Chapter 7

The Lollapalooza crowd buzzed like a living organism – heat radiating off thousands of bodies, the bass from the main stage pounding through the ground like a heartbeat.

You were backstage with a festival pass clipped to your shorts and Dani’s name written (literally) in sharpie across your thigh from a chaotic sound check dare. The air smelled like sweat, sunscreen, and whatever food truck magic was happening ten feet away.

Katseye was set to hit the stage in twenty minutes, and the girls were wired.

Megan was drumming on anything that wouldn’t break. Sophia was stretching like she was about to run a marathon. Manon was pacing. Lara had glitter on everything, and Yoonchae was already half in her post-show interview outfit – dramatic sunglasses and a frown.

And Dani?

Dani looked like a sin on stage legs.

Her hair was perfectly curled, eyeliner sharp enough to wound and her red leather outfit clung to her body in a way that should’ve been illegal. She caught your eye from across the tent, smirked, and walked over like she owned the festival.

“You good?” She asked, her hand finding your waist like it always did.

“Better now,” you said, letting your fingers graze her ribs, just under her crop top. “You look like you’re about to ruin someone’s life out there.”

“I am,” she whispered. “Yours. Later,”

You flushed – and she knew it. Smug as hell, she kissed your cheek and jogged back to the girls.

*

The set was pure chaos – in the best way.

Katseye had the crowd screaming within seconds. Dani was magnetic on stage, all snarl and sweat and raw power, her voice hitting deep and low, her energy infectious.

But it wasn’t just the crowd who had her eyes on her.

You got some attention too.

Hanging at the edge of the backstage area, sipping from a water bottle and swaying to the beat, you were just close enough to be visible – and apparently, just hot enough to draw attention.

“Hey,” came a voice beside you.

You turned – a guy, probably crew, dressed in all black, lanyard around his neck.

“You here with someone?” he asked, eyes scanning you a little too slowly.

You blinked. “Yeah.”

“Performer?”

You nodded, already feeling that familiar heat crawl up your neck. “Yeah. Dani.”

He grinned. “Figures. You’ve got that… ‘I date musicians and break hearts’ look”

You took a step back, polite but distant. “She’s literally on stage right now.”

“She doesn’t have to know,” he said, way too smooth.

And then – like she felt it – Dani turned.

Right in the middle of the second chorus, sweat dripping down her neck, she locked eyes with you from centre stage.

She saw the guy. Saw how close he was

Saw your expression – slightly uncomfortable, clearly not into it.

Saw his hand not even an inch away from your hip.

Her expression shifted.

Mid-song, she turned to Sophia, said something in her ear – and suddenly the bridge changed. Like they’d rehearsed it.

Because they had. For you.

The lights dimmed. The spotlight narrowed. And Dani sang directly into the camera, directly into the crowd – and somehow, directly at you.

“She’s got my name under her skin, try to touch her, you won’t win, I don’t share, I don’t bend, I just bite – and I don’t pretend.”

The crowd screamed.

The guy blinked, clearly realising the situation. “…Damn.”

You smirked. “Yeah. Damn.”

He backed off fast.

*

Backstage after the show was chaos.

Sweaty hugs, breathless laughter, someone yelling about water bottles and lipstick smudges.

But Dani beelined for you.

Didn’t stop.

Didn’t speak.

Just grabbed your hand and pulled you through a side tent, past the crowd, through a shaded corner of the staging area until you were behind a row of stacked crates, far from everyone else.

She pressed you against the wall.

“You good?” She asked, her voice low and rough.

“Yeah,” you breathed. “Show was insane.”

“That guy-“

“Didn’t matter.”

Dani’s jaw tensed. Her fingers traced your waist, her body pressed against yours like she couldn’t bare even a millimetre of space. “He looked at you like you were available.”

“I’m not.”

“You better not be.”

You kissed her – hard.

She kissed you back – harder.

Her hand slipped beneath the hem of your shirt, fingers pressing into your bare skin. “You don’t know what it did to me,” she whispered against your mouth. “Seeing him look at you. Like you weren’t mine.”

“You got a little possessive out there.”

“Not very subtle.”

She bit your lip, grinning. “I don’t do subtle.”

———-

Possessive Dani may just be my weakness 😉

Wrote this one based on their recent Lollapalooza performance which was INSANE. All the girls looked too good on that stage.

Anyways, upvote me if you’re liking so far 🙂