Page 84 of Fame & Chaos

A second later, my phone vibrates in my hand.

Indi: I’m here. This place is packed, Caleb. Are you nervous?

I bite my lip and nod to myself like she can somehow see me.

Me: Yeah, a little. But mostly excited. I feel like I’m about to burst out of my own skin.

I send it before leaning back in my chair, relaxing slightly now that I know she’s really here.

Fuck, I wish I could go out and see her.

But Dad already warned me not to leave backstage in case I get mobbed or lose track of time before our set.

My phone buzzes again.

Indi: I can imagine :) I’m right at the back, so you probably won’t see me from the stage, but I’m here and I’m excited to watch you perform. I know how long you’ve waited for this, and I’m happy I get to share it with you.

The smile stretching across my face probably makes me look insane, but I genuinely don’t care.

Indi is here.

And in a little while, I’ll be onstage singing directly to her.

Me: I wish I could come see you first. I have to stay backstage till our set, but you’ll stay afterward so we can talk, right?

I hit send and immediately start bouncing my knee again while waiting for her reply.

Indi: I’ll stay. Now stop texting me so I can watch Peripheral. These guys look so grungy. They seriously need shampoo.

I burst out laughing and shake my head.

There she is.

That’s the Indi I remember.

Funny, quirky, slightly savage for absolutely no reason.

Me: Good thing my hair is clean and glorious then ;)

I send it just as Chad walks into the room, raising an eyebrow at me. “You look disgustingly happy.”

“We’re about to perform for ten thousand people,” I reply. “Of course I’m fucking ecstatic.”

“Yeah, same.” Chad grins before flopping into a chair nearby. “This is gonna be epic. Poor Ella’s freaking out, though. She’s convinced she’s gonna walk on stage and completely forget how to play guitar.”

I laugh softly. “She’ll be fine once adrenaline kicks in.”

“Yeah,” Chad says, smiling absentmindedly. “She always gets in the zone eventually.”

I pause.

That smile.

Interesting.

“She’ll be okay,” I say slowly while watching him. “As long as Annie doesn’t randomly decide to freestyle another five-minute guitar solo.”

Chad snorts. “True.”