🎶The middle finger was a peace sign ~ Kygo feat. Ellie Goulding

●Tara Afua Henrie●

"GuiTara! GuiTara!" 

Backstage, I barely got the chance to reel it all in before the fans swarmed me with posters and notebooks, eagerly awaiting autographs. 

"Hi, everyone." Pushing my guitar behind me, I grabbed whatever pens were at my disposal and started signing everything I could. I spotted the band equally engaged with some of the fans from the corner of my eye. Jax leaned close, taking a selfie with a group of squealing teenage girls. 

The moment he was done with them, his eyes met mine, and we shared a small smile before turning back to our adoring fans. 

"Thank you so much for coming!" I told a young girl in the front row as I scribbled my name on her t-shirt. 

Her face lit up with pure joy, and she giggled, holding the shirt close to her chest. "Aaah! This is the best day of my life!"

"Can we get a selfie, Tara?" A guy called from the side, holding his phone up with a hopeful grin.

"Of course!" I immediately moved to pose with him. He snapped a quick photo, and then the floodgates opened—everyone wanted a picture.

For the next fifteen minutes, I bounced from one fan to another, taking selfies, signing everything from hats to guitars, and even talking with a few of the die-hard fans who knew all the lyrics to every song we'd performed that night.

"You were amazing, GuiTara!" one fan gushed, her voice almost lost in the roar of the crowd. "That last song you sang touched my heart!"

"Aww," I smiled warmly at her. "I'm so glad it resonated with you. It means the world to me that you connected with it."

As I moved through the fans, I spotted a few media personnel waiting nearby, microphones in hand and cameras pointed in my direction. "GuiTara!" One of the reporters from a local music channel called out before I could move away. "That was a stellar performance! Can you tell us a bit about what this night means to you and the band?"

I smiled into the camera. "Well, it's been such an incredible journey for us. Tonight was more than just a performance; it was about celebrating the Originally Afro-Mex family and how far we have come. We wouldn't be where we are without them, you know. It was just a moment of gratitude and joy, and I'm so honoured that we got to share it with you, the press, the fans, and everyone else."

The reporter nodded. "Right. And that final song? It brought the crowd to tears! How did you feel performing it?"

"It was emotional for sure," I admitted, ignoring the several camera flashes that came my way. "When you're surrounded by people who have supported you from the beginning, it's hard not to get swept up in it all. The song was a huge thank you because, without this restaurant, I don't think I would be standing in front of you right now." 

After a few more questions and interviews, I felt a hand on my shoulder, and I turned to find Refugio addressing the media. "Muchas gracias a todos por sus preguntas. GuiTara has had a long night, and she needs a break, so if you'll excuse us." 

She steered me away from the buzzing press and towards the restaurant's back entrance. "You did great out there tonight. Really great."

I laughed, my exhaustion starting to catch up with me. "Thanks, Refugio. I think I'm still processing it all."

"No need to," she said, patting my shoulder. "Now is the time for you to chillax and have fun. Jax and the others are already in the VIP lounge. Heard there's an open bar tonight and a huge chocolate fountain. Why don't you join them?"

"Oh, I definitely will," I laughed, and Refugio smiled.

"Come on. I'll walk you over."

Refugio led the way with long strides, and I quickly followed as she saluted the bodyguards, and they pushed open the ornate doors leading to the VIP lounge. Unlike the last time I was here, the place was fully furnished with plush sofas and booths, an elegant chandelier, and a fully stocked bar. They had even managed to secure a full house with celebrities and other dignitaries lounging comfortably, sipping cocktails, and chatting animatedly. Actors, musicians, athletes—all kinds of familiar faces filled the room. "Whoa."

"Why don't you mingle?" Refugio said. "I'll be over her, trying to get Maluma's number."

I shook my head with a chuckle as she strolled away. Soft music wafted in from the speakers, creating the perfect ambience for the lounge. I walked through in search of my bandmates, and it didn't take long for me to spot them—well...at least two of them.

In one of the booths, Carlos sat with a bunch of athletes partaking in a raucous drinking game. Judging from the noise they were making, I was surprised security hadn't thrown them out yet.

Not far off was Eden, sitting alone at a table in the back with a glass of wine. I wondered why she looked so crestfallen until I followed her line of sight to the bar, where Jax sat, thoroughly engaged in a conversation with a brunette who looked like she had fallen off the cover of Vogue magazine. Her looks, smile, and mannerisms all screamed 'model' and I immediately felt bad for Eden, because from the way Jax was interacting with her, there was no doubt that he was interested. 

Shaking my head, I walked over, not stopping until I reached Eden's table. "You should go over there."

Her gaze flew up to me in confusion. "What?"

"The bar," I said, nudging my head in Jax's direction. "You should go over there, pull him to the side, and tell him how you feel."

Eden blinked at me for a moment, her expression blank. Then she shook her head and quickly grabbed her glass. "I don't know what you're talking about." But even as she spoke, I could see the blush creeping up her neck.

Sighing, I slid into the seat opposite her and poured myself a glass of wine. "There's no need to deny it, Eden," I said before taking a sip. "Carlos already told me everything about how you've been pining for Jax since your uni days."

Eden's blush deepened, and then she averted her gaze, muttering a curse word at Carlos. She took a big gulp of her drink before narrowing her eyes at me. "You better not tell anyone."

"Hey, it's not my place to tell," I replied, holding my hands up in mock surrender. "But you should know, you can't keep this to yourself forever. We're rising fast into the spotlight, and you never know... Jax might not be single for much longer."

Eden shot a glance toward the bar, where Jax was laughing at something the brunette said. Her expression faltered, and I could tell she was deep in thought. After a moment, she turned back to me. "What about you?" She toyed with the napkin in front of her. "I-I mean, you guys seem pretty close. Don't you see the appeal?"

I almost choked on my wine at the implication, and I quickly shook my head as I sputtered out, "What? No! Jax isn't my type. At all."

Eden raised an eyebrow, looking sceptical. "Really? Cuz you two spend a lot of time together."

"Eden, I know you're concerned, but I can hundred per cent assure you that I've never seen Jax that way. Ever," I insisted, wiping the wine from my chin with a napkin. "We're just friends. Besides...there's someone else I'm interested in."

Shaun's face flashed in my mind, but I quickly pushed the thought away, focusing on Eden, whose lips had tipped up in a playful grin. 

"Wow," I chuckled. "I've known you for a whole six months, and I don't think I've ever seen you smile at me before."

Eden then laughed, "It's nothing personal, it's just..." Her eyes fell to the table. "You probably know that I've never really liked you. But now..." Her gaze flickered up in full honesty. "I think my perception is changing."

She raised her glass for a toast.  "You're alright, Tara Afua Henrie."

Grinning, I replied, "Thanks, Eden."

As I clinked my glass with hers and sipped our wine, the tension between us eased. From the very beginning, Eden has always kept me at arm's length with witty and snarky remarks. Thanks to that, I've never been able to relate with her the way I have with Jax and Carlos. I figured that was her personality and didn't try pushing something that wasn't meant to be. But now that we'd got the chance to talk one-on-one, this felt like a small step towards a budding friendship.

We soon sparked up a conversation about the boys and their awkward quirks, like how Carlos liked to talk to his drumsticks and Jax's need to always lecture us on the importance of his numerous funky-looking protein shakes. 

Being the only girls in the band, it felt nice to just talk over wine and laugh about all the things we couldn't do with the boys.

Halfway into our conversation, my phone buzzed with a notification and I pulled it out of my pocket, expecting Shaun's name on the screen since I hadn't heard from him in a while. But it wasn't his.

Nana Adjoa: Hi, Tara. Long time no see. How are you?

Me: Hi Nana, I'm great. And you?

Nana Adjoa was an old friend of mine in Ghana. We used to work in the same company at Labadi... before I got fired for fighting with my so-called best friend after finding out that she had been shagging my boyfriend behind my back.

Nana Adjoa: I'm good, thanks for asking. Have you got a minute to talk? There's something I need to tell you. It's about Sheeda and Cudjoe.

At the mention of my ex-best friend and boyfriend, my eyebrows dipped low.

Me: What about them? 

Nana Adjoa: They just got married.

All the colour drained from my face.

"Hey," Eden called out in concern. "You ok?"

"Uh yeah, I just..." My mouth felt dry all of a sudden. "I just need a moment." Without waiting for a response, I got up and moved towards the French doors, leading outside.

*****