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Elias
Aurora is the one to drive to the hall on Saturday, since I’m advised not to because of my injury. She doesn’t normally drive long distances, and today is the only time April is letting her. We arrive three hours early, like I expected. I don’t know what we’re going to do here for so long, or if they’ll even let us in this early.
Regardless, we get out of the car and head toward the entrance. Aurora is jumping and skipping to the entrance, as expected. I don’t know what to expect when she actually sees Valentina, but I know she’s brimming with excitement right now.
Two guards are standing at either side of the entrance. They’re both wearing black suits, standing straight and ready. The entrance is blocked by two doors that close on each other. However, one of the doors is open, and a person stands there. When we get closer, the person notices us and they walk toward us, and he becomes recognizable. Lorenzo. He’s wearing a dark olive-green turtleneck shirt with a silver chain that shines all the way to here, glistening his green eyes, together with white pants. Lorenzo always did have a good sense of style, even before he started working for Artsy.
He told me he’d be here, so I’m not surprised to see him. Valentina is supposedly his friend; it’s how he got us the tickets. I thought he’d be at the concert by default. Then again, the crowds can be stressful, and he probably doesn’t need to come to every concert to see her perform.
“Damn, I didn’t think you actually meant this early,” he says, surprised, as we get closer and closer. We stop a couple of inches away from him.
“What do you have to say about that Aurora?” I turn my head toward her, and she rolls her eyes. Aurora likes to go all out with her looks. By choice. Even on a normal day, she’ll make sure she’s all ready and over the top, whether it’s with hair, clothes, or accessories. Today, I think she took the opportunity to goallout.
Her hair is straightened, per usual, with little silver butterfly accessories hanging from each side. She’s wearing silver high heels and black opaque leggings, because it’s cold outside no matter what she thinks. Her tank top is covered with dark gray glitter that sparkles all around, the thin strap wrapping around her neck. She’s wearing a jeans skirt, except it’s a shiny silver. Even on her face, glitter and small gems decorate her eyes. All out, as I mentioned.
“What if there had been a line? We needed to ensure we get good spots,” she tells us, by way of an excuse.
“No one really comes earlier than two hours, the doors open an hour and a half before and Val gives an extra thirty minutes even after the time. Trust me you’re fine,” he explains to her. I told her this before we left, but the excitement prevented her from listening. “Now, since I’m such a great friend, and I don’t want you guys to freeze outside, I came to let you in. Courtesy of Val herself, since she obviously knows you guys are with me. But I can’t stress this enough: don’t go around telling everyone you got VIP tickets and got to meet Val.”
Aurora’s face lights up immediately, bursting with even more excitement. “You’re going to let us see her?” she exclaims. Lorenzo crosses his arms and nods his head. Her lips curl up, flashing her teeth, and her eyes glow with excitement, even in the dark.
“But don’t go running at her and push her down. Go calmly,” Lorenzo warns Aurora, although I know it really doesn’t mean anything. No one will stop her from running toward her idol. She’s been waiting for this moment all her life, or in other words, during the last two years that Valentina has been famous.
“I can’t promise you anything,” she tells him. He purses his lips before he moves to the side to clear the way. She squeals, walking inside. I walk in after her, Lorenzo following next to me.
“So, man, how’s your arm?” he asks me. It still feels the same. The pain is numbed by the medicine, but it’s still there. My arm still has the heavyweight and sore feeling in it, and it’s still wrapped in a cast and held up by a piece of fabric.
But I’m lucky I don’t feel the full pain anymore. Even if it’s still there, I’m able to hide most of it. I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t. “It’s good. Better,” I reply with a simpler answer. He nods his head.
We catch up to Aurora, and continuing walking until we arrive at a huge hall. A stage is at the front, and seats are placed around the rest of the hall. They’re shaped in a curve, giving more space for chairs at the ends. They go far to the back of the hall and are tiered up to the roof of the venue. Staircases are at both sides, and as well as in the middle.
The whole place is dark and black, the same as the seats. Only the stage is lit now, but it’s bright enough to show the rest of the hall. Lights are scattered around the seating areas, but are turned off, which I suspect will be the case until the doors open to the public.
The stage is spacious and filled with screens, which will allow the background and floor designs to easily change. As of now, they’re still pitch black.
Valentina then appears from the back, even more dressed up than Aurora. Her blonde hair, opposite to Aurora, is curly. It’s parted in the middle with two small braids pulled back and tied at the top with the remainder of it flowing down her back. Her short dress is white, covered in sequins, the top part narrowing until it gets to her collar bone, then wrapping around her neck like a necklace. Silver earrings dangle down to the end of her jaw, three pink gems embedded into each chain.She has green eyes, like Lorenzo’s, but lighter. A soft green. Looking at them, I can’t help but feel a sense of familiarity.
“Oh my God.” Aurora freezes, looking straight at Val. She raises her hands to her mouth. “I’m going to cry,” she says,
“Please don’t,” Lorenzo tells her, but it’s too late because Aurora starts running toward Val and hugs her tightly. Val accepts the hug, and a smile appears on her face.
“Oh my God, Oh my God. I can’t believe this.” I hear Aurora mutter. We stop walking when we’re close enough to them, and I see the hold Aurora has on Val. I don’t think anyone would doubt how much of an idol Val is to Aurora if they saw her right now. I’ve listened to some of her songs, and seen some of her lyrics, but only from Aurora. I don’t think I would find anything special in them if it weren’t for Aurora screaming them half of the time. At some level, Valentina and her music are her second family.
Aurora pulls back, and I’m able to only see one side of her face. “I’m sorry, I’m just so happy right now, you wouldn’t believe it,” Aurora apologizes, still holding on to her arms.
“It’s okay, don’t worry. Whatever makes a fan happy,” Val tells her, and her voice gives me a sense of familiarity, just likeher eyes did. I try looking into it but find nothing. Only vague recognition.
Aurora throws herself back at Valentina, more calmly now.
Next to me, Lorenzo crosses his arms. “Aurora, I love that you're having this moment, but my friend here has a concert in around three hours and cannot afford to cry,” he tells her. I notice Val look at him, blinking as if telling him to leave her alone.
Aurora releases her again, taking a full step back this time. “I love you and your music so much, being here means so much to me. Thank you, so much for the tickets. They mean everything to me,” Aurora tells her, almost stammering as she spits out words.
Val smiles at her, her lips curving upward. “It was nothing. A friend of Lorenzo’s is a friend of mine,” she replies. She then turns to face us, and stops when she sees me. Her smile weakens slightly. “You must be Elias,” she says.
“Yeah, that’s me,” I reply, extending my free hand. Val does the same, placing her hand into mine and shaking it once. She’s hesitant with the movement, stopping before she lets go and takes a step back.
“Lorenzo told me about your arm. I’m sorry, and hope you get better soon,” she adds. I smile back before thanking her. She then turns to Lorenzo and excuses herself, making sure we feel comfortable before she leaves. Lorenzo gives us a small tour of the place before we take out seats.
