Not Just A Fan

Chapter 2

 'Congrats on your sale, the young lad seems happy.'

'Yeah, reminds me of a younger version,' he leans on the wall next to her and takes a quick look at her. 'I like your top by the way.' She looks down to console her shirt.

'Oh thank you.' Ester remembers Brad complimenting this top before, does he have a bad memory? It starts to get quiet, biting the bottom of his lip while scratching the back of his head.

'You got a gig coming up?' he asks awkwardly, she shakes her head.

'It's such a shame you won't be able to come.'

Due for him only being 19, not being old enough to enters clubs or bars.

'Actually, I'll be able to.' Brad stuffs his hands in his jeans pockets. 'My brother is in town, he has a fake ID for me.'

'Oh, that's pretty cool.'

'Yeah. So let me know when you get a gig, I would love to see you play.'

Ester starts to go all red. 'Yeah, that would be nice.'

He smiles at her, 'If you do, I can pick you up and take you there?' He asks nervously, 'before that, we could get a bite to eat?' Ester can see the nerves running in his body and thought maybe she should help him out.

'You don't have to wait for me to have a gig... ', she tucks her hair behind her ear, 'we could go out anytime.' Brad shoulders relaxed, so did his smile.

'Cool....so....'

'Breaks over, Ester got a customer for you.' Jason slams the door open cutting off Brad speaking, she shuts her eyes, wondering whether to tell Jason to leave as this is much more important, but the work drive kicked in.

'We'll talk later,' she tells Brad and leaves the courtyard.

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'Oh my god, you said that?' Katie blurts out on the sofa with a 20-inch pizza taking over the coffee table while watching the TV, but it was becoming background noise. Ester was telling her what happened today in the courtyard with Brad.

'Yes and I think he was about to ask me out, but then Jason walks in.'

'That's hilarious.' Katie covers her mouth from talking with her mouthful.

'This close.' Ester sighs. 'Maybe, I'm not dateable.'

'No, you haven't found the right guy yet,' she shifts her eyes to her curious where this was going. 'Look, you're dateable. You dated a few guys in high school, but since the fame you've been getting a lot of attention.'

'I need be careful now to make sure they're not just a fan, you know.' Katie nods, she has been asked by a few guys, but they give off a creepy vibe they're only fans and are not into her in that way. They like her because of her music and how she performs, not who she is.

'You don't think Brad sees you just as a celebrity?'

'No, I don't, I think he likes me.'

'Ok, as long as you're sure.' Ester smiles.

'....and now Lacy Nell with the news update on Metal Skull.' The TV noise perked up Esters' ears.

'Hi, I'm Lacy Nell and here is your music update.' Ester remembers her when she competed, they got a chance to go to the Epic Rock Sound Music awards. She was on the side-line interviewing them. The shaved brown locks on one side she had and studded jacket. 'Battle of the Rockstar winner Ryleigh Roberts has made a post today stating her and Rory Colemon, who also competed are now officially dating.'

'Finally!' Ester blurts out, 'been holding that in for a long time.'

'The couple realised this photo of them both,' They listened to the TV, 'at the ground fair with the following quote, "Nothing compares being beside the person you love the most, love you..."

'Aww, cute.' Katie coos, Ester got her phone out and gave a quick text to Ryleigh joking about how much she wanted to burst and how happy she is for them both. They talk every other day, Ryleigh has a busy schedule as she's working on her album. She did offer Ester to come by and work with her, but her gigs kept getting in the way.

'To all the Absent fans here listen up....' The TV continued, Ester ears listened in '....He has now realised his tour dates calling it the "Unbreakable Tour" for this year.'

'Wooho! Hopefully, come by here.' Katie yells out loud.

'Totally getting tickets for that,' Ester echoed, his real name is Drew Klax, Absent is his stage name. She did meet him at the music awards in the distance as she was too scared to say hello. Only remembering him taking an interest with Rory and Ryleigh, Ester likes his music and been listen to him for a couple of years, her regrets was not saying hello to him the first time. Drew, or Absent, had this sexy appeal about him that she liked, the dark hair and eyeliner that sits perfectly under his eyes without looking like a panda. He has tattoos on his forearm, coloured in. She gets all flushed thinking about it.

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The next day, as she makes her way to the shop, her phone buzzes showing Erics' name popping up.

'Gosh, never thought to hear from you this early.'

'I would laugh but I didn't seem to find it funny. I think you should stick to the music.' He joked back, 'Anyway, I have some good news.'

'What is it, I have a gig?'

'Something better than that...Where are you?'

'On my way to work, why?'

'Just stop walking for a second, it's big news.' Ester stopped and can see ahead of the shop, only need to take 10 more steps.

'Come on, tell me.'

'I got you an audition.' Eric says, she huffs as some clubs want to see them before they hire for the night, a demo and persuading from their manager are not good enough these days. 'It's with a record label.'

'Oh.' Ester was surprised to hear that, not stepped into a studio for a while.

'It's with Messed-Town records.'

'Eric, that's in Las Vegas! I need something closer.'

'Shut it for a second and let me explain!' Eric got a bit tense, the excitement from his news was starting to be ruined because of Ester speaking. 'The record label are deciding to run their rehearsals in Brooklyn they want some "time away" from their town and to hire different musicians to go on tour with them.'

'Who is it?' Ester hearts beat fast, to tour is almost in her sight.

'Absent, or Drew-' Ester screamed down the phone in excitement, a dog-walker passing by looking at her, his ears hurt from the high-pitch noise.

'OH MY GOD!'

'Sis calm down, this is why I wanted to tell you in private.' He knows how much of a fan she is of his work, 'You need to act a professional when you get there, it's only an audition. Depending on how you play will decide if he wants you on tour.'

Ester takes some breathing exercises to calm her excitement. 'Ok, I get it. When is it?'

'Tonight at 5.30 pm, I only got the call 10 minutes ago,' and goes into detail where she would need to be, luckily the shop shuts at 5 pm, the place was only 15 minutes away. 'Oh, one more thing, don't tell anyone, he doesn't want anyone to know he's here. He is quite a private person.' Ester understood, nobody knows where he is half the time as Drew doesn't post a lot on his social media.

'I promise I won't.'

After her call, she entered the store with a grin on her face, practically skipping.

'Someone's in a good mood.' Jason notices.

'Yep, it's looking like things are going good for me.'