On Tour

Chapter 13 - Prank

GABRIELLA

Not even my noise-cancelling headphones can completely block the piercing screams of the fans during tonight's concert. I'm following the progress backstage through a monitor that Daan placed for me. That way I can work in peace while everyone else is busy with the concert activity and logistics. I stop what I'm doing from time to time to appreciate their talent and keep concluding that they deserve every bit of success. Probably the fans don't realize that these four people give them all their energy and love during their presentations. Whenever they finish a show, they just collapse on the first chair or couch they find, but their satisfied smiles say it was all worth it.

It's certainly quiet when Erica isn't around, even when she works in silence next to me. I've learned a lot from her. I always thought I had a thick skin, but she's the toughest. When the band is around, it's chaos and even when marshmallows fly above her head, or someone lets out the grossest of loud burps, she just keeps doing whatever she's busy with. Ozzie seems to particularly enjoy messing up with her and it made me realize that maybe there's more to his actions than just teasing. Contrary to Erica, I do get annoyed when they become hyperactive, especially right before the show. They have complained to my face that I'm strict and no fun, but they need to realize that I still need to work payroll manually since that stupid app I was promised is no better than a phone calendar.

The camera zooms on Joel and I smile. We are not friends, but since the phone in a salad prank it seems that his attitude towards me has softened. I've had worse. Like the time someone put a bunch of live crabs in the dressing room. Those horrible things were climbing everywhere and my usually tough guys were terrified. Luckily, the security guys from the venue were kind enough to help us catch them and transport them out of sight. We never knew who did it and until this day, that prank haunts me.

"Here, we deserve this," Erica places a tall coffee cup on the table. Smells heavenly.

"I thought you went back to the hotel."

"It was my intention to go there. Then I saw the coffee shop outside the arena and thought of you. Catering coffee made from instant isn't the same."

"You are the best. I could use a break," I save my file and close the laptop.

"Any news on the app?" She sits next to me and sips from her cup.

"Still nothing. We can see the schedules, hire local overhead to replace anyone that quits, but payroll is still shit. I wanted to see if it was only me, but I checked on Lexy's phone and saw she has the same permissions as me."

"Worthless. They are having fun out there," she says while watching the monitor.

"They are. Aren't you happy they are not terrorizing you right now?"

"I've had my moments of revenge. I shaved one of Alec's eyebrows while he was napping. They were filming a video clip the next day."

"I've seen that video," I laugh. "He went through with it." 

"Because they are all insane. He put glue in the keyhole of my office when I was inside. He had to pay for that."

"Maybe I should get back at Joel for the bag and my phone."

"I don't know what you have in mind but I'm in," she laughs.

"I think we should schedule a special interview next Friday. Let me make a call and I can run you through my idea."

"Ozzie gave me Oreos filled with toothpaste. My fault because by now I should know not to eat anything they give me. Lexy isn't a saint either. She almost gave me a heart attack once when she told me right before going on stage that she was quitting the band because she got signed to go solo. It was a lie to get me all worked up during the two hours of the show."