Not Just A Fan

Chapter 18

After she ate, Ester got her kit ready to take and got a cab to get there, since she rejected Drews offer of picking her up, Katie came with her.

Carrying her kit, she goes to the back of the bar and introduce herself to the owner, and they show her where to set up. The bar is tiny, with a small stage in the corner, it was an American Irish theme style with the dark wood and green seating, the walls covered with unique licence plates. The set is only an hour, but it will give some extra money on the side. Ester started to feel down about losing her spot altogether for the tour, it never was about the money, but now she is started to think her actions might of made her lost her chance. As she had her set up already, she sits at the bar with Katie.

'K, what's does my horoscope say for me today?' she asks, which made Katie startled,

'I thought you didn't believe in those?'

'Something tells me I need a sign right now.'

Katie shrugs and gets her phone out and finds them. 'Ok, so it says "You need to speak to them and sort out you're differences before it's too late. Not speaking to them does not solve the problem. Let them express and listen, also, relax and go with the flow."

Ester thinks through on what she readout, it meant something but who was it aimed for Drew or Brad, either way, it could be for both. Falling out with them in different circumstances and not talking it out, did make her think if she is overreacting.

 'Did it help?' Kaite asks,

'I think so.' she replies.

They chatted for a while, and Katie decides to go to the bathroom, seconds later, Ester sees Eric entering with Oscar.

'Evening.' he says and hugs her and starts ordering two beers. Ester says hello to Oscar, and they have a quick catch up. 'You all set?'

'Yep and I brought a friend along to help.' Ester caught Katie coming back, she smirks, and got eager to see Erics' face. Katies hair is curled beautifully and covers her body in a tight dark red dress.

'Katie!' he says nearly spilling his drink, what she was wearing made his heart skip a beat.

'Hi Eric.' she says confidently, 'Oscar, it's been long.' as Katie chats to him, Ester nudges her brother.

'Why don't you do something with Katie? Just the two of you.'

'And leave Oscar on his own, no. Look, please stop trying to set me up with her. I don't need your help.' Eric says, and she pouts, hating the answer. At the corner of her eye, she sees a guy wearing a black baseball cap, with his eyes hidden away, but his jawline look familiar. Thinking it might be the beer that has gone to her head quite quickly.

The owner walks up to the stage and speaks into the microphone introducing Ester to the stage. The bar had empty spaces with a limited amount of people, but she would find a way of getting their attention.

Ester sat behind the keyboard and introduced herself, and she starts playing the music she made for the show, with some heads were bobbing about. Half an hour in, the punters get rowdy, she then plays well-known tracks and get some people dancing, she enjoyed herself being there even to a small crowd. With the songs, she would use artists that are big in the charts to get them to sing along.

With her time almost up, Ester thought on the spot.

'Thank you very much for coming tonight, it's a pleasure to play to you all. I have one more song left for you, and it's new. I wrote it today, I hope you like it. This song is called, "Carefree".' She sets her hands on the chords and presses down to start.

Living in a fairy tale,

It was hard for reality to shine,

I've given up on believing,

The hero is the mine,

With the mask behind he hides,

The truth will finally come out,

Just tell me on where to start.

I'm carefree,

When the world wants to keep bringing you down,

So believe,

When I say everything going to be all right,

Don't say no, I can't bear it,

Don't say how, it's worth it,

Just say now. Just say now,

Before it's too late. 

Don't you hurt me, with the look in your eyes,

I want you to be mine,

Let it go, on what you hold onto,

You'll be fine,

With me.

The techno sound pop enters given it the edge she has been looking for, it had something, and it got the audiences' attention, it was fresh and easy to pick up. Ester never cared what they thought, as she was in her world enjoying every moment she has with it. When the song finishes, she had a round of applause and got up to take a bow.

Jumping off the stage with the adrenaline rush and her friends give her a bigger round of applause.

'That new tracks sound wicked!' Katies says.

'Yep, I agree.' Eric echo's.

After that, Ester goes to the bar and gets a drink, she always gets one on the house, and Eric takes the money from her performance and transfers it later. As she waits for the barman for her drink, a man stands next to her looking at her.

'Nice gig chick.' she looks over at the man, must be middle-aged, had an ungroomed beard and short brown hair.

'Thank you.' she says back.

'You on your own?'

'I'm with friends.' she is hoping to be left alone now, he gave off the impression that he's had a few too many.

'Tell your friends you'll be back soon. Let's go round the back.' he grabs her arm pulling her slightly,

'No thank you, leave me alone.' she says firmly fighting him off.

'Come on love.' he tries one more time pulling her.

'Let go.' A deep voice with his firm hand slaps on the guys' shoulder and stares at him with anger. Ester took a double-take, it is the guy she seen earlier with the black cap, now up close, she recognises him. The way he stares at him made the guy put his hands up in surrender and backs away.

'Drew...what are you doing here?' Ester whispers, 'You could be seen.' his silver eyes amazed her every time she sees him. He watched at the back and was blown away by her performance, as he thought there is no way this woman should be in small stages like this.

'I promised I would get you here which didn't happen, but I am taking you home. We should talk.' Drew had desperation in his eyes, as he wanted to understand what he did wrong. It made his blood boil when another man harassed her, he was having none of it. Ester felt touched on what he said and agreed they need to talk.

'I'll be back in a second.' she goes off to get Eric and speak privately to him, three taps on the shoulder she whispered into his ear.

'Drew is here, I'm going to go somewhere with him to have a private chat. I'll tell you more later.'

'Ok, I'll take your stuff with Katie and Oscar.' Eric decided not to question anything, as it was like he already knew.