Spotlight

By Susan J.

The night of the concert arrived and while the band warmed up on the stage, I got dressed for the concert. I noticed that Roxanne was looking at me while I brushed my hair.

"What?" I said.

"I was just wondering what you were thinking," Roxanne said.

"Not much."

"Aren't you nervous?"

"Not anymore than usual, but once the first word comes out of my mouth I'll be fine."

A knock came at the door. Roxanne went and answered. "Who is it?" she asked.

"It's me and Tony," Bobby said.

Roxanne opened the door and in walked Tony and Bobby, she closed the door behind them.

"Everything ready?" Bobby asked.

"Just about," I said.

I turned around and looked at all three of them.

"How do I look?"

"You look wonderful," Roxanne said.

"You really do," Bobby said.

"Are you ready to greet your audience?" Tony said.

"Yes, let's go."

Bobby handed Roxanne and Tony a headset with a microphone so they would be able to communicate with each other.

"Well, there goes my hairdo," Roxanne said.

"Believe me, you'll get over it," Bobby said.

As Bobby and Roxanne walked out of the room, Tony walked over to me.

"You look more than wonderful, you look beautiful." He kissed me tenderly.

"Thank you."

"Ready?"

"Let's rock this place."

As we left the dressing room and headed towards the stage area, Tony put on his headset. The show started and things seemed to run smoothly. Bobby and Tony were constantly walking around the backstage area, making sure that no one unauthorized was lurking about. During the show there came a time when I would sit on a short stool and talk and even crack a few jokes with the audience. Everyone seemed to be having a good time, and as I was talking to the people I noticed that someone had thrown a rose on stage and it just happened to land at my feet. I picked it up and looked out at the audience.

"Who ever threw this must have a great arm! Thank you it's beautiful," I said.

Bobby looked at Tony who was on the other side of the stage.

"Did you see who threw that?" Bobby asked.

"No, damn it! But keep your eyes open."

As I prepared to sing the next song another rose came flying on the stage, but this time with a small note attached to it. I picked it up and read the note, when I was finished I looked out at the audience in order to answer the person's note.

"Thank you for thinking that I am something special," I said.

Then the person that threw the rose on the stage answered. "You will always be special to me Angel."

I looked out into the audience and tried to locate where the voice was coming from, Tony, Bobby and Roxanne did the same.

"Do you see anything?" Tony asked.

"No, what about you Roxs?" Bobby said.

"I'm not sure. Give me a second to focus," Roxanne said.

Roxanne strained to look out into the darkness.

"Come on and go out with me tonight Angel," the voice said.

I started feeling uncomfortable. "That is a very sweet invitation, but I am leaving right after the show, but thank you anyway," I said.

"But you can't leave…"

"I see him!!!" Roxanne said.

"Where?" Tony asked.

"To the right of the stage!"

"Which right?" Bobby asked.

"Angel's right!!"

I stood up and started backing up slowly, trying to find shelter. Bobby then saw the man, as he got closer to the stairs that led to the stage.

"There he is!" Bobby said.

"Where?"

"He's headed for the stairs!"

The guy reached the stairs and was about to climb them when Tony saw him.

"Got him! Roxs, you head over to Angel and we'll take care of him," Tony said.

"Okay," Roxanne said.

The guy climbed the stairs and ran towards me. All of a sudden Tony and Bobby ran onto the stage and grabbed the guy, while Roxanne grabbed me by the arm and pulled me off stage. The audience fell silent while the curtain closed leaving all the action behind it. Ryan the hotel manager ran over to them as Tony and Bobby wrestled with the man.

"Phillip! I can't believe what you just did!" Ryan said.

Phillip continued trying to get loose. Tony and Bobby helped him to his feet. "Let me go! I want to be with Angel!" Phillip yelled.

The security guards came over to them and one of them put the handcuffs on him.

"Why Phillip? Why did you do this?" Ryan asked.

"Because I care for her and I am the only one who can make her happy," Phillip said.

They all looked at him as the guards took him away. Roxanne and I walked over to where they were all standing.

"I can't believe he would do something like that. He seemed like such a level-headed person," Ryan said.

"At times those are the ones you have to keep an eye on," Tony said.

Ryan left. Tony and Bobby turned around to see Roxanne and me standing there.

"Are you okay?" Tony asked.

"I'm fine. Was he the one who…?" I asked.

"Yes he was."

"How did you figure it out that it was him?"

"That's a story in itself," Bobby said.

I turned and looked at the band that was still on the stage. "Shall we finish the show guys?" I asked.

"Yeah!" the band answered.

"Are you sure?" Bobby said.

"Yes. These people paid good money to see us and I'll be damned if I am going to let them down."

"Okay," Tony said.

They all left the stage leaving the band and I to get ready. When we were ready the curtain opened and you couldn't hear anything above the applause of the audience. The audience was standing and cheering. I raised my hands and waved at them to quiet down. When I could be heard I began to talk.

"Thank you all for sticking around; everything is okay and even though we had the opportunity to just call it a night with everything that happened, we all decided that it would be best to go on, that's if you all want to?" I said.

The audience applauded loudly. I looked at my band. "I think the people have spoken, so let's continue."

The concert continued and we all had a great time. When the show was over we all returned to the rooms and tried to relax, Roxanne and I sat on the couch.

"You were wonderful tonight, Angel," Bobby said.

"Thanks. So what's going to happen to the guy that came up on stage?" I asked.

"Well he's in custody and they are waiting for your decision," Tony said.

"What decision?"

"Are you going to press charges against him for stalking you?" I stood up and started walking around the room.

"I don't know. I mean I could just get a restraining order, but with things these days that isn't enough. I don't know."

"Well, you have to make a decision soon or he will be set free," Bobby said.

"Think it through and make your decision," Tony said.

"I think you should get some rest and we'll talk more about this in the morning over breakfast," Roxanne said.

"Good idea. Now get some rest and we'll see you in the morning around 8:00 am. Come on Roxs," Bobby said.

They headed towards the door. Tony turned and looked at me.

"Well, I will see you in the morning as well," he said.

"I'm sure you will since you will be staying here with her," Bobby said.

Tony and I looked at him.

"Now we already know that there is something special between you two so while you can take advantage of it."

Bobby winked at us and then he and Roxanne left closing the door behind them. Tony walked over to me and touched my cheek gently.

"I think he's right," Tony said.

"Right about what?"

"To take advantage of tonight."

A few weeks passed and I was now at home relaxing from the completed tour. I felt deep inside that Tony was getting ready to leave. But even though I cared for him and appreciated everything that he had done for me I couldn't force him to stay, so if he decided to leave I wouldn't hold him back. One day he and Bobby were talking in the living room.

"So why are you going to leave?" Bobby asked.

"Because it's time for me to leave, as much as I care for Angel, I can't continue stand the fact that there are possibly others out there that will try to do what that kid in Vegas did."

"And you did a great job in finding out who it was and because of you we were able to stop him before he did something to hurt her."

"But maybe if there is a next time - and I hope there won't be, I might not be able to help her and I can't live with that if it happened. Do you understand what I am trying to say?"

"Yes I understand. Well Tony I would like to thank you for everything that you did for her. I really appreciate it."

He shook Tony's hand.

"The pleasure was all mine."

The time came when Tony had to leave, he walked outside to the backyard where I was standing letting the afternoon sun warm my skin.

"Angel," Tony said.

"Yes?"

"I need to tell you something."

"I know."

"You know what?"

"That it's time for you to leave." I turned around and looked into his eyes.

"How did you know?" he asked.

"I had a feeling that's all. I know you can't stay but please remember this - the door is always open for you whenever you want to walk back in."

"Thank you. I'll always have you with me in my heart."

"And you'll always be with me too. Thanks for everything that you did for me."

"No thanks are necessary. Take care of yourself and remember that I will always keep an eye on you."

"That makes me feel better. Take care Tony."

He kissed me tenderly; he then turned and walked away. As he walked towards the house he stopped and looked at me again.

"You want to know something?" Tony said.

"What?"

"You are the first and only Angel I have met in my life and you will remain the only Angel that I'll ever meet."

We smiled at each other. Tony then turned and walked out of my life. It has been quite awhile since I saw Tony, but at times I think I see him lurking around backstage at my concerts and this make me feel very secure and protected. The last thing he told me was that I was the first and only Angel that he had ever met and that I would remain that to him, but when in reality it is I that have truly met a real Angel.