Page 227 of Fame & Chaos

Me: We absolutely are.

A second later, another message arrives.

Indi: Emergency incoming. Gotta go. I’ll call before bed if you’re still awake. xoxo

I don’t bother replying because I know she’ll already be gone helping somebody.

Typical Indi.

I shove my cell phone back into my pocket and notice Ella leaving the room while Chad follows after her like an excited puppy. I smirk to myself and decide I should probably support Dad and the others.

After all, I learned almost everything I know from them.

The side-stage area is packed. All the mums are gathered nearby, watching 12GAUGE-Slayed perform, while Recoil stand around, vibing to the music too. The Wembley crowd is absolutely losing their minds.

I move over beside the Recoil guys while Dad commands the stage effortlessly, like he was born there. Honestly, watching him perform is still surreal sometimes.

Danger notices me beside him and grins. The guy genuinely looks like he belongs onstage with that confident arrogance. He is completely at home in the chaos, and he steps closer until our shoulders brush.

“So Ella, huh?” he yells over the music.

I glance sideways at him. “Yeah? What about her?”

“Is she single?” he asks bluntly. “Or am I wasting my time?”

I instantly get a weird feeling in my stomach.

“She’s single,” I admit cautiously. “But she’s young.”

Danger shrugs casually. “How young?”

“She’s seventeen.”

That finally makes him pause slightly.

“Right,” he says slowly before licking his lips. “Still think she’s cute though.”

I force a laugh even though something about the conversation feels fucking off.

“So put in a good word for me, yeah?” he says.

“Sure,” I reply vaguely.

Across the stage, Chad is already glaring at us both like he’s seconds away from homicide.

I walk over to him.

“What the hell was that about?” Chad asks irritably.

“Honestly?” I mutter. “I think the guy’s a creep.”

Chad snorts. “Told you he was a dickhead.”

We both look back toward the stage where Johnny launches his drumsticks into the air before catching them perfectly and smashing them onto the cymbals while the crowd erupts.

Chad instantly forgets his anger and cheers loudly for his dad while I laugh quietly to myself.

After a while, I decide I’ve had enough of the side-stage chaos and head back toward the green room, wanting five minutes of peace away from all the weird people.