I don't own Night World, or 'My Happy Ending' by Avril Lavigne or 'Shine' by Take That. Or 'My Heart' by Paramore. Come to think of it, I own nothing but the story line.

Jez and Morgead: SuperStar

Chapter 9

Jez POV

I groaned as my make-up artist, Amanda, got the make-up wipes out. Again.

She'd been working on me for the past three hours, and I was sick of it. She kept on putting the make-up on, wiping it off, then putting it on again.

"I really think that's enough. I look fine," I said exasperatedly.

"One final touch. Then you can go practice," she said. She advanced again.

She finished after about ten minutes, stood back, smiled and said, "Perfect! You have three hours to practice. I think everything has been set up." She glanced out the window. "But if it's anything like the last one, people have already started arriving."

I laughed. People had started arriving four hours early last time. "Wonder how many are here."

"Go check for me, will you?"

I grinned and jumped up. There was a guard outside my dressing room door. "Chris, how many people are here?"

He smirked at me. "About half of the people who are meant to come."

I thanked him and closed the door. Amanda was grinning.

"I think that you're quite popular," she said. "Go ahead to the hall; you need to practice."

"Thanks," I said jokily. I walked out the door, and Chris followed me to the big concert hall.

"Ah, you're finally here, Jez," the backing drummer, Daniel, said.

"Sorry. I got held up with make-up," I said. I went up the centre of the stage.

"You remember everything?" the choreographer said.

I nodded.

"We're going from the top!" he shouted.

The practices went well, and I went to relax back-stage as the audience came pouring in.

Concerts always freaked me out, but I was getting better at controlling my fears. I could perform in front of larger crowds.

I didn't know why, but I was more freaked out about this one. It wasn't that the crowd was larger. It was smaller than the last time, but just something that made my heart beat faster and sweat dew at the back of my neck.

"Three minutes, Jez," Chris said. His brow furrowed when he saw me. "Are you feeling alright? It's a relatively small crowd."

He came to crouch next to me and touched my arm gently.

"I'm fine. I don't know why the nerves are coming now," I said. I brought my legs up to rest my chin on my knees. I glared at the floor.

"It'll be great, Jez. Better than the last one. And that was one hell of a performance." He chuckled. "And then, the next one will be better than this one. It works like that."

I smiled at him. Chris was great at pep talks. I stood up and pushed my hair back, trying to control the shaking.

"Jez! You're on!" I heard someone hiss.

"Knock 'em dead, Redfern," Chris said. I grinned and high fived him, then walked on stage.

The roar when I came into view was deafening. Everyone I could see past the glare of the spot-light was standing, clapping and cheering hysterically.

I smiled automatically and waved as I walked to the microphone stand.

"Hey, how are you?" I asked.

More cheering. I chuckled, then continued. "Well, tonight I'm planning to sing everything on the album, and a few covers. They will probably be on my upcoming album."

More deafening screams.

The band started playing 'My Heart' and I sang.

I went through all the others on the CD, and finally came to 'Shine' by Take That.

I had a twinge of sadness, as always, when I sang this song. It had been mine and Morgead's song. We used to sing it constantly in the streets, that which got us several strange glances. I smiled as I thought of the dorky dance we made up.

"You, you're such a big star to me
You're everything I wanna be
But you're stuck in a hole and I want you to get out
"I don't know what there is to see
But I know it's time for you to leave
We're all just pushing along
Trying to figure it out, out, out.

"All your anticipation pulls you down
When you can have it all, you can have it all.

"So come on, come on, get it on
Don't know what you're waiting for
Your time is coming don't be late, hey, hey
So come on
See the light on your face
Let it shine
Just let it shine
Let it shine.

"Stop being so hard on yourself
It's not good for your health
I know that you can change
So clear your head and come round
You only have to open your eyes
You might just get a big surprise
And it may feel good and you might want to smile, smile, smile.

"Don't you let your demons pull you down
'Cause you can have it all, you can have it all.

"Hey let me know you
You're all that matters to me
Hey let me show you
You're all that matters to me.

"Hey let me love you
You're all that matters to me
Hey so come on yeah
Shine all your light over me."

I was grinning by the end. I loved that song.

"Now, a song I covered for the next album," deafening screams, "It's one of my personal favourites, by a very talented singer. 'My Happy Ending' by Avril Lavigne!"

The band started playing, straining to be louder than the audience.

They've got some lungs on them, I thought to myself.

"So much for my happy ending
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh...

"Let's talk this over
It's not like we're dead
Was it something I did?
Was it something you said?
Don't leave me hanging
In a city so dead
Held up so high
On such a breakable thread

"You were all the things I thought I knew
And I thought we could be

"You were everything, everything that I wanted
We were meant to be, supposed to be, but we lost it
And all of the memories, so close to me, just fade away
All this time you were pretending
So much for my happy ending
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh...

"You've got your dumb friends
I know what they say
They tell you I'm difficult
But so are they
But they don't know me
Do they even know you?
All the things you hide from me
All the stuff that you do

"You were all the things I thought I knew
And I thought we could be

"You were everything, everything that I wanted
We were meant to be, supposed to be, but we lost it
And all of the memories, so close to me, just fade away
All this time you were pretending
So much for my happy ending
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh...

"It's nice to know that you were there
Thanks for acting like you cared
And making me feel like I was the only one
It's nice to know we had it all
Thanks for watching as I fall
And letting me know we were done.

"He was everything, everything that I wanted
We were meant to be, supposed to be, but we lost it
And all of the memories, so close to me, just fade away
All this time you were pretending.

"So much for my happy ending."

The crowd roared again when I finished.

"There are some stalls at the back where you can buy t-shirts and stuff. All the profits go to a charity called Samaritan's Purse. It's an organisation that raises money for different things every year. This year, they're getting money for a fund-raiser called Turn on the Tap. Basically, it's raising money to install pumps in some villages in Africa. It's a great organisation."

I went off-stage, smiling and waving. I was definitely ready for a break.

I paced backstage, drinking water. I had a thirty minute pause, so I was in no hurry.

I found myself drawn to the side of the stage. I walked slowly, trying to calm the nerves that had suddenly propped up again.

There were less people here. Just a couple carrying some sound equipment and two men who were having an argument.

I frowned as I recognised one of the voices. Chris. I started walking faster to see what the problem was. But the next voice made me freeze, out of view of the two men.

"She's my best friend; I would never do anything to hurt her. Just let me through."

I would recognise that voice anywhere.

I turned the corner and saw him. His green eyes were lit up with anger. His black hair was slightly longer than it had been the last time I saw it, and was slightly messier. His face was matured slightly, harder and more masculine.

He was more handsome than before.

"Chris, let him through," I found myself saying.

Morgead's gaze snapped to me. His eyes turned into a brighter green, but this time with happiness. He smiled slightly as he began walking up to me.

I felt myself smile in response. I ran up to him and launched myself into his arms, tightening my own around his neck.

I felt his arms tighten around me, too. An unspoken happiness sang between us. I was finally home, where I belonged.

Morgead POV

She had been fantastic.

She always was, but when she stepped onto that stage, she changed into something that I didn't know she could be.

It only made her more beautiful, more alluring.

She sang the final lines of the Avril Lavigne song, and said some things about a charity, then went off stage. I could see her pacing, and could tell from the tense line of her shoulders that she was unhappy about something. My heart went out to her. It was almost like we were connected; I could feel what she felt.

To be happy, I needed her.

I got out of my seat, not being able to resist anymore. I had to see her properly, hold her again.

I loved her, more than anything. I knew I couldn't live without her anymore; it was like living a lie. I knew that if this failed, I would just try the same thing again until I died, or until I was reunited with my angel.

I made my way quickly to the side of the stage. There was a kind of gate there, and a beefy man with a name tag saying 'Chris'.

"Hey. I'm a friend of Jez's-," I began.

"Don't try it. I'm not letting you through," he said. He crossed his arms.

"But I am-"

"Don't try it," he said again. He glared at me. "I'm Jez's body guard, and I'm not letting you through."

"She's my best friend; I would never do anything to hurt her. Just let me through."

"I won't. Get back to your seat, sir."

"Chris, let him through," I heard her say.

I looked at her as Chris opened the gate, my face splitting into a smile. She smiled back, with real happiness in her expression. I started walking towards her, eager to talk to her. She ran and threw herself in my arms.

She was finally here. Her arms tightened around my neck, holding me close. My arms tightened around her. I pressed my face in her hair.

"Jez..." I murmured. "Don't you ever do that to me again."

She pulled away, holding my hand tightly. "Come on," she muttered. "Let's go to my dressing room."

We started walking away, me still looking at her every few seconds to make sure that she really was there.

"Jez," I heard Chris call from behind. Jez looked over her shoulder. "Great show."

"No reason to be nervous, then?" Jez said. She grinned at him.

"None absolutely," Chris answered.

Jez turned back to the front, still clutching my hand like it would kill her if she let go.

"Since when have you known?" she asked.

I knew what she meant. "I saw you on the Mandy show."

She was silent for a second. I looked down at her. She was blushing slightly.

"Oh," she finally said. "In case you didn't realise, I dedicated the CD to you."

"I realised," I said softly. She looked at me, a tender expression in her eyes, melting them into perfect cerulean blue. "Thank you."

She smiled and leaned her head against my shoulder. "You deserve it," she murmured.

We came to a door with the name 'Jezebel Redfern' printed on a sign, and stuck onto it.

I snickered. "You didn't kill them for putting 'Jezebel'?" I asked

She stamped on my foot. "Almost. I managed to stop myself. Just. I don't want to be caught." She glanced at me, an amused smile quirking up the corners of her lips. "I don't have the fear of being caught if I can rid the world of you, though. I'll be worshipped if I kill you."

"Funny, Jezebel," I said. She closed the door. I leaned forwards menacingly, putting my hands either side of her head. She crossed her arms and glared at me. "Take that back."

"Never!" she sang. She grinned. "Unless you beg. On your knees."

"That's not gonna happen any time soon," I retorted.

"And you're gonna have to buy me your favourite chocolate and watch me eat it for calling me Jezebel," she said.

"No. And I'm not letting you out of here until you take that back."

She pouted adorably, sticking out her bottom lip and gazing at me with wide eyes. I could feel myself crumbling. She looked so forlorn.

A flash of triumph went through her eyes, but she controlled it quickly. I grinned and grabbed her around her waist, flinging her up on my shoulder.

She shrieked and shouted, "Put me down, you idiot!"

"Not until you take it back!"

"I'll never take it back!"

We were both laughing now, and I collapsed on the sofa, putting her down next to me. I let go.

"A-ha!" she said. She jumped up and lunged for the door. She never gave up once we got into one of our fights.

I didn't either. I went behind her and grabbed her around her waist again. I pulled her back, falling over and letting her land on me.

She reacted quickly, twisting as soon as we landed, and jumped on me, kneeling on my chest. She grinned triumphantly.

"I think I win," she announced.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever," I mumbled.

She grinned again and slid off me. She sat back down on the sofa. I followed her.

"So, how have you been?" Jez asked.

I looked away. I wasn't sure how much I should reveal to her. I used to tell her everything, but now, with the secret that I couldn't live without her, I wasn't sure how far I should push it.

She was my entire life. I wasn't going to loose her again.

"Fine," I mumbled. I was still looking away.

"Have you learnt any new pieces for the piano?" she asked.

"No. I haven't played in a while."

She was silent for a while. "You haven't played in a while?" she said finally. Her voice had undisguised outrage.

I looked back at her. Her eyes were wide, filled with fury.

"Why?" she said.

I shrugged and looked away again. I knew I couldn't hide the reason from her for long; she knew me too well. "Haven't felt like it."

I felt her gaze on me. She moved closer and put her arms around my neck, leaning her cheek against my shoulder. I held her automatically.

We stayed that way for a while. I was the happiest I'd been in months. Since before she'd left, if I was honest to myself.

This obsession couldn't be healthy. But, as I held Jez, I couldn't bring myself to care.

"Why did you leave?" I asked after several minutes of blissful happiness.

"My Uncle Bracken," Jez answered. "You know his business was going bad. It went bust, and he thought it would be better if I moved to my mother's side of my family."

Bracken sent her away? He told me that she'd gone by her own accord!

"What? Bracken told me-"

"I know what he told you," Jez interrupted. "I told him to say that. I thought that it'd be easier-"

"Easier?" I said. I pushed her back so that I could look at her. "Easier? Have you any idea what I've gone through? It would have been easier if you told me the truth-!"

"I know," she interrupted me. She put her hand on my lips, silencing me. "I know, and I'm sorry. So sorry."

She moved her hand to rest it on my cheek.

Neither of us looked away. My heart started beating quicker, and I could hear Jez breathing get quicker.

We were falling towards each other. My arms were around her body. Her eyes were such a gorgeous blue. She was so beautiful.

We were so close now. Our lips were only a couple of centimetres apart. Even closer...

There was a knock on the door. Jez suddenly jerked back, her eyes wide with fear and shock.

"Yes?" she said, slightly shakily. She took a deep breath.

"You're on in ten minutes, Jez. Are you ready?"

"Yeah, I'm ready," she said. Her voice was steadier. She stood up carefully and shook her hair back. I looked away deliberately.

"You know..." Jez said. She watched me for a second. "It might be easier if you come back stage and wait there. Then I won't have to find you after. It's a pretty big crowd."

I shrugged. "OK," I said.

We walked back out of the dressing room.