Focus On The Music

EIGHT

Two months later
Tour Day 1

The artists of Eriks label; Golden Jaguar Records™ were on the tour bus and headed to their first show in Arizona. Dro, Erik, Shantel, and three other male artist (G, Neek, and Rome) were set to perform. Shantel would be opening for Dro who was the first performer on the list.
"You ready?" Dro asked Shantel as she sat by herself writing.
"Yea, I'm nervous though"
"You'll be great. Don't even worry about it"
"Ayo, listen up" Erik said. "After the show tonight, we going to this party and then the strip club" all the men got unnecessarily loud and started cheering.
"And what about me?" Shantel asked.
"You can come too. You like ass?" Erik joked.
"No. I don't like ass. Can't we just go to dinner?"
"Shantel, you the only woman on this whole bus full of men, let us live. Some of us need our dick sucked to keep going. Don't ruin the fun. And I know you like to run your mouth but what happens on tour, stays on tour. Don't go running back to your girl about what Sean is doing. He nice but he ain't that nice" Erik squeezed her thigh and walked away.
"What happens on tour?" Shantel looked at Dro.
******
Walking backstage was weird. There were women casually sitting around in skimpy outfits and drinking. They glared at Shantel when they seen her walking with all six men.
"Everyone warm up so we can get this practice over and done with" Sean said and went to speak with production.
"Damn..." Shantel walked on stage to see just how big the outdoor venue was. It could seat thousands of people which made her more nervous.
"You good?" Dro walked up behind her.
"The show is sold out?" She looked up at him.
"Yea. Sold out within an hour"
"And I have to sing in front of all these people?"
"Yea"
"I can't do it. There's no way"
"Yes you can. So don't look them in their eyes. Just focus on the music and when we sing together, look at me. You got this"
Dro stepped away and the music to her song began. Shantel walked more in the middle of the stage where a red laser dot was. She stood there and took a few deep breathes before singing 'Stay Tru'. When she got finished, everyone around her clapped.
"You sound amazing!" Sean yelled from the front seats. Shantel walked back behind stage and Dro walked out.
"You look amazing too" Erik said. "You got a glow to you"
"Thank you" Shantel smiled and went to walk away but Erik stopped her.
"We good?"
"Yea. Of course"
"Good. I'm glad you decided to come on tour. It'll be nice having you around"
"Well hopefully we'll have fun on the road"
"Trust, we will"
After Dro, Erik went out followed by the three other artist. By now, it was around 8pm and they decided to grab something to eat before their 10pm show. They loaded up in the Cadillac, Shantel sitting between Dro and Erik.
"So where we eating, Shantel?" Sean asked from up front.
"Why are you asking me?"
"You was all pissed about the strip club, I'm letting you pick where we eat before the show"
"I don't really care to be honest. Anywhere"
All the men groaned in unison.
"Pick a fucking place. We not about to be guessing what you want" Neek, one of the artist said from the backseat.
"Shut the fuck up" Erik and Dro said together.
"I can eat a hamburger"
"So can I" Sean nodded his head. "Q, find us a place and hurry up"
"You good?" Dro asked.
"Yea. Why do you ask?"
"You're quiet. You're never this quiet"
"I'm just trying to stay out of the way. Being the only female here is awkward. I'm sure if I wasn't here, y'all would be fucking any and everything that walks"
"Here or not, we still doing that shit" Erik snorted.
"I wanted to ask you something personal. Let's talk tomorrow" Dro looked straight ahead and bobbed his head to the music that was playing over the speakers.
"Okay"
Q parked the car and everyone climbed out. Almost immediately, the paps were snapping photos of the group as they walked into the restaurant.
"Killmonger! Killmonger! Are you and Shantel together?!" Someone yelled. Erik laughed as they entered the building.
"Fucking vultures" Sean scoffed.
Everyone sat down and ate and took pictures.
Dro and Erik sat next to each other laughing and talking about something. Shantel sat next to Neek.
"So is it true that you fucked them niggas?" Neek asked Shantel. He was the sarcastic asshole of the group, next to Erik.
"Please don't start with me, Neek" she rolled her eyes.
"I'm just trying to figure out if I can hit next. Obviously that box is fire if you had two niggas fighting over it and shit" he laughed.
"I will kick your ass" she pinched his arm hard and made him jump back.
"Damn, Telly. You know I'm just fuckin' with you. I love you" he leaned over and kissed her on her cheek.
"Let's roll out" Sean said and everyone got up to leave.
"Shantel, you have your own dressing room next to Eriks. It was the only free room"
"That's fine, thank you" Shantel smiled and walked inside her dressing room to find Erik laying on the couch looking at his phone.
"Erik, what the hell are you doing in here?" She asked and shut the door behind her.
"Tryna see if you wanted some dick to relax you before you got on stage to perform for thousands of people. That or some liquor. It'll calm you" he grinned at her.
"I think I'll take the liquor if I have to choose" Shantel walked over to the closet to grab what was picked out for her to wear.
"Baby ass. You and Dro back together or something?" He walked up behind her and played with her ponytail.
"No" she smacked his hand away. "I'm just tired of going between you and Dro. I want to perform and focus on my music. I want to be a musician, Erik. I'm not a fuck doll" she pushed past him and went to open the door. "Now please get out and let me get dressed"
"I see you got balls now. When that pussy get to talkin', you know where to find me" he licked his lips and walked out.
"Yup" she slammed the door. After getting dressed and having an artist finish her face and one do her hair, Shantel snapped a few pictures and sent them to Asia. Someone knocked and Dro walked in carrying a bouquet of roses.
"Damn" his eyes grew wide seeing her.
"Hey" Shantel spun around to show off her look. "You like it?"
"Love it. You look great"
"Thanks. You look cute too"
"Thanks. I got these for you. Just a friendly gesture and a good luck. I know you're gonna kill it tonight. I can't wait to see you perform" he stepped forward and handed her the roses. Shantel accepted them and gave Dro a hug.
"Thanks, Dro"
"No problem. I'll see you out there"
"Okay" Shantel smiled and Dro left.
Shantel met up with the guys backstage where they were drinking and laughing with a group of women.
"Yooo, Telly!" Neek yelled. "You look good as fuck, for real"
"Thanks" Shantel said and Sean handed her a cup of alcohol.
"Grey Goose. Don't drink too much"
Shantel accepted it and poured herself two more cups before Erik walked over and snatched her cup away
"Dumb. You tryna go on stage fucked up?"
"I'm nervous...sorry" she slurred a little.
"And you a lightweight" he laughed. "Follow me" he grabbed her hand but Shantel pulled back. "What? I swear this is innocent. I won't try anything. Promise" he said. Shantel willingly followed him back to his dressing room.
Erik grabbed two waters and ibuprofen.
"Drink this and take these. I also got some leftovers you can have"
"Thanks" she smiled and took both pills then downed a water bottle. Erik sat next to her and watched as she scarfed down his leftover burger and fries.
"What?" She asked with a mouth full of food.
"Nah, Nothing. You just funny"
"How?"
"Just eat your food" he pulled his phone out and scrolled through twitter while waiting on Shantel to sober up.
"Can I dance for you?" Shantel asked.
"Dance for me?" Erik questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Yea. A lap dance" Shantel got up and stood in between Eriks legs.
"Nah. I'm good. Sit down before you-"
Shantel turned around and threw up all over the carpet.
"You so damn messy" Erik got up and grabbed some towels to clean up the mess. He picked Shantel up and laid her on the couch. Erik aired the room out and left to go find Dro.
"She drank too much?! She goes on in twenty minutes" Sean was close to going off.
"She's a lightweight obviously. You the one who allowed her to drink" Erik folded his arms across his chest.
"Allowed her? She's a grown ass woman" Sean walked away.
"Where is she right now?" Dro asked.
"My dressing room, sleep"
"Why is she in there?"
"I was trying to sober her up" Erik walked away. Dro walked into Eriks dressing room to see Shantel standing up in front of the mirror rubbing her hand over her stomach.
"Hey..." he said. Shantel quickly jumped and turned around.
"Hey..." she smiled at him.
"You good? I heard you got sick"
"I'm fine now. Too much alcohol"
"You sure? I don't want you going on stage and embarrassing yourself. If you can't go on, that's fine"
"I'm good, I promise"
"Okay. Well you're about to go on soon so you should probably come out here. You got Sean panicking. And he'll probably yell at you later"
"Fuck" Shantel followed Dro to where the other artists were.
"Shantel! Are you okay?!" Sean grabbed her shoulders and looked her up and down.
"I'm good. I'm sorry"
"Can you perform?"
"Yea"
"Good. Cause I want you to perform a song with Dro and Erik during their set. Can you do that?"
"Of course"
"Good. Drink some water and make your way to the right"
Shantel drank water, peed and each guy gave her a hug and wished her good luck.
"Wussup, Tucson!!" The announcer yelled to the crowd.
Shantel closed her eyes and reminded herself that she could do this. She could hear the crowd cheering her name. Her palms were sweaty and she fidgeted with the mic nervously.
"You got this" she said and opened her eyes as she walked out on stage.