Chapter 15

Playing:🎶Faded by Benjackson Troy🎶

-The Performance-

Note: The lyrics used in this book are owned by Benjackson Troy so please don't dare use them for anything aside from this book.

Also, yes, I asked for his permission before using it.

Title of the song is 'End Of Time' by Benjackson Troy

Xander's POV

It's the weekend. Charles and I are presently in Tennessee preparing for a show. It's one of the things I recalled that day that made me text Ryan to inquire if Charles was home so we could discuss it when I get back.

"Can you raise your chin?" The make-up artist requests and I oblige her, lifting my glance to the mirror to watch her do her job.

"No," I evade, shaking my head at her slender figure as she nears me with an eye pencil. "I don't use that."

"Okay," she bobs her head and drops it to pick up a bigger face-brush than the one she's been using from her makeup kit and slides it on the face powder before soothing my face. Her nametag reading Gina.

"You are on in 5," the host says peeking his head through the entrance, his British accent carrying the words in a sophisticated way, compiled with his formal attire and gelled hair.

"I'm done," Gina announces, admiring her work for a second and beams, swerving her attention to her tools where she begins arranging the brushes, screwing and closing the powder, and other things she must have used.

"You recall what we planned right?" Charles comes in to clamp my shoulder and stares down at me thus I'm still sitting while he is erect and sporting a navy blue suit and red striped tie with a white shirt underneath.

"Yes, and quit acting like my manager and give me some space," I roll my eyes and suppress a grin at his reaction as I pick his palm from my shoulder.

"Dude, I am your manager," he says matter of factly, whacking me upside the head. This causes me to rise in shock and glare at him.

"You'll mess up my hair," I groan, pouting the same instant he chuckles knowing that will get to me.

"Stop manhandling me," he whines as I shove him playfully.

"Pussy," I laugh heartily, grateful for this little moment to help ease my nerves seeing as we are the only ones left in this spacey room which was about two hours ago rowdy and busy with other artists who were getting prepared to go on stage.

"I'll leave you to it," he smiles encouragingly and slaps my back. "You've got less than two minutes to go out there and dazzle them. Don't keep us waiting."

"Thanks, man, for everything," I say, a genuine expression on my face which he brushes off.

"Don't get sentimental on me," he tsks, giving me the salute, and turns on his heel, departing some seconds after.

I take deep breathes and gaze at my reflection in the mirror. My appearance comes off as composed as everything looks intact.

Lifting a brow, I smirk, knowing the girls are going to run wild when they see me in my badass outfit of jeans trousers, a black t-shirt with a skull face on it, and a matching jean jacket that has real gold chains hanging on it.

I ruffle my hair a bit to give it the sexy look and turn my back to the reflective glass as I hear the host giving some random hints about me to the crowd that produces cheers as they catch on.

The excitement finds its way into my veins and I feel a grin spread across my lips as their voices get louder. For a moment my mind blocks out every sound the second I spot a dumb poster with a gold-rimmed clock pictured on it. A dark background surrounds the time device and below it the words '365 days make a year, so make every day count for something'

It's as if the words mock me and I recall my deal with Azazel, my subconscious warning me I've got less than 11months to set my records straight.

"Psst, Xander!" The host calls my attention, a scowl on his face. "What the fuck are you still doing standing there, you are up."

I bob my head in acknowledgment, inhale and say a silent prayer to God as my feet carry me to the stage. The whole Arena is dark and I can hear the expectant hush in the air that makes a smile linger on my mouth as I take a seat behind the piano.

I give a sign to the host who catches it and the spotlight turns on, but not on me. My hands slide over the keys before I start pressing the right ones and place my mouth above the microphone.

"I just wanna tell you how I feel and it's true,

You so damn crazy----" The crowd screams as the light drops on me, muffling out the rest of the line.

"I can't describe it, it feels right, and now I'm---" I wink at them and the cheers are deafening, drowning the rest of the words, and I giggle.

"Baby--" This time they pick it up and sing the rest to my excitement and glee that I give a full-blown laugh as I continue.

"You should know that,

I should be the one to hold you,

I should love you, I should hold you,

Till the end of time, till the end of time.."

They chorus the echo as I stand, the beat picking up and the excitement increasing. They begin to jump the minute I initiate the second half of the song

"Summer nights ain't nothing without you,

You just like a piece of me without a clue,

That's why I feel better when with you,

Maybe I'll just stick to you without a glue," I voice, and saunter towards my left, beaming at my amazing fans.

"I'm obsessed and crazy and fucking out of my head,

You so damn crazy and weird,

It matches mine so, we'll be perfect though,

I guess we'll be good, I guess we'll be good, we'll be good," I blow a kiss at a busty blonde and chuckle when I see her pupils dilate.

"You know it's hard to say, we all live in a fantasy,

You know it's hard to say, there ain't no ups and downs,

I'll give you everything, I'll give you all my love-----" I point at a brunette who blushes in the arm of her boyfriend and I'm gifted a frown from him that I respond in a shrug, having fun as I bounce on my feet and sing along with the crowd, the environment getting charged as my voice blends with theirs.

"Unleash the beast," I end and drop the mic literally, causing the crowd to go wild as I bow and exit, my breathing high and sweat dripping across my forehead from the adrenaline and the amazing performance I just nailed.

**********

I release a sigh as I throw myself on the closest couch, a permanent grin on my face as I feel so proud of myself. I gaze at the ceiling which is way up, the chandelier hanging above it to illuminate the living room, staircase, and top floor. Causing the gold rims of the stair rail, clock, and furniture to glint.

"To be honest bro, that was your best show yet," Charles lets out, appearing above me to see me sprawled on the black leather cushion that corresponds with the others. He holds two champagne glasses in hand, his feet having made no sound as he ambled to me on the shiny marble glass.

"I know right?" I shake my head in happiness, my teeth shining through my lips. I collect the glass he hands to me and admire the red sparkly liquid swirling in its depths.

"Yass!!" He exclaims and clicks his glass with mine. "To more jaw-dropping performances."

"To more," I affirm and pour the wine down my throat, giving him a thumbs up at his great choice of drink. "Spot on."

"You must be exhausted," he says, going to the bar across the stairs to drop the half-drunk bottle and glass.

"I sure am," I agree, sitting up. "But I'm also thankful to God for making today a success."

"True that," he accepts and wanders to give me our signature best friend handshake. "I'll be back in a few hours, I need to fuck some hoes."

"For someone who constantly judges my lifestyle, I'm surprised you sometimes play the field," I tilt my head to stare up at him.

"You said it, sometimes, not every time like you do," he snorts and strides to the door. "Don't wait up for me buddy."

"Go fuck yourself!" I yell.

"I should be telling you that!" He retorts in the same volume, and soon after, I hear the door close, leaving me alone with a few guards in this gigantic house, the first house I ever bought with my income in the city that supported and still supports my music the most.

Picking up my weight, I saunter to the huge windows, my half-drunk glass still in the crook of my finger and my left palm in my pocket as I gaze at nothing in particular.

I feel a bit homesick which is weird thus I've lived in this place for the past decade, rather I have a bit of restlessness as I watch the bustling city from up here.

Layla would have loved this place, and this city hence she cried to me for days to let her come but I could only stand her presence for a while so I declined and came up here with Charles and a few of the guys. I needed a getaway such as this to help me clear my head and set my priorities straight.

It seemed I made the wrong choice about staying some days after the concert as I didn't expect to be feeling suffocated and out of place. Inhaling, I release the breath in a sigh as I consume the last swig of the wine in the cup.

I have no control over my thoughts as it wanders to what Helena would have thought of this environment. She probably would have been feeling the same way I am and want to go home. On the other hand, I know I would not have granted her request immediately and would plead for us to stay longer so I can show her the city.

Despite her resistance, I'm sure she would have succumbed and we'll end up having a nice time during the day, and after that come home to discuss our day while eating dinner, have a few laughs at the odd events we experienced, and get to know each other more, maybe end up tangled in the sheets with perspiration lining our skin as I pound into her.

"Fuck," I grunt, taking note of the boner I've instilled on my dick by having such thoughts. I guess that's all it is, mere thoughts and imaginations that may never come true.

I miss Boonville, it has become a town I've come to love by its fresh clean air, quiet environment, the church, club, and the people in it. I don't allow myself to entertain the thought that I miss it because it has Helena in it and instead focus on missing out on the progress of the club renovations.

Sensing a prick of guilt about thinking of Helena while Layla is all alone in the house, I retrieve my phone from my back pocket, unlock it and click on her contact. I watch it ring, and surprisingly no answer till the call cuts. I try again, the same thing happens. I choose to give it a last try and shrug after the connection ends for the third time with no one picking it on the other side.

"I'm tired of this place," I mumble at the lonely emotion that appears to have set in and slide till I find Charles's name. I click the text popup and leave him a message.

First thing in the morning, we are leaving for North Carolina, I need to see Dad and Theresa,

Book the next available flight when you see this and give me a call.

I lock the phone after that and walk to drop the glass aside the one used by Charles at the bar and retire for the night.