Chapter 1
Shit never goes the way I want it to.
Yeah, I know that sounds a bit dramatic, I mean just looking at my life you would assume that I have everything, that my life is perfect. I thought it was as well, a lifetime ago.
I grew up rich and in the public eye, my family was – is – incredibly well known. So of course, it was only expected of me to also do something to progress my family’s fame.
Sirius became a painter; Mother didn’t like that too much.
“Artist are poor, and they stay poor.” She had shouted after him a few years ago. I’ve made it to about three of his gallery openings.
He comes to every single show of mine.
Says watching me perform on stage makes him believe I could be happy. We both know that’s not true of course.
This time, however, I brought him with me so he could watch backstage and not in the crowd, as I expected he brought his boyfriend.
I like Remus though, he isn’t awestruck by me, in fact he didn’t know either of us were famous when we first met.
Funny thing was I knew who he was before he was introduced to me, He writes murder novels and I happened to own every single on of them. So instead of him gushing over me as I was used too, I gushed over him and was prepared to beg the man for him to sign a copy of his books.
He had turned red, but he did sign them for me.
To be honest I do like having Sirius with me, not that I’ll ever tell that to him. His ego is large enough to fill this entire stadium by himself. He just knows how to smudge my eyeliner the way I like it, the makeup artist always does it wrong.
“So… nervous?” Sirius questions, brushing a light amount of eyeshadow under my eyes. He likes to make sure the gray really pops when I’m on stage.
“No.” Yes. I always am, any mistake and my whole reputation is trashed.
“Well, that’s good, I’d downright piss myself but that’s why you got the singing talent. You were born to be on stage.” A fact, I was prepped and trained for this the moment I learned how to speak.
Usually I don’t mind the crowds, but today was different.
I had an entirely new album and the stadium I was to perform in fit minimally 30,000 people, and I was completely sold out.
The issue was, both my Mother and Father were at this show.
I had done everything in my power to keep them from coming but none of my attempts worked.
Obviously.
It was fine though, all I had to do was go out, sing my stupid little songs, and put on a good show.
Simple enough.
Knock knock
I don’t have a chance to actually respond before my manager pops his head in my dressing room, grinning ear to ear.
“Barty.” I acknowledge him, not bothering to look in his direction.
“Regulus, just wanted to let you know we got about 5 minutes before showtime.” He’s unfazed by the rudeness.
He’d have to be, he’s known me since we were kids. I made him my manager because there’s no way in hell I’d just listen to some random ass stranger. Besides he made tours a whole lot more fun.
“Well let’s go put on a show then.” I stand up, brushing invisible lint from my clothes and plastering on a fake smile.
Don’t get me wrong I love my fans, I just don’t actually like performing.
I don’t like people throwing things on the stage, or the few I had try to climb on the stage.
But I digress, the performances are what makes an artist – Sirius loves saying were both artist, I just use words. Does that make Remus an artist as well? – and today was going to be the performance of my career.
The walk isn’t long, Barty and I don’t speak on the way so I can in his words “get in the zone”. There is no zone, I just go sing.
I’m on the loading platform before I realize. Barty gives me a smile and a thumbs up, and up I go.
The lights, as usual, are blinding and the roar of the crowd is deafening.
I used to love the attention, now I know everyone around me is waiting for me to fail so they can swarm around my carcass and pick at the person I was.
But no time for that now, all eyes are on me.
“Hello Wales!” Screams follow my words; I can see some people are already sobbing and holding signs above their heads.
I actually think some of the signs are funny. One saying they faked being sick to get out of work and be here tonight.
“It means so much to me that you’re all here tonight! Now why don’t we get this show on the road!” That’s the cue to get music started.
The first few songs go smoothly, I stop every so often so they can scream out the lyrics, grinning at the load screams.
After a few songs I usually pause and have a small conversation with the crowd, picking out my favorite signs and reading them out loud so they know I do read them.
Then there’s one that truly catches my eyes.
He’s holding a sign that says I missed a football game to be here.
“You missed a football game? Try not to get kicked off the team… were they mad?”
“Very!” he shouts back, eyes wide.
“Well, that’s not good!” I laugh.
“I’m the captain, they’ll recover!” He shouts in response.
I laugh again, it’s hard to fully make him out in the dark, but I can see messy curls, awe struck eyes, and tanned skin. He’s beautiful from what I can tell. The girl he’s standing next to is recording his reactions, she’s easier to see, bright red hair frames her face. Probably his girlfriend.
“Tell them I said sorry!” I turn my attention away as the music for the next song begins.
There’s a part in this song where I need to pinpoint someone in the crowd and sing it to them, honestly before this point I hadn’t given it much thought. It was simple to pick someone at random, but now… Mr. football captain had my attention.
So, I pinpoint him again, grey locking into dark brown.
“Do you have a girl? I don’t see a ring on your finger.”
“He’s single!” The redhead next to him shouts, I look at her for a moment. She’s also beautiful, pale littered with freckles and bright knowing green eyes.
“Well, that’s interesting, have you ever thought about dating a singer?” He doesn’t have time to reply before the rest of the lyrics take over and I’m looking into the crowd once again.
And before I know it the show is over.
“Goodbye Wales! You guys were amazing!” I wave goodbye followed by their screams.
Of course, there’s still more that happens after the show. There’s a small meet and greet where those who bought it can come backstage and meet me, take pictures, and get
autographs. It’s actually the most nerve-wracking part in my opinion.
That is until I get to see who’s first in line.