Chapter 26 Up on stage
“He-llo gorgeous.” Matt gets up from his chair.
“No,” Natte says sternly, pointing a finger at him, stopping him in his tracks.
“What?” Matt says innocently, holding his hands up in surrender style. “I was just coming over to say hello to the gorgeous Shia, and to greet her in my genuine style … and also to find out where he’s been hiding you,” he says directly to me, while winking.
I actually blush.
What am I still fifteen?
“Yeah, and your style usually involves tongues and groping some nice breasts. Shia has had a long flight and can do without you pawing her and also she has a boyfriend, so hands off.” Natte sounds so protective, like he’s my big brother or something just like he used to before. Maybe that’s how he views me, in a sister like fashion.
The thought depresses me a little. Well, quite a lot actually.
“Jeez, down boy I get it.” Matt rolls his eyes at Natte, laughing he sits back down in his chair and takes a swig of his beer.
“You want something to drink?” Natte asks me, as he starts to move away.
I suddenly feel a little tense without his touch. And still a little saddened by the brotherly protectiveness. I get hold of his jacket and he turns around to look at me, he sighs before putting his hand at the lower back of my back again.
“No I’m fine thanks … you know, I think I will go and unpack my suitcase … leave you guys to finish your game.” I gesture to the on-going card game being played at the table.
Natte look at me. “You sure?” he asks.
“Yeah, I’m sure,” I smile. “I’ll see you all later,” I wave in the guy’s direction. “It was nice to meet you all.”
I turn and leave the room, acutely aware of the fact that Natte’s eyes are on me the whole time I’m walking away.
I’m at the stadium with the band. The opening show and everything has been arranged. The venue is shaped like a large white ball. It’s also quite a large venue for the guys, it only takes about 60 thousand people, there’s the, I think the guys wanted to kick the concert off with a big venue since Natte is ending his music career.
I’m sitting out in the seats watching them rehearse for tonight, while the guards get everything set up for tonight’s show, everyone quite busy. I can tell Natte has a keen eye all the arrangement and decorations are done with his guards.
It’s the first time I’ve ever seen Natte up on stage with my own two eyes, and not watching him through a screen.
He looks at ease up there, but I can tell he’s a little on edge. I can see it in his eyes. That little lost look he gets. He exudes calm control to everyone, but I can tell. He was the same when I was a kid back then, especially before his dad went to prison.
Other people probably miss it, but I see it, I’ve always seen it in him.
I’m guessing he’s on edge because it’s his first show since Bonny's death and after his rehab. I think he struggles on stage without Bonny by his side. It must be hard for all of them, and for Matt too, having to fill the stage where such a big presence once stood.
I spent yesterday in the hotel with Natte and the guys. After I’d finished unpacking and calling my dad, Pine and Terry, Natte came knocking to see if I wanted any food. The guys were ordering room service up. Surprisingly, they weren’t going out partying.
Maybe being good boys with the last concert with Natte being the next day.
So I went and hung out with them, ate, drank beer and played cards.
I wasn’t technically working yesterday but just being with them all gave me a good initial insight into the dynamics between them all. The relationship the band has, especially with new addition of new artists for the concert.
It’s funny, because even though Natte’s the ‘boss’ it didn’t come across that way with them. They all seem to have a great relationship. Watching them together, it was just like watching a bunch of guys in college. Even with Matt, there’s no weirdness with him there, the way they act toward him, it seems like he’s always been there.
But it did make me wonder what it was like when Bonny was still here. He was the only guy with same age to Natte.
Matt's eyes spent a lot of time on my boobs while I was there with them. It didn’t bother me, but I got the clear impression it was bothering Natte. Mainly because he kept asking me if I was cold, and did I need to put a sweater on over my vest top.
Yeah sure Natte, it’s a hundred degrees in here, of course I want to wear a sweater!
His behavior, if anything just highlighted the big brother vibe I got earlier, when he made the comment about Smith being married.
Tom is well known, like Natte, for enjoying the ‘female’ perks of his profession.
I can imagine Tom is that kind of player who would work the room, flirting his way around. I think Natte is the kind of guy who waits for woman to come to him. He doesn’t work for it. Then again, he doesn’t need too.
Not that I’ve seen any of this in action yet, but I’m sure I will very soon. And honestly, I’m not looking forward to seeing Natte with other women. The thought turns my stomach.
I didn’t do any of the sightseeing I had intended to on my first day in London, and I probably won’t today either as I’m here with Natte and the guys at the stadium, and then it’s the show tonight, then we leave first thing in the morning to go to for photoshoot then leave back to Texas for his final concert.
I get a feeling this is how things might be for the whole of the concert.
It’s lunchtime, Natte’s called a break from rehearsal and I’m in one of the large dressing rooms with him and the guys, and a few other people from the tour, eating lunch.
I’m sitting on the sofa, my phone rested on the arm, and I’m writing up some things, pulling together some of my observations from the rehearsals.
“Did you get anything good from this morning’s rehearsal?” Natte asks slumping down into the empty space next to me, indicating to my phone.
He sits so close to me, a nervous energy suddenly takes reign under my skin.
“A few things.” I turn my head, smiling at him. “It was great watching you up there on stage.”
“The show tonight will be even better,” he smiles confidently back at me.
He can be such an arrogant guy at times, but it’s so alluring.
“I’m sure it will be.” Then a thought pops into my head, remembering something he said to me back when I interviewed him, about that woman he’d hired for the concert, who was going to make it amazing. He hasn’t mentioned her since, and I haven’t been introduced to many women on this concert. Natte seems to have a lot of men working for him, I feel quite outnumbered; it’s a good job I get on better with men. Men, especially who are into music I can get on with no problem. Bitchy groupies looking to hook up with Natte, maybe not so much.