We arrived at Giants Stadium by 8:30. There were already people in the seats and people soundchecking.
“Well Em, what do you think?”
“To be honest Charl, I think I’m gonna barf.”
“Please try not to do that Emma,” she smiled. “Remember, you’ll do fine.” Jake, Billy, Charlie, and Ryan were walking beside me, looking just like I figured I looked: pale, scared, and jittery. I wasn’t sure I could take it. I’d have to just tell Charlotte I couldn’t do it. No one would miss me. Heck, Katy Perry could come on thirty minutes earlier. Who would argue with that?
“Don’t even think about it.”
“Huh?” I looked at Ryan.
“You’re thinking about making a run for it. There’s no way I’m letting you do that.”
“How did you-“
“We’ve been playing together for three years, I know you like the back of my hand. Don’t think I didn’t recognize the ‘Holy **** I’ve gotta get the heck out of here’ face.” Ryan really did know me too well.
“Fine. But if I barf all over the stage, it’s your fault.”
“Emma, you’ve got an interview just down here in about ten minutes. Let’s go ahead and head on down that way.”
“Ok, ok…” Oh boy. Interviews really weren’t that bad, but I always feel so goofy talking about myself.
We walked down the hall to a room with a couch, a chair, and all the equipment necessary for interviews.
“Emma! Hello, I’m Tom from X104.7. Very nice to meet you! Would you have a seat on the couch please?” Tom was slightly tall with hair the color of coffee. I could use a coffee…
“Hello Tom, nice to meet you!” I said shaking his hand and then sitting on the white couch. If I had coffee I’d probably spill it all over this and then I’d have to apologize and that would be so embarrassing… I really needed to concentrate.
“Okay Emma, we’re going to be taping this live if you don’t mind.” Even if I did mind, what could I do about it?
“Ok, sounds good,” I said smiling the most genuine and un-nervous smile I could muster.
“Ok we’re live in 3, 2…”
“Hello, this is Tom Hager with X104.7, and I’m here with Emma Evans. How are you today Emma?”
“I’m great, thanks.” Ugh. There go those butterflies again.
“This is your first big performance, isn’t it?
“Oh yeah, I’ve never played somewhere this big before.” Thanks for reminding me, Tom.
“Are you excited to be playing alongside acts such as Katy Perry, the Black-Eyed Peas, and Justin Bieber, especially at just nineteen years old?”
“Definitely, I can’t even believe I’m here. I think my whole town might be able to fit inside this stadium. It’s absolutely crazy to me that I’m here with people like that.”
“Small town girl, eh? Well I imagine you live in New York City now.”
“Yeah, I moved here after I got signed. I miss home, but I’m living the dream.” That was definitely true.
“Your album comes out next month, am I right?”
“Yep, July 7th!” Another thing to make me nervous… jeeze.
“Well I’m sure after this performance a bunch of people will go out and buy it. I’ve heard your stuff. I think they’ll all like it.”
“Thanks, I really hope so.”
“Well Emma, I wish you luck on your performance!”
“Thanks, Tom!” Fiiiiiinaly. This interview was over.
I got up and walked over to Charlotte and we walked out of the door.
“One interview down, just the biggest performance of my career left to g-“ I just collided with something quite solid and I knew instantly that it was a person. DAMN. During the split second between colliding with the person and actually looking to see who I’d mown down, I just knew it had to have been Usher. I’ve just knocked Usher to the ground. I should just leave now.
“Oh gosh, I’m so sorry.” That definitely wasn’t Usher’s voice.
“Oh no it was my fault, I’m sorry,” I looked into the face of a boy who couldn’t have been older than seventeen. He looked oddly familiar.
“Oh no, sweetheart, you’re ok! I didn’t hurt you did I?”
“No, no, I’m fine, thanks.”
“You’re welcome. Are you performing today?” He asked. I know I’ve seen this kid somewhere…
“Oh, yeah.”
“Awesome, I guess I might see you backstage then?” He smiled. I’VE GOT IT. It’s Justin Bieber. Holy **** I just ran Justin Bieber over. I’m going to get death threats. Ugh great job, Emma. Just knock the world’s biggest popstar to the ground; I’m sure no one will notice.
“Ok, I guess I’ll see you there.” I smiled at him. What else could I do? I almost knocked his brains out. I’m surprised he even wanted to look at me.
“Five minutes ‘til showtime Em.”
“Shut up, Charlotte, or I’ll send my army of angry stomach butterflies at you,” I thought. Wow, I was even what I was thinking sounded stupid. “If I make it out of here alive, I’m never doing this again.”
Some person I’d never heard of was finishing up their set. I’m sure she’d never heard of me either, so I felt sort of proud of her for getting out there and doing it. After all, I’m in that chick’s place next.
“Next up, we’ve got Emma Evans,” the MC said. My band starting playing the music to my opening song. My legs felt like spaghetti and the butterflies in my stomach were trying to break out, I swear.
As I walked out on stage it hit me all over again. The realization of what I was doing came in another wave over me and I just had to hold on because if I didn’t, all of Giants Stadium would see me barf up my breakfast and I’m sure they’d rather not.
--------
“Oh…my…gosh… that was the most amazing thing I’ve ever done!” I said to Billy as we ran backstage after I finished my performance.
“I know, right? I feel like I could jump off of a building!”
“Billy please, don’t do that.”
“Charlotte, I wasn’t being serious, you know I wouldn’t-“
“You did a great job.” Did my ears deceive me, or was that Justin Bieber I heard?
I spun around to my left and sure enough, there he was, standing there and smiling.
“Thanks, I really appreciate it,” I replied. I knew about a million middle school girls who’d have ripped the guitar out of Ryan’s hands and beat me unmercifully if they heard what Justin said to me.
“No problem.” He smiled and flicked his hair.
“When do you go on?” I said as Charlotte tried to bustle me along the hall. Justin followed.
“I don’t go on for another couple of hours. I don’t have anything to do until then. Do you want to hang out? If you’re not busy I mean.” I think he was flirting but from where I was at he was jailbait, and I’d rather not go to jail for dating a sixteen year old. Nevertheless, I figured what could it hurt? I’d just let him know he’s too young for me, and we’d be friends or something.
“What do you say, Charl?” I asked, looking back at her.
“Well…” She flipped through a schedule. “You really don’t have anything else to do here, I guess that’s fine.”
“Awesome,” Justin said. “I’ve got Rock Band set up in my dressing room, and some other video games if you’d wanna play.”
“I’m no guitar hero, man.” He looked disappointed. I really didn’t mean it to sound like that. The last thing I want to do is hurt this kid’s feelings. I might wake up with one of his fans hovering over me with a pillow ready to smother me if I did. “You have a laptop with you?”
“Yeah…”
“Ok, let’s go watch funny videos on YouTube. You can’t lose with that.” He smiled and flicked his hair again.
“Good idea. Let’s go.”
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