Page 43 of Edge

“Edge, Edge,Edge.” The crowd chanted to the strains of the guitar riffs Hannahwas putting out. With the halftime break over, they’d beenperforming for an hour, and Jory was sweaty, adrenaline flowingthrough his veins, his body thrumming with the thrill ofperforming.

He shimmied his way overto Alice and twerked her, then strutted across the stage to do thesame to Hannah, belting out the lyrics to “Misunderstood.” Themoody ballad had gone down well with the crowd.

You alwaysused to say I was fucking unfair

Tying youdown with something not there

You wanted tobe free and have a ball

And I can seeyou don’t care about me at all.

How does itfeel to be so misunderstood?

Promises youmake can’t be seen as any good

Now you’reall alone and so misunderstood.

Knowing Roger was readyto talk, and having Damian share his excitement earlier once he’dtold him, put Jory on a high even singing couldn’t give him. Theshitshow he’d been living with could end and he and Damian couldget on with living their lives.

I finallylearnt I’d have to be strong

Turn my backon you so I could carry on.

Now you wantme back, but baby, don’t damn well start,

You shouldhave thought of that before you broke my fucking heart

The arena was alive withpeople, waving their mobile phones around, torches held high. Theysang along with the lyrics, the atmosphere charged with energy, andJory absorbed it, using the electricity in the air to power hisperformance.

My friendsall said I’m crazy and I couldn’t see

The way youkept me hanging on,

the way youhad control of me.

Babe, I guessI know what kind of fool I was,

Now I’mgetting over you so, so leave me alone

How does itfeel to be so misunderstood?

Promises youmake can’t be seen as any good

Now you’reall alone and so misunderstood.

Despite the smell of thesmoke from the smoke machine, and the sweat, and the occasionalwaft of cologne and perfumes in the air, Jory could still scent thefresh sea air, and feel the chill of the breeze against his heatedskin. It was quite the novelty to be performing in an open-airtheatre exposed to the elements.

At least it’d stayeddry.

He pranced around anotherfive minutes and saw the warning gesture from Bernard they werecoming to the end of the show. Jory gave his performance a finalblast as he screamed along with the last notes of the song. Then hewas finished, and he sank to the stage on his knees, opening hisarms and embracing the adoration of the audience. His chest roseand fell with exertion, but he was satisfied he’d given them aperformance worthy of their affection.

The crowd went wild, withcries of “Encore, encore” echoing through the arena. Their finalewas a rousing success and once the metaphorical final curtain fell,Jory and his bandmates collapsed onto the soft couches in theartists’ room.

They were all stillbuzzing from the success of the evening, and all Jory wanted to dowas see Damian and go back to the hotel room. After a show, healways found he was horny and who better to work it out with thanhis sexy, amazing boyfriend.

Damian dashed into theroom and threw himself on top of Jory, crushing hisbones.

“Steady,tiger.” He laughed as Damian planted kisses all over him, hisbreath tasting of beer. “You don’t want me to die before you canhave your way with me later.”