It Started that Night

Part 13

"Dex!... Dex!... DEXTER!" yelled Mac, stood on the stage getting frustrated waiting for him.

"Oh, shit!" said Dex, putting his phone back in his pocket as he rushed from backstage.

Mac didn't look impressed. "Come on, man! We've only got 15 minutes to do this sound check and you're fucking about on your phone!" shouted Mac, he was bright red.

Dex hated making Mac mad but it was also hilarious to see him riled up, he was a big fella and it barely took anything and he was as red as a beetroot! Dex couldn't help but smile but he did well to hide it, he knew that laughing when Mac was in that sort of mood was taking his life into his own hands! Instead he kept his head down. He walked up to his microphone and adjusted the height. Jesse led the sound check, checking all their instruments as Dex belted out a few notes. He sounded good today. He felt well-rested and relaxed and he knew he was really on form. Dex had an undeniably incredible voice but when he was really on his game it really was something else!

As he sang he looked around the huge empty venue. It was quite spectacular, an open-air amphitheatre, in the distance he could see the beautiful Scottish highlands and a pretty little castle. He'd never played a venue with such an amazing view before. It really hit him how lucky he was to be paid to do something he loved whist travelling the world and seeing sights like this one. A year ago he could only have dreamed of standing there.

He pulled his baggy grey sweatshirt sleeves down over his hands and put both hands around his microphone. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, the cool Scottish air felt so amazing as it filled his lungs and he got ready to belt out his last note of the sound check.

"Thanks guys, that was perfect," said Mac, who had calmed down now. The stage crew began to take away all of their instruments to make way for other acts to sound check. Dex pulled his phone out from the back pocket of his tight skinny jeans; he felt a rush of adrenaline as he saw

One new message

on the screen. It's her! he thought, his palms were sweating as he walked backstage he opened the message, excited at what he was about to read.

Hi baby, I'm playing Summer Rocks

Festival, Essex on Friday too! Yay! Can't wait to see you. Love you! <3 Luc xxx

Lucie! Dex felt instantly deflated. His entire body sighed as if the energy had been sucked from him in a split second. It was just from Lucie and even worse than that, she was flying back to the UK on Friday and performing at the same festival they were.

"Awesome," Dex murmured to himself under his breath, he really didn't want to deal with her. With their relationship! She'd only just left him and he was enjoying some uncomplicated time on his own. Mac followed Dex, Jesse, Zach and CJ backstage.

"That sounded awesome guys, good job," he said with a reassuring smile.

"Right, it's 1.20pm, I need you all back here for 4pm prompt, for a 4.15pm rehearsal," he added, looking at each of the guys one by one for their approval and to make sure they were all listening. "Zach?" Mac raised his voice a little.

Zach looked up from his phone. "Huh?" Zach replied, like a deer in headlights.

"Back here 4pm sharp! SHARP!" Mac demanded.

"Yes, I know!" replied Zach, raising his voice with annoyance too; rolling his eyes he looked back down at his phone.

"Right, good, see you all later then," said Mac, dismissing the guys for a few hours of free time.