Fresh Start, New Beginnings

Chapter 5

As Abigail sat stage side she couldn't help feeling a sense of De ja Vu. She had spent most of the Backstreet Boys concerts sitting on the stage side, Nick always felt it was a safer option. Especially because of how famous Abigail was in her own right, she had never been just the wife of a Backstreet Boy.

Abigail glanced around and was surprised to see her bodyguard Leroy standing just a few metres away she held her arms up and shrugged at him "What are you doing here?" She mouthed silently. Leroy came over to her and crouched down behind her.

"Tony's orders" Leroy sighed "I won't get in the way I just want to make sure nothing happens tonight"

"I am perfectly safe Leroy honestly, look Ryan has his own security" Abigail gestured to the guards which were dotted all around the stage and near the doors.

"I am just doing as I am told" Leroy knew Abigail was going to react like this "Please Abi just for once let me do my job"

"Fine" Abigail finally surrendered, she knew after her last ordeal with the stalker fan that Tony was trying to keeping her safe.

Suddenly out of no where the crowd started screaming, Abigail turned just in time to see the band come on stage. They started to play, then Ryan appeared which made the audience scream again. Ryan quickly glanced over to Abigail and smiled, before singing the first few lines of Secrets.

"Oh my god, Abigail Jenson-Carter is sat over there" Abigail heard a girl yell from behind her. Abigail turned quickly and saw two girls rushing towards her Leroy stepped in immediately and made them step back.

"I thought it was you" a male voice said from beside her "I didn't want to freak you out by saying anything before, my names Cody, Cody Bryant"

"Cody Bryant? Forgive me, why do I recognise that name?" Abigail wondered why his name was so familiar to her.

"I am one of the finalists on America's Got Talent" He smiled politely "I dance"

"Yeah of course, I'm sorry" Abigail remembered watching him "I watched you on the show, I think your incredible"

"Oh wow seriously" Cody was stunned as Abigail nodded "Thank you, you have no idea what that means to me"

"You're welcome" Abigail couldn't believe how excited he was by her comment "Hey listen if America's Got Talent doesn't work out for you, give this place a call tell them I told you to call them" Abigail took some paper out of her purse and a pen and scribbled a number down "They'll help you be whatever you want to be"

Ryan had already worked his way through 3 songs, he was now sat at a piano on the side of the stage nearest Abigail. He played he chords of Apologize which brought the audience to life once more. Abigail found the whole experience very surreal, not only was she sat stage side at a OneRepublic concert, she had been asked to be there by Ryan Tedder.

Abigail found herself singing along to Apologize, she remembered when she first heard his song on the radio. She was on her way back from filming an episode for a new TV show and thought how amazing this song sounded. As soon as she got home she downloaded the track onto her laptop and ended up creating some choreography for it, which she taught to a young girl who ended up using it for her audition for Broadway.

A few more songs past and Abigail had really started to enjoy herself, in fact so much so that she almost forgot about Leroy standing a few metres away from her "Thank you for an amazing night, safe journey home" Ryan thanked the audience, before nipping off the stage side and grabbing Abigail's hand, he pulled her to stand "Come on" he said as he quickly led her out of the side door and into a corridor. Ryan quickly took off his electical equiptment and handed it to his tour manager, he took Abigail by the hand again "Come on let's go out this way" he opened a fire door "I want to get you out of here before they all come out"

"Wait" Abigail stopped dead "Are you ashamed to be seen with me or something?"

"Hell no" Ryan realised he would have to explain himself better "It's just if we get caught up with all those fans we will never get away"

Abigail nodded "Ok" she smiled "Where are we going?"

"My car" he said as he led her quickly down some stairs, Abigail was finding it hard to keep up with Ryan, he was taller than her so his strides were much bigger, she found herself tottering along behind him. Ryan never let go of her hand once until they arrived at his car, it was a white BMW 4x4.

When they were sat safely inside the car Abigail finally had time to answer her phone which had been ringing continuously since Ryan pulled her away "Hello" she winced as she waited for Leroy to speak "It's fine honestly, no-one saw us" Abigail was having a conversation with him while Ryan drove out of the multi storey car park "I'll call you when we get there"

Ryan kept glancing over a Abigail, the street lights were reflecting off her chocolate brown hair. She looked so beautiful sitting there next to him "Sorry about that, Leroy is very overprotective" Her words interrupted Ryan's trail of thoughts.

"That's competely understandable" Ryan glanced at her quickly again before looking back to the road, he saw Abigail frowning at him...man she's even hotter when she frowns...he thought to himself "I do watch the news from time to time you know, it can't be easy going out alone like this"

"No especially not when Tony sends Leroy to follow me everywhere" Ryan sensed Abigail was annoyed by this detail.

"Better to be safe than sorry" Ryan glanced quickly at her again to try and assess her body language "It doesn't make me feel uncomfortable if that's what your worried about"

"Well it is a little awkward" Abigail blushed a little causing Ryan to smile.

"Nah its fine honestly...Flying Compass" Ryan reassured Abigail, she threw him a confused expression "That's where I am taking you, call him and tell him if you like"

"Honestly I don't want Leroy there anymore than I would want my dad to come along, he'll be fine. It's not like you plan on kidnapping me or anything" Abigail teased, her cheeky smile drew Ryan in even more.

"Well that all depends how much I like you" he chuckled "And how available you are over the next few days"