I've hit a little bit of a road block… that and I can't concentrate for more than 10 minutes.

Chapter 7: Backstage

The crowd seemed to part ways as Kyla and I made our way to the stage. Some of the guys from the band were mingling around on stage with some fans and waved at Kyla. I thought she said that no one knew that we were coming to the concert tonight. Maybe they just know her from some other concert of something. We approached the back door where guy stood guarding it… or at least he was acting like he was.

"Hey Jim, you want to let us back there or what?" Kyla slapped him on the shoulder and he seemed to blush. It was kind of hard to tell in the dim light, but I'm pretty sure.

"Sure, anything for you Kyla. Is this a friend of yours?"

"Certainly is, Jim this is my friend Spencer. Spencer this is Jim. He is this bands fine body guard and also the brother of the drummer, Steven."

"It's nice to meet you Jim." I reached out and shook his hand. I don't think he gets out much or gets much attention from girls.

Jim backed away from the door and opened it for us. I'm not sure why he thinks that the band needs security, but at least he's sweet. We made our way down the back hall to the band's area. I was getting nervous knowing that I would actually be seeing and talking to Ashley. Did she really want to see me? Will this be strange or like we were never apart? The suspense alone was killing me.

Kyla walked ahead of me into a large room and I saw the rest of the guys from the band hanging around. Two were playing guitar hero; strange because they just got done playing an entire concert. Then I spotted her, she was sitting on a couch towards the wall with her guitar in her lap. She was strumming lightly and had headphones on. Kyla walked over to her to say hi, but for some reason I just stood there. I couldn't move. After Kyla hugged her, Ashley looked up over at me. Our eyes met again and she smiled. She stood up, placed her guitar back down on the couch and started to walk towards me. I was still completely frozen.

She got closer, still smiling. "Hi." She said almost too quietly to hear. Her voice sounded as sweet as it always had.

"Hey." I whispered back.

"Do you want to talk?"

"Sure."

I looked over at Kyla who was already playing guitar hero with the guys. She winked at me and mouthed to go ahead. Ashley and I moved out of the room and outside. There was what seemed to be their "tour bus" sitting in the back parking lot. It was really just a large van, but I'm sure it was better than some. Ashley took a seat on a bench and signaled for me to join her.

"I didn't know you would be here tonight."

"Kyla invited me a few days ago. I almost didn't come."

"Oh… I honestly didn't even know where you were living."

"I've been in Chicago for about four years now. I moved pretty much right after high school. But Ashley, I'm wondering, if you didn't know that I was going to be here then why to you play our song?"

"Spencer I play that song at every concert. They always let me play it at some point in the set."

"But why? Why are you still playing our song after this many years?"

"Because I made you a promise that I would sing it to you in front of a crowd. I guess I was always hoping that someday you would be there to hear it and now you did. I never forgot Spencer."

"Ashley there are so many things that have changed. So much is different now."

"I know that, but Spencer I've missed you far too much. I want to get to know you again. Can we at least catch up? Say tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I'd like that. Do you know where Millennium Park is?"

"I can find a map!"

"How about you meet me there tomorrow at 2? I have some stuff to do in the morning, but I should be free for the rest of the day. How long are you here anyways?"

"I'm here for a bit. I have to talk to the boys about that, but we'll talk about that later. I will see you tomorrow then Spencer. We should go back in and save Kyla from the boys. They can get a little grabby after a show."

We got up from our bench and went back inside to find the band and Kyla arguing over the latest battle on guitar hero. Apparently one of the guys thought that he should have won, but Kyla had clearly beaten him. It sounded as if this had been going on for awhile because Kyla was sitting on the floor with her arms in the air yelling that she was the queen of rock and roll. Ashley and I laughed and things felt like they were supposed to feel.

"Ok boys time to let Kyla go. And Andy, you know she beat you so just give it up."

"No way man! Ky did not beat me!"

"The game does not lie Andy, I won and you just can't handle to truth. I'm the queen and you know it!"

"Whatever man. I'll see you tomorrow Ky?"

"Sure thing Andy boy. I'll call you in the morning. You ready to head out Spence?"

"Yeah I'm ready." I turned to Ashley. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow. Night Kyla, don't forget to call me."

"Ciao Ash; boys I shall see you later."

Kyla and I left the building and started to walk back towards her apartment. I was smiling as I thought of how great the concert was and seeing Ashley again. Then it occurred to me.

"Shit Kyla what am I going to do about Mel?" I stopped dead in my tracks.

"Oh god Spencer, I have no idea. Do you still love her?"

"I don't know… I honestly don't know if I ever really did. I'm horrible!"

"Come on, let's keep walking. I'm sure you have loved her Spence it's just hard to get over your first love. You and Ashley were different."

"Yeah I know. I don't think I could ever really get over what Ashley and I had. This is so messed up Kyla. What am I going to do? Tell Melissa that I can't be with her anymore, break her heart. I would have no where to live and I would be sticking her with rent to pay by herself. I can't do that to her."

"Don't worry about money. You need to think about what is going to be best for you and Melissa. If you think that there is potentially part of you that still wants to be with Ashley it might be best if you break up now. Don't drag this out longer than it needs to go."

"Right, ok. Well we're at your place; I'm just going to keep walking and try to figure this out. Thanks for bringing me tonight. I really needed it."

"I'm glad we could go together. I'll talk to you later, ok?"

"Ok, later."

I walked off towards the apartment that I shared with my girlfriend. Was I really going to break up with her for a girl that I may never get back together with? I can't believe the thoughts that are going through my head.

#21: Simplicity

Ok guys, please let me know what you think. Any ideas on how the next few chapters should go? I hope to update again sometime next week, probably over the weekend because my girl will be gone. Hopefully then I will be able to concentrate on this thing a little more!