By the time they arrived then next afternoon, I'd learned more than I ever
thought there was to know about the group, their music and their personal
lives. I'd managed to join several e-lists and found quite a bit of
enlightening information as well as some titillating hypotheses concerning
certain of their, shall we say, *physical* attributes. I found a treasure
trove of photographs and literally watched them grow up before my eyes.
Damn, had they grown up. Especially Nick.
Suddenly they were there, and once more we were piled into the car heading
for the outskirts of town where they were to debut the new tour in just
under a week. Quarters were cramped once again, but this time I was
prepared. Instead of being nervous, I had decided to just let myself go and
enjoy the moment. Of course this had been partly fueled by some of the more
outrageous fanfiction I had stumbled on during my long night of research,
and I found myself drifting away and wondering just how accurate some of the
stories were.
Little did I know how close I was to finding out.
I'd never been in the arena as it was being set up and it was fascinating.
Hundreds of people milling about, each doing their part to put the huge
production together. I was introduced around and given a tour of the
"underworld", the below-stage area where fast costume changes were made as well as several other surprises that only they were privvy to.
"All right, people, let's get on with it." The stage director called
everyone to their places and I was escorted to my front row seat as the
music began for the prologue.
Aside from a few small glitches, everything ran smoothly. Never in my life
had I seen anything so full of energy, and they were totally committed to
their work. It was so obvious that they loved what they were doing and it
translated into one hell of a performance.
Finally came the time for the finale. Everyone but AJ had disappeared, and
he introduced the closing number. As the music began, they made their way
back and launched into the number they had performed for me the previous
night. Unbelievable!
They sang, they danced, and then suddenly the floor opened beneath them and
they fell through the stage. I gasped, jumping to my feet as the band kept
the driving rhythm going. They were nowhere in sight, and I knew the chorale
was coming up. Is this what they meant by a glitch? Surely the mechanics
would have been tested and working flawlessly by now. Oh God, what if
something had gone wrong? What if one of them were hurt? What if ---
The lights dimmed and the band stopped playing. From beneath the stage, each
in their own spotlight, they began to slowly rise to the stage level, the
beautiful chorale echoing through the nearly deserted arena. What I saw made
my knees weak; so weak that I sank to my seat, my pulse hammering in my
brain.
I am so pathetic. Choreography my ass. They were wearing choir robes. Blue
choir robes that perfectly matched Nick's eyes. See? I told you, I'm
pathetic. Standing absolutely still, they blended together perfectly. I
thought I'd seen and heard it all. Until they finished the chorale and
ripped off the robes. You know, this was as close as this little choir
director has ever come to actually having an orgasm in public. Who knew?
They continued the song, and my shock must have been plastered all over my
face, because they played right to me. To *me*. I sat in the front row,
unable to move and watched them sway their hips and thrust right in my
direction. It was torture. I enjoyed every minute and Nick knew it. I swear,
I probably should have been wearing a bib because I think I actually
drooled.
I remember little else of the rehearsal. I think I mumbled polite goodbyes
to the rest of them as Nick and Kev hustled me toward the car and then the
rest is a blur. But what happened at my house will be forever etched into my
mind.
*******************