xlii. GIVE IT UP FOR MANCHESTER.
February 10, 2018. | Third Person POV.
Manchester, England.

The city of Manchester buzzed with anticipation as Sedona's tour rolled into town. The AO Arena, with its impressive capacity of 23,000, stood ready to host the night's spectacle.

The afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the arena as Sedona and her team prepared for the evening's performance. The atmosphere was charged with excitement, yet there was a comforting familiarity in the air. With the band tuned their instruments and technicians adjusted the lighting, Dave approached Sedona with a mischievous grin, holding out a sleek electric guitar.

"Fancy giving this a spin?" He teased, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Sedona raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "You trying to put me on the spot, Dave?"

Monica, ever the documentarian, had her camera poised. "Oh, this is definitely going on the 'Gram."

With a resigned chuckle, Sedona took the guitar, its weight familiar yet thrilling in her hands. She strummed a few tentative chords, the notes echoing through the empty arena.

The crew gathered around, their expressions a mix of surprise and admiration. One of the band members leaned in, whispering to another, "Didn't know she had it in her."

Feeling the weight of their attention, Sedona's cheeks flushed. She quickly handed the guitar back to Dave. "Alright, the show's over. Let's get back to work."

A chorus of playful groans erupted, but Sedona couldn't help but laugh, the camaraderie easing any lingering nerves.

As showtime approached, the backstage area transformed into a hive of activity. Sedona slipped into her ensemble for the night: an all-black outfit that hugged her form yet allowed for the fluidity she was known for on stage. The fabric shimmered subtly under the lights, complementing her sleek makeup and the natural glow of her skin.

Monica was ever-present, capturing candid moments. "Give us a pose, superstar."

Sedona struck an exaggerated stance, one hand on her hip, the other pointing dramatically. "Make sure you get my good side... which, let's be honest, is every side."

Monica laughed, snapping away. "Confidence looks good on you."

The arena was a sea of faces, the energy palpable. As the lights dimmed, a hush fell, broken by the roar of the crowd as Sedona stepped into the spotlight.

"Manchester, how we feelin' tonight?" She called out, her voice carrying over the cheers.

Diving into her setlist, Sedona moved with grace and power, each song building upon the last. Between tracks, she took moments to connect with the audience.

"You know," She began, taking a sip of water, "I've always heard about the spirit of Manchester. Being here tonight, I can feel it. You guys are incredible."

The crowd responded with deafening applause, their admiration evident.

Midway through the set, Sedona paused, a mischievous glint in her eye. "I want to do something special for you all. This one's a classic from some hometown heroes."

With that, she launched into a rendition of The Smiths' "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out," her voice melding with the iconic melody. The arena erupted, voices joining hers in a unified chorus. The choice was fitting, given the song's deep connection to the city.
As the final notes faded, Sedona took a moment, absorbing the overwhelming energy. "Thank you, Manchester. That was beautiful."

With her set concluded, Sedona made her way backstage, the adrenaline still coursing through her veins. She spotted Kendrick, preparing for his performance.

"Ready to tear it up?" She asked a playful challenge in her tone.

Kendrick adjusted his mic, a confident smirk on his face. "Always. You set the bar high out there."

They shared a quick embrace, a mutual respect passing between them. As Kendrick turned to take the stage, Sedona called out, "Have fun out there."

With a smile Kendrick stepped into the spotlight, Sedona watched from the wings, a sense of pride swelling within her. The night was far from over, but already, Manchester had left an indelible mark on her journey.

As Kendrick's electrifying performance came to an end, the roar of the Manchester crowd echoed through the AO Arena. Sedona stood at the wings, still buzzing from her own set. The energy in the venue had been unlike anything she'd ever felt—raw, loud, and completely electric. It was the kind of night that reminded her why she loved performing.

Backstage was a controlled frenzy. Crew members zipped around, breaking down equipment and coordinating logistics for the next stop. Sedona barely had a second to catch her breath before Monica appeared, camera in hand and an amused glint in her eye.

"Alright, superstar," Monica called out, holding up the camera. "How about a quick debrief for the fans?"

Sedona laughed, running a hand through her curls. "Why not?"

Monica hit record. "So, tell us—how was Manchester for you tonight?"

Sedona beamed. "Manchester was incredible. The energy, the love from the crowd—it was all just... insane. And that sing-along during 'There Is a Light That Never Goes Out'?" She shook her head, still in disbelief. "Unforgettable."

Monica grinned. "Okay, but let's talk about that guitar moment during soundcheck. You were kinda killing it."

A small smile crept onto Sedona's lips. "I was just messing around."

"Uh-huh." Monica zoomed in playfully. "So, can the fans expect more guitars in the future?"

Sedona laughed, covering her face for a second before peeking out. "Maybe. We'll see."

—

After wrapping up backstage, Sedona, Kendrick, Monica, and Dave found themselves in a cozy lounge area, staring at a table loaded with local Manchester delicacies. It was only right to celebrate the night with some traditional food—though, judging by the cautious looks exchanged, not everyone was convinced.

Sedona's eyes immediately landed on something familiar: black pudding. A grin spread across her face. "Oh, black pudding! I grew up on this," She said excitedly, grabbing a slice.

Kendrick shot her a dubious look. "Ain't that made with, like... blood?"

Sedona bit into it with zero hesitation, chewing with satisfaction. "Yep. And it's delicious."

Monica and Dave exchanged skeptical glances before finally taking tiny bites. Monica's expression twisted almost immediately. "Uhh... it's, um... different," She said, quickly reaching for her water bottle.

Dave chewed thoughtfully before nodding. "Honestly? Not bad. Kinda like a spicy sausage."

Kendrick still wasn't convinced. "Y'all can have that."

Next up were Eccles cakes—flaky pastries filled with currants and sprinkled with sugar. Monica's eyes lit up as she grabbed one. "Finally, something I can trust." She took a bite and practically sighed in relief. "Sweet, buttery, a little bit of spice? This is a winner."

Kendrick nodded in agreement as he took a bite. "Yeah, this one I rock with."

Then came the pasty barm, a carb-heavy creation of a meat and potato pasty stuffed into a buttered roll.

Dave raised an eyebrow. "So... we just putting pastry in bread now?"

Kendrick shook his head, amused. "That's crazy. But I ain't gonna lie—looks like it won't be too bad."

They all took a bite at the same time.

Sedona chewed slowly, then blinked. "Okay... that's a lot of bread."

Monica reached for her drink. "It's like... carbs fighting each other."

Kendrick took another bite. "I mean, it's kinda heavy, but I'd eat it if I was starving."

Dave chuckled. "Man, if you starving, anything is good."

Then came rag pudding, a meat-and-onion-filled suet pastry.

Kendrick squinted at it. "This looks like a dumpling on steroids."

Sedona laughed. "It kinda is."

They all took a bite. A beat of silence passed. Then—simultaneous head shakes. There was silent glancing at one another until the immediate decision on the dish was made.

"Nah," Monica said immediately, putting hers down.

Dave swallowed with effort. "Yeah... I'm tapping out."

Kendrick just stared at his plate before pushing it away. "I'm not even gon' comment on that shit."

Sedona, ever the brave one, shrugged. "It's not that bad."

Kendrick side-eyed her. "D, you just ate blood pudding with a smile. Your opinion don't count."

Sedona burst into laughter. "Whatever! Y'all just ain't cultured."

The last dish was parched peas—maple peas soaked overnight and simmered.

Sedona took a spoonful and smiled. "This actually reminds me of something my grandma used to make. But with more seasoning."

Dave, on the other hand, frowned. "I mean... it's just peas."

Kendrick chewed, then shook his head. "This tastes like it's missing something. Like, I dunno... flavor."

Monica nodded. "They just feel... unnecessary."

Despite the mixed reviews, the entire experience had them in stitches. Monica snapped a picture of them all holding up their favorite dishes.

"We gotta do this in every city," She said.

"Agreed," Kendrick said, raising his Eccles cake like a toast. "To new experiences and good company."

Sedona lifted her black pudding with a proud grin. "And to having tastebuds."

—

With their bellies full, they finally left the venue. Outside, a crowd of fans braved the chilly Manchester night, hoping for a moment with them.

A little girl, no older than ten, stood at the front clutching a handmade sign: Sedona, you're my hero!

Sedona's heart melted. She crouched to the girl's level. "Hey, sweetheart. What's your name?"

"Lily," The girl answered, eyes wide with excitement.

"Well, Lily, it's so nice to meet you." Sedona slipped a bracelet from her wrist—a simple charm band—and handed it to her. "Here, a little something to remember tonight."

Lily gasped. "Really?"

Sedona nodded. "Really."

After taking photos, signing a few autographs, and chatting with fans, she finally climbed into the sprinter van where Kendrick was already seated, scrolling through his phone.

As the van pulled away, the city lights casting a soft glow inside, the radio played faintly in the background—until Sedona suddenly heard something that made her heart stop.

It was her song.

Her newest single was playing on a UK radio station. Push 2 Start had made it that far. She'd been so caught up with the tour that she hadn't really paid attention to the charts.

She blinked, stunned. "Wait... is that—?"

Kendrick grinned. "Oh, shit! They already got you on rotation?"

Sedona covered her mouth as emotions welled up. "I—what? Already?!"

Monica and Dave immediately started hyping her up, shaking her shoulders.

"You global, baby!" Monica cheered.

Dave threw his hands up. "We in Manchester and they bumpin' you on the radio! You know what that means?"

Sedona wiped a tear before laughing. "What?"

Kendrick leaned in with a smirk. "Means I gotta start bowing down."

They all burst into laughter, the night ending on a high note, the taste of victory—both literal and metaphorical—still fresh.

—

©kashdemi
Volume I- Redamancy.
Chapter Forty-two.
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Just a little filler until thee Valentine's chapter is here.

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH TO ALL MY BLACK PEOPLE!!!!!!

A huge thank you to everyone since we've officially hit 10k reads + 1k+ votes. I'm beyond shocked right now from the love that Redamancy's been receiving. A huge, huge thank you because this is not the end. If I gotta have 100 chapters then so be it. Thank you.

Thoughts on the chapter? And what do you expect for the next one?

Stay tuned for the next chapter, & til next time!
-shea