The Unexpected Life of Carnegie Lane (21 page)

“It’s not bad. My room is number 209, I’m three doors that way.” Nate pointed to his right. “Wanna come see?”

He asked with a smile on his face.

“Yeah!” Said Sienna. She was having so much fun. She had no idea why her family were suddenly surrounded by cameras and rocks stars, but it didn’t matter why. All that mattered was it was the best fun she had had in ages. Starting with the flight to Brisbane.

They walked down the hall and Nate opened his door. They walked into a room that was three times the size of the one they were in. The view of the city was amazing. He walked over to the bar and poured himself a red wine and one for Carnegie. Then he pulled out cokes and handed them out to the kids.

“Err…Sienna goes a bit mental on that stuff.” Carnegie said, cautiously.

“She’ll be right. She has a concert to go to so I’m sure she’ll burn it off.”

He went over and handed Carnegie her glass, looking into her eyes as he did. Nate just stood there, smiling and looking at her. She remained curious and allowed him to do it without questioning why. Somewhere in her eyes, was a connection to his past. Somehow she held a key, one he didn’t believe possible to exist. Her eyes were blue. Her hair was dark, her skin was pale, untouched by the sun. Even though he had never asked himself the question. He felt comfortable with her because she represented what he could no longer have.

Taylor had blue eyes, dark hair and pale skin. She would have been the same age as Carnegie, if she had lived. The connection was there, but the reason he felt something was still trapped in his sub conscious. What he was doing on one level, could have been viewed as insane. What he was really doing, was trying to set himself free.

“Carnegie…” he broke the awkwardness.

“Yes?” She questioned. Wondering exactly what he had been looking at for so long, presuming it was the wrinkles next to her eyes. If he suggested Botox…she was going to hit him.

“Thanks.” Was all he said. He continued to look at her.

“Thanks for what?”

“For being here, for coming. It means a lot to me.” He clinked his glass up against hers and both of them turned to watch the sun begin to shift in the sky. It was now 4pm. Nate had a sound check in one hour. Then he had time to come back for an hour or so and get ready to go back to the Brisbane Entertainment Center ready for the first of his shows.

About twenty minutes later, Leonie walked into the room with a schedule in her hands, she said hello to Carnegie and the kids, then started directing Nate in what to do.

“Nate, you go now to the sound check, and I’ll organize Carnegie and the kids so go ahead without me. Oh... and someone will be there from a radio show, have fun with that. And… you will have to talk to them at some stage, don’t ignore them.”

“Yep.” He said taking it all in his stride.

“I’ll be back later… See ya kids! Have fun. You can hang in here if you like. Oh…There is an x-box in that cabinet and a TV Connor if you want to use it.” He grabbed his jacket and walked out the door.

“Awesome.” Connor breathed as he opened the doors on what he thought was a cupboard, only to find a 50 inch plasma and a huge selection of games.

Once the kids seemed to be distracted, Leonie began talking to Carnegie in earnest. She hadn’t managed to have much time with her at all, and now seemed as good a time as any to find their equal ground.

“Well…how are you going so far?” She asked, figuring it was as good an opener as she could think of.

“It’s a bit overwhelming…Although it’s seriously fun.”

“Yeah… it is fun.”

“You have an amazing job. Getting to travel everywhere with the band, must be taxing on you though.”

“It’s definitely taxing, but it’s worth it. They are a great bunch of guys. I see them as family more than anything now. It’s been such a long time working together.”

“Well, they all seem nice. I haven’t had much time to spend with the rest of the band yet, except for the other night. Nate told me about Tye, and I thought he was such a nice guy. I spoke to him a couple of times in the foyer. I had no idea.” Carnegie said innocently. She didn’t see the shivers that went up Leonie’s back as she did.

“Well…I was going to talk to you about that. You have to be really careful who you talk to and what you say. This industry has a habit of turning fictions into truths no matter how bizarre it sounds. The last thing you need is a scandal.”

“Nate said that. I’m still trying to think of how they could find anything to use personally.”

“Oh believe me, they will. No skeletons in your closet is there? No axe murderers in your family or anything like that?” She laughed as she said it. Underneath, she really was asking the question.

“Nope…nothing.” Carnegie answered innocently.

“Then you’re good. Want a top up? I know I could use a glass if you’re keen to go again.” Leonie walked over and grabbed the wine Nate had opened. She was hanging for a drink. Just one before she began the ritual of organizing clothes for the band, arranging transport and making sure the team that worked in the background were all on schedule.

“Yeah…That would be great… Thanks Leonie.” Carnegie put her glass out, so she could pour into it.

They both chatted for a while, small talk mainly, all the peripheral things you say when your exploring someone new. Leonie settled down, recognizing that maybe, just maybe… There was nothing here to worry about, nothing that could upset the status quo. In fact, she decided that she liked Carnegie Lane… A lot more than she thought she would.

Seconds turned into minutes and before she knew it, Carnegie and those kids were on their way to the concert. They walked in a side door. They had complete access to the entire venue. Sienna was happily following Leonie everywhere she went, pretending she was her assistant. Connor was off doing his own thing; Sobian and Olivia were totally in their element, as all seventeen year olds would be.

Carnegie walked out amongst the crowd, where she had always been most comfortable. She absorbed the way she felt, the way that somehow, an element of anticipation had been removed. She couldn’t put her finger on exactly what it was she was feeling, then the background music got louder. Before she knew it, Sheeva’s Disciples were on stage. Nate was taking the front mic, and the crowd around her went wild.

As much as she sensed the anticipation of what was coming. there was an underlying emotion. The band started up, leading into what was clearly a popular song. Carnegie moved to the music and watched every move Nate Bowman made and loved the intensity he commanded. There was one difference between this concert and the many others she had attended. This time, she didn’t feel the need to be noticed. Carnegie Lane knew that she already had been. Call it maturity, call it what you like, there was a shift in her that happened that night. She felt a peace she had been searching for, as if suddenly, she belonged in the very world she had tried so hard to be a part of.

Nate searched the wings of the stage as he got ready for his solo set. The one that allowed the band a break before the final part of the night. He was looking for Carnegie, although she was nowhere to be found. He scoured the crowd, trying to find her face but there were so many, he couldn’t see her. Talking to the crowd he continued his search and he played a couple of songs keeping up the momentum. Eventually he gave up, and began the dedication. One he had worked on, just for her.

“Somewhere amongst you tonight, is a very special friend of mine.” The crowd went wild, more because he spoke than what he had said.

“I’ve got a song that she asked me to learn. I’m going to sing it for you now. A Night Like this… by The Cure!”

Carnegie blended into the sound of the guitar as it entered her body when he began to play. She closed her eyes and began to dream. This was her moment, it was the closest to heaven she had been for a long time. Suddenly in her head, the crowd belonged to her and only her. Nate Bowman didn’t exist. Every one of those people became statues, all of them became her audience. She was singing to her fans, the words they wanted to hear. She got lost in the sound of a voice, now familiar.

“
Say goodbye on a night like this, if it’s the last thing you ever do. You never looked as lost as this, sometimes it doesn’t even look like you
….”

That was it. Carnegie was right at that moment nowhere and everywhere at the same time. Like heroin, Nate Bowman’s voice just became her new drug.

“
You’re just the most gorgeously stupid thing I ever…had in the world
…” the song went around in her head... “
Say hello on a day like today…say it every time you move...
”

It took a while before she came back to earth but when it happened, it happened suddenly. It was the words that made her recognize what she was feeling and it brought her back from the world separate to the one she was lost in right now.

“
The way that you look at me now…
makes me wish I was you
…It goes deep, it goes deeper still this touch…and the smile and the shake of your head…
”

Carnegie opened her eyes and looked around. She watched the people who were all mesmerized, although none of them were looking at her. She looked up at the stage, and there was Nate, still scouring the crowd for her face. She walked forward through the body of fans who for some reason moved and let her through, like they knew she had priority. Her pass that hung off a chord around her neck allowing her access as she got to the row of security guards. They pulled her over the barrier and she stood right at the base of the stage, eye to eye with Nate.

“
I’m coming to find you if it takes me all night…
” he sang as he looked into her eyes and smiled. Carnegie had his full attention. It was a feeling she had longed for, and one now she was happy to receive.

“
Oh oh ohh I want to change it all…
” they sang to each other as if there was no one else in the room. “
Oh oh ohh I want to change.
” It was exactly how she felt.

Nate finished the song and the band came on for the final set. Carnegie Lane had come back to earth and used this as a perfect excuse to go back to the side of the stage, back to where her children were waiting, oblivious to the space of madness their mother had just visited. She carried on as normal, yet she recognized a little more about herself than she had done a moment ago. Carnegie Lane was jealous. Underneath everything, underneath her book, and the fact that she had the most beautiful children in the world. The reality was she was a star to no one and the man she now had feelings for, held the affections, musically, for the world she wanted so badly for herself.

She had dreamed those affections belonged to her…. every day for the past 20 years. It didn’t make her hate him, or even dislike him. It just made her
need
him a little bit more.

She was distracted by Leonie who came to stand beside her.

“Well, what do you think?” she asked. It had been a great performance, and she was very aware it was the first time Carnegie had seen them live on stage, other than an unplugged session.

“They are great, I get why they are so popular.”

“Nate is an amazing song writer, that’s for sure, he’s lucky he has such a talented group of musicians to back him up. That’s what makes the magic.”

“I can see it’s a joint effort. What an incredible accomplishment.”

Together they both stood there listening as they wound up with their final encore to a room full of screaming fans begging for more.

“Now… what do you think? I can arrange a car to get you back to the hotel before all the fuss if you like. You could take the kids back and get them settled. The twins could stay and go back with the band. I’m sure they are enjoying the attention.” Leonie, ever the organizer was trying to get everything sorted out before the interesting part of the night happened. The fans and the cameras, the autograph signing. Then, getting out of the place. The crew would come later after everything was locked down and the equipment was secured.

“That’s a good idea. I’m sure the little ones would be exhausted by now.”

Carnegie gathered up Connor and Sienna, and then went with Leonie to the side entrance where a car was waiting. She was quiet on the way back, reflecting on a million emotions and moments that had just resurfaced… All of them bringing back the memory of what she loved so much about her life long ago. Her body was still in sync with the music. It had always affected her, long after concert, like an intoxication.

It was over an hour by the time the rest of the main team arrived back. Carnegie could hear the commotion on the street as fans and photographers got a glimpse of the band and her daughters as they got out of the cars at the hotel. Both of the younger children were sleeping soundly. There wasn’t even a complaint from Connor when she tucked him into bed. As for Sienna, she fell asleep mid sentence.

Sobian and Olivia both rocked in the door, still excited beyond belief. They started gushing at their mother about this being the best time they had ever had. Carnegie smiled and listened to the joy in their voices. It had been a long time coming.

“Anyway, there’s a gathering in Nate’s room, he said to tell you, so you should go down there.”

“Well, will you stay here with the little ones if I go?” She questioned, deciding that both of them may have had enough stardom for one night, and an after party for a band might not be the best company for them anyway.

“Yeah, we were already told that we couldn’t be there. That’s ok, we’ve had such a good day, and then there’s two more nights of concerts to go.” They both looked at each other and giggled a little. It was just getting better all the time.

It took her a while before she wandered down the foyer and knocked on Nate’s door. Leonie opened it. Inside there were others Carnegie hadn’t seen before.

“Hey... I was just about to come get you.”

Carnegie smiled at her and stepped in the room. “Just getting the kids settled first, that’s all.”

Together they walked into the lounge where Nate was sitting, with two girls, both gorgeous and both at least half his age on either side of him. He excused himself and went over to Carnegie. He took her hand then turned back to the room.