Darling | Matty Healy

Chapter 19

"Well don't you just look insanely sexy!" Charli's voice rang out from somewhere off in the distance. Amaya stopped dead in her tracks and started laughing.

Charli crept up behind her, wrapping her arms around her waist and whispering in her ear. "What are you trying to do at this gig ... fuck the lead singer or something?"

"Shut up!" Amaya almost squealed out, wrapping her arms over Charli's and squeezing her tight. "Hi gorgeous!"

"Missed you!" Charli said firmly into Amaya's hair before spinning her around to get a look at her from top to bottom.

"Would you stop it!" Amaya said, swatting Charli away and attempting to pull her dress down. She hadn't thought it was a particularly scandalous outfit, but the breeze sweeping across the field behind the stage had the thin material of her sundress flush against her body and occasionally blowing up around the tops of her thighs. "When did you get back across the pond?" She asked, linking arms with her friend as they headed toward the tent that was slowly filling up with people.

"Last night," Charli said, squeezing Amaya's arm as she shifted into a slightly more serious tone of voice. "How are you feeling now?"

Amaya scrunched up her face, shaking her head a little at the level of concern lacing Charli's voice. "I'm okay." She said, slowly enough for Charli's eyebrows to shoot up, calling bullshit without uttering a syllable. "I mean it!" Amaya said, a little firmer in her convictions this time around. "I'm really doing okay ... I've got my babies and my manager hasn't been breathing down my neck about everything, so it's all pretty good ... all things considered."

"Have you spoken to Harry since things ended?" Charli asked, slowly rubbing gentle circles into Amaya's arm.

"I told him he needed to come pick up all his shit ... he tried a couple more floral arrangements and apologies, but we haven't spoken for a few weeks."

"Did he pack up all his shit?" Charli asked.

"It's in boxes," Amaya almost scoffed. "I honestly don't know if or when he's ever gonna get it out of my hallway ... I just want it gone so I can delete his number and never think about it again!"

Charli pressed a kiss to Amaya's cheek and she smiled widely at her friend, mouthing a silent thank you as they got to the entrance of the backstage tent. They both showed their passes and were let through and Amaya was hit in the face with the scale of the operation. It had been so long since she'd been playing shows that she'd almost forgotten how much work went into it all. There were over a dozen people milling about with set pieces, amps and instruments. There were people tuning instruments, family members and friends scattered around with drinks, taking photos and laughing.

She wasn't sure what overwhelmed her more, diving head first into being backstage at a gig or being surrounded by people who all knew each other and had absolutely no idea who she was. Charli's arm slipped away from her, running forward and practically pouncing on George as he came around the corner.

He left out a strangled gasp as he caught her, laughing once he realised what was going on and putting her firmly back down on her feet. They wrapped their arms around one another and Amaya couldn't help but smile widely at how sickeningly sweet they were together. A tall guy with long hair came out behind George who briefly smiled and nodded at Amaya before going over to talk to someone else, a slightly shorter bald guy wearing sunglasses came out next with a gorgeous woman with dark hair and a warm face who also smiled warmly at Amaya as she passed by her, like she knew her.

Then a head of curly dark hair with grey streaks peppered throughout emerged, slapping George on the shoulder as he came around from behind him, stopping dead in his tracks in front of Amaya, swallowing harshly as though all the air had been sucked from his lungs at that moment.