They were arranged in somewhat of a huddle. The girlfriends, moms, and siblings had all vacated the premises to the VIP section of the venue, and it was just the band left.
Even Zoey's parents had come from Nebraska at the last minute and had popped in the room to say hello. She wasn't particularly close with them, but having them there, saying how proud they were of her... It meant more than she would have thought it did.
"I can't believe it's been four years since our last release party," Meg said. "How do we do this again?"
"We play the songs, then we drink the drinks," Zoey said, patting Meg on the shoulder. "I guess we also talk to people."
A knock came at the door.
One of the venue staff came in holding a large bouquet. "One more for you. I sure hope none of you have seasonal allergies," she joked, setting the flowers down on a table.
Meg laughed, watching the woman walk out. "She was cute," she said as the door shut.
"Meg, keep it in your pants," Domino said.
"Wow, mark it on the calendar. Domino is chastising someone for flirting," Zoey teased.
Another knock came at the door and Micah walked in before anyone could answer. "Alright, I just talked to Este and she and Danielle are all set to come up on 'Just Another Howl At The Moon.' They're warming up down the hall."
"Okay," Billie answered before turning back to the group.
"Two out of three Haims isn't anything to sneeze at," Micah added, "Ooh, more flowers?" She grabbed the card off of the latest bouquet. "Pia sends her love. She says break a leg. She also writes 'Please don't stage dive.' I second that request."
"Aye, aye," Domino said, giving Micah a joking salute.
Zoey's insides somersaulted at the mention of Pia. They had spent the last two weeks having fun and spending time together and it had been fantastic. Zoey didn't know sex could be that incredible. And all of the befores and afters were fun, too. Pia brought out something different in her — she didn't have to pretend to be anyone other than who she really was.
Yet another knock came at the door. It was the Stage Manager peeking her head in. "Ready?"
They filed out of the room and walked to the back of the stage, waiting for their cue. Their set was plain, but the lighting behind them was epic. Neons and saturated colors dramatically lit up the room.
"I love you guys, and I'm damn proud of us," Billie said, wrapping her arms around Zoey and Domino as they stood closest. Zoey looped an arm around Meg and they stood in a group hug for one last, final moment.
"It's the best album ever," Zoey said confidently. "Let's go play the hell out of it."
The stage manager directed them to go on, and they walked onto the stage to deafening cheers. A mixture of fans, celebrities, friends, and family made up the crowd, and Zoey felt as though she was floating as she made her way to the stage.
She had a quick flash to the secret show, when she saw Pia sitting in the VIP balcony section. She glanced up as if on memory, but saw Billie's parents there, instead, flanked by Vero and Sabrina.
If she dated Pia, would Pia sit in the family section with the other girlfriends?
Whoa, where had that thought come from?
"Hey everyone, thank you for coming to the Kaleidoscope Release Party," Billie said into the mic, adjusting her ear piece. "We're so grateful that you're here. We're going to play some songs for you, if you want?"
Her question was met with loud cheers and applause.
Billie strummed the opening chords of ‘Kaleidoscope,’ and before Zoey knew it, she was lost in the trance of music.
Time seemed to speed up, and before she knew it, she was watching Billie sing ‘Midnight.’
God, she wished she knew where Pia was in the crowd.
Stop thinking about Pia.
She smirked, realizing that not thinking about Pia during a song that she wrote about Pia was a slightly impossible task.
Her view from the keyboard off to the side of the stage was one of her favorite views. She could see Billie, Domino, and Meg perfectly, but beyond them, she could see the crowd watching them. She loved seeing how Billie and Domino performed — they were incredible showwomen, and their energy always psyched the crowd up.
Meg was smoothing her wild, pink hair into place with one hand as she steadily hit the kick drum during Billie's guitar solo.
It was a perfect moment.
And then she noticed Pia, standing off to the other side of the stage, hidden from the crowd behind the curtains. She was cloaked in shadow, but Zoey would know that shadow anywhere.
Zoey nearly missed her cue to come back in after a six measure break but corrected her mistake before it was obvious. Domino glanced over her shoulder, casually pacing the stage as she walked over to Zoey's keyboard. She raised her eyebrows as if to ask if Zoey was alright, and Zoey gave her a wide smile.
But all the while, she could feel Pia's stare burning a hole straight through her chest.
They finished the last song and bowed, waving and taking in the applause and cheers. The room was alight with pulsing waves of love and energy, and Zoey could feel it tingling through her very soul.
The album had more of her bare soul inside of it than anything she'd ever done, and to feel that warmth radiating from its reception brought tears to her eyes.
Meg glanced sideways at her, tears in her own eyes. "Aw, baby," Meg said, hugging Zoey tightly and kissing her cheek.
The house lights changed from stage lighting to venue lighting, signalling the start of the party, Domino leapt off the stage — an unorthodox exit, but Domino was nothing if not unorthodox — and Meg and Billie walked to the side of the stage in order to take the stairs down into the party.
Zoey glanced sideways to the opposite direction of where Billie and Meg had left over to where Pia had been hidden, but she didn't see her standing there.
She couldn't help herself. She walked that direction anyway.
"Zoey, come down here already," someone yelled from the crowd, and Zoey gave a small wave towards the area she heard it.
"Be right there," she called out before disappearing behind the curtain.
Pia wasn't there anymore.
Zoey walked to the edge of the curtains, looking back and forth to see If Pia had simply relocated, but there was no sign of her.
Trying to shrug off her disappointment, she walked towards the door that would lead her into the main part of the venue. In the dark, she barely saw the figure reach out to grab her around the waist and pull her into a secluded area.
She almost cried out before realizing by the touch and the smell of citrus body wash that it was Pia holding her.
"You were perfection," Pia's soft voice said in her ear.
"Thanks," Zoey said, her heart pounding in her temples.
She wanted to lean in for a secret makeout session, but she stopped herself.
She was becoming dangerously fond of Pia, and she couldn't break one of her own ground rules, getting caught up in feelings and thinking that it was more than it was.
Instead, she took a tiny step backwards as if that would put the necessary distance between them. "How did you get over here?" Zoey asked.
"Stef is one of my good friends," Pia said.
"Stef?"