Melodies Of Love

Chapter 11: Unspoken Glances

Lily

His gaze barely left mine during the whole concert. Though his stage presence was immaculate I could see his expressions demanding answers about my presence here, at the start of the concert. This was my first time attending his concert.. I've never heard him sing upclose. Live. Like this.. Ever

It's a new experience and my heart is beating with such abnormality that it makes me feel giddy. The emotions that Alex manages to show in his songs is impressive... I make myself snap out of my own thoughts, coming back to the present again. The crowd is going crazy over him but I don't fail to catch him glancing my way every few moments and every time he does it, my breath hitches in my throat.

After a very long evening the concert for today was finally over and people started retreating back to their homes. The staff members started to emerge to take control and end the event and it was my cue to go backstage as I was instructed by the person who brought me here forcefully at such a short notice of time. Alex's fashion director. I sighed and made my way to the backstage, when I entered, Alex and his fashion director were already standing and talking at the entrance. His fashion director noticed me and called out to me "oh you're here Lily. Meet Lily, Alex. She's going to be your new stylist from now on" she said to Alex and I passed a small smile to him. Alex's eyes widened hearing her. "Wait! Was she the one you were talking about on the phone? And you just brought her here so abruptly even though you said her grandma is in the hospital??" Alex asked being perplexed. "Yeah... Well, why? Do y'all know each other already" she said raising an eyebrow. "No. No, we don't. It's my first time meeting her." he said. I was taken aback by his words but then.. what else was he even supposed to say.. he's a famous star he can't risk anything. He turned to me "it's nice meeting you Lily" he said extending his hand. I shook his hand "it's a pleasure meeting you too Mr. Barlowe." His gaze was intense on me, not letting go of our handshake. He let go when his fashion director cleared her throat awkwardly bringing him back to his senses.

"Ok then! Lily, come with me. There are a lot of tasks that I want to explain to you. Oh! But first, accompany Alex to his dressing room and help him with his clothes for now. Hang them back neatly on the hangers. I'll catch up with you later." She said firmly and walked away. I looked over to Alex who was already looking at me. "Lead the way Mr. Barlowe, I don't know where your dressing room is set up here" I said, to which he replied "Don't be so formal, it's not like we really are meeting for the first time today" he said shrugging with a half smile and started walking, I followed behind him. "Yeah.. but you don't want other staff to get the wrong idea so let's keep it at that" I said. He turned around while walking to look at me as I said that and he silently nodded. We entered his dressing room, which was enormous, with a big mirror at the front and a walk in closet that was filled with clothes hanging in it. "Close your mouth, a fly will get in." He said chuckling as I was admiring. I came back to my senses and cleared my throat before turning around and walking to his closet and picked up his regular clothes, handing it to him. "Change in these and hand me the clothes you're wearing so I can place them back" I said, signalling to the curtained portion of his room. He took his clothes from my hand, his fingers brushing past mine, as a tingling sensation flowed through my body. He closed the curtains and I could hear the rustling sound of clothes as I started to clear up the rest of the room, placing things in their place. "Here, take them" he called out from behind the curtain, sticking his hand out, for me to take the clothes from his hand. I walked up to him and took it from his hands, our fingers touching again as my heartbeat got faster again. I quickly took them and walked away to his walk in closet and neatly hanged them back on the hanger. "Do you need my help with anything else or can I go now?" I called out to him. "No, wait, I need your help with the face cleanser lotion.. I don't know what they use for it. Could you help me with that?"
He said from behind the curtains. "Sure, I don't mind" I said as I walked up to the drawers by his mirror and started searching for the lotion. As I was searching for it he came out from behind the curtains having changed back to his regular clothes. I glanced at him for a moment before saying, "Come, sit" I gestured to the chair infront of the mirror as I found the cleanser. "Mhm okay" he said, sitting on it as he closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the chair giving me easier access to his face. I pushed his hair back from his face before putting some cleanser on the cotton pad. I leaned in a little, gently rubbing his face with it. I don't know why but being close like this, made my heartbeat go wild. "You don't have any feelings for him. relax lily, you're just doing your job." I tried to convince myself internally as I was almost done cleaning his face and was about to lean back when he suddenly opened his eyes, looking straight into mine as I froze on my spot. "Are you done?" He asked as we both were still in that position. I came back to my senses hearing his question and stepped back quickly, throwing the cotton pad away in the dustbin. "Y-yeah you're good to go now" I said placing the cleanser bottle back in its place as I headed for the door. "I'll go now" i informed him as I reached out to open the door handle. "Hmm okay, go safely and feel free to reach out to me if you face any problems here. And... I was really surprised to see you in the crowd.." he said still sitting in his chair, a small smile on his lips as he looked at me through the mirror. I turned around and chuckled "yeah.. obviously.. you would have been surprised. Who would've thought that I'll suddenly have to travel to Brazil leaving my grandma in the hospital like that.. thanks for looking out for me though and I'm grateful to your fashion director that she decided to choose someone like me for this job" I said with a small smile. His expression changed to a serious one "I'm sorry.. that you had to leave your grandma in that condition because of this.. I- I really didn't know that it was you she was talking about for the job.. " he said feeling guilty. "It's okay, Mr. Barlowe.. I'm happy to do this job" I said smiling and he nodded at me through the mirror as I finally headed out now. As I was walking through the corridor I met his fashion director, and she took me with her, explaining my duties along the way for the rest of the remaining days of the concert.