"Promise me eternity / Say whatever, doesn't matter / You could tell me the world's flatter / But I'd believe you / Say whatever, doesn't matter / Because I need you."

Julia had woken up about a half-hour before the two reached the hotel and as they pulled into the parking lot, she squealed with anticipation. Gavin cocked an eyebrow toward her and she pushed his shoulder playfully. He carried their small supply of luggage up to their room, and changed into the clothes he'd be wearing for the concert and went down to the lobby so that Julia could get ready in peace.

It was a fairly nice lobby and he relaxed into a sofa, picking up a magazine and reading it while he waited. He was a third of the way into an article about cheating buisness moguls and celebraties going under the plastic surgeon's knife in secret when Julia cleared her throat to interrupt.

"How do I look?" She questioned, striking a pose for his judgement.

"Fabulous, dahling," he mocked, looping his arm in hers and leading her from the lobby to the car, where they climbed in and made it to the concert hall.

By the direction of the radio station's disk jockeys, he ushered her to the backstage door where they met a security officer. He found their names on the list and another officer ushered them through winding, narrow spaces backstage til they got to the room with "AK" on the door.

The burly guy opened the door for Julia, who then realized her dad wasn't with them. She explained this to the officer who said he'd go find him and that AK would be there in any minute, so Julia settled into one of the couches in the fairly barren dressing room.

The door opened a few minutes later, revealing an average-heighth, very pretty woman with short, red-brown hair dressed in ripped jeans and a navy blazer. Julia's smile widened about a mile and Ashley smiled back.

"Hi," Ashley said, extending her hand to Julia who took it, nervously, "I'm AK."

"Yeah," Julia responded, "I know." Then Ashley laughed, and Julia visibly relaxed, "I'm Julie Mason."

Ashley slid into the seat across from Julia, pulling a bar of chocolate from her blazer pocket and kicking off her red kitten heels, sitting indian style.

"Want some?" She questioned, brandishing the bar to Julia who declined it. Ashley shrugged, "They say it's like, the worst possible thing I can eat before a show. But I just don't think I could make it without it." She smiled and Julia laughed softly.

"My dad will want some, trust me. He came with me, only he got lost somewhere and the guards are off finding him. But that's so something he'd do, he's such a weirdo."

"But that's why you love him?" Ashley said.

"Oh, yeah."

"My dad's a little strange, too... you might not know this, but he's gay."

"Really?"

"Really really. I've learned they leave that out of most of those teen magazine articles."

"Guess so," Julia sighed.

"So my parents got divorced when I was in middle school."

Somehow talking to this amazingly famous woman should have intimidated her immensely, but Julia felt the words falling easily. There was a comfort in this place, something unexpected but not unappreciated.

"Yeah, I live with my dad because my mom passed away when I was really little."

Ashley grimaced, "I'm sorry to hear that."

"Yeah, it sucks, but my dad's great."

"What about a stepmom?"

"No. My dad's dated a couple women, but to be honest they're all..."

"Bimbos?" Ashley finished her statement for her.

Julia laughed, "Yeah, actually."

"I know the feeling. My mom dated around for a little while after the divorce, but they were all jerks. Finally she found Jeff..."

- -

Gavin had gotten lost early on, but it didn't take the security officer to find him and direct him to the dressing room. He knocked on the door and Julia rose to answer it, being closest to the door, and Ashley rose behind her.

"Hey, sugar, the found me."

He said to Julia and then closed the door behind him, turning to face the singer he'd heard so much about. His eyes widened as he saw the recognizable face. Ashley made a shocked noise as her eyebrows knitted together. They both interrupted Julia's introduction at the same time.

"Spinner!"

"Ashley!"