably angry.

"I am coming! I am coming!"

As I stand up out of my bed I realized that I am going to have to come up with a good excuse for why I ran out last night. I do not know what I am going to say then I open the door.

"Can I come in?"

It is Mark just like I thought it would be and it is clear that his tone of voice is serious.

"Yes, come in"

I close the door and when I turn around he stands and stares at me.

"So, are you going to wait until I ask you, or are you going to answer me?"

"It is about last night, isn't it?"

"Yes, you know I do not like you disappearing on me like that"

I turn around and look out of the window because I do not want him to see how I lie to his face. It is clear that it is already noon and we should get going.

"I guess I just could not handle the pressure and wanted to come back to my room. But I am sure that everything is in order and I can just get onto the stage tonight?"

I hear him loudly sigh and I know that he is getting fed up with my excuses. But then again he is paid for a reason and I have been fairly easy on him. I just need him to know that this is how my life is going to be from now on.

"Yes, everything is okay. Will it be possible that I can come and get you in an hour so that we can do the final touches before you go on stage?"

I can hear the skepticism in his voice and I know that he is not happy. Then I turn around and I say.

"I am really sorry, Mark but sometimes I just need to be alone. Can you understand that?"

He walks towards the door and puts his hand on the door handle.

"I guess I do not understand what it is to live like a superstar. So, if you are going to need some space sometimes I can probably just let you go. Just promise me that you would be safe"

I am very glad that he understands what I need and it is good to hear that he does care about me.

"I promise, I will be safe"

He closes the door behind him and I realize that I am probably now more safe than what I was before. If anyone would even attempt to attack me I might kill them. So, the bodyguards are not for me but for the people around me.

Then suddenly I remember something about last night. I remember how I left Layla so high and dry. As I walk back to my bedroom I realized that I might have made her think some things that are not true. I guess I have some explaining to do when I get to the makeup room and I truly do not know how I am going to act with her around me.

I slam my fist in the bed in front of me.

"Fuck!"

I hate what I have become. Now, I have to hide away from the world while the world is my stage. I hate everything about Madeline and how she thinks that she can just do with my life as she wants. She has completely destroyed me.

I wonder how many lives she has destroyed and why she felt the need to destroy mine. I miss human contact. I miss the closeness of a woman's body. Then suddenly I realized that I do not miss any woman's body but my desire is directed toward Layla.

LAYLA

After spending a few more hours at the stage area and everyone got their places ready for tomorrow night. We start to make our way back to the hotel it is nearly midnight and we are all jet-lagged. The crowds are still assembled outside and are even now camping outside.

We do not pay much attention to the crowds because we are so exhausted. Then we all go to our rooms and none of us is in the mood for showering. We all just fall on our beds and we are completely beyond tired.

It is early in the morning and the sun has not even begun to rise yet when we are woken up by Stacy. It is time to get ready and get to the stage. Then the words of Jason come to mind again. If you find time to sightsee you better take it.

I start to wonder whether we would even have a chance to sightsee. Because after tonight we will all be even more exhausted. Stacy leaves the room and we all get up trying to get ready because we must leave within an hour.

Rita is sleeping right next to me and I turn to her, saying.

"Is this how it's always going to be?"

She smiles with her eyes still closed and then she says.

"Welcome to the express crew of Jake Anderson. Never a dull moment"

"That is just great news..."

We laugh a little and then we start to get dressed. I feel like I haven't slept for years but soon we are making our way down to the vans. As soon as we arrive at the stage. Rita is the first one out getting our breakfast ready.

She has a few people that work with her but it seems like she is the main chef or whatever she calls herself. Then we sit down at the table and this time Jason is sitting a bit closer. Once again he is staring at me and I realized this is going to be a little tradition of ours.

I eat as fast as I can because I still have a few outfits that I need to work out for the different songs and I have to use the mannequin to practice to get the clothes on as quickly as possible between the songs.

So, I do not give Jason all the attention that he needs and then I excuse myself. I walk straight up to my room and I feel the butterflies in my stomach. I remember how Jake did not like my outfit last night and now I have to come up with something else or be fired.

I put out all the outfits and then start to practice exactly how I am going to put on his clothes and makeup at the right times. I do not know for how many hours I have been busy but it feels like days.

JAKE

As I am ready to get into the limo I look out of the window and I see people has been camping out outside the hotel. I feel kinda sad for them because they are here only to see a glimpse of me. I will also be wearing a hoodie and sunglasses.

I should at least wave at them, they must have been very cold through the night. This time I pack extra clothes to wear in case the wolf decides to make an appearance. I have to somehow figure out what to do when I change into the wolf. Then I walk through the doors and everyone screams. I smile and wave at them and then I am in my limo.

As we make our way to the stage I start to think about Layla and what I am going to say to her. I hope that I have not messed things up before we really got the chance to know each other. When we arrived at the stage and I make my way to the makeup room.

I softly knock on the door and then I open it. I can not help but swallow deeply when I see her. This time she has a mini black skirt on with a pink long sleeve and her hair is in a high pony. She has long black boots on and I must concentrate very hard not to sound completely captivated by her.

"Hey"

LAYLA

I have my back turned to the door busy with a mannequin when there is a knock on the door. When I turn around I see Jake and god does he look good. I want to act as professionally as possible but he just takes my breath away. Then his beautiful voice which everyone has fallen in love with speaks to me.

I'm not sure if I am sad about his presence because he might fire me or should I be happy.

"Hi"

Then he walks into the room and closes the door. I want to read his eyes and body language of what he thinks but all I see is insecurity. I never thought that I will see that in a superstar. He put his hands in his pants pockets and then he walks right up to me.

"About last night..."

Oh no, here it comes. I am ready.

"I just want to apologize for my behavior. I just really needed to be somewhere and I forgot all about it. I am so sorry for that"

Once again the Jake Anderson that was made up in my mind is not the one standing before me. I was sure that he did not like my outfit and he disapproved of it and threw it on the ground. I guess, I was completely wrong about him and I see him just staring at me waiting for my answer.

Suddenly, I feel my entire being wanting to move closer towards him and put my hand on his strong chest. But I stand fast and I say.

"That is really, okay. No need to apologize"

Then I see him smile and he has such a beautiful smile.