Midnight Summer

Seven

The crowd is a hype by the time we pass the gate. Crowded is an understatement of what is inside. I am already sweaty with five minutes of flexing in the crowd.
"And ladies and gentlemen, the long awaited moment of the night." The crowd is all screams now before the end of the speech.

We are still way behind that I can't even see properly what is happening on stage.
"Quebec, are you ready?" The host announces and the crowd falls into another applaud.
"Em, over here." Liz pulls me further into the crowd.

"The moment we have all been waiting for. Canada, please welcome Liam Clarke."

The crowd erupts into a mess of whistles, screams, hoorays and applauds. A smile involuntarily makes its way to my lips when I realize the person on stage. The lights are directed to where he stands, guitar in hand playing with the strings slowly.

"The way she moves..." Everyone is already mimicking the lyrics of his song 'she got me dancing' I can see him clearly now. I don't know how we reached this far but that is the least of my concerns for tonight. All I can do is sing along with everyone. Liza seems to be enjoying herself too sending me smiles from time to time.

I realize how long it has been since I last saw him. He has grown taller and bigger and more handsome. His hair is a little taller than the last time I saw him. As for those eyes that can never leave my mind, he has hidden them behind those dark glasses. His voice is even better and more hypnotizing than on the radios. The feeling of ecstasy washes over me when 'Falling in love' comes next. I don't know if this is really happening or I am just dreaming but Liam is looking at me.

The crowd is already too loud but that is all a blur as I look at Liam. Has he noticed me?  I can't tell when it is dark and he is putting on those glasses. His stare moves away from mine and disappointment washes over me. What did I expect? It is not he even really saw me. I don't know what to think.

"Are you alright?" Liza shouts in my ear making me flinch at her attempt to ruin my ear drum. I realize that I had stopped dancing.
"Yes." I nod.

"Thank you so much for the support Quebec. I love you guys." Liam  smiles eliciting an applaud and screams of I love you from people.
"This song is for a special someone in my life. I hope you love it." I am hooked immediately when he plays his strings.

"Has it been too long? It has been a while since you left. The nights are turning into days. I still see your face even in the shadows."

Liza throws me knowing looks. I feel the lyrics striking a notch in my heart. The song is slow and beautiful letting you hear each word he says. I fight the tears threatening to flow down my eyes.

"I am gonna keep waiting, hoping you will walk back into my life like you left. You are everything my life needs and as it may hurt, I love the way it feels to be in love with someone like you."

I am trying so hard not to cry at this time. I am not an emotional person but his words make me feel something inside me. It awakens the guilt as well as feelings inside me. It's like he is awakening a pain in my heart.

"Liquor doesn't make me forget you. I hate it that I can't smile anymore. Baby you left me on a coma. I don't understand but I love the way it feels to be in love with someone like you."

"Thank you everyone and have a good night." Liam waves to the crowd before he exits the stage leaving yet another round of applause and screams. I hope my ears will  be functioning by tomorrow.

Liza pulls me this time from the crowd.
"Do you trust me?" she answers my curious gaze.
I don't know why she is even asking. I know that whatever she is planning is not good but nevertheless I nod.

We continue striding away from the crowd to the entrance of the back stage.
"Liz..." I wide eyedly look at her.
"Trust me on this." I don't know if this about trust anymore. I don't want to be those obsessed fangirls who are dangerous to even themselves.

"I can't believe you are making me do this." The big guy at the entrance stealthily leads us inside to a room which he closes.
"Thanks Bill. Did you get what I told you?" Liza asks calmly ignoring the glare in Bill's eyes.

"Yeah." he hands her an identity card. It is good at least one of us is calm about what the hell is happening.
"This is the last time I am doing something for you this risky. I might lose my job if anyone finds out." Bill mutters.
"Relax Bill. You are not losing your job and you know that I love you too much to not get you in trouble." Liza pouts.

I don't know what is up with these two but all I want to know is what we are even doing  here.
"Where is Liam's room?" Liza asks.
"The last one in the hallway. You better hurry up, he is leaving soon." Bill adds.

"What are we waiting for? Here Em, make the best of it." she puts the identity card with the word staff in my neck.
"Don't think twice girl. Follow your heart." Liza always knows the words to say in situations of distress.

I sigh hard before I open the door. This is the time I have been waiting for for two years. I can feel my heartbeat over my ears as I step into the empty hallway. I don't know what to expect when Liam realizes it's me. I hope he does anyway.

Two men walk into the hallway making me panic. I pull the cap Bill offered me earlier before I left the room lower. I face down ignoring their gazes. They seem to be intent on what they are discussing and I hope they don't notice me. My heart is beating erratically in fear of being caught. I knew this was a bad idea.

Just as we bypass each other, a voice stops me. This is it, I have ruined the whole plan. A lot is going on in my mind in just a second.
"Tell Liam to hurry up. We are leaving in two." I nod quietly trying hard to hide my face. When they walk away is when I remember to breathe. That was so close.

I don't need another of that scenario that almost got me getting a heart attack. I hurry down the hallway until the last room with the poster of Liam on it.

My heart races instantly. I raise my shaky hand making a timid knock on the door. There is no answer but I can feel the shuffling of papers inside. I add another knock and then another one out of excitement and a mixture of nerves.

"Tell Carl I am coming. Don't you people know when to fu... " his sentence ends midway when he realizes that his staff is not the one bothering him.

It is this time I get a view of those eyes. He has no glasses on this time when his gaze meets mine. I feel like my heart might leap out of my chest in no time with the way it is throbbing. My hands are cold and sweaty as I study the look in his eyes. It is shock and surprise and bafflement.

"Carl has said you will be leaving in two." I mutter when I partially gain my senses.

"Emma?"