“Sounds good.” I swiped some more gloss onto my lips before following him outside.
“Security is meeting us at the festival. Just to be safe,” he told me, slipping inside the Escalade.
I didn’t like going places where their security tagged along, but it was better than being swarmed. Most fans were pretty chill, but there were still the crazy ones. Someone gave Mathias a lock of hair one time. The look of disgust on his face would’ve been comical if it hadn’t been downright gross. She literally ripped it out of her head and thrust it at him. She’d also said something about them being destined to be together and that she’d already picked out the names of their children. She then proceeded to rub her stomach and told him that little Leopold would be arriving in the fall. Mathias hauled ass out of the meet and greet room after that.
They were actually doing a meet and greet today after they performed. Hopefully no more scenarios like that one played out.
Ezra and I were quiet the whole drive over. He parked in a section off to the side where the people working at the event parked their cars. I immediately spotted two hulking security guards. Each of the guys had two of their own security personnel. Ezra’s were named Jon and Kenny. They were massive—all of their bodyguards were—and built like linebackers.
Ezra hopped out of the car and the bodyguard’s met us at the parking lot exit. They flanked us on each side as we headed into the festival.
It was already packed, and as we walked the whispers and stares started up. Soon it would be all over the festival that Ezra was here walking around.
The guards kept people from approaching, but it didn’t stop them from taking pictures as we passed.
“I thought we could go see the circus.” Ezra glanced down at me to see if I was in agreement. He was completely oblivious to the crowd growing around us. He was so used to it at this point that he didn’t even bat an eye. “It’s supposed to be one of those aerial acts. Not clowns,” he winked.
“You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?” One time I confessed that I was terrified of clowns and Ezra thought it was the funniest fear ever. But those things were scary. Yes, things, because I did not believe clowns were people. They were far too horrifying to be human.
“Definitely not.” He smiled at me boyishly, a slight skip in his step.
He seemed to know where he was going so I followed him, while the bodyguards kept the crowd at bay.
He approached a red and white striped tent and ushered me inside. One of the guards stayed by the entrance while the other followed us.
The place was packed with people waiting for the start of the show.
Ezra continued forward and I grabbed his elbow, hissing, “I think they’re sold out.”
“Just trust me.”
He turned to the first row and sure enough there were three empty seats. “After you.” He waved his hand dramatically.
I shook my head and took the end seat. “You had this planned,” I accused.
He smiled and sat down beside me with his bodyguard on his other side. “Maybe,” he whispered in my ear.
A girl, no more than thirteen, sat beside the guard. She leaned forward, peering around his massive body and let out a small shriek of excitement before skirting back and hiding her red face behind her hands.
Ezra chuckled and leaned forward. “Hi, I’m Ezra.” He held out a hand to the girl who was still hiding behind her hands. Her friends sat beside her, both of their mouths hanging open in shock.
The one beside the girl bumped her with her elbow and said, “He’s talking to you!”
The girl lowered her hands. “I’m Sarah.” When she noticed that he was holding out his hand she stuck hers in it.
He gave it a quick shake before letting go.
Sarah looked like she’d just won the lottery. “You’re my favorite,” she exclaimed suddenly, finally finding her voice. “I know most people overlook the bass player, but yeah, I love you.”
Ezra chuckled, flashing a smile. “I’m happy to not be overlooked.”
“We’re going to the concert later.” The girl that elbowed Sarah piped in.
Ezra grinned, pushing strands of his dark hair away from his eyes. “Cool. Hey, Jon make sure these ladies get passes into the meet and greet.” He pointed to Sarah and her two friends.
The one that had been quiet up until now let out a shriek that had everybody in the nearby vicinity covering their ears. “You mean I get to meet Maddox?!” She gasped, fanning her suddenly flushed face. “Oh my God, I love him so much. He’s beautiful and when he plays the drums…” Her whole body shook with excitement. “He’s amazing.”
It was then that I noticed her shirt.
SAVE A DRUM. BANG A DRUMMER.
Oh shit. We were in for it.
I gave Ezra a look and he merely chuckled.
Maddox had no idea what was headed his way.
The lights began to dim and then everything began to glow with a purple and blue hue. Ezra sat back and the girls grew quiet, only the occasional whisper and giggle, as the show began.
Music began to play, something slow and haunting.
Dancers came out with some sort of white glow stick clasped in their hands. As they danced the lights began to blur, creating an otherworldly effect.
The music began to quicken and then stopped all together.
The tent went black.
I blinked my eyes, trying to see anything.
My heart picked up speed at the total darkness, and I was tempted to reach for Ezra’s hand, but we were in public and I was afraid someone might snap a photo of us on their phone and the rumors it would cause weren’t worth it.
Before my panic could escalate the lights came back on, pointed at the peak of the tent.
I gasped in awe when I saw that heavy looking lengths of fabric now dangled from the top. A female had the fabric wrapped around her arm and spun through the air. On the other fabric piece a man spun in the opposite direction.
Their faces were tortured and full of longing as they reached out for each other, always failing to reach the other one.
The music sped up again, as did their movements. They began to blur and then she let go of the fabric. He caught her easily and their bodies tangled together as he held them up with only one hand.
The lights changed to a pink hue and their expressions became filled with lust.
They were absolutely incredible.
I’d never seen anything else like it.
“This is amazing,” I breathed.
When I glanced over at Ezra he was looking at me and not the show.
“You’re missing it,” I hissed, pointing in the direction of the aerialists.
He shook his head, his dark brows drawn together. “I’m not missing anything.”
My heart stuttered and skipped a beat and I looked away from him hastily.
But still, his eyes lingered upon my face.
When the show ended we headed back out into the festival once more. The crowds had doubled in size and I worried the two guards might not be enough.
I stuck close to Ezra’s side, trying to ignore the stares.
I should’ve been used to them by now since I was friend’s with him, but I was convinced the prying eyes and nosy looks from strangers was something you just didn’t get accustomed to.
“Let’s go get some cotton candy.” He slung an arm over my shoulder, steering me over to a cart.
The guy working it quickly handed over a cone of cotton candy. He didn’t appear starstruck by Ezra, but I could tell the growing crowd was freaking the guy out. They were turning into vultures.
Ezra handed me the cotton candy and turned us away from the cart.
I dug my heels into the ground. “Aren’t you getting one?”
He shook his head and grinned. “Nope. I thought we could share.” He then leaned over and took a bite of the cotton candy, shoving the strands that stuck to his lips into his mouth.
He was definitely trying to kill me.