And The Light Shines On The Bay...

(1988)

(I know that this story is a little stupid, but I am bored and don't have a better idea at the moment.)

"Check. Check. 1...2...3...Check. Can you hear me up there, Ray?" Tom said through the microphone. He looked to his left, then to his right. Where is she? He thought. It's noon already.

"Yeah, Tom. It sounds good from up here. Grab your guitar and we'll check that." The intercom clicked off.

Tom sighed, reaching for his guitar while shooting a quick glance backstage. Where is she?

♥♥♥

"Vince," Kayla pushed him aside, her heels clicking rapidly on the tile. "I don't have time for you right now. Shouldn't you be somewhere right now? An interview or something?" She felt her body jerk back, a tight grip on her arm. "Vince!"

"I just want to talk to you for a second." He pulled her into a nearby dressing room and shut the door. He squared his hard body in front of the door, diminishing her chances of escape.

"What do you want, Vince? I swear to God. If you try anything, Tom knows that i am supposed to be at sound check right now and he'll come looking for me. I swear it."

He let out a breezy laugh. "Relax, Kayla. I said that I only wanted to talk to you." He took two steps forward, his heavy boots pounding against the tile. "I hear that you're pregnant. Nikki told me, actually."

"Is this really what this is about? Vince, let me go. We can talk about that later. Actually, I don't think we will. It's none of your business." Kayla crossed her arms over her chest. With every step Vince made, she doubled it backward.

"Let you go? I'm not holding you here, Hun. You could leave whenever you want. I just thought that I would ask you myself. You know Nikki isn't very trustworthy. I had to hear the news for myself. Congratulations by the way." There was something in his voice that made Kayla feel intimidated. She knew that if he wanted something, it wouldn't be hard for him to get it.

"It's only been two weeks. Tom and I have talked about it for years. He just finally thought that now was the time." She inched forward, her eyes shifting across the room as she strategically planned her escape.

"Makes sense. You two aren't getting any younger. How old is Tom anyway? Thirty?" Kayla didn't understand why Vince was taking an interest in this.

"Twenty-seven."

"And you?"

"You never ask a woman her age, Vince." She was only five feet from the door now. "Let's say that I am younger than Tom. Much younger than you would think. Younger than you, too, I suppose." She didn't know Vince's age and was not the list bit concerned. She focused on the door, the copper knob and the white paint. Just three more feet.

"I know how old you are. Cheyenne's age. What did Nikki say? I can't remember. Twenty-four?"

"You're very smart. And maybe we can talk later. But i really have to meet Tom at sound check. You wouldn't want a pregnant woman to run, would you? It could hurt the baby. Rattle it around in there. Not too good. Bye." She reached for the knob and quickly pulled the door open, casually walking down the hall toward the stage.

♥♥♥

"Great. It sounds great up here, Tom. Is Fred here? Tell Fred we need him out here." Ray said over the intercom. "Nine hours until show time, guys. Let's get this done."

Kayla sat on an amp case near Fred's drum set.

"Where have you been?" Tom asked, leaning his guitar against the stand.

"I'm sorry. I got a little caught up. Well, mostly lost. It would help if they posted a map of these places." She had been planning that lie since she reached the stage.

"You didn't miss much. I'm done for the day, though. You wanna check things out? We could go back to the hotel if you want. I don't have to be back until seven o' clock."

Kayla smiled and stood up. "I'm a little hungry. You are going to have to feed me more now that I'm eating for two."