No Way

Part 4

Gaga had a new drink immediately and kept getting held up on her way back. Everyone seemed to have extremely important things to tell her, stopping her with a wave and she was giving everyone a bit of attention, even if she kept looking back at you.

Christian next to you sighed heavily and stopped scrolling through his phone. You could see that his camera roll was full of pictures of her, like being the concert photographer was his job.

When Gaga had finally made her way through the crowd back to you, she hadn't been able to stop a smile from appearing on her face. You had so many questions you wanted to ask her and so many things to tell her, but nothing seemed important enough with Gaga standing in front of you and nobody waiting in line.

She handed you something, a glass with something green sparkling in it and sugar around the edge. "There's no alcohol in it." She promised. You thanked her politely, it already helped that you had something to do with your hands now.

Something clicked when the club played Born This Way next and everyone that was there for the after-party cheered, Gaga included. You had to tell her what that song meant to you and the words just bubbled out of you.

Her boyfriend rolled his eyes without hiding it very well, but she hung onto each word like everything you said mattered. When you noticed the way she was looking at you, you felt some tears well up despite your best efforts.

Then you felt her arms wrap around you hastily and the embrace felt like a safety blanket. When you turned your face into the crook of her neck you heard a small laugh. You could feel her soft hair under your chin...and then something cold and wet soaking your shirt.

"Oh shit, I'm sorry!" Gaga jerked back, looking confused at the spilled drink between you. At first you were too stunned to even react when she started apologizing profusely.

You waved your hand in reassurance. "No, no, sorry." You answered quickly and wiped at the green liquid which only spread the stain further. You looked over at her and saw your drink had ended up on her custom and expensive looking dress too.

The two of you laughed awkwardly as Gaga made an attempt at wiping it off her own dress with a napkin. You were mortified picturing a garment this expensive having been ruined by you tipping over your drink.

"Come on, we'll clean up in the backroom." You heard Gaga's voice behind you, followed by a noise of protest from her boyfriend.

"There's a backroom?" You wondered aloud and searched for a table to put down your now half-empty glass.

"There's always a back."

Her bodyguard was already talking to a waitress who nodded understandingly. She looked around Peter and eyed you up and down, then whispered another question to him.

You both were ushered to the back, Sarah following Gaga closely through the narrow hallway. By now they were both laughing and you couldn't really blame them, although you felt a little misplaced, like you weren't supposed to be here. Sarah suddenly turned and handed you one of the merchandise t-shirts.

"Is that okay?" She asked and you nodded as the waitress from earlier unlocked a door for you.

The backroom turned out to be the room the local band was currently using as their dressing room. They ushered you inside and the door fell shut, the music from outside only a quiet thumping.

"Can you unzip me?" You heard Gaga say and you turned towards her in surprise, but of course her question was aimed at her makeup artist. The sight of her back when Sarah helped her out of the ruined dress caused a flush all through your body.

But when she lifted her hair to give her friend better access to the zipper, there was the most intimate spot visible to you. The area on the back of her neck, carrying an intricate little pattern that everyone has seen Christian show off very proudly, was looking red and almost inflamed.

Sarah noticed it too, threw a glance your way and freed the strands of hair that Gaga held in her fist. "You're all set, here." She said and handed her friend a different t-shirt as well. Gaga put it on quickly and turned to look at herself in the mirror, running her hands through her hair.

She noticed you watching her through the mirror and smirked when you realized you were staring. It was surreal to see her like this, like the real person she was and not like a vague enigma on the stage or a screen.

When you emerged from the room, Christian was right there like a shadow, hovering near her again.

"I think we should call it a day soon, it's an early day for us tomorrow too." He said and wrapped an arm around Gaga's waist.

"For US?" She repeated so quietly you weren't meant to overhear it, sounding irritated at his suggestion and his presence made you feel like an unwelcome guest who had overstayed their welcome. Her hand hovered over Christian's as he whispered something in her ear. Then she cleared her throat and put on her interview face, the one with a small smile that made her feel in control of herself and her immediate surroundings.

"We'll be leaving soon. It was lovely to meet you." She said politely and her boyfriend's grip loosened when she moved in to give you another hug. This time you could feel her hand on the back of your neck and hear how she was breathing in deeply.

"Stef, we have to go." A male voice complained behind you, very firmly and loudly, and Gaga finally let go.

She shook her head and took a step back. "I don't know what got over me, I'm sorry. I don't like being touched randomly either."

You felt your throat tighten as you watched this one chance at getting closer to her slip through your fingers. But Gaga was the one who had come to you. It was so close to being a lifetime dream coming true.

You assured her that nothing was wrong, but kept to yourself how the opposite was true and how you would prefer to see her alone, without her makeup artist, her boyfriend, and her whole entourage around.

"Are you okay?" She asked with worry in her voice, her smile slowly fading.

You were not okay. Your skin tingled from the contact, your heart was racing, and the whole event had only lasted a few minutes.

"How about...are you still in Vegas tomorrow?"

"For one more day, yeah." You nodded and barely refrained from letting your expectation show.

"Then let me make this up to you? We can get you another ticket for tomorrow. It's Jazz & Piano, I've been doing the shows in sets of three, that's been easier."

"Really?!" You asked incredulously before reminding yourself to stop asking questions before anyone could intervene or make her change her mind.

"Maybe we can help you find the little monster that has the same mark as you."

You were planning on using your last day here for your search anyway and how could you say no? "Yes, I'd love to go!" You agreed relieved, for one thing to just be able to see her again but also because something was going very wrong behind these scenes. Even if you tried, you couldn't imagine that she was completely unaware.

"I'll ask Peter to take your phone number. And then we'll get you in tomorrow. Sound good?" Gaga offered, and gestured towards her bodyguard who had appeared behind them.