Chapter 37

 

Two weeks later

 

The tour was in full swing, and it was going well, except for one thing.  Elyssa was still sick, and she only seemed to be getting worse.   She still managed to perform with JADE at every concert, but it was obvious that she was not up to standard. 

 

One night, after cleaning up from the concert, the two groups had a meet and greet scheduled with a group of lucky fans. 

 

“Hey, Lyssa, we better get heading down to the meet and greet,” Ashalyn said from the doorway of their dressing room, where Elyssa still sat.

 

“Ash, I don’t feel very well,” Elyssa said, rubbing her head wearily with one hand.  “Can y’all go ahead without me this time?  I just need a nap.”

 

Ashalyn smiled sympathetically.  “Sure, Lyss.  You lie down, and we’ll be back later, kay?”

 

“Sure, Ash.  Thanks,” Elyssa replied gratefully, smiling weakly.

 

“No prob,” Ashalyn said, leaving the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

 

“Where’s Elyssa?” Serena asked, coming down the hall.

 

“She’s not coming tonight,” Ashalyn said.  “She’s too sick.”

 

“Oh.  Okay,” Serena said with a shrug.  “Come on, let’s go.”

 

Ashalyn nodded, and they headed towards the meet and greet room, where Jenna was already waiting.

 

***

 

Elyssa lay on the sofa in the dressing room for about ten minutes, and finally pulled herself back up.  She ignored the sudden dizziness she felt and slowly stood up.

 

“I can’t hide out in here all night,” she told herself.  “I should go down to that meet and greet.”

 

Her mind made up, she started out of the room and down the hall to where the meet and greet was taking place.

 

When she entered the room, a few fans caught sight of her and immediately surrounded her, asking for pictures and autographs.

 

Elyssa smiled, feeling better.   The fans could always cheer her up.

 

As she scribbled autographs and posed for pictures, her eyes surveyed the room.   Suddenly, she caught sight of AJ, who was standing on one corner, away from the others, talking to a tall, pretty, dark-haired girl.   Elyssa’s eyes narrowed as the girl laughed cattily and draped an arm around AJ’s neck.  AJ laughed as well, his hand resting on the girl’s shoulder. 

 

Elyssa frowned.  AJ was flirting with that girl.  And Elyssa didn’t like it one bit.

 

Is this what he does every time he thinks I’m not around? she wondered, glaring at her boyfriend.

 

“Hey, Elyssa?”

 

Elyssa looked down to see a starry-eyed boy that looked to be about ten standing in front of her.  “Hi,” she said, forcing herself to smile.

 

“Hi,” he breathed.  “Can you sign this for me?”  He handed her a copy of the Jadeite CD.

 

“Sure,” she replied, glad to take her mind off of AJ for a moment.  She signed her name on the inside cover of the CD and handed it back to him.  “There ya go.”

 

“Thanks,” he cried, grinning. 

 

“No problem,” she replied, and turned to the next child in the line that was forming around her again.

 

***

 

 

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