Not Just A Fan

Chapter 38

'Happy birthday sis!' and jumps into her bunker, she groans from the annoyance of being woken from her beauty slumber as he squeezes in.

'Dude, get out.' She says quietly.

'Come on, got some breakfast.' she opens one eye,

'Is it chocolate coated balls?'

'Our fav.' she starts to drool thinking of having these right now in her stomach, Eric leaves her bunker so she could get changed.

They sit in the seating area, enjoying her favourite cereal with her favourite and only sibling. After that she went outside to get some air and walked around anywhere suitable and checked her phone, she had a text message from Ryleigh, Katie and her parents hoping they are having a good day. Ester leans on the bus, checking other things online and investigates to see if the article has disappeared from the big sites.

The chill air hits her skin and makes her way back onto the bus, before entering, she heard some mumbling and peers around the corner to see Drew on the phone.

'There is something here, and we can do more with it...' he has his other hand on his pocket wandering around, '....what do you mean..?' Ester can see the confusion on his face '...no... don't compare her to Ryleigh.' He said firmly, '...Ester is something else...' She gasps a little bit, '...The talent that comes from her is unbelievable out of anybody I've worked with, she's clever, unique, hard worker and amazing....' The way he said it was meaningful, and she wanted to cry. '...yes, now you get it.' he had relief in his voice, '..great we'll talk more...' He puts the phone down, and Eric comes up and has a chat with Drew. She found it odd, but Ester process the words in his head on what he said about her and is having difficulty hold in her feelings anymore and is desperate to burst.

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She sits on the seats on the bus with Eric and with Drew sitting on the end. Naomi leans on the kitchen counter next to Myles with the rest of the band in their bunker. Ester gave Eric his present, as he unwrapped it, he pouted at her while she laughs, giving him neon headband and sweatband that light up as a joke. With that, she included a fitness smartwatch.

'Now that's better.' he states and hugs her, Eric passes her a small envelope and opens a $100 gift card of her favourite clothing store and explained taking her to one of the stores some time to spend while on tour. 'Oh, I have one more thing....' Eric gives her a slightly bigger envelope, and she opens it to see a tracing of a hot air balloon with the world map inside and the whole design wrapped with ribbon including some text inside it saying, "Your adventure awaits...". Ester felt touched and almost got emotional.

'Eric...this is really nice.'

'It gets better, Rory has done it. You can get it tattooed wherever you want or wait until he can do it in Los Angles.' It made it ten times better to know that it came from her friends that she saw a couple of months ago. He gained the skills of being a tattoo artist while he was in prison, many years before he met Ryleigh. The only thing that bugged her, it related too much to the new song she only wrote a couple of days ago. Unless Eric knew about it, there was only one person who could have done it, but surely he would of given it to her? Ester looks over at Drew, but he never gave any sort of expression, nothing.

After a mini celebration, they moved to the large venue doing soundcheck, and estimated to hold over 11,000 people. She gapes over the stage picturing the crowd that will be here tonight. The hired crew got all the lights and sounds up and ready for them to test out the opening track. Ester was stood high up with the keyboard over the stage with the perfect view. She flowed into the song, and it made her pumped up for the evening ahead.

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With a few hours to spare she got changed into her evening wear and puts on an offer shoulder 3/4 black crop top, a black mid-thigh skirt matching, high top black boots with her hair straight and geld down tucked behind her ears. The spare dressing room gave her a decent place to sort herself out, but also she started to feel the nerves and decided it would be good just to walk around for a bit. She went passed the waiting area where everyone else is, and Ester caught Drew looking at her, without staying long she made her way out.

The backstage was quiet enough for her to think, she can see all the spare guitars and other bits required in the show, and she sees the big grand piano that will make its appearance tonight. Ester admires how new and beautiful it looks and leans backwards on the curve in between that fits around her perfectly.

'Can we talk?' a deep voice says, and she turns to look at him, 'I think there is something we've haven't sorted out yet.' Drew keeps a distance between then,

'You've made it clear already.' she says and makes herself look occupied admiring her manicure, he walks closer to her.

'I'm sorry, I shouldn't have pushed you away when you needed me the most. You've been there for me when I wasn't right with myself.' Ester looked at him, 'I guess... I was caught in such a wonderful moment with you that I found it too good to be true, and I needed to believe that there was something that wouldn't go right. Instead, I did that.' Drew paused and looked deep into her ice-blue eyes, 'I miss you.' Ester heart thumped fast, as it almost comes clear she could forgive him that easily, she kidded herself that it was easy to move on.

'Everything that has happened.... the band, tour and you, it wasn't what I expected.' she speaks, 'I know you have a hard time letting your guard down, but I'm glad I get to see the real you.' Drew smiles and closes the gap between them, blocking her into the piano further, and she smells the coffee after taste on his breath. 'I wrote that song...my adventure when I was with you.' she speaks.

'I know.' he whispers, 'I love everything about it.... and I want to go on that adventure with you...' He lifts his hand onto the side of her face and brushes his thumb on her cheek while he stands taller for her to lift her neck '...your adventure awaits...' Ester bites her lips excited to know that the tattoo was him, it was Drew all along. He does care, and she needed him more than ever.

To not wait any longer, he kisses her, and she grabs onto his shirt, pulling him in further pressing up against her body. The passion between them craves for her to want more, he picks her up and makes her sit on top of the piano, sitting comfortably between her legs. Ester rubs her fingers through Drews hair, kissing deeper. All the pain he once had in his chest was all gone, the risk he finally wanted paid off.

'I need you now.' She says breathless,

'Patience darling...' he responds with a smirk, '...we have a concert to do tonight.' Ester smiles back and gets off the piano,

'Thank you for believing in me.' She says clasping onto his hands, Drew plants his forehead with hers.

'Thank you for understanding me.' he kisses her forehead and pulls her into a hug.