Half a World Away

17 - Cassidy

Solo_Track: How was the concert?

Cassidy smiled when she saw the message. She was standing with Jasmine at the tail end of the line to go backstage with about twenty to thirty other people ahead of them. Cassidy was hot and bothered from being surrounded by people all night, not really her idea of fun. But she had to admit she enjoyed the concert and the music. She still found it hard to believe that the guy who was up on stage was the same stranger she had so casually hung out with the night before.

"Jas," she pulled on Jasmine's arm, "let's just go."

"Are you freaking kidding me?" came Jasmine's response, a look of shock on her face. Other fans in the line turned to gawk in disbelief when they overheard Cassidy. "This is a chance of a life time and you want to leave? Backstage passes aren't something you get every day. We were lucky we got the tickets to the concert, but this is by far better!"

Cassidy sighed and returned her attention to her phone while they waited for the backstage access area to be opened to them. She sent Solo_Track the selfie she and Jasmine took that Zack Masters posed for in the background while he was on stage. He had already seen a photo of her, so any others weren't an issue anymore.

C45510Y: It was ok... ;)

Solo_Track: Looks like you were having fun.

C45510Y: Yeah, but it was very hot and I felt smothered. People were always pushing me forward to get closer to the stage.

The price of good tickets.

Solo_Track: What are you up to now?

C45510Y: Currently in line waiting to go backstage.

C45510Y: I was happy to just head home, but Jasmine won't budge.

Solo_Track: You can't leave!

Solo_Track: A backstage pass is like gold.

Cassidy rolled her eyes at his reply. He sounded just like Jasmine.

Solo_Track: Promise me you will go backstage.

Solo_Track: I'm sure you won't regret it.

Cassidy's thoughts were interrupted by Jasmine's squeals of delight. Everyone started to move and Cassidy was propelled forward towards the back-stage door. She steadied herself on her feet and followed the crowd.

"This way please everyone," a female voice sang out over the crowd, her voice was thick with the same accent as Zack's Cassidy noticed. "No need to push, you will all get inside as long as you present your passes to security at the door."

When the woman came into view, Cassidy could see she was only young, not much older than Cassidy. She had short, wavy blonde hair that rested wildly on her shoulders that complimented her fierce green eyes. The woman caught Cassidy's watchful eye and smiled politely before looking down at her phone, typing something in at a hurried pace.

The line of fans staggered through a side door guarded by two large burly security guards that led down a long, dark corridor. The woman, who introduced herself as Janice, moved past the crowd to lead the way. They made their way through a set of double doors that opened into a large oddly shaped room that was filled with lounge chairs, bean bags and a large table covered in all different types of food and drink.

"Zack will be along soon, but in the time being please help your selves to the buffet and drink stand, Zipline is here too." Janice announced to the group before hurrying off behind a curtain.

Four security guards stood guard, two at the door they had entered in through and two more in different locations in the room. The fans dispersed in separate directions; some to the buffet, others jumped into the bean bags and the rest raced to the other side of the room screaming excitedly.