Haunted

Dirty Little Secret

Maddox finished his song and turned immediately to see Justin's reaction. It was the last day of rehearsals before his first ever world tour and he wasn't going to stop until he was sure the show was perfect. The whole family was there watching this rehearsal and since both his parents had done more sold-out world tours than any other artists Maddox wanted their approval.

But when he looked offstage to where he was sure Justin and Clara had been only a few minutes earlier, they were gone.

"I think you've got it," Tim, Maddox's manager shouted from his seat in the audience. "Wanna call it a night?"

"One more time," Maddox shook his head. He squinted through the stage lights to see if maybe his parents had moved to real seats but he couldn't even see his older sister anymore. Where was everyone? Was his show that bad?

"Last time! Lots of energy!" one of Maddox's dancers, Jackson, yelled. He stopped for a second and put his hand on Maddox's shoulder. "We've got this, it's awesome."

"Uhuh," Maddox felt his panic melting into a new feeling as he looked back into the other boy's dark eyes. Then he made himself snap out of it before anyone else could see what he was thinking. Now was not the time to get caught. "From the top, let's go!" Maddox shouted, running to his starting position again.

This time when the song ended Maddox could see Justin standing offstage. Justin still wasn't looking at Maddox but was busy talking to Maddox's opening act, a singer Justin had discovered and signed. The Singer had been holding his own rehearsal in another room and was standing there with his shirt off. Maddox started walking toward them before he realized what he was doing.

"Hey, you look great out there," Justin said as soon as Maddox got closer.

"Uh, thanks," Maddox had to force himself to look away from The Singer's sweaty abs.

"Are you happy with it?" Justin asked.

"Yeah, I think we're ready," Maddox made himself look Justin in the eyes. Now was not the time to get caught checking out another guy.

"I think so too," Justin smiled and gave Maddox a firm pat on the shoulder. "I'm proud of you, little man."

"Ugh, thanks, Dad," Maddox wished the floor would open up and swallow him. He was 15 and Justin really still had to call him "little man"? Right in front of such a hot guy?

"So get some rest tonight and I'll see you in the morning," Justin said. "Your mom is on the other side of the stage."

"Thanks," Maddox turned to cross the stage. Clara was right where Justin said she would be talking to Maddox's manager, Tim.

 "Just make yourselves at home," Clara was saying and Maddox knew they were talking about the New York house. Some of the people who worked on the tour would be staying with Justin and Maddox when they performed at Madison Square Garden. The first of Maddox's two shows at the Garden was just two nights away. He'd sold out both shows in just 4 seconds and it wasn't until later that Maddox found out Justin hadn't even done that on his first tour.

"Dax, do you have a second?" Jackson asked. Maddox looked at Clara.

"Go on, I'll meet you in the car," Clara waved him off.

"What's up?" Maddox asked. He'd had a crush on Jackson since dancer auditions and the more time they spent together the harder it was to keep it a secret. Especially since out of everyone on tour with Maddox, Jackson was the only guy his age. It was only natural that they start being friends.

"Did you know my brother is a dancer too?" Jackson started walking so Maddox followed him. 

"No," Maddox said.