As the evening went on; both Roxie and Nathan spent most of their time at the concert venue drinking beverages from the snack bar and looking at some of the merchandise tables that were located near the stage. Roxie would look at a couple of the T-shirts, sweatshirts, bags and hats or beanies that the band would be selling and if she ever found something that caught her interest; Roxie would then point it out to Nathan and Nathan would buy that particular item for her. As they walked around the venue, Nathan kept a close eye to see if any of Gavin Simmons tour team members were out and about; looking for the couple. So far there have been no sightings of any team member, so Nathan eventually gave up on the matter and focused on the time he had with Roxie before the concert started.
Pretty soon it was getting close to the time when the concert was about to start. So both Roxie and Nathan started to return back to their seats and watch the opening acts for the concert. To Roxie's surprise; the opening acts that Gavin Simmons had for the concert were incredibly talented.
"I never knew that these opening acts could be so musically talented! They're incredible!" Roxie told Nathan.
"I agree. Gavin told me that if he was ever to headline a tour on his own, he wanted to have the most talented local musicians that he could find and from what I'm seeing and hearing right now; he chose a pretty great group of talented musicians for his opening act on his tour." Nathan replied. As the opening acts performed, Roxie and Nathan sang along to the music and enjoyed the performances. Once the opening acts were done with their performances, the stage crew then came back onto the stage to start setting up Gavin Simmons set for his performance. As the stage crew was setting up the stage, one of Gavin Simmons tour team members walked out from the left side of the stage and started to walk towards where Nathan and Roxie were sitting.
"So as of right now we've got a good 15-20 minutes until Gavin comes onstage. So I suggest if you need to use the bathroom, go now otherwise you're going to have to go in the middle of the performance and that will just ruin your whole concert experience." Nathan suggested to Roxie.
"Well, we don't want that to happen now; do we?" Roxie giggled. Roxie then noticed that someone was walking towards them and Nathan turned around to see what she was looking at.
"Excuse me; I'm so sorry to disturb you both, but my name is Rose, I'm one of Gavin Simmons team members that is working with him on his tour and if I am correct the two of you have requested to see Gavin backstage?"
"Yeah, that was me. I'm Nathan Hendrickson from Fifth Avenue Square. My band used to tour with Gavin a few years back and I was hoping if I could introduce him to my friend here; if that's no trouble with your schedule or anything." Nathan mentioned.
"Well; usually Gavin doesn't do these kind of meet and greets during one of his tours, but since you and your band mates are close with Gavin I guess you and your friend have a free pass on this one. Though I do have to warn you to make sure the meeting is brief. There can't be anymore distractions after tonight." Rose instructed. The couple agreed to Rose's request and the group then started to walk to the left side stage entrance. Once the group had made it backstage; Roxie was completely stunned of how chaotic everything was going backstage. Stage crew and tour team members were constantly rushing here and there fixing up a certain stage light to making sure a certain band member had a good amount of water.
"Is it always this hectic backstage during a concert?" Roxie asked Nathan.
"If you want the fans to have a great tour experience; yes. All the work that you usually see onstage is just half of the hecticness you see on tour. Once you experience what you're seeing right now, your point of view of concerts changes rapidly." Nathan replied. Pretty soon the group was right in front of Gavin Simmons dressing room door.
"Alright; now wait right here for me. I'll go tell Gavin that you are both here and once I open the door; it's a quick hello and then back to your seats." Rose stated. Nathan and Roxie then nodded their heads in agreement and Rose opened the dressing room leaving the couple patiently waiting outside.
"So; what do you think of the day so far?" Nathan asked Roxie.
"I'm actually having a lot of fun today. Just seeing the countryside and the city from a different point of view really makes adventures like this even more memorable." Roxie said.
"That's good to hear. Well; I'm glad that I'm doing a great job making today enjoyable." Nathan smiled. Roxie then just laughed and shook her head at Nathan's remark. All of a sudden the dressing room door opened and Rose appeared at the door's entrance.
"Gavin will see you both now." she said. Rose then moved aside from the doorway and both Nathan and Roxie looked at each other.
"You ready?" Nathan asked her. Roxie then closed her eyes, took a deep breath, grabbed Nathan's hand and nodded her head.
Once the couple had entered the dressing room, Roxie realized how peaceful the room was. Despite the hectic commotion that was going on outside the dressing room, inside you could barely hear any noise; including all of the talking that was outside by the stage. Now like every concert venue dressing room there was a lounge area with some snacks and beverages, a little vanity for the hair and make up team, a single rack of different clothes for each band member and down the hall in the back a restroom with approximately 5-10 showers.
"Whoa." Roxie gasped.
"Just wait until you see the stadium venue dressing rooms. Those are even bigger." Nathan pointed out. The next thing the couple noticed was a few of Gavin's band mates came into the lounge room along with two of Gavin's security guards to greet both Nathan and Roxie. Since Nathan was good friends with both Gavin's band mates and security; it was very easy for Nathan to talk to them. As for Roxie, however; it was completely different.
For starters, Roxie was just an average tourist at a concert, in a dressing room full of celebrities. Plus, Roxie had never done anything like this in her life; so everything that Roxie had done up to where she was at right now in the UK was very new to her. Roxie felt like a fish out of water when it came to these type of situations, but all of Roxie's doubts and fears would go away with one simple glance at Nathan. You see; Nathan made Roxie feel more comfortable and relaxed around people like Fifth Avenue Square. Whenever Roxie was in a new situation in her life, Roxie would get really anxious and nervous around anyone that was around her and she would either stay quiet and keep to herself or make a complete fool out of herself in front of her peers. Whenever Roxie was around Nathan, however; Roxie's personality and point of view of celebrities changed in a way Roxie couldn't describe. Whenever Roxie was with Nathan and any of his colleauges, Nathan somehow reminded Roxie that even though Nathan and his friends were still normal people from a small town in the beautiful countryside of the UK.
Pretty soon Gavin Simmons finally entered the lounge area of the dressing room, and like any fellow comrade; Nathan walked over to Gavin and gave him a big old bear hug.
"Nathan; it's about time you came out of that cave of yours. I was worried you weren't going to make it to the show tonight." Gavin stated.
"Yeah, well Scott and his management company can try to do their best in trying to keep me away from going out to the city, but I always find a way to bend the rules a little bit. Besides; I did promise you last year on tour that I was going to your show here in London and so here I am fulfilling my promise." Nathan explained.
"Excuse me mister; if it wasn't for me being a tight ass on making sure you were only to hang out at the designated areas where you were supposed to be at for the past couple of months; you wouldn't be even more trouble with the cops." Roxie remarked.
"And now that brings me to the other reason why I'm here tonight. Gavin; I'd like for you to meet the latest member to join my band's team and Fifth Avenue Square's new personal assistant; Roxie Rodriguez." Nathan pointed out as he introduced Roxie to Gavin.
"It's an honor to finally meet you Mr. Simmons Nathan has told me so much about you and your amazing music career." Roxie replaced.
"Please, call me Gavin and the pleasure is all mine. I've heard so much about you." Gavin smiled.
"Really; people have been talking about me?"
"Well, of course they have! Your recent hiring of being Fifth Avenue Square's new personal assistant and of how you got Nathan's approval to let you assist him in his songwriting has been the latest news everyone in the music industry has been buzzing about. You, missy; may have become an overnight sensation." Gavin acknowledged.
"An overnight sensation? Now that's something you don't hear everyday." Nathan chuckled.
"That's what I thought when I first heard the news, but you know me mate; when I hear news like this I need to see it for myself. Luckily for me; it was tonight and while I was on tour." Gavin stated.
"Well, I'm just happy that Nathan has good friends like you to keep him on track. Anyway; we should be heading back to our seats pretty soon. It was nice to meet you Gavin. Come on Nathan." Roxie said.
"Yeah, I'll be right there. I just want to talk to Gavin about one more thing, ok?"
"Fine, 3 more minutes and then we're out of here." Roxie instructed.
"Yes, ma'am." Nathan smiled and winked. Roxie just giggled and shook her head as she started to walk out of the dressing room. Before she turned around, Roxie caught a glimpse of Nathan whispering into Gavin's ear.
A few minutes have passed by and Roxie was starting to get a bit impatient while waiting for Nathan. For all Roxie knew; Nathan and Gavin were probably in a deep conversation, holding up Gavin and his band mates from their tour schedule and making Roxie and Nathan miss the rest of the concert.
"If only I knew what Nathan had whispered to Gavin, then I'd be more relaxed." Roxie said to herself. All of a sudden the dressing room door opened and Nathan came out saying one last goodbye to Gavin and his band mates.
"Well; that went well. Are you ready to go back?" Nathan asked.
"Uh, yeah; sure." Roxie stuttered. Nathan then grabbed Roxie's hand and the two of them walked out from backstage; back to their seats.
As soon as Roxie and Nathan returned to their seats, the concert stage crew was done getting Gavin Simmons set ready onstage.
"Good; we made it on time," Nathan said. Roxie nervously smiled back and silently waited for the second half of the concert to start. "You ok?" he asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine; why do you ask?"
"You seem pretty quiet."
"Well; we are kind of patiently waiting for the next part of the concert to start. Plus, there isn't that much to talk about right now." Roxie admitted.
"Roxie; no matter how many times you can try to hide what you're feeling, sooner or later it's going to come out. What's wrong?"
"What did you whisper into Gavin's ear while I was leaving the dressing room? And don't you dare tell me it was nothing because from what I saw; what you told Gavin seemed pretty amazing that it impressed Gavin." Roxie remarked.
"You really want to know what I said to Gavin?"
"Yes I do; you invited me to be your guest to the concert. I at least should have a little bit of information."
"Well; sorry to break the news to you, but I just simply can't tell you anything about what I said to Gavin. If I tell you; it'll ruin the surprise." Nathan smiled.
"Surprise? For me?"
"Yep; so I need for you to really trust me on this one and be very patient." Nathan told her. All of a sudden the stage lights started to dim and the concert venue started to darken right before Roxie's eyes.
It was like nothing like Roxie had ever seen before. As soon as the concert venue went dark, the audience started to cheer once they saw a glimpse of Gavin and his band mates. What surprised Roxie even more was how great of a musician Gavin Simmons was. Each song that Gavin performed in the concert was incredible. Every note and song lyric captured Roxie's attention and spoke to her and deep in her soul; Roxie knew that tonight was going to be an experience she will never forget. What Roxie didn't know was that the next surprise that Nathan had planned for the two of them was going to make Roxie's adventure with Nathan even more magical.
A little halfway through Gavin's concert, Nathan got out of his seat and grabbed Roxie's hand.
"Come on; I want to show you something." Nathan whispered to Roxie. Being slightly hesitant, Roxie took Nathan's hand and Nathan led her away from the concert venue seating area to a hallway to a door for only the concert venue employees.
"Um; Nathan you do know that this door is used for concert venue employees, right?" Roxie asked.
"I know."
"Then why are we waiting her by the employee door? We're practically missing half of the concert." Roxie remarked. All of a sudden the employee door opened and one of the concert venue's audio and visual technicians was standing at the entrance of a walkway of stairs that led to some stairs.
"Excuse me miss, but are you Roxie Rodriguez?" the technician asked.
"Yes, that's me." Roxie said.
"Oh, good; a little bird told me that this is your first concert experience here in the UK. As the concert venue courtesy Gavin and his team have pulled some strings and have upgraded your seats to the VIP concert venue seats," the technician explained. "Now if you could please follow me; I will lead you and your friend here to your new seats." he added. Roxie, stunned; looked at Nathan and the two of them followed the technician up the stairs to their new seats.
"Why couldn't you tell me that you upgraded our seats? I would have understand." Roxie whispered to Nathan.
"Yes, but then I would have ruined the surprise. Besides; a pretty girl like yourself deserves the best seat in the house." Nathan replied. Nathan then moved aside for Roxie to see and, at that moment; Roxie's perspective about everything changed.