You'll come back to me

CHAPTER 2

Damiano POV:

    "It's so crowded! "exclaims Victoria.
    Our car stops in front of the PalaLottomatica, the venue for this year's Eurovision Song Contest.
    "It's no different from last year. "I say, in a sullen mood.
    I would have preferred to desert this event, we have just finished a tour of ten concerts across Europe, and here we have to perform again.
    Fortunately, it's only one song, the one that made us win last year.
    We still have to go through the whole competition, which means five days.
    After that, I can go home and finally rest up to go on tour again in two weeks.
    Our schedule is busy until the end of the year.
    I hope to have at least the last two weeks of December to myself.
    I would like to celebrate the holidays with my family, here in Italy.
    Our driver comes to open the door of our car, and we get out each in turn.
    Behind us, our manager is following us.
    I see him chatting with Thomas and Victoria, while Ethan comes towards me.
    "Are you sure you're okay?" He asks me.
    I shake my head and smile at him.
    I've been acting for days, and I think my friends are starting to realize it.
    But revealing to them that the pressure of this crazy year is starting to get on my nerves, I'd have the awful feeling of robbing them of their dream.
    It was my dream just nine months ago.
    I'm keeping the media as far away as possible from the darker side of me that is becoming more and more pervasive.
    But having that part of me revealed to the press would be the most horrible thing ever.
    Our manager gathers us all together and says.
    "So, you'll have to go to the conference room and do the interview you've been assigned. Then come back and see me, I'll be in the organization's offices. We will discuss the preparations for your performance on the day of the finals. "
    We all nod, and he gives me a pat on the back.
    Of course we have to give an interview. We're not even in the competition, but I'm sure the reporters are enjoying it.
    Most of them won't get a chance to do it again.
    "Which conference room? "Thomas asks.
    "Room Nine, you are replacing the Swedish and Finnish conference that had a last minute impediment on stage. Someone has to entertain the journalists and you've come at the right time. Come on, let's go! "He answers.
    He doesn't even take the time to accompany us to the hall, he heads straight to the offices.
    "It's a good thing we came in through the back entrance. "Victoria says, handing us her phone.
    I stare at the screen which displays the mass of journalists present in front of the building where we are. They ask for us by chanting the name of the group.
    "They are a little too invasive, don't you think? "Tries Ethan.
    "Yes of course, but we knew what we were getting into when we started. " Thomas tells him as he heads for the entrance to the conference rooms.
    We follow him, while Victoria sends me a sympathetic look. I shrug in her direction, then run a hand through my hair to put it back in place.
    We'd planned it from the interview, so we've got the right outfit for it.
    As we enter the corridor of rooms five to ten, we pass Simona, one of the representatives of the Rai television channels.
    Behind her, two big suitcases are dragged. A simple black one and a red one with multiple writings on it.
    From where I am, it is impossible for me to distinguish anything written.
    She greets us, and I ask her.
    "Why, are you lugging those suitcases?"
    She turns her head in my direction and smiles.
    "Two French journalists are having problems with their hotel, they have no place to sleep, so we offered to host them here. So I'm taking their luggage to the rooms next to the hall. How about you? "
    "We're having a press conference room nine, in exactly "
    Victoria looks at her watch and continues.
    "Five minutes! "
    "Room nine? Wasn't it the one for Sweden and Finland?" Simona questions us.
    "Last minute problem, we are forced to replace them. "I gasp, exasperated.
    She gives me a sympathetic smile and gently pats my shoulder.
    "Are you going to be okay? " She whispers in my direction.
    "Yeah sure" I accentuate my words with a nod.
    "Well, I won't keep you long, get out of here and into the lion's den.
    She goes to the premises of the room nine, and I see her putting down the bags.
    I feel sorry for those journalists who will have to spend their five days of conference sleeping here, and not in a real hotel room.
    At the same time, it might put them in their place a bit and not meddle in what is none of their business.
    We head for the conference room.
    The security guard at the entrance guides us to the back, we go through the back and land in front of a door.
    From where we are, we can hear the journalists working on their tasks. Some of them are grumbling because they didn't prepare any questions for us, and others look pretty happy that we are replacing the candidates.
    I'm sure they're already rubbing their hands together because they'll be able to have the exclusive first interview with our group here.
    "I want to warn you that some of them are not really happy to see you. "The security guard says to us, just before opening the door.
    I put a smile on my face, and walk straight into the nightmare.
    The only time I enjoyed doing an interview was probably the one I did with Paul, a French journalist who frankly doesn't give a damn about his job.
    Well, I put that down to the glasses of whiskey we shared afterwards.
    I unfortunately didn't think of taking his number to contact him again, it's a pity, I'm sure we would be good friends if I had it.
    And then, his colleague was also one of the reasons that made me appreciate my stay in France.
    Juliette is not really a girl that you forget from one day to the next, well I admit that I often think about our three nights together.
    On the other hand, I did not forget to take her number, but I never used it. My pride probably.
    Anyway, I continue to walk up to the stage with the huge table.
    Between last year and today not much has changed, except the place of the contest.
    I climb the few steps to get to the table.
    I sit down on the right, then the rest of the group sits down in turn.
    We are facing about forty journalists, I breathe a sigh of relief. I have seen much worse.
    Except that they are all looking at us. None of them have their attention elsewhere than on the stage.
    Well, they do. From afar, I see a dark-haired guy slumped in his chair. His head is thrown back and he looks exhausted and about to fall asleep.
    That's when I recognize him and the girl beside him.
    I never thought that Paul and Juliette could be here, when I met them, they had never done conferences abroad.
    I guess in four months they had to do new things, like coming to Rome to write about the Eurovision contest.
    In this business, everyone is moving at breakneck speed.
    My gaze meets Juliette's who stares at me with her green eyes.
    She has not changed, her face still breathes the same innocence as a few months ago.
    Her blond hair is brought back in a high ponytail.
    Juliette could bring any man to his knees for her.
    The few times we spoke, she didn't seem to be aware of the looks she was getting.
    My mind goes back to images of her straddling me in my Parisian hotel room.
    I try to chase them away, but they come rushing back when she smiles at me frankly.
    Deep down, I hope she is also thinking the same thoughts as me.
    I see her elbowing Paul in the kidneys, and he gets up instantly.
    He stares at her, and she nods in our direction.
    He nods, and I see his lips say something to Juliette, who blows.
    Paul gives me a friendly look, to which I am unable to respond.
    I am not supposed to have any relationship with any journalist. Friendly, fucking or loving.
    I broke that rule with Juliette, and I can't risk anyone finding out.
    It would end her career, which has just begun.
    We made it for four months, we should make it for only five days.
    I'm turning my attention to the competition organizers at my side.
    "The press conference will finally be able to begin. First of all, I am sorry that you had to replace the two candidates who should have been there. " The interviewer tells us.
    Everyone in the group nods, I just smile lightly.
    "No problem, it's a pleasure" Victoria replies.
     "We will be able to start giving the floor to some journalists, you will not all be able to pass, so please be indulgent. " The man with the microphone said to the direction of the small audience of paparazzi.
    "Please raise your hand if you want to speak. "He adds.
     Most of the hands go up.
    Normally this should not last more than twenty minutes.
    Let's hope they don't have too many questions and that we can leave before then.
    The host of the conference gives the floor to an Italian journalist first.
    "Hello, I'm Emilio and I'm from Italia magz, first of all I'm glad to see you back in the country after your European tour. I just wanted to ask you for when will be your next album? "He asks us.
    I look at my friends and decide to speak up.
    "Normally, we hope to release it early next year. "
    I smile at him, and he nods.
    Come on Damiano, already a question done. Only ten more to go.
                                             ***
    As I had guessed, the questions went quickly from professional to questions about our personal lives.
    This is why I hate press conferences and interviews.
    Don't get me wrong, I love my job and I wouldn't change it for the world, but some facets of it are quickly tiring.
    I get off the stage preceded by Ethan and Victoria and we go backstage.
    The fact is, that I try to accost a guard before the journalists leave the room.
    Neither Paul, nor Juliette asked any questions. I saw them writing several times, and the one time Paul raised his hand, the presenter did not point to him.
    At the same time, they didn't plan for it to be us during the press conference.
     I manage to ask the security guard who is watching us next to the door to tell the journalists from French magazine to come here.
    He doesn't hesitate, and goes straight to the room.
    "Why ask them to come here?" Thomas asks me.
    I shrug, during the four days we were in Paris, these two were a great help.
    "To reconnect. "I answer him simply.
    "You know that what you are planning to do can be dangerous. "Victoria lectured me.
    "Yes I know, don't worry, nothing will happen. "I gasp.
    "You said that last time, and you still slept with her. I'm not afraid for you, but if this all gets out, she could lose her job. " Victoria adds.
    "You know what, just stay here, so nothing happens. Besides, you all got along very well with them. "I suggest.
    They exchange glances and Victoria says.
    "It's true that they were super nice to us when we were in Paris. "
    I smile at them, and sit on the sofa backstage waiting for my two favorite journalists to face their entrance.