Spotlight

By Susan J.

The night of the concert arrived and things went according to plan. I was having a great time with the audience. One man came to the edge of the stage and was handing something to me. Tony watched very closely and I reached down towards the man and retrieved a long stem red rose. As I took the rose from the man, the man gently kissed the back of my hand; I smiled at him and slowly started to walk backwards towards the band. I looked at Tony who seemed to breathe a sigh of relief since the man didn't try anything else. It was time to take a break and change my clothes, while we were in the dressing room Bobby commented on the rose.

"Do me a favor, Angel," Bobby said.

"What?"

"Next time someone comes up to the edge of the stage be careful."

"I will, but what ever the cost I can't seem to stand-offish since it's the public that put me where I am today."

"You're right, but just please be careful."

"I will, I promise."

The show started and I went back on, four songs into the second half of the show a man came out of nowhere and ran on stage and started hugging and kissing me. I didn't want to panic, but if I didn't get this guy off of me that was exactly what I was going to do. I started pushing the man away but his hug was strong and I couldn't break free. Tony and Bobby ran out on stage and Bobby grabbed the man from behind and Tony grabbed me and they both were able to pull us apart. Bobby and two other security guards escorted the man off stage; I looked at Tony who had a look of concern on his face.

He moved close to my left ear.

"Are you alright?" Tony asked.

"I'm fine, thanks. Now go on I have a show to do."

"Are you sure?"

"Very sure." I smiled as Tony walked backstage.

While I continued with the show Tony was never far from the stage. The show ended and we went back stage to the dressing room. I changed my clothes and was getting ready to leave for the hotel when Bobby came into the dressing room.

"You're going to have to wait a little while," Bobby said.

"Why?" Roxanne asked.

"There is a crowd of people blocking the exit area, so we should wait for awhile."

"Okay," I said.

Tony came into the room.

"The crowd has thinned out enough, so the car can make it through," Tony said.

"So we can leave now?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Great."

Roxanne and I got our things and we followed Tony and Bobby out the door. As we walked towards the car some of the arena's employees waived at me and I waived back. Tony then heard something behind us and turned around and looked. A crowd of about fifty people was running towards us calling my name. Tony grabbed me by the arm.

"Come on!" Tony yelled.

He pulled me and we started running towards the limousine. Bobby got to the car first and opened the back door. I stopped once I got to the door to see where Roxanne was.

"Get in!" Bobby said.

"Where's Roxs?" I asked.

Roxanne was running towards the limousine.

"Just get in the car and get out of here!" Roxanne yelled.

"What about you?" I asked.

"Never mind me! I'll get a ride with Bobby now go!"

"You heard her now go!" Tony said.

Tony pushed me hard into the back seat and he followed close behind. Once he was in the car Bobby slammed the door closed. Tony looked at the driver.

"Go! Go!" Tony yelled.

The driver hit the gas and the car took off. As we drove down the street I straightened myself up and sat up. Tony looked at me.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"I'm fine, I think?" What about you?"

"I'm fine. That was a crazy scene wasn't it?"

"Believe it or not I've been through worse."

"Your not serious?"

"I'm very serious. One time we had to sit in the car for almost an hour and another time I couldn't leave the dressing room for almost two."

"Isn't it a bit scary?"

"It can be, but in this business you have to expect even the most strangest or craziest of things to happen."

We arrived back at the hotel; the driver came around and opened the back door. Tony got out of the car and waited for me, as I got out of the car I realized that when I put my weight on my left leg my knee hurt so bad that I grabbed Tony's right arm for support.

"Are you okay?" Tony asked.

"I don't know?"

I tried to walk but the pain was even worse than before.

"OUCH!"

"Come on I'll help you into the room," Tony said.

Tony put his right arm around my waist and helped me as I limped into the lobby and towards the elevator. Once in the elevator Tony pushed the button that would take us to the 16th floor and to my hotel room. Once inside the room Tony helped me to the couch, I sat down and put my leg up on the couch.

"I think you need to see a doctor," Tony said.

"I don't think so, its not all that bad," I said.

"Does it hurt when you move it?"

"A little."

"Did it hurt when you tried walking on it?"

"Yes."

"Then I think you need to see a doctor and maybe have him x-ray it."

I touched my knee and it was tender to the touch.

"I think maybe you're right."

At that time Bobby and Roxanne walked in.

"What is Tony right about?" Roxanne asked.

"She hurt her knee when I pushed her into the car and I think it would be a good idea if she saw a doctor," Tony said.

"Yes it would be a good idea, Bobby said.

"I think we should take her to the hospital," Roxanne said.

"That would attract a lot of attention don't you think?" I said.

"Well not if I call the hospital and set everything up," Tony said.

"Good idea," Bobby said.

Tony called the hospital and set up everything up for my arrival. Since it was one in the morning there should be hardly any people there. I arrived at the hospital awhile later and I was taken into one of the examination rooms in the emergency. A nurse came in to see what the problem was.

"Hello Ms….Oh my goodness…you're Angel Garcia," said the nurse.

"Well, that who I was when I woke up this morning," I said.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to react like that."

I smiled at her.

"That's alright."

"Now why are you here?"

"I hurt my knee and I would like to have a doctor check it to make sure it's okay."

The nurse was writing on the chart.

"How did you hurt it?"

"I was in a hurry getting into the back seat of the car and I think I hit on the floor."

"Okay, the doctor will be in to see you shortly."

"Thank you."

The nurse left. Tony came into the room.

"Hi," he said.

"Hi there."

"I thought the doctor would be in here already?"

"Well if you take one step to the right I can be," the doctor said.

"Sorry."

Tony moved and the doctor walked in.

"So, how are we?"

"Well I don't know about we, but my knee hurts." I said.

"Well, let's take a look."

The doctor touched my knee, and as he did he moved it slightly to the right and I pulled away.

"OUCH!"

"Hurts?"

"On no, I just like saying the word ouch."

"I'm sure you do. I think we need an x-ray just to make sure what we're dealing with."

"Okay."

They took the x-ray and the doctor looked at it with me in the room.

"Well? What does it say?" I asked.

"It's inflamed and you should stay off of it for a few days," the doctor said.

"Well I do have a few days off before the next concert."

"Where is your next concert?"

"It's in Washington."

"Well for the next few days I want you to take it easy."

"I will."

Tony, Roxanne and Bobby came into the room.

"So if you feel any more discomfort than usual come back okay?" the doctor said.

"I will. Thanks."

"She can leave then?" Bobby asked.

"Yes, she can leave."

As I started to get off the examination table the nurse came in.

"I think you might have to wait awhile before you leave," said the nurse.

"Why?" asked Tony.

"There are quite a few reporters waiting in the lobby."

"Damn. Is there another way out?" Bobby asked.

"We can go through the cafeteria."

"Let's go. I'll meet you with the car at the cafeteria door, so if the nurse will show me where it is please."

"Sure," said the nurse.

Bobby and the nurse left the room.

"While he finds the door, I'll escort you to it," said the doctor.

"Thanks," I said.

We were taken down the hallway and Tony pushed the wheelchair that I was in fast. Roxanne looked behind her and thought she saw some reporter following us.

"I think we're being followed," she said.

We made it to the door and Tony helped me into the car.

"Thanks again for everything, Doctor," Tony said.

"You're welcome."

We left and headed back to the hotel. We arrived back at the hotel and we went up the room. Roxanne helped me change my clothes and get ready for bed. As I got comfortable I looked at Roxanne.

"What time is it?" I asked.

"It's almost four in the morning. Now you rest."

"I will."

Due to the pain that I was feeling in my knee it took me awhile to fall asleep. Tony came into the room and covered me with a blanket. I was startled awake up once I felt the touch of the blanket on my skin.

"What?" I said.

"It's okay, it's only me," Tony answered.

"Oh."

"Just relax and go back to sleep."

Tony started walking out of the room.

"Don't leave," I said.

Tony looked at me. He came back towards the bed.

"What's wrong?"

"I just feel safer with you close by that's all," I said.

"Okay, I'll sleep on the chase lounge."

Tony got a pillow and blanket and laid down on the chase lounge. Once he saw that I had gone back sleep, he got comfortable and drifted off to sleep.