Her Biggest Fan (Book 3 of JAF series)

Chapter 11 In To... Another Frying Pan?

The guys broke our video camera. I'm actually surprised it took this long. So now here I am in the production lab, waiting to drop off the camera for repairs. I check my notifications and find a missed text, from Em. Now that we are back together it feels like we barely see each other. Although she's cuing up for a show and I'm starting to get anxious and get on the road again I guess this makes sense.

I check the schedule on the white board after I leave the camera with a middle aged guy who looks at it hopelessly, I really don't want to replace it if I don't have to. My eyes stop when they reach the scrawled out words; 'Blue Jeans, Blue Sky' I check my watch, I have nothing better to do and now that Em canceled I'm a free spirit tonight. I pad down the hall to the open area and find Andi and the band acting out playing the song. I grin, she's a natural. They finish and I see her resist brushing the back of her hand again her forehead, she's covered in more makeup than I've ever seen her and I know how warm it gets under those lights.

"Yep I think that wraps it up!" I hear a voice boom. The band starts cheering and I see that guy, Jason, reach out and grab Andi's hand and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, he dances a bit and she laughs. Then the band strikes up again.

Of course April has to come in and spoil it. I step into the shadows as the band packs up and starts to leave. I wait until Andi walks past before reaching out and grabbing her arm. "You were fantastic!" I tell her. Her eyes show shock and confusion.

Jason walks up to us and I ignore him but instead of moving on he throws his arm around Andi, I release her arm. "Hunter, hi. So the band wants to go out together tonight. Eric knows a fun karaoke place. You in?" He looks down at Andi.

"Sounds cool!" She beams at him.

"Great, Hunter would you like to come?" The question takes me by surprise and I tear my eyes from Andi's face.

"Why not? I'm in." Maybe this will be my chance to fix things or at least make them normal again. At least we're talking. I try to focus on the positive as we continue our conversation.

Andi seems to remember something and she looks back at the band then at me. "Okay, well then would you mind giving me a ride? My car's back at home, Jason picked me up this morning," I tense up at his name, I really need to stop doing that. She runs off to change and I wait, watching the set as it changes and they cue up for the next project, rolling up the green screen and switching out instruments.

She comes back into the main room. "Ready?" I ask, pushing against the wall and walking to the door.

"I hope you know where we are going because I sure don't." She laughs.

"Call Eric because I don't have a clue." We both laugh and I push her a little as we walk out of the building, this is just like it was before, awesome. I've got my friend back.

We find the place without much trouble, well, Eric yells at us over the speaker phone the whole time.

We slide into the two remaining seats and order. Then we watch the live entertainment. An hour later we are talking quietly amongst ourselves when Eric sparks with an idea. "Hey, you two should do a song!"

"Why not?" I drain the rest of my drink and look over at Andi.

"Because I don't want to." She looks decidedly uncomfortable.

"Too bad." I take her hand with no reserve and pull. She's going to do this, even if I have to drag her. The band eggs us on and she finally gives in.

"Fine but only if you guys go after!" She yells at them as I pull her out of her seat. We pick a song and then I watch as she signs her band up.

"Let's do this." I grin as I hand her a microphone. I try to keep the bit of nervousness off of my face, I've never done this before and I hope I remember all of the words. I don't want to rely on the screen. I look at the screen for my cue and begin.

🎶
"We broke up
yeah, it's tough
Most guys would've been crushed
Wastin' their time
Wonderin' where they went wrong..."
🎶

As it nears her part I look at her and give an encouraging smile. She begins and my smile grows wider.

🎶
"Oh, is easy going out on Friday night
Easy, every time I see him I"

"I can smile"

"Live it up"

"Forget about the way it was"

"But what he"

"What she don't know"

"Is now hard it is to make it look so easy"
🎶

She has completely broken out of her shell and she sings right back at me as we finish up. As we sing the final line I turn and so does she. We stand maybe a foot apart and I see her breathing heavy, a look of pure joy plastered on her face. My heart skips and I find myself stuck in her gaze.

I fight for control and then the audience starts to clap. I smile and look to the audience, she does the same. I see her smile and we both bow then we set our microphones back down and walk back to our seats. Her band leaves us alone as they are called up and Andi can't seem to stop laughing. Then she picks up her phone and I see her watching a video.

"Hey, I see what you have there." I lean in closer to take a better look.

"I told you someone would take a video." She laughs again.

I'm about to say something else when two girls approach and start talking to Andi. She beams as they ask for her autograph and after they leave she hands me back the marker I lent her. She seems dazed, then the band hits a sour note and her attention changes to her band mates. I laugh along with her and my arm jostles her shoulders as she shifts and I see her eyes grow wide.

When the band finishes she is sitting on the edge of the chair and she isn't looking at me. She has shrunk as small as possible, knees together with her hands tucked under her thighs. The guys come back and she leaps up, her laughter sounds forced as she starts to tease them and I sit back to watch, before too long it's time to get going and while I volunteer to take her home she decides to go with Chris. While I'm disappointed she turned me down I'm just happy she also didn't pick Jason.

-----

I may or may not have fallen asleep listening to Andi's album. I'm bursting with pride right now and it isn't for the songs I helped write.

I am jolted awake as my phone goes off. It can't be time for my alarm to go off can it? I roll over and tap the button before getting up and heading to the bathroom. I'm in the middle of brushing my teeth when I look at the clock. It's not 7:30, it's 2:30! What in the world? Back in my room I grab my phone, one missed call. Andi? Why would she be calling at this hour?

Without thinking it through I call her back, it must be an emergency.

"Hello?"

"Hi, sorry I missed your call, what's up?"

"I'm sorry I called, I didn't mean to wake you." She sounds upset but remorseful.

"No, no you didn't." I rush to reassure her.

"Um... Are you busy?"

"It's 2:30 in the morning.... No, no I am not."

"Do you want to go bowling?" Did I hear her right? Did she say bowling? "Hunter?"

"Seriously?" She has to be kidding.

"Yeah, you don't have to."

"You know what, sure." Something is going on, she needs a friend and she called me, I'm not letting this chance slip through my fingers. "Let's go bowling. I'll be there in 20 to pick you up."

"Great!" She sounds a bit less upset just by talking to me and I hold back a smile. We end the call and I hurry to leave, glad my teeth are already brushed. What ever is bugging her I hope I can help.