Unrequited

The Return - June 1982 - Part 1

Arianna was listening to the radio station at work one day in early June of 1982 when the DJ announced that Duran Duran would be playing at the Mann Music Center on the 26th of that month. John! She would be able to see him again, and maybe they would even reunite! She had waited so long to see him again, hoping he would be just as happy to see her.

She used part of her savings to buy a front-row ticket. She knew if she were that close, she'd be able to catch John's attention, and they would reunite. She was so excited to see him again! She wondered what he looked like. She wondered if fame had changed him. She wondered if he had even missed her.

The night of the show, she wore a tight, white tank top over her black bra and the red, white, and black pleated "schoolgirl" skirt she had made herself. She also wore black stockings (and garter belts) and black high-heeled pumps. She knew John would love that look on her. She couldn't wait to see him!

When she arrived at her seat in the venue, she realized she could literally touch the stage with her hands, as she was that close. She knew she'd catch John's attention somehow. Maybe she'd just yell "Nigel!" at him like she had that night at the Cedar Ballroom. What she couldn't believe were the fans. There were a lot, and so many of them were young girls. She'd always thought Duran had a darker, punky edge to their music. Had they become a teeny-bopper band? She hoped not!

When Duran came on stage, Arianna stood there transfixed. They all looked so different! Simon had blonde hair, for goodness sake! Nick's hair was an orangey blonde. And John. He was so slim, tan, and beautiful. His hair was highlighted, collar length layers in the back and longer in the front, with still a slight fringe hanging in his eyes. Nigel was gone entirely from his look. Eighteen months had undoubtedly changed all of them, so had it changed her too?

Throughout the concert, Arianna tried to catch John's eye. But her seat was on the wrong side of the stage, the side away from him. She watched and studied him, wondering again if he would even know her. He seemed so different. Confident. Masculine. Sexy. He beguiled the female fans with his movements. And oh, how he flirted with the fans. When he flashed his smile - the smile she had always loved - the fans went wild, screaming, crying, and clutching at their clothes. My word, it was like watching a scene from a Beatles movie. He was practically bewitching these girls, and they were turning themselves inside out for a moment's attention from him.

Then an awful thought came into her mind. If he flirted with the fans, did he take them to bed? Had he become a typical rockstar, bedding a different groupie every night? How many times had he done it? How many different girls? Her head reeled at the thought of her wonderfully innocent Nigel doing such a thing. But she couldn't deny his sexual draw. It made her want him.

The band had a semi-quiet moment while Simon introduced the next song. He was slowly walking towards the edge of the stage, closer to her. What was he doing? Had Simon seen and recognized her? She wasn't sure, but...

"I wrote this next one for a dear friend after he lost the love of his life. It's called 'Lonely In Your Nightmare.'"

As Simon said the title, he looked directly at Arianna and gave her a wink. She gasped, her mouth dropping open as she realized he'd known she was there. If Simon had seen her, had John? She looked in his direction, and he was still looking out at the crowd, but his smile had changed. It was a little sadder. But her mind was stuck on the fact that Simon had written the song for John about her. Wow!

As Simon sang the beautiful words, Arianna watched John, and his entire demeanor had changed. The flirt was gone. He looked wistful and thoughtful, smiling slightly as he played his melodic bass lines. Near the end of the song, John made his way over to Simon, singing along to the words. By the time the song finished, John was standing directly beside Simon. Simon put his arm around John's shoulders and leaned into him, whispering something in his ear. John looked at Simon, his brow furrowed and looking confused. He looked like he didn't believe whatever Simon had told him. Had he just told John that she was there?