Roadie: A Summer Set FanFic

Chapter 15: Peripeteia

Peripeteia: noun. A sudden reversal of fortune or change in circumstances, especially in reference to fictional narrative. Definition by Oxford Dictionaries.

Tess's POV:

"Okay, your total will be $15.76,” I told the teenage boy in front of me. He happily handed over a few bills. I gathered his change as Connor put the boy's CD and t-shirt into a bag.

“Thanks!” he said excitedly. I watched in amusement as he took his bag a few feet away, ripped off his old TSS t-shirt, and put on the new one he'd just bought. I smiled. He seemed so excited. I missed the feeling of being excited to see my favorite band live. Ever since I'd joined this tour, I'd met a lot of my favorite bands, and the novelty had since worn off.

Soon, the show was starting. TSS was first, so the stage gad already been set up. I'd been at the merch table with Connor for about forty-five minutes now. He seemed to be in a better mood than in Vegas, which was probably due to how on-edge and uncomfortable I was being. Ever since Connor had planted the seed of Stephen-doubt in my head, I'd been feeling really weird around my boyfriend. I'd basically avoided Stephen for the rest of the day and up until now.

Our line dispersed, everyone wanting to see TSS perform. I sunk back onto my stool, rubbing my sore back. Connor noticed.

“Sore?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I replied with a sigh.

“Here, stand up.” He was pulling my up off the stool before I could respond. He stood behind me, hands on my hips. “Where?”

“I slowly moved my hands back to the middle of my spine, from where the pain had been radiating all day. Connor's hands slid up and his thumbs pressed into the center of my back. I immediately relaxed. He massaged in small, circular motions and within a minute, the pain was gone. I sighed with relief.

Suddenly, I was aware of how close Connor was standing to me. I could feel his body heat in the air. Unsure of what to do, my eyes flitted forward, where they met Stephen's. Oh, shit. Anger rolled off of him as he glared in my direction. I was about to pull away when I felt Connor's lips at my ear.

“Better?”

I nodded softly, and his hands disappeared. I plopped down on the stool, quietly thanking Connor and daring myself to look back up at Stephen. When I finally did, his anger was still palpable. But now, he was glaring at Connor.

After Connor, Max, and I cleared out and shut down the merch table, the venue was mostly empty, aside from the bands, crew, and a few fans with backstage passes. I grabbed two water bottles from the wing and handed one to Jess, opening the other for myself.

“You okay?” she asked me. “You seem kind of upset.”