"Beginners on stage please"
Lin took one last look in the mirror, adjusted his bow tie and went.
"It's starting!" Mark shouted to Julie.
She ran down the stairs, grabbed a beer from Steve and sat down between them.
"Is anyone else nervous or just me?"
Steve took a gulp of his beer.
"Bricking it! They've never been on TV before. Bet Rob is shitting himself."
Mark looked at Julie.
"Dhalia go down ok?"
She nodded.
"Yep. I played her Lin's song and she went straight off. Swear he should sell copies. He would make a killing."
Mark smiled.
"It's a good job I like the guy or I would hate him."
Steve frowned at him.
"I'm sure that makes sense somehow.."
"Sssh!" Julie leaned forward.
"He's on! Oh wow! Look how gorgeous he is in that tux!"
Mark slapped her leg.
"Hey! I'm right here!!"
She rubbed his arm not taking her eyes off the TV.
"Sorry baby, you're still my number 1."
Mark looked at Steve behind Julie's back and shrugged shaking his head.
"How the hell do I compete with that?!"
Steve laughed.
"You don't mate. You don't."
Lin finished the introductions and the concert started.
He watched and spotted Kelly tuning her guitar ready to go on with the band for the first time.
Not wanting to go and interrupt he stared at her till she looked up and saw him. He smiled and put his thumbs up.
She nodded and gave him devil horns back. She looked on edge, stressed and didn't smile.
Lin frowned to himself, he grabbed a running order from a stage hand waited till Kelly looked at him again and put one hand behind his head his eyebrows raised. The running order covering his dick. She did a double take and burst out laughing.
He smiled at her. She relaxed, gave him thumbs up and they walked on stage.
Steve was gripping Julie's hand so tightly she was losing circulation.
"Oh I can't watch. Oh God."
They started to play and he slowly relaxed.
"Please tell me they are really good and I'm not just biased?"
Julie nodded and laughed.
"They are really good! The sound is amazing."
Mark joined in.
"Kelly's looking seriously hot as well."
Julie glared at him, he looked at her.
"What? So it's ok for you but not for me!"
She shrugged and smiled. Mark leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
"Love you."
They finished the song and the audience went crazy. They came off on a high.
Kelly looked for Lin but couldn't see him in the mass of people. She was elated but now the nerves were really kicking in.
Steve let out a big sigh of relief.
"That was amazing! They will have gained a ton of new followers from that. I can relax now and enjoy the show properly. Anyone for another beer?"
Lin watched a couple more performances and went back to his dressing room to get himself psyched up for his own. He still got nervous at big events but his experience had taught him how to manage it to his advantage. He did his vocal warm ups and made his way back.
He looked for Kelly, she had to be here soon she was on just before him. He spotted her getting her ear piece fitted and mic levels checked.
She looked white as a sheet, her head down.
He walked over and put his hands on her shoulders.
"Look at me Kel, sing to me. It's only me. There's no one else here. Just us."
She lifted her head.
Lin pointed to the audience.
"I'll be just there. You can do this. This is a walk in the park. Breathe with me"
He took her through some breathing exercises.
