Deer in the Headlights

Part 39 - New York

[Adam's POV - A few weeks into the tour]

“Thank you New York, you’re beautiful!” The crowd erupts into a frenzy of cheers and rapturous applause, those seated took a standing ovation and the fans in the pit below jumped up and down madly.

Grouping up with the band we all take a bow as the applause rolls on.

Standing up we begin to disperse and walk off of the stage, throwing shy little waves and smiles to the crowd that was still going crazy. Finally I get off of the stage and we all huddle up, each of us beaming from ear to ear.

“Great show you guys!” I turn as I hear the familiar voice of Laura Peaser our tour manager approaching; she smiles as she sees us. “If you guys wouldn’t mind coming to the backstage suite after you’re done here, maybe in about fifteen minutes, we’ve got someone we’d like you to meet.” She said, directing her words at me; I frown and throw her a puzzled smile. We hadn’t got any meet and greets planned tonight, what gave all of a sudden?

“Who is it?” I ask for us, as it seemed the whole band were still grouped around within earshot to hear the conversation, I wasn’t the only one a little confused. Laura grins, her excitement is clear to see.

“Well, you’ll never believe who was here at the show just now?” I tilt my head a little but don’t say anything. “Taylor Swift.”

My eyes widen as I feel my heart crashing into a brick wall. I open my mouth to speak but the words get lost in my throat, luckily Breanne steps in for me.

“Taylor Swift?” She asks in amazement, I’d noticed instantly how the band had regrouped around me; none of them seemed to be able to quite believe what they’d heard. Laura grins and nods her head.

“She came up to us at the start of the show and asked if she could see you afterwards Adam, we didn’t tell you before because you’d probably freak out but yeah. Fifteen minutes in the suite, see you there.” And with that she swept away leaving us all standing around like lemons.

“Dude!” Casey shouts and punches Daniel in the arm; I turn around and smirk at them as they begin to wander off talking about bro things. Without quite realising the girls walked off too, eagerly running to the bathroom to do their makeup, which left just me.

Looking around I began to feel a dull panic setting in. Everyone had left me. I was alone.

Hurriedly walking away down one of the corridors in the vast building I pulled out my phone, nervously searching through the contacts till I found who I was looking for.

Brielle.

If there was one person I could turn to in times of panic it was her, though my heart kicked against the idea quite fervently, we’d hardly spoken since the start of the tour and I was mighty unsure how she’d react to me. With a sigh I bit back the nerves and hit the call button, hesitantly bringing the phone to my ear as I listened to the shallow crackly burrs as the phone picked up hers.

After a good thirty seconds I began to think she wouldn’t reply. I was about to hang up when suddenly the line clicked into life and a loud rustling filled my ears before it quietened down and Brielle’s voice sounded.

“Adam?” She sounded a little dazed and rushed which made me smile.

“Hey Brielle.”

“Shouldn’t you be getting ready for your show?” She asks.

“It’s just finished actually, timezones and all that.” I say quietly, Brielle lets out an “ohh” as she realised what I meant, I was a timezone ahead of her in New York.

“Brielle I really need your help.” I stutter out.

“What do you mean?” I let out a shaky breath.

“I-I’m going to be meeting Taylor Swift, she was at the show tonight and now she wants to meet me and everyone’s run off and I don’t-“

“Whoa Adam slow down, it’s alright; tell me about it.” She says calmly, her voice delicate and soothing, so reminiscent of our night together; fighting off the feeling I try to organise my thoughts.

“I-I’m going to meet T-Taylor Swift.” Brielle giggles sweetly, her soft voice setting goosebumps flaring on my skin.

“C’mon Bri! You know how nervous I get around women, what do I do?” I blurt out nervously. I hear Brielle chuckle again, I realised she might’ve taken what I’d said the wrong way.

“Just be yourself Adam she’s not going to bite your head off.” Brielle replies coolly. I swallow a lump in my throat and force myself to nod, Brielle was right, why wasn’t I getting this?

“I-I mean what do I do when I meet her? Do I shake her hand? Like, do we hug? What do we talk about?”

“Adam calm down. You’ll be fine, she seems a strong woman she’ll probably initiate most of the talk and actions, just be a gentleman and keep a steady conversation flowing. I know you can do it.” I sigh quietly, my nerves finally beginning to drop a little.

“Thanks Bri.” I say quietly.

“Hey it’s no problem; make sure to tell me how it goes too.”

“Y-Yeah I will.” I stutter.

“Just relax Adam!” She says with a smile, her voice rippling with happiness, she knew I was still worrying; Brielle had known me too long to know I wouldn’t have just dropped the situation entirely. Letting out a nervous chuckle I let go of my anxiety.

“Thanks Brielle.”

“Go Adam!” I giggle dorkily as I hear the playful edge in her voice, she definitely wanted me to go and stop putting it off; casting my eyes down the hallway I smirk as I see the girls approaching me.

“Alright, take care Bri; thanks again.”

“Have fun.”

And with that she hung up. Grinning widely I stuff the phone back in my pocket and turn to the girls, they were all eyeing me with a funny look; they’d probably guessed I was talking with Brielle.

“Come on.” I say gruffly as I begin walking away, despite the phone call my nerves were still nipping at my heels. I couldn’t quite believe this was happening.

I was about to meet Taylor Swift.

Taylor Swift!

[Authors note: Oh yes, I went there!]