Page 4 of Deeper

Time ticked by and my legs began to ache from just standing around.

“Any day now,” I muttered to myself.

Being so close, Victoria nudged me with her elbow. “Patience.”

We’d long since bypassed our patience era of the evening. A smooth hour had passed since we’d been let in and Zander still had yet to make an appearance.

What was the hold up?

I was just considering going for a restroom break when a man appeared on stage. He eyed the crowd and I watched as trepidation spread across his face at the sea of us before him.

Narrowing my eyes, I looked on with bated breath.

The man peered off to his left, at someone off stage in the back, before facing the audience once more. He ran a hand through his blond hair and cringed. Fine worry lines creased his pale forehead as he began to frown.

I watched as he took a deep breath and began to speak into the microphone clutched in his hand. “Folks, I’m sorry to inform you that tonight’s show has been cancelled. Zander Khalil won’t be performing.”

A collection of incredulous “Whats” rung from the crowd behind me.

The man held his hand up as if to pacify the mounting tension. “I’m sorry. Our talent for the night is just unable to perform and the show is off.”

“Is he postponing?” someone demanded to know.

The man rubbed his neck. His skin was turning red under all the scrutiny. He was just the unfortunate messenger. “Look, I wish I could tell you more, but that’s all I got.”

His words ignited rage amongst the fans who were expecting to see a show.

Victoria turned and looked at me and I could see her broken heart in her eyes.

Her pretty face crumbled. “Maybe something came up.”

She was disappointed. She’d never been to a So What concert, and to support Zander solo was a big dream and goal for her.

And now he was cancelling the show way past the last minute?

No, fuck that. I didn’t stand for over four hours just to be easily dismissed by some pansy-ass recluse who owed Victoria and everyone else a performance.

“This is bullshit!” someone hollered from the crowd.

Got that right.

“BOO!” another person shouted out.

“Teddy wouldn’t do this,” someone else snapped.

Around me people were pissed and upset, but none of it hit me like seeing Tori’s frown sink deeper.

“I’m going to use the restroom. Meet you out front so we can just go?” I asked as I leaned in to be heard over the chatter.

Victoria bobbed her head. “Deal.”

I gave her a firm hug before departing for the restroom.

What a waste of a night out.

After finally getting in to the packed restroom, I quickly used it and washed my hands. The more I took in the situation, the more irked I became.

“He seriously hasn’t toured since he left So What,” a woman was saying to her friend as I passed them on my way out of the room.

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