TORN

Chapter 3

Jacob and Zena arrived at the concert a few hours early to shoot rehearsal footage. Flashing their badges, security directed them to another special parking lot and the two parked, grabbed their gear, and got to work.

"You ready for your first concert?" Jacob asked looking a bit nervous. He's obviously never been to a concert and it definitively showed on his face. Zena, on the other hand, had been to multiple concerts, but never one this big.

"I should be asking you that question," Zena laughed noticing his facial expression. Jacob noticed the line wrapped around the building and down the street and audibly sighed. People of all ages waited to see this band perform. When a security guard spotted their badges and motioned for them to follow him to the backstage entrance. Payton saw his two new friends and waved during his sound check solo.

"Hey Jacob, hey Zena. I didn't know you guys were coming to sound check. How did you even get in this early?" he asked in surprise.

"We're journalists Payton," Zena laughed as Malichai walked over and bro-hugged Jacob. Malichai and Jacob seemed to be getting along better than everyone else so far and it warmed Zena's heart that Jacob let his guard down just a bit.

"Vas happenin' bro?"

"Sup bro," Jacob replied. Malichai smiled at Zena, which she returned before unpacking her equipment. Something felt off about his smile but she acted like she didn't notice.

"Do you guys mind if we get a few shots of you doing, um, whatever you do before shows?" Stephan turned around and nodded. Zena videotaped Stephan's mic check and Hayden rehearsing his lines. Twenty minutes later, all five boys did a run through of their 23 songs for the concert, including where they would enter and exit the stage. Zena got some good shots of the famous band dancing, singing, checking their mics, and a few close ups of each of the boys. "That'll do for now boys. Thank you." As she sat her camera bag near the couch, Hayden walked up and stood very close behind her.

"Hey." Zena stumbled over her bag from being startled. "Didn't mean to startle you. Are you okay?" he said with a laugh.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just don't do that again." Why would he sneak up on me like that?

"Sorry about that. So are you guys still coming backstage after the show tonight?" he asked with a smile on his face.

"Yeah, I want to get pre-show and post-show footage. See how a band acts behind the curtain. And of course, I will be filming during the concert so act like I'm not even there. I want to get you in your natural state," Zena answered.

"I can't act natural knowing you're going to be there." Hayden winked at his next conquest, taking her by surprise. Just as she was about to reply, Jacob comes over.

"Z, I'm going to get something I left in the car. You want me to take the bag with me?" Zena nodded walking with him.

"Hayden's creeping me out," she whispered in his ear. Jacob gave his queen with an 'I'll handle him' look making her smile.

"Malichai, I'll be right back, I just need to get something, then we can do that Q&A," Jacob announced and Malichai nodded before practicing his high notes.

"So what was that about?" Jacob asked.

"It's obvious Hayden likes me and, I mean who doesn't, but he's coming off as creepy." He pulls out a camera before placing the bags in the trunk and grabbing his phone from the driver's seat. Zena glanced between him and his technology with a puzzled look. "Fell from my pocket," he said as if reading her mind.

"Why can't you do it on your phone?"

"I'm a professional babe." As the two walked back to the arena, Zena thought about what Hayden might say/do to make her feel uncomfortable. Jacob caught notice and grabbed her arm spinning her around. "I won't let any of them get to you. I promise you that," he said hugging her tightly.