golden hour

Part two - Star crossed

It's the end of the show and Layla just came back on stage in a new outfit for her encore when a crew member comes up to Bradley, asking if he's ready to be escorted backstage.

Looking around at his friends, he asks them if they're planning on sticking around for a while after the show or heading back to base. Since it's getting late, they all decided to head back to base knowing that their friend probably wouldn't be sleeping there that night.

He looks around at Layla's friends who are in the same box and it doesn't seem like any of them are making any moves, most likely waiting until the arena clears out before going backstage. He recognizes some of the people here, knowing a few of the famous faces.

He thinks back to when he and his friends were escorted into the box, many of her friends already there and drinking.

He sees a group of guys, one looked familiar. Bradley thinks he's a boxer or YouTuber or something. Logan something.

He knew Layla had a ton of friends, her L.A. crew which was a bunch of youtubers and young Hollywood people, influencers and things as well as her music friends. He had seen she hung around with a variety of people from her instagram, always being able to fit into any crowd. That was something he loved about her, she truly was a fun person to be around.

Hangman walks into the box like he owns the place, smiling at some model by the private bar while the rest of them seem a little out of place.

One of the guys he vaguely recognized spoke then, and said "I wanna guess who's Layla's guy.. wait I want to make a bet so don't tell us till later" he nods to the other 3 guys he's with.

Laughing them off, he and Phoenix and Bob take a seat and talk about the next days training, Bradley's arms already feeling sore from the 400 push ups he did today.

Getting ready to follow the crew member backstage, he hears the guys from earlier perk up, someone saying "damn I knew it! Pay up" he guesses one of them won their bet and shakes his head, continuing on out and calling out goodbyes to his friends.
—-
She just finished up the show and was heading back to her dressing room to change and shower the sweat off, knowing her friends were in town and they were going to celebrate.

She had put her family and family friends in a separate private box than she put her LA friends and Bradley's friends so that they could all enjoy the show without her dad and Bradley having tension.

She was nervous for the first time in a long time to perform, worried that Bradley would be upset with the songs so she had asked the crew members to keep her guests in the box until the arena cleared out but to bring Bradley in before so they could have a moment to speak before the crowd piled in.

Once she got to her dressing room, she had a brief moment of silence before her door was opening and Bradley was being escorted in.

She was about to ask him what he thought of the show when he rushed towards her and picked her up. Spinning her, he tells her "wow that was amazing, you're so good. The crowd was crazy. I'm so proud"

Smiling, she leans down and kisses him. Pulling away with her hands still on the sides of his face and her legs wrapped around his waist she says, "thank you. I was so nervous for you to see me perform."

"Well you were a star" he tells her before capturing her lips in a kiss again. Feeling overwhelmed at the past 24 hours of her life, she kisses him like her life depends on it.

Still holding her up, he moves them towards the countertop that houses a small kitchenette with things that she has on her rider - tequila, some of her favorite snacks, water and chasers. Placing her gently on the edge of the counter they continue their make-out session, things heating up quickly.