9: "That's Me In The Spotlight..."
Anthony eased into a director's
chair, cringing at his reflection in the mirror before him. The gaudy round
lights framing it hurt his eyes, and he winced. A hand squeezed his shoulder,
another handed him a fiery silk T-shirt.
"Swan," Kevin voiced as Anthony
accepted the shirt from him. "You okay, man?"
"Yeah, don't worry about
me, bro," Anthony replied. Heat slashed over his jaw.
A crooked smile
swept across Kevin's face. "You'd better change your shirt so they can do your
make-up."
Anthony slid out of his gray on gray plaid suit jacket, then
lifted his turtleneck up over his head. As he slipped the shirt off his arms, he
caught sight of his girlfriend, Britney, huddled behind Kevin, nibbling on her
cuticles. Nervous eyes met with his. Anthony gestured toward the door. "Baby,
you should go get ready," he voiced. "Aren't you presenting first?"
She
nodded, and Anthony furrowed his eyebrows. How the hell had he known that? With
a soft, sweet kiss, Britney left him.
A make-up artist approached as
Anthony pulled on the red shirt. He glanced past her, at the figure leaning by
the door. Eyes downward, mind elsewhere. John shifted his weight from one foot
to the other, slouched against the door frame, and sighed. Black bristles
tickled Anthony's forehead and danced down his nose. He closed his eyes as the
make-up brush swept over them.
"We should all get ready." Anthony could
hear Kevin's voice comment.
"I want to stay here with Anthony," a meek
voice replied. "If that's okay."
"That's fine, man. Hey, see ya in a
few, Anthony!"
"Yeah, see ya, Kev!" Anthony called. The brush dotted
across his cheeks, and he opened his eyes. Through crescent slits, deep and
shimmery blue eyes gazed at Anthony. Brian crossed his lightly toned arms. He
furrowed his eyebrows, his thin pink lips curving into a little
smile.
"So," Brian spoke softly, rubbing his biceps. "You ready for
tonight?"
The spiky bristles traveled down Anthony's face, stabbing into
his jaw. Tingly shocks of pain assaulted his chin, and he winced. Turning his
attention to his reflection, Anthony watched the cosmetic brush erase rosy
splotches before his eyes. "What song are we performing tonight?"
'Shape
of my Heart.' The answer floated through his brain. Of course!
Chuckling,
Brian shook his head. Fears drained from his features. Anthony laughed along
with his bandmate, but his smile faded within a heartbeat.
"Sh**."
Anthony glanced at Brian, then closed his eyes. "I'm sorry, I mean shucks.
Listen, I don't know what it is. Maybe I'm just nervous, but I can't remember a
darn word of that song."
"Really?" Brian's brows raised as he widened his
eyes.
Anthony nodded. "Can you help me out, bro?"
Steadying his
eyes on his bandmate, Brian grabbed the studio chair beside him and slid into
it. "Okay. Well, I'll come in first. You at least remember that I singe the
first verse solo?"
Anthony nodded, though he didn't.
"And that's
where I sing 'Baby, please try to forgive me. Stay here, don't put out the
glow...'"
Shaking his head, Anthony broke in. "I can't even remember the
tune!"
Brian sighed. A woman stepped up behind him and put some gel in
his corn-silk hair. As she ran her fingers through it, he sang, "Baby, please
try to forgive me. Stay here, don't put out the glow. Hold me now don't bother -
if every minute it makes me weaker. You can save me from the man that I've
become." Opening his eyes, Brian grimaced.
Anthony smiled back at him.
"That was beautiful, man. Why the heck doesn't it sound familiar?"
The
woman behind Brian wiped her hands on her apron. She stepped to his side and
took a cosmetic brush to his face, across his wrinkled brow. He bit his lower
lip.
"I have an idea," he stated, his eyes locked on Anthony's. "Since
you don't have a solo in this song anyway, why don't you just lip sync the
chorus?"
Anthony snorted. His make-up artist applied mascara to his
lashes. "I don't know if I can do it."
Gulping, Brian winced. "I know
you're nervous, Ant, but you've got to pull yourself together! Please
relax!"
'Lou.' The single word thought stung Anthony's brain. He
swallowed hard and gazed into Brian's deep blue eyes. "Lou's gonna skin me if I
screw up," he stated.
Brian's make-up artist painted his pursed lips with
a sheer peach gloss. "Just don't get so scared." Tears brimmed in his eyes, and
Anthony sighed.
"You're petrified of the man."
Letting in a deep
breath through his nostrils, Brian raised and lowered his head. He opened his
mouth. "I, I'm afraid of what he'll do to you if you make another mistake." He
lowered his head further. The woman beside him raised it again and combed his
eyebrows with a tiny black comb.
"Don't YOU get so scared, little
brother," Anthony replied with a smile. "Chilies look out for each other. We'll
all be okay."
Brian managed a grin. "I'll try not to worry."
"I'll
try too." He extended his right hand to his friend. The palm of Brian's hand
slapped into Anthony's. Their hands clasped. Leaning toward one another, they
each wrapped their free arm around the other and embraced. Anthony's jaw hit
against Brian's broad shoulder and pulsated with pain.
"Hey, let's not
ruin the make-up."
Brian snorted a laugh and drew back. "I need to go get
dressed real quick..."
"Yeah, go ahead."
*****
Anthony
peered out the parting of the satin curtains as Britney glided across the stage.
Thousands of clapping hands filled the auditorium beyond. They silenced as she
took the microphone and held it to her lips.
"Ladies and gentlemen," her
voice resonated off the walls, "it is my privilege to introduce our first
musical guests, the world wide sensation and the five sweetest guys you could
ever meet... ladies and gentlemen, the Red Hot Chili Peppers!"
Michael
stormed past Anthony, onto the shaded side stage. Anthony followed at his heels.
He glanced at Brian, who watched his steps beside him, before his eyes met with
his goateed bandmate. Kevin flashed a grin. Behind him, John ducked out of
view.
The five men stood side-by-side on stage. A soft pink light came
on, glazing over their features and illuminating them. A tune floated through
the air. Anthony closed his eyes, absorbing its melody through all his senses.
He HAD to remember!
To his right, in the smack dab centre of the stage,
Brian raised his left hand. "Hmm, hmm. Hmm, hmm," he hummed. "Yeah yeah." He
took a step forward and sang, "Baby, please try to forgive me. Stay here, don't
put out the glow. Hold me now don't bother - If every minute it makes me weaker.
You can save me from the man that I've become." His head shook as he crooned.
"Oh yeah."
Suddenly the words deluged Anthony's mind, and he
grinned.
"Looking back on the things I've done," the five sang in unison.
White and blue lights exploded overhead. "I was trying to be someone. Played my
part, kept you in the dark. Now let me show you the shape of my
heart."
As Michael started into the second verse alone, Anthony and Brian
exchanged smiles.