A/N: The song used is "My Light" by Sully Erna. Only part of it. Also there's a portion of this chapter that's pretty much a shout out to those of you that offer me nudes for updates. Lol. You know who you are...;)
Chapter Seven
I yawned as I climbed into Nicks bunk. I was exhausted and I honestly couldn't keep my eyes open. The bus shook slightly as we drove to our next destination. I was thankful that our days of living in vans when we toured were behind us. I could hear laughter from the front of the bus as I got settled. Life was good these days. Really good.
After the album released, it debuted at number one. The tour sold out immediately and we had to add dates just to keep up with the demand. They pretty much shot to fame over night. It was hard to handle at first. As a management team, Natalie and I were not prepared. We had to hire a multitude of people just to keep up with everyone's daily upkeep. It was chaotic. The addition of bodyguards was also something else that had to be done. Especially for Demi.
I smiled at the thought of her. She had that effect on people.
I could hear Joe and Nick laughing loudly in the lounge area. The band was split between three buses. Demi and Johnny were on one with their respective technicians, while Matt, Joe, and Nick were traveling together on another. Since Nick was my boyfriend, I was also on his bus by default. Natalie stayed with Johnny and Demi. Someone had to keep an eye on them. The third bus housed the rest of the bands techs and two of the bodyguards.
One of the perks to traveling separate from the others was the texting. Johnny and Demi sent some of the most inappropriate and hilarious text messages on the planet. They were both insane. If I had a dollar for every dick picture Johnny sent me, I'd be rich. These weren't your ordinary dick pictures either, they were like that silly little Santa doll that people liked to photograph and post online in various places. He'd stick his dick everywhere. It became an inside joke.
I picked up my phone and sure enough, I had a text from Demi.
Send nudes
I couldn't help but laugh out loud. She was persistent. I decided to give her what she asked for. I climbed out of the bunk and made my toward the front of the bus.
"Sel!" Joe said excitedly.
"I need a favor." I grinned.
"Anything." Nick said batting his eyes dramatically before he took a long drink from his beer.
"I need someone to get naked so I can take a picture and send it to Demi."
Everyone laughed.
"Is she at it again?" Nick asked shaking his head.
"I'll do it." Ritchie, Demi's bodyguard offered.
"Oh my god." Joe said as he tried not to laugh. "This is awesome."
"Strip!" I said loudly.
I had a grin on my face the entire time he stripped. Ritchie was a large guy. He wasn't exactly in shape. Once he got all his clothes off, Nick cleared the table and Ritchie laid across it in the centerfold pose. It was perfect. I snapped the picture, put a filter on it and sent it. She responded immediately.
You mutherfucker!!!!!!!!!!!
You're welcome! :D
That was the last text I got from her that night. Satisfied that I had won, I climbed back into bed and drifted off to sleep. We were headlining an outdoor radio festival the next day and I wanted my rest. It would be a very long day for me and the band. It was also my birthday, and I had a feeling they were all up to something.
I woke up as the buses pulled into the venue. We had several hours before the show started. As usual, everyone was scattered around. I found Demi and Natalie playing ping pong on roller skates. It didn't look very safe but they seemed like they were having fun. Demi's laugh was contagious and I couldn't help but crack up as she threw her head back and laughed at Natalie.
I spent the rest of the day getting the band through press and making them sign cd's and posters. They hated bulk signings. Demi threatened to have a stamp made. There were a couple times I saw her having Ritchie sign stuff.
"I feel like a sweat shop worker." Johnny complained.
"Not even!"
"Says the girl who doesn't have to sign shit for like two hours." Joe chimed in.
"You guys wanted the job." I shrugged. "Don't complain about the work."
"See. You're making us look like lazy and ungrateful little brats." Nick grinned.
"If the shoe fits..." I said pursing my lips. "Where is Demi?" I asked when I noticed she was missing.
"Hiding from you." Johnny whispered loudly.
"Shut up!" I laughed, before yanking on his ear.
He batted my hand away and continued to sign.
"I'm gonna get carpal tunnel." He complained.
"Not from this. You'll get that from your other extracurricular activities." I teased.
"Ouch. Good one." He smirked.
I peeked out into the hallway to see if I could find her. I could hear a loud commotion in wardrobe so I decided to go check it out. I found Demi and the sound guy doing beer bongs. They. seemed to be engaged in some sort of race, and I was pretty sure Demi was winning.
"Demi..." I said slowly as I crossed my arms and held up a sharpie.
She stopped chugging the beer, and glanced at me. Her cheeks were puffed up from holding the liquid in her mouth.
"Now." I said my voice low and stern.
She swallowed the beer and let out an exaggerated sigh.
"Time to go row with the other slaves." Demi grumbled.
I reached over and smacked her as she walked by.
"Ouch." She chuckled.
"That's what you get!" I said defiantly.
I left them to signing and I checked in with the crew. I made sure everything ran smoothly. They didn't really trust anyone else to do it, so I did. By the time they toured Europe however, they had no choice but to hire a separate tour manager. I couldn't manage everything even though they wanted me to.
When I returned to the dressing room, everyone had once again dispersed. I plopped down on the couch next to Demi and rested my head on her shoulder. She was engaged in conversation with Johnny.
"So I'm fuckin this chick right." He says to Demi. "And it's like throwing a hot dog down a fucking hallway dude. It was terrible."
"Shut up!" Demi laughed.
"The entire time I was like am I even in or what because I literally couldn't tell."
"Eww." I said with a grimace. "Y'all are nasty."
"Come on. Admit it. You'd sit on my face if it wasn't for Nick." He grinned.
"Oh my god!" I exclaimed loudly. "No!"
I grabbed the throw pillows and threw them at him.
"I don't think she wants a mustache ride bro." Demi giggled.
"Whatever. The roadie does." Johnny said as he glanced at Demi's guitar tech, Brian.
Brian responded by climbing onto Johnny and trying to hump his face. Demi and I were both laughing.
"I'm not a roadie. I'm a technician." Brian smirked as he continued to harass Johnny.
"Help! I'm being humped by a roadie." Johnny screamed.
"I'm gonna bounce bro." Demi said. "Enjoy that." She added.
She stood up then grabbed both my hands and pulled me with her.
"Walk with me." She smiled.
She led me to the nosebleeds and we sat and watched as people milled about the venue and prepared it for tonight's show.
"Where's that boyfriend of yours?" She asked casually.
"Taking a nap." I answered.
"Ah. Smart guy." She nodded.
"Did you enjoy your nudes?" I said with a grin.
She laughed. "Fuck you!"
"You didn't specify." I shrugged.
"You knew what I meant." She said.
She glanced over at me and made eye contact. She had this way of just holding you with her eyes. I literally couldn't move when she would look at me like this. She licked her lips and turned away.
"Send nudes is a very generic request." I stated.
She smiled and pushed her hand through her hair.
"I hope I didn't offend or anything." She said being serious. "I would never purposely disrespect you."
"I know." I said softly.
I traced the outline of the tattoos on her forearm with my finger.
"Happy birthday Sel." She grinned, as she pulled a small box out of her pocket.
"So that's what you had in your pocket. And to think this whole time I just thought you were happy to see me." I joked.
"Open it!" She said as she broke out into a smile.
I opened the box and found two matching bracelets. They were beautiful.
"Demi..." I gasped.
"You like them?" She asked before biting her bottom lip.
"Yes....." I breathed.
I took one out and handed it to her.
"Put it on me."
She took it and clasped it on my wrist. Once she finished I grabbed her arm and pulled it toward me. She gave me a questioning look, I simply smiled and clasped the second one on her wrist.
"Sel..."
"Don't take it off." I warned.
"Fine." She sighed.
She looked happy. I could tell she was happy because I was happy. I think that was the first time that I realized how sweet she really was. She hid a lot of herself behind her humor and rock star persona. Quiet moments with her will always be some of my most cherished memories.
"Thank you."
I leaned over and gave her a hug. She pulled me in close and I pretty much just melted. She kissed my cheek and pulled away.
"I think you're beautiful." She said before she stood and walked away.
That moment will always stand out in my mind. It changed things. I wanted to be closer to her and I spent the next few years of my life doing just that. It was the first time I felt something more than just friendship with her. It wasn't necessarily a romantic moment, but I connected with her on a deeper level than just friends.
The last hour before they took the stage was usually the calmest. The more they toured, the less true that statement would become, but for now, they all gathered in the dressing room and warmed up. It was the calm before the storm so to speak.
They took the stage and the crowd exploded. Watching them play never got old to me and I would probably see them live more than anyone on this planet. They played through the set list perfectly. Once they got to the middle of the set, I noticed the techs preparing something that I wasn't made aware of.
I heard Matt, and turned my attention to him.
"Alright." Matt said into the microphone. "We're gonna take a second to celebrate and appreciate someone that is very near and dear to our hearts. Without her we'd literally be fucking lost. Seriously. She makes us show up." The crowd cheered loudly.
"Selena!" Matt yelled into the mic. "Get your ass over here!"
I walked onto the stage and made my way towards him. Johnny smacked my ass as I passed him. Naturally, the crowd cheered. When I made it to Matt he draped his arm across my shoulders. I noticed Demi and Joe changing out their guitars for their acoustics rigs. The stage manager brought four stools center stage and the drum tech set up a small drum set in the middle of the four stools.
"Since today is Selena's birthday, we figured that fifty thousand people singing to her was better than just the five of us." He smiled while I tried to hide my embarrassment.
The rest of the band joined us center stage and Demi grabbed the mic from Matt.
"Alright motherfuckers!" She said which earned a loud cheer. "On the count of three we're all gonna sing happy birthday to Selena."
She counted down and every single person in the stadium sang happy birthday to me. It was amazing.
"Beautiful." Matt grinned into the microphone.
He looked over at the stage techs and they gave him the thumbs up.
Demi and Joe settled onto the stools with their guitars and Nick sat down at the mini drum kit.
"Here's what we're gonna do." Matt said once his band mates got settled. "We wrote a song. It's fucking cheesy, but whatever. It isn't finished but we're going to sing it anyway."
Once again the crowd cheered.
"Without further adieu, part of a song." He said as the band started to play.
He sat me down on the empty stool and held onto my hand. I couldn't hide the blush on my cheeks even if I wanted. I glanced at Nick and he smiled and gave me a wink.
They were playing something that I didn't recognize. It was acoustic and had that backyard barbecue vibe. As soon as Matt started singing, my heart melted.
Under the light you shine on me
I promise I will be there for you baby
(I never wanna leave you anyway, you've become my light)
I cross my heart it's in your hands
I hope you will always be my best friend.
(I promise I will be there 'til the end.)
You've become my light
You've become my light
You've become my light
You've become my light
You've become my light
Under the light you shine on me
I promise I will be there for you baby
(I never wanna leave you anyway, you've become my light)
Cross my heart its in your hands
I hope that you will always be my best friend
I promise I will be there 'til the end
You've become my light.
You've become my light
You've become my light
You've become my light
You've become my light
The song was beautiful and it made me tear up. They all sang during the chorus and Demi did some insane vocal runs. It was a very touching moment. Before I could collect myself, Natalie wheeled an insanely huge cake on stage. It was so loud from all the cheering and screaming that I could barely hear myself think.
I wrapped my arms around Nick and hugged him tightly.
"This is amazing." I said in his ear.
He nodded.
One by one they all hugged me. They each had a different way of going about it. Matt was huge and he pretty much crushed me. Joe was more casual. Johnny lifted me off the ground and spun me around. In true Johnny fashion, he planted a sloppy ass kiss on my lips before releasing me. He never failed to make me smile. Demi's hugs were warm and intimate. She had this way of making you feel like she never wanted to let you go.
When she finally did release me, they lit the candles on my cake and watched as I blew them out. I should have realized that I was about to have cake all over me, but it didn't register until it was too late. Demi smashed a piece of cake in my face while Nick recorded it on her phone. The stage turned into a war zone.
My face hurt from smiling so much. Once we had pretty much demolished the cake and everyone was covered in cake and frosting, I left the stage and finished watching from the side. They were my family and I loved every single one of them. They made me feel like the most important girl in the world.
When they finished the set I hugged each one of them as they exited the stage.
My birthday celebration continued on into the night. Like everyone else, I was completely drunk. Nick had a habit of passing out early so he left me to hang out with everyone else. Once our driver dropped us off at the hotel I stumbled to my room with Demi and watched as she passed out. I saw her phone laying on the floor so picked it up.
I was feeling quite daring so I peeled off my dress and walked into the bathroom. I took a series of selfies in my bra and panties and left them on her phone. It was my way of thanking her for the bracelet. I also trusted her and I knew that no one would ever know about those pictures. I was right too, well at least for the most part.
That bracelet is the one piece of jewelry that I never take off.