I'm awake.
Why am I awake.
I turn over and Elvis is fast asleep.
He's so cute when he's asleep.
I quietly get out of Elvis' bunk and my hole body is stiff.
While I stretch I notice Jess asleep next to David in his bunk.
I new it.
I leave the room and notice were still moving.
What time is it?
I sit on one of the couches while I watch the street lights fly past.
"Couldn't sleep?" A deep voice questions
I notice that I'm not alone
Johnny.
"No. My nerves have kept me awake"
"Don't worry about it. I'm sure you will be fine"
He looks back at me and smiles.
"Aren't you tired? When do you sleep?" I ask
"Ill sleep when you guys are preforming"
"Right, what's the time?"
"4am"
"Better go back to bed" I yawn and make my way back into Elvis' bunk. I look at his big lips and kiss them gently. His dark brown hair looks so soft I have to stop myself from touching it.
God I'm falling for him so bad.
---
I wake up to the sound of laughter.
What the?
I feel A warm hand travel up my leg.
Fuck.
I grab the hand to stop it going any further and turn over to blue eyes.
"Good morning" he smiles.
I wrap my arm around him and move my hand to his butt.
He grins
"Not now honey"
I giggle and get out of the bunk.
Jess and David are gone. They must be up.
"God it's cold" I mumble
It was a stupid idea to were shorts and a singlet.
"Here" Elvis throws me a knitted green sweater.
I slide it on and it smells of him. I never want to take this off.
I watch as Elvis chucks on a top and shorts.
"What you looking at?" He grins
"Oh nothing"
We walk out and find Jess David and Johnny eating toast on the couches.
"We must have arrived"
-----
We're all ready. Johnny's parked outside the bar called the woodshed so we can leave to a hotel as soon as we've finished. I sit opposite Elvis going over my song.
"What are you gonna sing?" He asks as he study's what I do.
"It's called 'come on everybody'" I watch his eyes as he looks from me to the guitar.
"How does it go?"
"You'll have to wait and see" I teas
He shakes his head and leans back on the couch.
Mr Phillips walks in and he's all smiles.
"You have a full house in there so make me proud! Jess, David your up"
We all walk out of the bus. I notice Elvis and I are the only one with guitars.
Jess and David walk hand in hand with there jean jackets on as we approach the building.
I pull at my bandana as it slowly strangles me.
"You alright?" Elvis asks tugging at his too.
"I'm fine" I reply as he grabs my hand.
This place is way bigger than before. People are frantic when we walk in.
Girls in ridiculous outfits running to there mirrors to fix there makeup. Men In high end suits running after the girls and boys my age running with clipboards.
A young boy approaches Mr Phillips and he looks stressed.
"This wa-way sir"
We follow him through the frantic group of performers and stop next a green curtain.
"Jessica and David Bowie?" The Boy looks at us wondering who is who.
"Here" Me Phillips nudges Jess and David to step forward.
"Your on" we all shuffle back as they stand behind the curtain.
Jess looks at me and I know she's nervous.
I give her a thumbs up and she smiles.
This is it. I know she will do great.
Jess takes Davids hand and the curtain opens.
---
I sit opposite Elvis waiting for Jess and David to finish. I can't even hear them. All Of a sudden a loud Rumble comes from the the curtain and the floor starts to rattle. It's clapping.
I hear people scream for more as I see Jess appear with a wide smile. I run Upto her with my arms open.
"What did you sing?, I couldn't even hear it??" She hugs me back and I can tell she's been singing her heart out Because she's breatheless.
"It's called Heroes! David wrote it! We'll have to play it for you later"
"Elvis Presley" the same young boy asks for.
Elvis stands up with his guitar and takes a deep breathe.
"Good luck, you'll do great" I hug him quickly and he kisses me on the check
"Thanks baby"
I sit back down. This stuff is stressful
Jess sits next to me trying to catch her breathe as does David.
I still can't hear anything.
"Why can't we go closer" I sulk
"I don't know, know ones looking lets go look"
I look around and everyone's to busy. I stand up and walk over to the curtain that's wide open and pep my head around.
Holy shit. People everywhere sitting in large groups with wines and beers.
I see Elvis stand behind the mic as he adjusts his guitar.
A small group clap as Elvis speaks into the mic.
"Thank you ladies and gentlemen this is one of my favourites called stuck on you"
Something nudges my back and I turn to see Jess.
"He's stuck on you" she laughs
I smile and then back to Elvis
"You shake an apple from an apple tree a shake a shake a sugar but you'll never shake me. No sire. I'm gonna stick like glue. Stick beacause I'm stuck on you."
Im so focused on watching Elvis that I don't even notice Jess and I being dragged away.
"Yo-you can not go up there" the young boy tells us
"Sorry, sorry" I exclaim
Hopefully the crowd will like my song I tell myself... Hopefully.
For the second time the ground starts to rattle but again it's just the crowd cheering and clapping for Elvis. My palms get sweaty and I rub them on my jeans.
I see Elvis emerge from the curtain and he's smiling. He takes his guitar off and hugs me.
"You did a great job I loved the song"
"You heard it?" He questions knowing that we couldn't hear Jess and Davids.
"I watched for a little" I grin
He smiles brightly as David pats him on the back.
Suddenly were getting pushed around by woman in feather costumes.
"Maddi Gray, your on after this performance. Please come wi-with me" the young boy grabs my arm and I don't even get a change to talk to Anyone before he's dragging me away.
I look back and Elvis looks confused.
I see him bend over and say something to mr Phillips and Elvis doesn't look happy.
"Ok ok you don't have to drag me" I pull my arm back and follow the boy and I end up standing next to the stupid woman who are dressed up.
"This is our competition now? Gez girls we have it easy this year" one of the girls looks me up and down and rolls her eyes.
I ignore them as they go on stage.
I pull at my bandana, pull yourself together Maddi. I take a deep breath and come to my scenes. I feel the strings of the guitar and stum. You can do this.
Mr Phillips is walking my way. Oh god what does he want.
"How are you feeling?" He asks with his hands on my shoulders
"Fine"
"Good, now why don't you play without a guitar this time, do you really need it?"
"Um yeah yes"
"Your on in 5" the boy yells
"Here" Mr Phillips takes the guitar and gives me a pat on the shoulder
"Let them see you" he smiles and walks off with the guitar.
I can't move.
Let them see me?
This is the worst time to take my guitar off me now.
The girls run back to there mirrors and my legs are shaking.
I can do this!
I walk out and a bright light hits me. I stand Infront of the mic.
"How is everyone doin tonight" I smile and I get a cheer.
Good start.
"Alright. I'm gonna mix it up a little so feel free to stand up and join me" I see a few people put down there drinks to prepare and some just go back to dinning.
"This song is called come'on everybody"
I turn behind me and I get a glimps of Elvis as he's getting dragged away by the same boy.
The piano starts. Here we go
"Come on everybody and snap your fingers now" I snap my fingers to the beat and a few join in too
I get some People looking around wondering if they should join in.
"Come on everybody and clap your hands real loud"
I clap my hands and a few more people join
"Come on everybody take a real deep breathe and repeat after me. The love of my baby"
I'm surprised when more people stand up and shout
"Love of my baby"
And more
"Love of my baby"
And more
"Hey hey hey hey and my baby loves me"
Everyone starts clapping to the beat. But my eyes are drawn to Jess David and Elvis who are amongst the crowd and there walking to get closer to the stage.
"Come on everybody and whistle this tune right now" and they all whistle.
Elvis gets to the stage and looks at me and I go up to him and grab his hands to help pull him up. I see David help Jess and we're all on the stage. Girls come running up the to stage and start clapping. I see mr Phillips look surprised .
"Come one everybody and stomp your feet real loud"
Elvis stands next to me and stomps his feet. He starts to dance and girls are screaming at him. Gez he can dance.
"Come one everybody take a real deep breathe and repeat after me. The love of my baby, love of my baby, love of my baby.. Hey hey hey and my baby loves me"
After I finish the song We all jog off stage and my heart is racing.
"That was amazing!" I gasp hugging Elvis
"What a rush!" Jess laughs holding Davids hand.
We all get pushed around when the woman in outfits rush to the stage for there number.
"Your definitely shocked me" we turn around to mr Phillips and he's not alone. A grey headed man in a tux stands next to him.
"I would like you to meet Mr Hudson. He runs the entertainment side"
"It's a pleasure to meet you all" he shakes Elvis' hand and pats him on the back.
"You four are very talented. I can tell you will go far but you will always be welcome back here"
"Thank you" I smile
Mr Hudson walks away and were faced with mr Phillips.
"You better get back to the bus. And next time fill me in if you wanna change it up"
We all head back to bus.
"He seems a little mad" I mutter
"I guess people like him like control" David replies
I nod my head and board the bus.
