The concert was going well. The crowd was roaring like a tremendous machine. The Meryton Assembly was about to finish their part. Lizzie was at her usual spot backstage, cheering them and waiting for them to come back so she could tell them how fantastic they were. Except this time, she wouldn't clear the stage and prepare Pemberley's instruments with Rory and the rest of the crew. She was going to go on stage. Nervousness was creeping under her skin, quickening her pulse and making her hands a little shaky. She was never nervous. She hated this feeling. But she couldn't help it. Mostly because, as they had made the sound check that afternoon, she realised she would be playing in front of Richard, just behind Charles' microphone. In the middle of the scene. She thought she would be at the back of the stage, almost invisible.

- Oh no, Richard had laughed at her comment. You're pretty, we're going to take advantage of that and put you on display !

She had laughed, hoping it would somehow coat her trouble.

- Do you really think people will notice me, next to half-naked you ? And with two other god-like musicians around me ? she had retorted.

Richard always played shirtless, and the way his muscles moved on his torso was candy to the eye. Charles and Darcy were, well, Charles and Darcy. Gorgeous. Add any synonym. Richard shrugged.

- It gets warm under the lights. Besides, we need to extend our male audience, he had answered in a fake business like tone.

Charlotte had not needed to hear any more to drag Lizzie with them to get her make up done with the rest of the group. It had felt good, truth be told. The make up artist had a lot of funny stories to tell about famous or non famous bands she had worked with. They had laughed all the while Lucie was doing her magic and transforming them into exquisite ladies.

Just as The Meryton Assembly were waving to the crowd, Darcy materialised near her with a closed face. He was anxious too. That she would ruin his show, probably. That thought put Lizzie on edge.

- It's going to be OK, he said with a gentle voice, intensely watching the stage.

Lizzie was so surprised she turned a fish-out-of-the-water-like face to him. Did he actually say something nice ? To her ? Maybe unicorns existed.

- Try not to think, the music will come naturally. Just go with the flow the way you usually do.

Yep, he was telling her sweet things. His deep voice was so sensual when words like that were falling from his lips. She nodded in the most stupid way, mouth open. Warmth spread in her.

- No one expects you to be perfect.

Extinction of all the unicorns. Nope, still a douchebag. She turned her head to the stage again, gritting her teeth.

- How reassuring, thank you.

He turned his face to her but she kept her eyes on the stage, or else she might, … well.. get angrier. And that wasn't good for her mascara, for sure.

Despite the dimness of the backstage, he noticed her make up. It flattered her features, she was beautiful with that chocolaty touch that made her appetising. Her eyes were sparkling so much. In a decided gestured, she quickly tied her hair in a messy pony tail. Wild strands of hair were escaping her hairband, framing her face and caressing her neck. God, she was gorgeous. Her placement on the scene had irritated him, she was too far from him, he had wanted to stay near her for the first concerts, to help her fix mistakes, trace the path for her to follow. Now, it rather seemed like a good idea not to have her too near him. She was unsettling him, and he didn't like that. Without adding a word, he left to have his mic plugged.

- Make me proud ! Jane exclaimed when she came from the stage, still glowing with excitement.

- You sound like mom, Lizzie laughed.

- Except mom has no idea what you do, she added with a smile and a kiss on the cheek.

Jane then turned to Charles, squeezed his hands and whispered a few words to him. Rory winked at Lizzie. Charlotte put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

- I'm not anxious for you, she stated.

Lizzie raised an eyebrow.

- I'm not ! You're going to be exceptional, as usual. Old story.

- No pressure, Lizzie smiled.

- None what so ever. Go and kick ass.

Oh, she had a good idea whose ass she wanted to kick right now.

Charles blew Jane one last kiss, Richard winked at Charlotte, Darcy sulked at everyone and they were off to the centre of the stage. The white lights were bright and glaring. A noise like thunder greeted her when the public recognised the three men. For a moment, she was fazed and for a reason she did not quite understand, she turned to Darcy. What a stupid reflex, he was on the other side of the drums, besides, what could he possibly do ? But he was watching her steadily, with those piercing blue eyes, like he expected her to stumble. Oh no, I won't. She threw him a fierce glare and took her instrument.

- Hey guys, Charles said casually in the mic, as if talking to two or three friends and not a crowd of thousands of people. The public erupted. So, I've had a little accident, he said waving his plastered hand.

The crowd went wild. Why was he telling them that ? Lizzie turned to Richard. He was messing with his sticks. He shrugged, his face wearing a « classic Charles » smirk. She cast an eye to Darcy, even he was smiling.

- Yeah, stupid story. Anyway, Lizzie is going to play with us for a few weeks, he added while pointing towards her. We're happy to have her ! Make some noise for her !

Lizzie smiled and waved at the crowd. The public went wild. Oh my, she was in for one hell of a concert it seemed.

The electric atmosphere in the stadium still made her giddy after the concert was over. She was coated with sweat, her Pemberley crew shirt sticking to her curves.

- You liked it didn't you, Charlotte said with a grin.

She had to admit it, she had enjoyed herself.

- Yeah, I did, she conceded.

- So you're going to join us now ? asked a jumping Maria.

That girl was spring mounted when music was involved.

- Hey, calm down, she's ours for a few weeks, remember ? Richards said to her while grabbing her sister's hand. Maria turned an interesting shade of red. Now come !

And he dragged Charlotte from the lobby of the hotel they had just reached towards his room. She shrugged and winked at Lizzie, who just shook her head. The two of them all but ran to the elevator. Maria's cheeks were crimson by now. Charles was whispering in Jane's ear, his hand slowly tugging a strand of hair behind her ear. Lizzie turned to Maria.

- It seems everybody knows what to do with their after concert excess of energy.

Could the young girl blush any deeper ? Lizzie's eyes caught Darcy's and she sobered. He was looking at her. Of course he would be, she was the only one talking. Oh no, was he thinking she was inviting him ? Or waiting for him to invite her ? That was horribly embarrassing. Now she was the one blushing. She didn't want him to think she wanted it. Because she didn't, right ? She swallowed. Great, now he would think she was some kind of scared virgin. Which she was not. Do something, now !

- Come Maria, let's have a few drinks before the bar closes, she said, putting an arm around the girl's shoulders.

She paused, trying to sound natural and spontaneous when she would say the rest of her prepared sentence.

- Want to join us, Darcy ?

For a few seconds, he said nothing.

- No, I'm off to bed, he finally answered.

She raised a skeptical eyebrow. His answer came with one of his impossibly sexy smile.

- kind of a homebody.

She breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.

- Good night then. She turned away and headed to the hotel bar with Maria.

It became some kind of an after concert ritual for the following nights. Charles and Jane would slip away, Richard would head to his room with some company, Darcy would go the same way but alone, while Lizzie and Maria would get a few drinks. They were quite unrecognisable, and with her Pemberley shirt, patrons mistook Lizzie for a fan rather than a musician of the band. That was exactly what she needed after the fire of the stage to keep a cool head. Darcy should really join them, that would be good for his massive ankles, although he would have first to wear a fake moustache and dye his hear blond, because he would be recognised in the blink of an eye. Who wouldn't when one saw sexiness incarnated walking into a bar ? The thought of a blond moustached Darcy made her giggle.

- Why are you laughing ? Maria asked.

- Just some nonsense, Lizzie answered while taking a sip of her drink. Have you called Lydia and Kitty already ?

Her younger twin sisters, Kitty and Lydia, were Maria's best friends. They talked on the phone on a daily basis. And texted. And FaceTimed. And Snapechatted. And whatsapped. And tweeted. Lizzie wondered they could still find things to say.

- Yes. They said you should call your parents.

She took a look at the clock on the wall. Past mid-night, her parents were surely asleep.

- I'll do that tomorrow with Jane. How is everybody ?

- Good. Did you know ?

Maria then proceed to tell her in great details who among their college friends was going out with whom and why that was unacceptable. Lydia, Kitty and Maria all attended the same college, Maria was granted a semester off so she could go on tour with her group. Although Lizzie didn't know any of the people involved in her story, she tried to pay attention and put a serious expression on her face, the one she had mastered while her younger sisters would make her ears bleed with gossip. Luckily, in a few weeks, they would play quite near their home town, and the three of them would be reunited. It would be good to see one's family again for a few days. Lizzie finished her drink, Maria was still talking. A young brown haired man sat beside them at the bar.

- Hey, can I get you something else ? he gestured towards Maria's empty glass.

Colour started creeping up her cheeks. She slowly opened her mouth.

- No thank you, it's late and she's not legal anyway, Lizzie interrupted. We used a fake ID, she exaggeratedly whispered.

The guy's eyes were wide.

- Too bad, you are kind of cute, she added with a wink whilst pushing a dumb Maria off the stool.

The guy chuckled. In the corridor, Maria found her voice again.

- I can't believe what you just did ! she shrieked. I am legal !

- Well, I can believe what Charlotte would have done to me if I had let you go to that guy's room.

Maria's mouth shut in an instant.

- Just wait till the next time we go to a bar, she mumbled.