I bobbed my head slowly to the loud music currently deafening me. THE Eliza Grace was about to perform and her opening act was on stage hyping up the crowd. I looked over to Rayner whose eyes were sparkling in the colored lights. He noticed my staring almost immediately giving me his sideways grin.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" Rayner shouted at me leaning closer to my ear so I could properly hear him. Our seats were literally right up on the side of the stage giving us a view of both the crowd and the act. I was glad we weren't in the standing area cause I probably would've had to punch some of the little teeny boppers who were screaming their heads off at the unknown to me artist. I couldn't believe how people lost their minds for famous people.
"Yeah!" I smiled back happily adjusting my short skirt that I was starting to feel a little uncomfortable in. I don't know why I felt the need to look extra hot tonight, but it was probably the fact that I knew Eliza would be stunning. The only way I would ever feel more comfortable is if I looked at least half as good as her, thus making myself uncomfortable. Girl logic didn't have to make sense, but I was not about to feel inferior beside the goddess of a woman Eliza Grace.
Rayner didn't seem to mind my sexier choice in clothing tonight. His toned arm hadn't left my exposed midriff yet which I didn't mind in the slightest. I was wearing a hot pink bandage crop top, a white high waisted skater skirt that barely covered my bottom, and paired the outfit with my black red bottom heels. I overdid myself a bit spending extra time dolling myself up for tonight perfecting my hair and makeup. I wanted to at least look like I was in Rayner's league which was ranked somewhere in the middle of 'Scrumdidiliuptious' and 'Hubba Hubba'.
Just then I realized the opening act had introduced Eliza and were exiting the stage blowing kisses dramatically. The lights onstage blacked out and for some unknown reason my stomach turned with anxiety. We were seeing her for the first time together, and somewhere in the back of my mind I was nervous that Rayner would see something in her. Something he'd seen in me. Something that would have him wanting her more than me. I knew I was giving into a certain green-eyed monster, but I couldn't help myself because Rayner really was a prize.
Lots of lights and pyro erupted around the stage and out came Eliza who was rising from somewhere below practically glowing. Her whole face smiling beautifully as she breathed in the roaring crowd screaming her name. She looked so perfect dressed in a typical sparkly two piece popstars wear nowadays. I took a deep breath partially wanting to cover Rayner's eyes because she was showing a bit too much skin to my liking until I realized I was being ridiculous now.
He didn't seem to shift moods even in the slightest though, there was no dreamy look in his eyes. No 'Aha!' moment, just all smiles clearly enjoying being in the crowd listening to her sweet voice belt out her latest hit song. Rayner glanced at me and his smile was immediately wiped clean off his face probably because I had an incredibly sour look on my face. I couldn't hold onto the jealousy any longer and I felt it overwhelming me in a way I hadn't anticipated. I wanted Rayner all to myself and the fact that this was his next assignment terrified me.
"What is it?" He frowned snuggling me closer into him, facing me forcing me to look at him. I shook my head smiling reassuringly I was being ugly for no reason. I'm sure she was a nice girl, not to mention the fact that they put her in outfits like that on purpose to get a reaction from the crowd. Rayner was not immune to all of the beauty in the world, it didn't mean he wanted every girl that walked by. I had to keep telling myself that he'd chosen me. I pulled his ear to my mouth so I didn't have to shout over the excited people who were exploding around us.
"I am going to the bathroom." I had to catch my breath for a minute feeling inundated. He nodded squeezing my arm, licking his lips, eyeing the crowd as if someone were going to jump out and grab me. "I'll come too." He told me, but I immediately shook my head. Rayner was way over protective even this many months later. He was always buying me things to "improve" the security in my apartment, or having 'talks' with guys who he thought were being too invasive with their eyes.
It was getting a little ridiculous to be honest. I felt like I couldn't breathe, because he was smothering me with protection that I didn't feel like I needed anymore. He'd even gone as far as to move closer to me which was a real surprise. Not into my apartment complex because he wanted to live in a house, but he might as well have because he'd moved in just across the street in a small neighborhood. It wasn't even an ideal neighborhood for someone his age. It was literally crawling with old people.
It was getting a little frustrating and I found myself craving more space and freedom. I loved the attention don't get me wrong, but he was invasive and pushy. He needed to realize he was my boyfriend now and not my body guard.
"I'll be fine." I assured him. He tensed a little when I pushed him away from me. "Enjoy the concert. I'll be right back." He sighed nodding his head letting my arm go reluctantly watching me walk the entire way to the exit on the wall of the arena. I rolled my eyes stifling a laugh knowing he was just being cautious. His behavior on a normal day would annoy me but it boosted my ego tonight.
Once in the bathroom I fluffed my hair taking in my appearance. I didn't actually have to use the restroom, I just needed a minute and wanted to make sure I was still looking up to par. Which was a bit silly of me to worry so much about. I checked to make sure there was no lipstick in my teeth, and that I had no make up smudges. I still looked just as good as I had when I'd left other than a little more oily. I just blotted myself with a bit of tissue.
I washed my hands out of habit before leaving the women's room and headed back into the crowded concert area. Once I was back at Rayner's side he greedily pulled me into him wrapping his arm back around me kissing my neck from behind. I giggled shoving him away before he got too frisky. We were in public after all and a lot of these girls weren't but ten years old.
The concert was long and painful. I say painful because my heels were killing my feet. We'd stood most of the duration and I was coming to the conclusion that heels were a bad choice for these types of things. I hadn't complained about it once though because that would be admitting I had gone too far.
It was now time for us to meet the girl they called Eliza Grace and introduce ourselves. I had been dreading this moment all night, but it was inevitable. This was Rayner's career, and as his girlfriend I had to accept his responsibilities. Even if I didn't exactly approve of the cases. I wanted to be supportive and this was the only way I could.
"Passes." A tall burly man grunted at us. Rayner instinctively puffed out his chest eyeing the man up and down. I chuckled and snatched the passes from his grasp and handed them to the man who looked quite confused by Rayner's behavior. He scrutinized them as if they'd be fake or something before nodding his head motioning us to go back. I rolled my eyes dragging Rayner along by his arm because he'd stood his ground eyeballing the security guard.
"Stop it." I coaxed squeezing his bicep comfortingly. He relaxed considerably and covered my hand with his. "You're being silly. Better start getting along with that man, you're going to work with him." He huffed in response looking ahead as we walked down the long hall. I immediately knew we were close when I heard shouting. A young woman shouting. We rounded the corner quickly to see what was the matter. There was Eliza yelling at some woman. We just barely caught the end of the ordeal so I didn't really know what about.
The woman ran off down the hall looking quite stressed and Eliza turned looking surprised by us. She looked me up and down with a slight sneer then her gaze locked on Rayner. He was beautiful so I didn't really blame her for ogling him. I couldn't help but squeeze his arm a little tighter, almost as an indication that he was mine.
She didn't quite catch that I don't suppose because she grinned wider shaking her hips as she neared us. I could almost feel the bile rising in my stomach as she staked her claim regardless of the fact that he was already claimed. She got what she wanted and it was evident in her gaze.
"Hello! Who are you? I don't believe we've met." She sang smiling brightly with her obnoxiously white teeth. Of course she wouldn't remember inviting us here, I mean she had no need to. She was busy, successful, important.
"I'm Rayner, going to be your side man." He smiled politely holding his hand out to shake hers which she gladly took with not one, but both of her hands. "I've been appointed as your bodyguard in regards to the threats." She nodded as if she suddenly remembered she'd been receiving death threats and had almost been taken out at a concert two weeks ago. Mind you she still hadn't even glanced at me since seeing Rayner. "And this," he turned to me taking his hand from her clutches. "is Tori. My girlfriend." She forcefully took her eyes off my man to fake smile at me.
"Nice to meet you both. Love the outfit Tor." She gushed already shortening my name as if it was too much work to say the last letter. I bit back a lot of expletives on the tip of my tongue thinking maybe just maybe she hadn't meant to be so rude.
"Thanks." I smiled back trying not to knock her teeth out. Rayner was so oblivious to the tension, it was astounding. I thought it was his job to notice trouble. I almost laughed because he was breathing in every smile and kind word that she'd exchanged with me but underneath that smile I knew she was waiting for the chance to get rid of me.
"Unfortunately I didn't know she'd be coming tonight..." Eliza lied making Rayner scrunch his face in confusion. "So I wasn't able to put her name on the list for the after party. My manager of course was able to put your name down since you're going to be my bodyguard, but I'm really embarrassed that Tori wasn't written down..." She frowned feigning sympathy. It took everything I had not to roll my eyes. Two seconds ago she hadn't even know us and now Rayner was suddenly invited to a party that I wasn't?
"I wasn't aware of the fact that there was an after party anyway so I'm not too disappointed." The words spilled from mouth before I could stop them. I was not about to let that bitch think she was getting to me. I knew her game, and it wasn't going to work.
"I wasn't informed of this either, so unfortunately I don't think we will be able to attend." Rayner added much to my relief. I was positive he wouldn't go without me, but there was that little sense of doubt. Eliza looked genuinely sad about the news which brought me joy.
"I'm sure I can get Tori in if you both wanted to come." She pressed knowing the only way she would get Rayner to say yes, was if I were coming along. I opened my mouth to decline her offer when Rayner accepted and I literally felt the sting of jealousy deep in the pit of my stomach. I wasn't inclined to feeling this way and I didn't know how to cope with it.
"You okay with going?" Both Eliza and Rayner eyed me and I was pressured into agreeing. I couldn't say no and look like a jealous girlfriend. Even though that was exactly what I was. An incredibly psycho bitch who caught a case of the green-eyed monster.
"Of course!" I smiled my eyes challenging her. She returned my glance with one of her own. Bring it on.