Pain of Discovery (BoyxBoy) [The Pain series Book 1]

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[A/N - wow, so happy to finally get this chapter published.  It's a big one!! This all takes place during the first day of rehearsals in Dubai before the first concert, and a big theme centres around Jason understanding the conflicts he is plagued with.  Not sure when I'll be able to update again, but I already know that this story will go on for some time yet - my own life might be right on track now, but Jason still has a long way to go.  Please read, comment and fan if you like what you see here - your feedback keeps me going.  I'm dedicating this chapter to Paige (TemperedGrace) who continues to be an amazing inspiration to me - keeping smiling honey!! xxx]

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I struggled to adjust the earpiece to a comfortable position in my ear. The red and white lasers were cloaking the arena in shimmering electronic waves that danced across the smoky air, and the drummer was testing out some elaborate fill patterns on the tom-toms. We'd only been inside the massive hall for thirty minutes, but already the temperature had reached a very uncomfortable level.  Looking to my left, I could see both Laura and Zak wiping the beads of sweat from their brows and desperately trying to rehydrate with chilled bottles of water.

"They trying to bake us in here or something?" Laura moaned, before shouting over to our manager, "What's the hold-up Guy?"

He could only offer a shrug of his narrow shoulders in response as he stood at the massive bank of mixing desks and computer screens that controlled the sound equipment and the lighting rigs. He was in deep discussions with the tech guys, probably outlining things that we had no real desire to understand. Clearly there was still plenty of planning to be done before tonight's big show, but the longer we had to hang around, the more I was wishing that they had let us (quite literally) chill out backstage in our air-conditioned dressing room until they were actually ready for us.

Zak had been uncharacteristically quiet all morning with a faraway look in his eyes. I nudged his arm and gave him a quick wink. "You bearing up, mate?"

He shifted his gaze absent-mindedly to me and gave me a little nod. I knew there was something that he was desperate to share, but decided not to pry. He'd tell me when he was ready.

The air was punctuated by a couple of sharp claps followed by the monotone instructions from the head of stage operations, Lou - a man who often looked like he was on the brink of falling asleep no matter what was going on around him.

"Okay, twenty second cue - first full rehearsal for DNA - everyone plugged in, let's get this in one, people."

I adored this track. Being the title track of their first album and their second original single, the girls were really nervous about making sure that it hit with an explosive impact that would catapult the track into the stratosphere, so they had insisted on opening the show with it. They were all suspended in oval cages high above the stage for the start of the track, and my heart went out to Jesy knowing her dislike of heights. Stay strong babe, I whispered, glancing hopefully up to the roof.

As Lou started the 10 second countdown, Laura mouthed a quick "good luck" over to Zak and I, and I returned the gesture with a thumbs-up and a wink.

"I love this track" said Zak. It had been one of the first things he'd uttered since we got on-stage. I smiled upon hearing his voice again.

"Me too, mate," I responded. "Such a great melody and beat."

Zak shifted his gaze to my face, his smouldering eyes now burning with a depth that I'd never experienced from him before. "I love the lyrics. They just... make sense, y'know?" His lips parted slightly and he ran his hand through his moist brown locks.