I'm Burning for You

I was nervous, very nervous. Ever since I had gotten the call last week I couldn't relax. I mean, it’s not every day you are offered to open for Juliette Barnes and Rayna James. I sat in front of my vanity mirror fixing my eye liner. My heart was racing. My manager and best friend, Walker Riley, walked in. My eyes darted to his, I was panicking. He strolled around behind my chair and placed his hands on my shoulders.

‘You’re going be brilliant’ he exclaimed, I gave him a half smile and began brushing my hair,

‘You look great, but come on, they’re waiting to meet you’ he said as he rushed me off the chair. My palms grew clammy as I was reluctantly pulled by Walker. These people were my idols. I aspired to be like them and today I was meeting them. We entered a large room full of people. The atmosphere was intense. So many important people from the industry were there. Rayna James sat on one side of the room and Juliette Barnes on the other. Walker led me in the direction on Rayna first. As we approached her she turned to face us, she smiled widely.

‘Howdy Rayna, this is my girl, Tammy Evans, that I was telling you about’ Walker declared, Rayna stood up and shook my hand,

‘It’s very nice to meet you Tammy, I understand you’re gonna be warming the crowd up for us tonight’ Rayna exclaimed. I was ecstatic. I couldn't believe that I was standing here, in front of Rayna James,

‘Oh my God you have no idea how much I love you, I'm such a big a fan’ I squealed, Rayna chuckled and pulled me into a hug,

‘Well I'm just glad to see a young woman singing real country music’ she uttered, her eyes fixed on Juliette Barnes across the room. She stepped back and sat back down. Walker shook her hand and began to lead me towards Juliette. Juliette was wearing one of her signature sparkling dresses; she had a champaign glass in her hand and was chatting to her manager,

‘Glen!’ Walker called. Juliette’s manager, Glen, spun on his heel to face us. He smiled widely and waved us over,

‘Juliette, this is Tammy Evans and her manager Walker’ Glen announced, Juliette turned her head and looked at us both. She smiled and shook my hand; I was worried about meeting her as I heard a lot of negative things about her.

‘It’s nice to meet a fellow country artist, especially a younger one’ she giggled, I sighed with relief and laughed also,

‘Yes, it’s so good to meet you, I'm a big fan’ I exclaimed. My eyes wandered to the seat in the corner, a man whose work I was very familiar with, Rayna James former band leader, Deacon Claybourne. Juliette and Glen were talking to Walker so I slowly made my way over to Deacon. When I arrived in front of him he looked up from his book and grinned,

‘Well hello there, how can I help you?’ he chuckled, my fingers fidgeted at the bottom of my dress,

‘ I'm Tammy Evans, I'm a huge fan, seriously, you’re my inspiration, and oh god I'm rambling, sorry’ I mumbled sheepishly. Deacon gestured to the seat beside him so I quickly sat.

‘Well Tammy, I am delighted to meet you and flattered you think so highly of me’ he said and turned to face me. My heart was pounding.

‘You’re performing tonight aren't you?’ he asked,

‘Yeah, in like five minutes actually’ I laughed and looked over at Walker who was deep in conversation with Juliette,

‘Well good luck, I’ll be sure to come watch you at the side of the stage’ he said with a smile,

‘Oh thank you so much’ I gasped as I stood up. The stage director led me to the stage and I braced myself for my first big gig.