It's in the accent (Chris's story pt1)

Keep breathing

I looked in the mirror; the three guys were sitting on the chairs doing their own thing to get their heads in the game. I tipped my head making the loose curls move to the side, my eyes were dark and smoky and my lips a deep red,

 I smoothed my hands over the Black corset that Miranda had actually made that hugged me and was Sexy without taking it too far. My finger tips skimmed the tops of every ones favorite boots. My stomach was churning with nerves. 

I braced  my hands on the wall either side of the mirror and closed my eyes taking deep breaths, trying to choked down the feeling of wanting to be violently sick. My phone buzzed with a message Pete picked it up and threw it to me.

***New Message***we won the game Niko's driving and we're 5 minutes out... I love you***7.45pm

"The guys won the game tonight" I smiled looking at Alfie and the others

"Nice" Kerion got up and paced "Is it me or was it easier before we knew Nickelback were watching us" he laughed nervously

"I'm trying not to think about it" I chewed the inside of my cheek. The door knocked and Lukas walked in.

"Wow..." he smiled looking  me up and down "you certainly look the part..." he looked round "You all look good?"

"Thanks" Alfie sighed as he fidgeted with his guitar .

"Nervous?" Lucas smiled

"To the point of wanting to puke" I groaned.

"Good" he rubbed his hands together "it's time"

"For what" Kerion looked at his watch.

"For you guys to make your way to the stage" Lucas laughed

"I don't know if I can walk" I said leaning on the wall locking my knees to stop them from shaking.

"You'll be fine" he chuckled.

"Yeah, come on Chris" Alfie reached for my hand I linked my fingers with his as Lukas held the door open for all of us. Pete slipped his arm round my waist as we walked round behind the stage. Elena was talking with Simon at the foot of the steps to the stage the sound of the crowd on the arena side was like a buzz of a million bees.

"You look amazing Christine" Elena clapped her hands together. She took my hands "Are you ready?" she looked at the guys. "Are you all ready?"

"Go big or go and hide under a rock" Kerion laughed with a nervous edge 

"Exactly" Simon put his hand on his shoulder "We've added steps coming down on to the stage where you'll walk down" he looked at me "as the guys are playing Burn it to the ground" he directed

"Walk down stairs; I'll be on my ass" I panicked "Have you no seen the heels" I was ready to hyperventilate 

"No you won't" Elena giggled "you can do it; believe you can do it" she patted my cheek "Do what you know you can do" I nodded I looked round at the guys and hugged the three of them.

"We can do this" Pete murmured "Chris you sing your heart out and we'll play for you like we've never played before"

"Deal" I smiled at the three of them kissed my cheeks and walked up onto the stage. I looked to the flight of steps and took a deep breath.

"Need a hand?" I jumped as Chad Kroeger walked toward me and offered me his arm.

"Sure" I nodded, great now the nerves had just ramped up even more as I took his arm.

"You want some advice?" he chuckled as we walked up the steps

"Anything"

"The time that you don't get nervous is the time that you stop doing this" he sighed "It can be the scariest thing in the world going out there and singing; but it's also the best feeling in the world" We stopped walking "you look amazing" he inhaled deeply as he looked me up and down "Your voice blew me away earlier; and you're band love playing for you. It was written all over their faces; this is a chance of a lifetime for all of you; make the most of it you have my backing and the rest of my bands backing" he was genuine and was speaking frankly "Go out there like you own it and steal the show and I'm looking forward to singing with you later" he kissed my cheek. "Have fun" he turned and walked back down the stairs.

I smiled and took a deep breath this was it make or break time. The beginning to burn it to the ground began and I started down the stairs getting half way down before I began to sing the first line. All the nerves vanished as the music took me and the lyrics flowed from me. I made it down the steps in one piece and to the front of the stage. I could see out as far as mid way across the arena floor and people were shoulder to shoulder. Moving and mouthing along. I felt on a totally high as one song rolled after another. 

 The time came to slow it down and for Alfie and Kerion to take a three minute break as someone came on with two stools as Pete took his acoustic guitar and sat down. I took a drink of water and sat with him. I looked out into the crowd I could see Dimitri was to the left of the stage with Niko and his Sister, Miranda and Xander next to them with a shocked looking Emma and Ryan. I caught Dimitri's eye and winked at him he put his hand over his heart and winked back.

I started to sing Hero; I got half way through before the crowd roared and the sound of a second guitar was added followed by another voice. I looked round and smiled as Chad walked across the stage Pete stopped playing and got up letting Chad sit and carry on the rest of the song. I glanced back at Dimitri and the others who were all stood with their mouths open. It got to the end of the song.

"Okay guys you didn't come here to see me tonight" Chad said taking the microphone as he handed off his guitar to a stage hand. The crowd roared as the rest of Nickelback took to the stage. "Or the rest of us; but tonight I think you'll all agree the show that was put on rocked" the roar was deafening to the point of being scary. "Now Chris here well it's her birthday tomorrow, so I think we need a round of Happy birthday" 

I shook my head and felt the color rise in my cheeks. I started to back away he grabbed my hand and lead the Happy birthday. I was at the point where I was expecting to wake up from the dream I must be in. I was truly embarrassed and I was in front of hundreds of people that I could see, Every one finished singing I groaned

"Thank you for that" I laughed

"You ready for the final two songs but with us backing you" Chad smirked I nodded and high fived him. We finished both of the songs and returned to the front of the stage and took a bow along with Alfie, Pete and Kerion. We headed off the stage hugging and laughing.

"Awesome job" Chad called out over our excited chatter "you guys want to come to the gig tomorrow?""I already am" I chucked "My friends got me the ticket for my birthday"

"Cool friends" Mike smiled

"Oh you have no idea" I smiled

"Well what can a bunch of Canadians give you for your birthday?" Daniel held out his hands

"I don't need anything, I think this memory is present enough" I admitted "I'm waiting to wake up from the dream"

"Okay then how about tomorrow you come on stage and do a song with us" Mike suggested.