Chapter 3 Up coming show

Karie's POV

Later that day, after attending to a few customers, I sat down at the break table with Clara, She was unusually excited about something, bouncing in her seat as she looked at me.

"Did you know that Tyler Dalton has a show tomorrow evening?" Clara asked, her voice practically vibrating with excitement.

I raised an eyebrow, glancing up from my phone. "And so what if he has a show? That's none of my business."

Clara rolled her eyes. "Yippee, Karie! Why are you talking like this? Are you really going to say you're not going to attend?"

I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "I don't care about his show, Clara. It's just another concert. It's not like I have some deep obsession with Tyler Dalton like you and every other girl around here."

Clara smirked, clearly unbothered by my indifference. "Come on, Karie. Don't act like you don't want to go. You know you do."

Clara, who had been quiet up until now, suddenly leaned forward from across the table, her eyes sparkling with intensity. "I must not miss that show tomorrow. I've been saving money for ages to buy the ticket. I'm going, and you're going with me. Don't even think about saying no. I'll pay for your ticket too."

I blinked in disbelief. "Are you out of your mind, Clara? I'm not going anywhere. Keep your money and buy yourself something useful. I'm not wasting money just to watch some shows."

Clara's face fell for a moment, but then she perked up, her voice taking on a dramatic tone. "Karie, you're missing out. You don't understand. If I don't go to that show tomorrow, I'll probably be awake all night thinking about it. You know how much I love that guy. I have his pictures all over my room, and he's performing tomorrow-how can I not attend? I can't just skip it for the sake of my friend!" She looked at me like I was the one being unreasonable.

I shook my head. "Clara, this Tyler guy is a player. Why would you fall for someone like him? Besides, he's never going to date someone like you. You're better than that."

Clara's eyes softened as she met my gaze. "I love him, Karie. I don't care if he's a player. I know he won't ever date me, but it doesn't change how I feel about him. Love isn't always about getting something in return."

I sighed, folding my arms. "Okay, fine. Do whatever you want. I can't stop you."

Clara's eyes brightened, and she clasped her hands together in a pleading gesture. "Please, Karie. You're the only real friend I have. Please come with me. I swear it'll be so much fun. We'll have a blast, I promise. Please?" She pouted her lips, and I couldn't help but feel guilty. Clara was relentless when it came to getting what she wanted, and I knew she wouldn't leave me alone if I didn't agree.

I sighed again, rolling my eyes in defeat. "Okay, okay. I'll go with you. But you have to promise me that we'll go home early. I don't want to stay out all night."

Clara practically squealed, grabbing my hands and jumping in her seat. "I promise! I promise! You're the best friend in the whole universe. Thank you, Karie! You have no idea how much this means to me!"

I smiled faintly, even though I wasn't thrilled about the idea. I wasn't a fan of Tyler Dalton, and I definitely didn't understand why Clara was so obsessed with him. He was just another famous guy, with a reputation for breaking hearts and moving on to the next girl. But seeing how much it meant to Clara, I couldn't say no.

I waved her off as I got up to attend to another customer. I didn't even want to think about the concert anymore. I just hoped I could get through it without wanting to pull my hair out.

Tyler's POV

I sat backstage, the weight of the upcoming show pressing on me. The nerves were starting to settle in, but that wasn't what was really bothering me. It was the whole marriage issue that my father kept bringing up. He had been on my case about finding a suitable partner for months now. He had his own idea of what my future should look like-one that didn't necessarily align with mine.

I don't have time for a relationship right now. I had a show tomorrow, and I needed to focus. The fans would be there, and I didn't want anything to distract me from giving them the best performance I could. I could already hear their screams in my head, their excitement building up, but the thought of my father's voice in the back of my mind made it harder to concentrate.

What would he think if I told him I wasn't ready for marriage? Or if I told him I didn't want to settle down with someone right now? It didn't matter that I didn't even have a girl in my life. His expectations were clear. I had to marry well, make the right connections, and uphold the family name.

I shook my head, trying to push those thoughts away. I had enough on my plate with the show tomorrow.

And then there was the whole fan situation. Sometimes I felt like they saw me as a piece of property, someone they could just admire from a distance. But I didn't let that bother me-not when I was on stage. When the lights hit me, and the crowd erupted in cheers, it all felt worth it.

But I couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that something-someone-was missing. I didn't know who or what it was, but there was an emptiness that I couldn't fill. Maybe it was the pressure, maybe it was my father, or maybe it was just the loneliness of it all.

Tomorrow would be another show, another night of giving everything to the crowd. But when it was over, would I feel any different? Would I have answers to the questions swirling in my head?

I glanced at my phone. I had a message from my manager about tomorrow's schedule. But something caught my eye-something about a special guest coming to the show. A small part of me hoped it was someone important to me, but deep down, I knew it was just another night in the life of Tyler Dalton.

I sighed and stood up, pacing around the small backstage area. I needed to clear my head, but it was hard with all the pressure surrounding me. Tomorrow couldn't come fast enough, but at the same time, I wasn't sure if I was ready for whatever it might bring.