Read Girl Online: On Tour for Free Online Page B

beer?”
    I look up from the box of cookies and there’s a guy leaning in the doorway, a long, grungy fringe covering most of his forehead. He’s wearing a black T-shirt like Noah, butunlike Noah he has a lot more tattoos running down his arms. In one of his hands, he grips the necks of two beers. Instantly I feel goose bumps prickle the back of my neck, though I can’t explain why.
    “Not for me, man,” says Noah. “Blake, meet my girlfriend, Penny. Penny, this is Blake—he’s one of my best friends from back home and the drummer in my band.”
    Blake barely looks at me—or, if he does, I can’t tell because his hair obscures his eyes too much. I do hear a small grunt of acknowledgement from him, I think.
    “Hey,” I say. My voice squeaks and now I do see Blake’s expression change—his lip curls up into a sneer. My heart sinks. I wanted to make a good impression on Noah’s friends. Now I just feel awkward and a little pathetic. For the first time, I feel out of place.
    The other two members of Noah’s band pile in behind Blake—they are both carrying beers too, but they’re much friendlier and smilier than Blake. Noah introduces them as they come in: the bassist, Mark, and a keyboard player named Ryan. Mark and Ryan sit on the chair opposite me and Noah, but Blake strides in and plonks himself down next to Noah so that I get squished between him and the arm of the sofa. He passes one of the beers over to Noah.
    Noah takes it, but, rather than taking a swig, he puts it down on the coffee table.
    “This is England, dude. You’re legal,” urges Blake, after taking a large gulp himself.
    Noah shrugs. “I said I’m cool.”
    Blake looks about to push the issue, but Dean claps his hands together and the band looks up at him together. “OK,guys, this is your first big gig together, and you sounded great in rehearsal. Just repeat what you’ve been doing and you’ll smash it. I don’t think I have to explain how important this is for Noah, for all you guys. This could be a real game changer. No pain, no gain. Now, it’s only ten minutes until lights up so, all of you, get out and get ready. This is your time to shine.”
    “Is he always like this?” I whisper to Noah.
    “What, always speaking in clichés before we go onstage? Yep, that pretty much sums up Dean.” Noah looks at his manager. “Can I get a minute alone?”
    “ One minute,” Dean says, narrowing his eyes at the two of us so we know he means business. “All right, everybody out.”
    “Everyone except Penny.”
    Dean nods, but Blake lets out a loud grunt. Every move he makes seems heavy with reluctance, but eventually he shuffles out of the door after Dean.
    Once we’re alone Noah turns to me, and his body seems like it’s overflowing with nervous energy. Then I realize he’s not excited. He looks really worried.
    “Penny, I don’t know if I can go onstage.”

Chapter Six
    Those are the last words I expected to come out of Noah’s mouth. His trademark dimples are gone, his jaw tight. His face is drained of colour, and he’s biting his fingernails. I’ve never seen him like this before. He stands and paces up and down the dressing room, running his hands through his shaggy brown hair.
    I get up and race over to him. To stop his nervous pacing, I take both of his hands in mine. He stands still, but I can feel his hands shaking. Our foreheads touch and we breathe together for a couple of moments. Then I lift my hands to his face. “You’re amazing. Of course you can do this. You’re Noah Flynn. You can do anything.”
    He leans down and kisses me. It’s a different kind of kiss to the one in the car. He presses his lips to mine and they feel fuelled by a desperate kind of energy, as if he’s hoping our kiss will transport us to a different world, one where he doesn’t have to worry about performing in front of a crowd of 4,500 screaming fans.
    When we finally break apart, he says, “Penny, I really, really don’t know if I