No Way

Part 3

Even back in your hotel room, you were still overwhelmed by what had happened. It had been so much to take in that it seemed like you could barely hold on as it hit you all at once. The fans that were up behind you asking what happened, the confused look on Bobby's face, how everyone had gone quiet until you were led out of the room.

Watching the first concert videos that appeared online on your phone didn't do anything to calm you down enough to sleep. The room was hot and stuffy despite the air conditioning running. You turned to your other side and gave your phone screen one last look. Still no messages from anyone. If you couldn't sleep anyway, you could still take a shower to feel more human again.

The warm water felt like heaven on your aching muscles. There was a dull ache in your head that had been growing worse over the last few hours. Your vision was blurred and would not focus, making you feel slightly nauseous and wonder if it came from not having enough water today.

When you stepped out of the shower, you saw a flash of it for the first time. You felt like the world had suddenly stopped spinning around you. You had to bite your tongue hard to keep yourself from crying out as your heart ached at such a beautiful sight for a moment.

The color wasn't right and it was hard to see, almost translucent. You forgot to breathe and lifted your shaking hand to touch it. It was still there when you touched it lightly, then ran your palm over it. Even when you rubbed at it, it stayed. So it wasn't a practical joke or something drawn on you. It was something real and tangible and somehow you had managed to miss what you have been waiting for for so long.

You got closer to the mirror, then took your phone to take a picture of it. It was a flower, a daisy from how you saw it. Now that you were really noticing it, you could actually feel the slight pressure of the shape on your skin.

Someone else you met today had to have a matching one. It was supposed to be something that had the potential to change your life and you had missed it. Or the appearance was delayed. You turned, making sure you weren't imagining it and it was still there. It couldn't be her. As much as the idea kept settling in your head, she wasn't an option. Everyone knew she already had hers, the same one as that boyfriend who followed her everywhere. You were very aware of your wishful thinking that would only lead to disappointment if you dwelled on it.

Goosebumps rushed over your arms and your fingers were shaking while you looked at the contacts you added today. Maybe Ryan. It was late but you sent him a message anyway, asking how he was doing. He sent back a picture of an afterparty that was still going on in a club down the street.

Not him either, then. Would have been strange anyway. You sighed and rolled back onto your bed. Then your phone was suddenly blowing up with messages.

"Oh. My god.

She's somewhere here.

You've got to come back.

Gaga's car is here.

Hurry, before they stop letting people in."

*

The crowd at the afterparty was even more on fire than it had been at the concert itself and you had just barely made it before they were at capacity and were not letting anymore people in. But it seemed like you already missed it.

You were staring at Gaga just like everyone else was, but you wondered if everyone else recognized how tired she looked when she walked off the tiny stage where she had joined the local band.

Her eyes were scanning the crowd as she steered towards the area that her security had blocked off. Until they landed on you.

Her bodyguard followed the movement of her nod and then he was right in front of you and even taller this time around.

"Do you want to come over?"

You froze in your spot. That wasn't something she did anymore. Someone's child on stage, rarely, or someone she knew would get some attention in the crowd, but...

Someone poked your shoulder and you looked to your side to spot Ryan next to you. "I hate you a little." He nodded and then nudged you towards the security guard. Phone cameras were already pointed at you, someone new was shouting in your ear, telling you to message them later and to take photos.

You weren't planning on doing that, knowing how much Gaga didn't like to be treated that way if she was letting anyone in.

They put the barrier back up after you slipped through and you took her in, the smudged mascara under her left eye, the dress she was wearing that was hanging off her shoulder even though it was made for her.

She gave you a twitch of a smile and someone offered you a drink like the one Gaga was holding. You declined, needing your mind clear, and her team watched when she approached you purposefully.

"Can I?" She reached out to reach for your neck and stopped herself halfway to wait for your response.

"How do you know?" You asked but turned and lifted your hair so she could see it. "It's new. I'm not sure when it happened." Your voice was strained from too much talking and shouting today.

She hummed and let herself barely touch the spot until she quickly snatched her hand back. It had been warm, almost hot, different from earlier. "I thought..."

"Babe, what are you doing?" You knew the voice interrupting the short moment and her boyfriend was behind her in a flash.

"She got her mark some time today." Gaga said quietly. "A new soulmark is something really special."

Christian hugged her from behind, his mouth close to her ear so a whisper would be enough, but he raised his voice enough for you to hear it too. "Do you remember when we got ours?"

You felt something like jealousy stir in you when she nodded playfully. But she didn't turn to him and instead excused herself to go for another drink, leaving her boyfriend hovering near you, trying to catch sight of your neck.