(Continuation of previous part)
To pass the time, she tries to be nosy and listen to the discussions going on around her, but she struggles to understand the jumbled, incoherent dialogue. So, Fantasia hums softly, hoping to find something to keep her mind busy. Her attention is drawn back to the busy workers. This time, she notices that they are moving at double the speed. When she concentrates all of her attention on one crew member, that person begins to slow down and work at a slower pace. She also notices that when she looks away for a moment and then returns her gaze, new people seem to replace the prior workers. The replacements' work clearly differs from what was going on before.
"What the— weird shit just be happening, huh?" she thinks.
Fantasia is simply too excited to be a part of such an amazing opportunity to give the strange occurrences any thought. A stage manager yells, "People, it's only fifteen minutes till the next set... Let's get to it!" interrupting Fantasia's reverie. She hears the crowd's muffled shouts, and as the performance approaches, her excitement and nerves rise.
A tall, well-built, fair-skinned man approaches Fantasia in her seat and says, "Miss Barrino," prompting her to look up. His glasses conceal his vibrant, hooded brown eyes, which convey a captivating story that his lips never open to speak. His well-groomed, long, peppered beard highlights the fullness and pinkness of his lips. His teeth are sparkling and straight when he smiles. He wears earpieces in both ears, which are connected by a wire that runs behind his neck and brushes the top of his broad, sloping shoulders.
"They must be important or something." She thinks. Fantasia sees that his clothing differs from the rest of the crew members but is similar to the lady she saw earlier.
His long black sleeve shirt, which is pushed up to show off his forearms, fits him nicely and highlights his upper body. His exposed arms are covered in tattoos. The man wears a pair of dark-washed pants that fit him a little loosely. She can tell he has a sense of style from how he wears his Air Jordan 1 Retro High 85s.
"Yes?" Fantasia answers after refocusing her attention and looking into the handsome man's eyes.
"Your set is about to begin, and I'm here to take you to the location. Please follow me." Fantasia nods and stands up from her seat. He opens the barn door in front of him, revealing an underground labyrinth that is similar to a collapsed mineshaft. She follows him down the long corridor, noticing that the man's head is almost touching the ceiling.
"He's huge," Fantasia thinks.
The earthen walls are reinforced with wooden pillars. The pillars are embellished with holographic signatures that switch between fonts and bounce across the surface. The long hallway is scattered with tour equipment, loose wires, and several running cables. The floors have abandoned railroad tracks, which everyone ignores. Fantasia did not know how this was safe, but she didn't care if everyone else didn't. On their little trek, Fantasia is growing nervous with each step that she takes.
"You got it, Tasia. You got it, Tasia. Get out of your head." She inwardly encourages herself.
They finally arrive at their destination after what seems like an eternity. He directs her to where she needs to be when it's her turn to perform. Fantasia listens closely as he talks over the safety protocols. She glances up, notices the covered entryway from which she will emerge, and does a double take.
She furrows her eyebrows in confusion and adds, "And I am supposed to go through that?" She looks at the man while pointing up at the opening. He gives her a confused look as he follows her finger. When he realizes what she is referring to, he chuckles.
"Yes, ma'am, you are." he grins. "We made sure it wouldn't be a problem for you." He stares at Fantasia's shape. She smiles as she notices him admiring her.
"Okay, now I'm trusting you," she says, pointing her index finger and squinting at him. She pauses before adding, "And you aren't slick, buddy. I peeped." She gives him a side-eye, and the two of them laugh.
"My bad," he says, raising his hands in mock surrender, "but I'm not blind now." He licks his lips and looks into Fantasia's eyes. She bites her lower lip in response. He breaks away from their intense stare-off, looking at the floor and holding his left earpiece.
"Okay... 10-4." The guy turns his attention back to Fantasia before saying, "Miss Barrino, you have 5 minutes until go time. Now that you're all set up, is there anything else you need from me?"
"Hmm..." She lays her pointer finger on her chin and makes a thinking face. "A million dollars." Fantasia jokes, causing the pair to laugh.
"Maybe..." he says, shaking his head side to side. "Anything related to your performance," he remarks.
"Nah, I'm straight. Thank you for taking such good care of me," she flirts, biting the tip of her nail and staring deeply into the man's eyes. He chuckles and glances down before returning his attention to her.
"It was all my pleasure," he says, smiling. "I have to leave, but..."
"You have to go? Why can't you just stay with me?" Fantasia interrupts, pouting because she does not want him to leave. The singer is not sure why she is feeling this way. They had just barely met, yet he instantly felt familiar and safe.
"Shorty, I have to go to my other post for the start of your set," he says with a chuckle. "I promise the next person will take excellent care of you." He grabs her chin and brushes it with his thumb, briefly grazing her bottom lip. "Put that bottom lip away. It's going to make me feel bad about leaving." He smirks and withdraws his hand........
