Since I Saw Him Last: A Gary Barlow Fanfic

Chapter Forty Six

We dried ourselves off from the shower and started getting dressed. "There's no rush. Soundcheck is around 3pm." Gary told me that the band and dancers had already left for the venue. "For future shows, you don't have to come with us. You might want to potter about and meet us later." Gary suggested. "No, it's okay. I'd rather hang out with you guys." I smiled coyly. "You might not be saying that a week in." Gary joked. "Maybe. Charlie will be joining me in two weeks. She always keeps me entertained." I chuckled. "Yeah, but you might want to use the spas or something. See how you feel." I wondered why Gary was attempting to plan my days on tour. I could only guess he was concerned that I wouldn't be enjoying myself. I don't think he realised how eager I was to see the tour from another perspective. "You ready? Got everything you need?" Gary asked considerately. "Phone. Phone charger. I think that's all I need. I'm going to be documenting the whole tour to include the girls." I lifted my shoulders up excitably. "That's good of you. You can show them what they're missing out on and what they have to look forward to." Gary grinned as he kissed me on my forehead. "Come on." He urged me out of the room.

We arrived in the foyer to see Steve waiting with his hands in his pockets. "Gary, Howard's waiting in the lounge area. I'll call you when the car's here." Gary nodded, "Mark's doing the usual?" Gary asked. Steve nodded impatiently. Mark was notorious for turning up late. We walked over to the lounge area to see Howard typing something into his phone. "Dougie. Good sleep?" Gary sat down next to him. "Yeah, sound." Howard didn't avert his eyes from his phone. "Who's that?" Gary nudged Howard's arm. "I'm just texting Zoe." His eyes were still fixed on his phone. "Great conversation." Gary lifted his eyebrows. I sat opposite watching both of them. Gary looked over and smiled his crooked smile at me. "I hope it's not going to be like this all the time." I rolled my eyes jovially. Gary leant forward to give me a peck on the lips, "I'm hoping it won't." From the corner of my eye, I could see someone rush over to us. "What time do you call this?" Gary chided. "Sorry, sorry. The lift is broken." Mark looked like a headless chicken. "Lift is broken? We just used it. Your excuses are getting worse by the day Markie." Gary mocked. Mark sat down next to me and patted my arm, "How you doing? Sleep well?" I nodded with a smile. "I got held up. Phone call from Charlie. She's so excited. I wish she was here now." He cooed. Mark seemed to really miss Charlotte. It was inspiring to see how far their relationship had moved on in the short time they'd known each other. They suffered a setback when they first met but now they were closer than ever. I could tell that Mark adored Charlotte, he spoke well of her and didn't hold back how he felt about her when she wasn't around. I wonder if Gary's the same when I'm not around? I shook the idea from my mind. I shouldn't compare the two, their approaches to relationships are completely different. Mark is outwardly affectionate and honest with his feelings. Gary keeps his cards close to his chest. He's more of a private person and shows his vulnerable side only to those close to him. "Boys, car's here. Is she coming with?" Steve asked. I gave him a steely glare. Who's 'she'? I have a name you know. Even 'Gary's girlfriend' would be better than 'she'? Gary gripped my hand as we walked outside the hotel towards the car.

We arrived at the back entrance to the venue. On our drive up we could see a hoard of fans queuing, some with duvets, tents and folding chairs. I told the boys that if I wasn't dating Gary, I'd be there amongst the fans who camped out overnight just to be at the front. The boys laughed in amazement and a few jokes were made about me being a crazy fan. I'm sure the boys thought I couldn't handle them taking the mickey out of me but I secretly loved it. It meant they had accepted me into their inner circle. The car pulled in front of a gated entrance. A security guard stopped the car and a blonde lady walked over to the driver's side. She handed four backstage passes to the driver. He gave them to Howard to deal out. The electronic gates were opened, the car drove in and stopped by what looked like the artist's entrance. "Natasha, out you come." Gary said as he opened the door and stepped out. We walked through the entrance and down a long corridor. "So first things first. Let us show you around. We've played here in the past so we know where everything is." Gary said. "To the left there is a lounge area which also goes through to catering." Mark directed. "They have some lovely food." Gary said excitedly. "And here's some dressing rooms on the right. These are communal ones." Howard pointed. "And if we turn round this corner you should see each of our dressing rooms." Gary showed me the names on the doors of three rooms. Mark Owen, Gary Barlow, Howard Donald. My heart started beating faster. Is this even real? This can't be happening to me. I channeled my inner fangirl and couldn't help the wide grin from creeping on my face. Howard smiled whilst Mark laughed at me, "Oh, Tasha." Mark hugged me. "That grin is only a grin from a fan!" "I'll see you all in a bit for soundcheck." Howard nodded as he walked into his dressing room. "Gaz, you gotta show her the bath." Mark's eyes widened. "Oh yeah, the bath." Gary chuckled. "Bath?" I looked confused. They share a bath together? How weird! Mark motioned for me to follow him. He opened a door to a room just a little way off the dressing rooms. The lights automatically switched on and there in the middle of the room was a jacuzzi like bath. "This, Natasha, is our ice bath." Gary looked at me like I was supposed to know what that meant. Mark giggled, "Gaz, you have to explain it! Tasha, we fill this up with ice and we get in it after each show. It helps our muscles to recover from the intense workout on stage." I nodded, "I suppose this is a pretty sexy thing for me to watch." I flirted. Mark laughed at me whilst Gary gave me a sideways glance, "If you like inflicting pain on me." I shrugged my shoulders, "I guess you'll have to test me. It'll either be sexy or hilarious." Mark and I laughed loudly. "Come on, let me show you my dressing room." Gary urged. "See you later." Mark said as he walked to his room. Gary led me into his dressing room which consisted of a dressing table, a sofa and a shower room. "I didn't realise your dressing rooms were so sophisticated." I said as I glanced around the room. "Oh, I wouldn't call it that." Gary shrugged. "Well, I thought a dressing room would be like a box room." I said sheepishly. I sounded naïve. "Maybe at smaller venues but arenas aren't like that." He sat down on the sofa and patted the seat next to him for me to sit down. "Mmm, want a doughnut?" Gary lifted the lid off a box on the table in front of us. "You requested doughnuts? I thought you were on a strict regime for the tour." I asked. "A little treat won't hurt." Gary handed me the box to pick a doughnut. "Mmm, so good." He devoured the doughnut in seconds. And just as he swallowed his mouthful, there was a knock on the door. "Come in." Gary yelled. A stocky guy walked through with wires in his hands. "Hello Gary, time to set you up." Gary stood up, took his T-Shirt off and lay it on the sofa. I couldn't help but ogle at his bare chest. The man plastered the wires to Gary's back, he strapped the pack around his waist and switched it on. "Yeah, seems to be working. We'll sort out the rest in soundcheck. I've already done Howard. I'm gonna go do Mark now. See you in a bit." Gary nodded as the man walked out of the room and put his T-Shirt back on. Gary didn't know that I had a thing for him wearing his ear monitors. "Gary, I have a confession." Gary looked a little startled. "What?" "I don't know if I've told you this but... I find it so hot when you wear your ears." He looked back at me blankly as he fit the monitors into his ears, "What? You mean like this?" A cheeky smile spread across his face. "Does this excite you?" He chuckled as he sat back down on the sofa. I smiled as I lifted up one eyebrow. "What about when the boys are wearing them?" He asked with a straight face. I shook my head, "Gary, you're the only singer I find it sexy on." "You're a very strange woman." Gary put his arm around me and planted a firm kiss on my lips. There was another knock on the door, "Come in." Gary yelled again. A young blonde female peered in, "We're ready for soundcheck."