Chapter 56

LAYLA

I finally make my way to the stage as one of his bodyguards took me in a private car. I do feel spoilt that I could get to the stage this way and not with all the other crew members. I just wish that nobody would find out about what happened today because I am sure there will be some jealousy.

I can feel the burning pain in my eyes slowly fading away and I start to work hard on the outfits for tonight. I know it is only a few hours before the show will begin and I need to do a lot. Just as I am seated in front of my laptop trying to figure out what I am going to do there is a knock on the door.

I was just about to tell them to come in when the door opens. Of course, it is Rita. She stands with her hands on her hips and she looks highly irritated when she says.

"Are the rumors true?"

I swallow deeply and I realized that they all know about Jake that invited me up to his room.

"Well...uhm...I can explain-"

She interrupts me without giving me a chance to finish my sentence.

"You better explain, missy! Who just jumps in front of a crazed fan?"

I blow out a breath of deep relief. I am so happy that she is mad with me for that and not for being invited up to Jake's room.

"Oh, that...that was nothing. I am sure you would have done the same thing. Now, if you would excuse me, I need to get back to work"

She does not move a muscle. She steps closer to me and then she looks into my eyes.

"Damn girl, that must have hurt a lot"

I touch my eyes with my fingers and then I say.

"Yeah, just a little bit. But I was not kidding about that I need to get back to work. So, unless you are here to bring me a cup of coffee, I can really not chat right now"

"Your wish is my command"

With that, she turns around and walks out of the room. I hope that she catches my hint for a cup of coffee. Then I put on my glasses and start to work. I have to show them that I can work despite the circumstances. It does not take me long before I get the right combination.

I quickly stand up and start to gather the outfits. I know that each outfit will fit each song perfectly. I am not in the business to disappoint Jake Anderson. Then I get a moment to just sit down. Soon Rita comes back with a cup of coffee and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

She then leaves me again so that I can continue to work. We have a nice understanding between the crew. We all know when we are working no one needs to disturb each other and when we are partying, we are partying hard.

I am just finished when I hear another knock on the door. This time I know exactly who it is because he is time. I stand up and straighten my clothes checking myself in the mirror one last time. I can not believe how ridiculous I am in thinking that he will fall for me.

Then I open the door and there he stands in all his handsomeness. I will never get enough of those bulging muscles through a shirt.

"Are you ready for me?"

"Yes, please come in"

As he gets into the room he quickly turns around and says to me.

"How are you feeling?"

I touch my hand again to my eyes and then I smile while I say.

"I am feeling much better thank you. I guess I owe the thank you to you"

JAKE

She said that she owes me a thank you but it feels like if it were not for me she would not have had the slushy thrown in her eyes. Now she is feeling the need to thank me for some reason.

"You really do not need to thank me. I actually still wanted to tell you how sorry I am"

I see her frowning and it is clear she does not know what I am talking about.

"What do you mean? Why do you want to apologize?"

"I wanted to apologize for earlier when I could not take you with me to the stage. I guess sometimes I can not control everything around me"

I see her laugh while she covers her mouth and then she says.

"I am sure that no one can control everything around them. We call it being human"

She smiles at me as if she wants to cheer me up. I do not know how she does it but for some reason, I have to smile when she does. She makes me happy by just being around her.

LAYLA

There is that smile that I was missing. I can see that he feels really bad about me not going with him in the car. I wish he can understand that I know he is a Superstar and that something's can not be normal around him. But I guess that I am not close enough to him to say things like that. So, I will just continue to hint in the right direction.

I clear my throat and then I say to him.

"Come, let me show you what outfits I got for you for the concert"

Then when I look at him I see him change into a better mood. This makes me happy because I do not like to see him sad. But as he is walking towards the clothes he suddenly grabs his hands to cover his ears and falls on the ground.

"Oh god! Aahhh!"

I bend down to his level and put my hand on his back saying.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, don't you hear that?!"

I look around the room as if I should hear something and then I said to him.

"Hear what?"

"Do you not hear that loud screeching sound?!"

He is still covering his ears and I can see that his face is filled with pain.

"No, I hear nothing"

Then suddenly it is as if he is released from some sort of vice grip he was in. But this time when he removes his hands blood is coming from his ears.

"Oh my god, are you okay?!"

I gesture toward the blood on his hands and then it is as if he sees it for the first time. I jump up and run to the bathroom to get some paper towels to help with the blood.

JAKE

This time the sound was much louder and almost completely unbearable. I can not believe that Layla did not hear anything. But when it stopped I felt immediate relief. I see the blood on my hands and I realized that the sound did some real damage to my ears.

I do not know how to explain this sound that I am hearing but it is as if something is pulling me to it. I realized that I can not go on stage if this happens to me. I do not know what I would do if it does.

Then Layla comes back with the paper towels and she pressed them against my ears.

"Is that okay or am I doing it wrong?"

I feel her gentle touch against my skin and I can feel her concern for me through her touch. I take her hand that is trying to wipe the blood off my ears and then I say to her while staring into her eyes.

"Thank you for this"