The crowd was on its feet, stomping, clapping, cheering, and Josh stood backstage, winded from just having come off the performance, his chest heaved as he sucked in fresh air, his ears muffled from the noise. He sighed. He didn't want to go back out and sing another song, he was tired and he was hungry and all he wanted to do was lay down. He heard his name being called from somewhere behind him and cranked his head around to see who it was. David, his voice coach stood about 500 feet away and called to him. Josh sighed again, disgusted as David's arm was laced in another man's as he waved him over. Okay, now he had an important decision to make; go backstage and have to deal with the backstage whores – the friends and family of the people who worked for Warner or go back out onstage and pour his soul out to the crowd who was now chanting his name.
"What's it going to be, Josh?" Asked Tom, the stage manager. Josh closed his eyes and rubbed them with his fingers then cursed softly as he remembered he was wearing contacts.
"I'm going back out." He said and then took off for center stage.
People lined the hallway and he forced a smile as he made his way through them towards the safety and privacy of his room where there waited a shower and some fresh, cold bottles of water.
"How do you do?" He touched hands and smiled. "Pleasure to meet you." He said over and over. He reached the door, slid inside and closed it quickly, his back pressed against the cold steel. He sighed and let his shoulders roll forward. He didn't know what was wrong with him but he had been very fatigued lately and somewhat depressed. He wasn't eating as much as he should and burning off thousands of calories a night he'd begun to lose weight. He made his way over to the refrigerator and dug out a bottle of water. He twisted off the cap and tossed it down on the table before guzzling almost half of it in one drink. He breathed heavily before guzzling the rest of it. He had a tiny bit left in the bottle and after tipping his head back he began to pour the cold water over his face. It was so cold it took his breath away and he gasped. Just then there was a knock at the door. He coughed and sputtered as he inhaled drops of water. Cursing he stomped over to the door and opened it a crack then smiled when he saw a petite, blonde woman standing just outside, her blue eyes opened wide. She looked frightened like she'd just seen a ghost and nervously tucked her short hair behind her ear as he stared at her, face wet, his hair hanging down in heavy soaked swirls.
"Yes?" He asked with forced patience.
"Umm, Josh?" He blinked a few times and smiled. It was cute, it really was.
"Yes." He said and leaned against the door, crossing his feet at the ankles. He watched her with interest. She wasn't some young girl, she had to be older then him, probably about 35 he guessed. If he played his cards right he would get her to tell him but for now his money was on 35.
"Umm, your mom gave me a message for you." She said softly. Just spit it out, woman, he thought.
"And what would it be?" He said and as their eyes met he stared at her and thought he saw a flicker of something there. Just then there was a commotion down the hall and he heard David's voice. He reached outside the door, grabbed a hold of the girl's arm, yanked her inside, slammed the door shut and locked it quickly. He took her hand and pulled her to the back of the room and pressed her against the wall. "Shhhhhh ..." He said, holding a finger over his pursed lips. She stood dangerously close, her breath coming in short gasps as she stood next to him. He tilted her head up to him so that she was looking at him again, he saw fear. "Are you okay?" He whispered and just then there was a bang on the door as David obviously tried to open the door and finding it locked pushed on it a few more times. Josh stood with his hand over the girl's mouth making sure she didn't give him away. As soon as the hallway grew quiet again he let go of her. "Are you okay?" He asked again, quietly. She nodded.
"I think I just need a drink." He walked over to the fridge.
"Drink as in a cold drink or drink as in alcohol?" She smiled.
"Do you have alcohol in there?" He opened the door and stuck his head in then stood back up.