Dreams

6

Stevie.

Stevie keeps her eyes trained on the piano as she watches Carolina from the wings, listening to her first song. She didn't know Carolina's stage clothes would be quite so tight or so revealing, but she's having a hard time not staring at her chest straining against the black velvet corset. Her long black hair is hanging down her back in expertly styled waves and she looks like a siren with her winged liner and ox blood lips.

As Carolina finishes the song and stands to bow and introduce herself Stevie takes a step closer to the stage so she knows she's there. Carolina spots her out of the corner of her eye and winks at her, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. They haven't talked about what Stevie did yesterday. They've barely spoken at all, both of them too wrapped up in their nerves to focus on anything else. Lindsey has been moping around back stage with Stevie the whole time, anyway.

"Thank you," Carolina grins into the microphone, "are y'all ready to see the queen of rock herself?"

The crowd screams and claps and Carolina tosses her head back and laughs. "You know I've been next to Stevie for a little over a month now, and I get it. Most the time I feel like shouting with joy at her, too. She's pretty damn fantastic. Let's do two more songs while miss thing finishes getting ready, and then we'll all give Stevie Nicks a warm welcome together."

Carolina sits down at her piano and Stevie blows her a kiss, then disappears into the darkness of the wings.

There's still twenty minutes or so before Stevie takes the stage when Carolina steps into the green room. "Where is she?" she looks at Karen, half out of breath from the excitement of being on stage.

"Dressing room," Karen mutters without looking up from her book. "But don't go -"

Carolina is already gone, dashing down the hall toward Stevie before Karen warn her that she's not alone. Oh well. She'll learn the hard way when she opens the door.

"Stevie, oh my-," Carolina sputters as she swings open the door and spots Stevie immediately, bent over the makeup counter with Lindsey's fingers digging into her exposed hips. "Oh god," she closes the door as quickly as she can and walks back to the green room, sitting down next to Karen silently.

Karen can't help but laugh at how pale Carolina suddenly is. "Always best to stay away from her dressing room when she has a man around, sweetheart."

"Got it," Carolina mutters as she crosses her arms. She wishes she didn't feel like there were elephants in her stomach. No one came to her first show. Her parents couldn't make time, Stevie made it extremely clear Jackson wasn't welcome. She was excited to share the thrill of it with Stevie, but of course Stevie is occupied. It's not her job to coddle Carolina. She's doing enough by paying her to be on this tour.

Karen can sense her sadness. "You sounded great, honey," she smiles gently at Carolina and pats her hand before returning to her book.

"Thanks," Carolina nods as she stares at the wall. She shouldn't have seen that. She should have knocked. Now she can't get the thought of Stevie's hips out of her head. As if she was conjured by her mind, Stevie appears in the green room, running her fingers through her hair and looking flushed and guilty. She clears her throat as Lindsey steps behind her and wraps an arm around her waist, winking at Carolina without her knowledge.

"Three minutes until Waddy vamps," Karen looks at her watch, ignoring how awkward everyone in the room suddenly is. Stevie nods and turns to Lindsey, allowing him to kiss her more deeply than he should in front of polite company. It makes Carolina's stomach turn, but stevie doesn't notice. Stevie won't even look in her direction.

Carolina.

"I'm going to go get changed for the duets," Carolina tells Karen quietly as she stands. Lindsey grabs her by the arm and smirks as he stops her.

"You sounded great. She listened over the monitors. She's proud of you." Carolina isn't sure why he feels the need to tell her this. It nauseates her to think Stevie was listening while Lindsey was fucking her. Or why it matters to him that she knows.

"Thanks. She has a mouth. She can tell me herself," Carolina snaps as she pulls her arm away a little too hard.

"Gheesh, what's gotten into her?" Lindsey looks at Karen cluelessly. Karen scowls and ignores him. She's not being paid enough to be nice to Lindsey tonight.

Carolina sits in her own dressing room, touching up her makeup as she stares in the mirror. They have one more show in Los Angeles before they hit the road. Maybe she will invite Jackson tomorrow. Stevie can't really tell her no - he is still her husband, after all.

She hears the end of Stevie's third song and heads back to the dressing room, grabbing a glass of champagne before she heads on stage. She walks on with the glass in her hand and waves to the audience as she sets it down in the spot where Stevie usually leans in to sing with her. Stevie raises one eyebrow and tilts her chin to the side. Of course Carolina is going to act out; how immature.

"Welcome back - everyone welcome Carolina back with a round of applause," Stevie prompts the audience as Carolina presses both her hands to her lips and blows kisses to the audience.

"This is Leather and Lace," Stevie smiles as Carolina starts the song on the piano. They get through it fine, except Stevie won't look her in the eye. By the end of the song Carolina has already made the decision that she will leave after this segment of the show. She's not in the mood to celebrate and Stevie won't need her on stage anymore. She feels childish for being upset. She just didn't expect this show to feel so damn lonely.

They finish their round of three songs, tension growing between them with every word they sing. Stevie does not take Carolina's hand to bow, instead leaving her at the piano. Carolina nods her head at the audience and makes her escape.

"Hey Karen," Carolina smiles as she steps into the green room, ignoring Lindsey's presence altogether now. "I'm uh, I'm gonna head. I'm not feeling amazing and I want to get some packing done before the show tomorrow. Tell Stevie I said great job if she asks."

Karen bites her lip. She doesn't have to stay. It's not in her contract. But she knows stevie is going up be livid that she left. "Sure thing, honey. We will see you tomorrow for sound check."

Carolina nods and heads back to her dressing room to grab her things. She escapes out the side door and into the waiting SUV, George playing on his phone behind the wheel.

Stevie.

Stevie is positively glowing, smiling from ear to ear as she steps back into the green room. Lindsey wraps his arms around her, pulling her in for a hug.

"You did such a good job," Lindsey grins and then gestures to the band and crew surrounding them. "Everybody give it up for Stevie nicks."

Stevie searches the group for Carolina, but she doesn't see her. "Karen where is Caro?"

Karen hands her a glass of champagne and gives her a gentle smile. "She uh, she left."

No one leaves opening night of a show without a celebration. Stevie looks at her like she's confused. "What do you mean she left? She's not coming back?"

"No. She went home to pack and sleep before tomorrows show," Karen mutters. She doesn't want the wrath.

"Give me your phone," Stevie snaps as she downs her champagne and holds her hand out. Karen  I'mrolls her eyes but does as she is told. She dials Carolina's number and steps I to the hallway. Carolina sees the number pop up and checks the time, then allows it to ring until it goes to voicemail. Stevie rolls her eyes and hangs up as her heart sinks. She was looking forward to tonight being s celebration- a good start to the tour together.