The Mighty Storm (34 page)

Tom wanders over to him, bass in hand. Jake says something in his ear. Tom looks up surprised, then nods once, at Jake.

Tom heads back to Denny, climbing up, leaning over the drum kit, he says something to him. I see Denny look over at Jake, a puzzled look on his face. Jake lifts his shoulders, grinning.

The room is abuzz, the crowd wondering just what
’
s going on.

Tom jumps down from the kit and goes over and speaks to Smith
.

Smith
looks across at Jake and gives him a quick nod.

Tom walks back past Jake, putting his hand on his shoulder, he speaks briefly in his ear. I see Jake laugh, as Tom walks away.

Jake looks back out at the crowd. “Okay folks, sorry about that.” His beautiful voice echoes around the stadium. “We
’
re going for a song change, but one I think you guys will dig. We
’
re doing something a little different
–
it
’
s not one of ours. This song was out around the time that we were breaking into the music scene, and these were guys we admired
–
still do. It
’
s a personal favourite of mine.”

He takes another drag of cigarette.

“
So all you ladies out there … no, actually guys too, how many of you have had your heart broken?”

Every hand in the whole place goes up.

“
I
’
ve had my heart broken too, believe it or not, quite recently in fact,” he says.

Oh God.

“
I
’
ll mend it for you, Jake!” cries a female voice from the audience.

Jake chuckles into the mike. “I might have to take you up on that, honey.”

“
Say when and where, and I
’
ll be there baby!” yells the woman.

Then a collection of female voices all start screaming, vying for Jake
’
s attention.

My throat is starting to get tight. I
’
m nervous and on edge, to know where he
’
s going with this. I know he can be unpredictable at times, especially when he
’
s been drinking.

“
Okay,” he lifts his hand quietening the crowd. “So tell me out of all those broken hearts, how many of them was because your guy or girl cheated on you?”

Holy shit.

Some of the hands go down.

“
Bad shit, huh?” he says into the mike.

“
Okay…” He takes another drag of his cigarette and drops it to the floor, putting it out with his boot. “How many of these hands up, have ever in their time, been … a cheater too?”

My heart drops through the floor. I can
’
t believe he
’
s doing this in front of eighty thousand people.

A huge majority of the hands go down. I bind my together in front of me.

I sneak a glance at Will, but he
’
s watching the show.

I can
’
t even look at Simone. I haven
’
t really had chance to talk to her about Jake. I gave her a brief overview while Will was in the toilet, but catching Jake in the bathroom attached to my bedroom, told her all she needed to know.

She
’
s not judging, and I love her for that, but she did say I need to make a decision. And she
’
s right, I do.

I
’
m just not fully sure on which decision to make.

“
Okay, well this song is for all of you who have been cheated on,” Jake continues. “And also for the ones they cheated with. The ones of you who were used and abused, filled with a shit load of promises, then left hanging dry. This one is for you guys...”

Denny hits the cymbals twice, Smith kicks in with the guitar, and Jake leans into the mike and starts to sing.

My whole body freezes cold, as he lullaby
’
s the lyrics to The Killers, ‘Mr Brightside’.

Holy fuck.

So he
’
s not only just talked about adultery in front of eighty thousand people, he
’
s now singing about it.

Singing about a guy who believes his girlfriend is having an affair.

He
’
s trying to tell Will. He
’
s trying to get Will thinking.

And in this moment, I
’
m filled with absolute anger toward Jake.

Then, as if reading my thoughts, he tilts his head to the side, staring straight in my direction, I didn
’
t realise he even knew where I was sitting.

I thought I at least had some anonymity.

Apparently not.

Now I
’
m standing here, open wide to whatever he chooses to throw at me. And I can
’
t move, I’m paralysed, as he openly sings in my direction.

Anger burns through me, turning to rage and fear.

He
’
s no right to do this. It
’
s up to me to tell Will, in my own time. It
’
s just cruel playing shitty games like this.

I
’
m just praying on the fact that Will doesn
’
t get music like we do. He doesn
’
t read the messages in lyrics.

I want to look at Will, I need to know if he
’
s seeing this or I
’
m right, like I
’
m praying and he doesn
’
t.

But I can
’
t move because I
’
m trapped in Jake
’
s stare. Like a rabbit in the headlights of a very beautiful truck, careening its way toward me.

I
’
m so very afraid at the game he
’
s playing, and I get a distinct feeling this is just the start of tonight
’
s games.

And when Jake does finally release me from his gaze, singing back to his adoring fans, I steal a glance at Will, and find he
’
s just watching the stage, completely oblivious as to what has just transpired up there.

Then I feel Simone
’
s hand take hold of mine.

I turn my head to look at her. She gives me a sad smile, then rests her head against my shoulder, as the song finally comes to an end. Jake finishing my first torture of the night

And I keep hold of her hand for the rest of the show.

After the show, I head straight to the after show party with Will and Simone. Ben had kindly offered to drive us, so we ride through the streets of Paris in his safe hands. He drops up off out front, with the offer to pick us up later, but I wave his kind gesture off and tell him to get back to the hotel and chill out for the night.

Showing my pass to the security we
’
re waved in.

We quickly grab a table, and I ensure it
’
s one with a good view of the door, so I can see when Jake arrives.

Will goes to the bar to get us some drinks. The party is buzzing already. But all I can think about is Jake. When is he going to get here? And what kind of mood will he be in when he does arrive?

“
So the show was great,” Simone enthuses. “A little crazy in parts.” She raises her eyebrow and I know exactly what she
’
s getting at.

“
No kidding,” I mutter.

“
Is Jake always that … intense?”

“
Not generally, but with me, recently … yes.”

“
God, when he started talking about all the cheating stuff, then he started singing Mr Brightside, I nearly died for you.”

“
I think I did die.” I give her a weak smile.

“
He
’
s definitely got it bad for you, sweetie.”

“
I don
’
t know about that.” I lift my shoulders. “I think maybe it
’
s just because currently, I
’
m the one thing he can
’
t have.”

She shakes her head. “No, it
’
s more than that. He wouldn
’
t put himself out there on the line like that if it was just for a conquest. I
’
m pretty sure there are others things out there for Jake to conquest if he wanted.”

Yeah, and mostly that
’
s what I
’
m worried about.

I see movement in the door, distracting me.

Denny walks in with Stuart. But no sign of Jake or Tom.

Where is he? Wouldn
’
t they come together? They usually do, but then I
’
ve been with them on those occasions.

Odd though because Stuart is always with Jake. I wonder why he
’
s sent him on with Denny?

People stop Denny, congratulating him on the show. Stuart spies me and comes over to our table.

“
Hello my gorgeous chica” He kisses me on the cheek. “Oh, and another gorgeous.” He kisses Simone. She flushes scarlet.

“
Are all you Brit chicks gorgeous, or just the ones Tru knows?”

“
All British girls are hot
–
especially the half-Puerto Rican and foxy blonde ones.” I grin at him.

“
Well, if the men are anything near as good looking as your hot boyfriend then I
’
m flying over now,” he says to us, grinning, setting both Simone and I laughing.

Even though I
’
m laughing, all I want to do is ask Stuart where Jake is. But I can
’
t. It might look to obvious.

Denny finally makes it to our table, and drops down into the seat next to Simone. I see her instantly tense up.

“
Hey, Tru,” he smiles.

“
Denny this is my best friend and roommate, Simone,” I introduce.

“
Great to meet you,” Denny turns, looking at Simone for the first time, and I see his eyes widen the instant he looks at her.

I
’
m not surprised, she is absolutely gorgeous.

I see her eyes are already lit up like a Christmas tree over Denny. You
’
d have to be blind not to notice the obvious, instant attraction.

Oh, I have a good feeling about this

I smile to myself as Denny starts to talk to Simone; happy that at least out of the two of us, one of us is currently happy.

Will comes back with our drinks. A margarita for me. He knows me so well.

I take a sip, the fresh alcohol kick is perfect. My drinks from the gig were starting to wear off.

“
Sorry guys, I didn
’
t realise you were here otherwise I
’
d have got you some drinks in,” Will says to Stuart and Denny.

“
Hey, n
o problem, man,” Denny says, waving him off.

“
Oh, Denny, this is my boyfriend, Will.”

I don
’
t know why but it suddenly feels odd referring to Will as my boyfriend to Denny.

“
Nice to meet you, man.” Denny shakes Will
’
s hand.

“
You too,” Will says, politely. “Great show.”

“
Thanks.”

“
I
’
ll go to the bar,” Stuart starts to get to his feet, but Denny gets up. “Sit down, man, I
’
ll get these
–
beer?” he asks Stuart.

“
Beer
’
s good,” Stuart replies, sitting back down.

Denny heads over to the bar, and Stuart starts talking to Will about the show.

I lean across the table to Simone. “So Denny…” I raise my eyebrows at her.

She flushes red. It
’
s so cute to see. I haven
’
t seen her like this about a guy for a long while.

“
He
’
s even better looking in the flesh,” she whispers, shyly.

“
He is,” I agree. “And he
’
s a really great guy. He was in a long term relationship, but they broke up about a year ago and he
’
s been single ever since.”

“
So basically he
’
s not a womaniser like the other two?”

It
’
s my turn to flush. “Um … yes.”

She grimaces. “Sorry that sounded
–”

I flash my eyes in Will
’
direction, cutting her off.