With a quick step, Billy finalized the tour dates for the coming days. Everything unfolded like a storm of repercussions as his music became known worldwide. Each concert heightened expectations in various cities. Every stop was intense—Hungary was filled with contemporary celebrities, wealthy socialites, and a crowd that took Billy's words like daggers, fueling fiery concerts of defiance. Fans lined up for hours to attend his shows. In Germany, he performed for an audience of 60,000 over three nights at Munich's stadium.
Germany is a key destination for international concerts. With the enduring popularity of bands like Rammstein, Metallica, Scorpions, and The Hives, rock continues to leave its mark. Tourism, enriched by an alternative cultural scene, only adds to the experience.
-So, you broke up with Kate again? Damn, man. Everyone figured you'd do what you always do—leave her for one of those curvy models. – Billy said, sinking into a chair as the roaring crowd rumbled in his ears, just ten minutes before the concert. The band lounged around, chatting in their seats.
-My wife is coming to France... I'd rather not hear about curvy models. – Sugar Egg grumbled.
-Relax, I still want to be invited to your New Year's barbecues. The meat melting in my mouth, mashed potatoes with a hint of lemon… The best steak I've had since my mom's cooking. – Billy replied.
-Now I'm starving, thanks to you. – Sugar Egg stood up to grab one of the hamburgers and pizzas stacked in the dressing room.
-Hey, kid, snap a picture of that belly. – Billy laughed at Sugar Egg while Octavio sighed and took a few tour photos to post later on Billy's website.
-Toss me a bottle of water. – Connor said.
-I want one of those burgers. – Billy shouted, catching the one Sugar Egg threw at him.
-Tastes a bit like sausage. – he murmured, finishing it in one bite. Then he slipped into a more private room, washed his face, and took a deep breath. He hated processed meats.
Before he could react, hands reached out and grabbed his neck. He turned to see Adriana, her green eyes and sweet smile making her look like a true angel. She seemed resolute, and the warmth of her smile sent a rush of heat through him.
-I can't believe you came. – Billy said, surprised. – Honestly, I thought after Alessandra, we'd leave all this closeness behind. -
-Alessandra's engaged... Besides, you and I are nothing. Stop imagining things where there's nothing to imagine. – Adriana laughed, but her charming smile was interrupted by Billy's kiss. He captured her lips, and soon, they were locked in a battle of tongues.
-Yeah, we're nothing… What a curse, being just two strangers. – Billy murmured, kissing her again. Adriana took a deep breath.
-Strangers. – she echoed.
-I'll start in Portuguese… This concert is for you. I can't give you anything else, just what you paid for with that ticket. – Billy replied, giving her a soft kiss.
Billy's sweetness—something no one else truly knew—was perhaps what women ended up falling for over time. That warm approach he preferred to take after the star act was over, left Adriana with the image of a sensitive and loving young man. A shame she didn't know how long it would last. That was the thing with Billy—he was unpredictable when he wanted to be.
-I'll wait, then. – she said.
Billy delivered a fast-paced, powerful performance, surprising the audience with a song in Portuguese.
-Now you belong to me. – Billy declared. – The next song is Incomplete (Backstreet Boys).-
He fixed his gaze on the VIP section. Adriana wasn't the only notable face there—Courtney Love and Quentin Tarantino were also present, standing out from the rest of the crowd. But Billy's eyes locked onto the green-eyed brunette.
🎵🎶🎵🎶🎶🎶🎵
Empty spaces fill me up with holes
Distant faces with no place left to go
Without you, within me I can find no rest
Where I'm going is anybody's guess
I tried to go on like I never knew you
I'm awake, but my world is half asleep
I pray for this heart to be unbroken
But without you, all I'm going to be is incomplete
🎵🎶🎵🎶🎶🎶🎵
He was channeling a deep trauma, a pang of longing, and that uncolored space where people drifted apart, each marking their path. His words carried a warmth, filling the emptiness people so often tried to ignore.
🎵🎶🎵🎶🎶🎶🎵
Voices tell me I should carry on
But I am swimming in an ocean all alone
Baby, my baby
It's written on your face
You still wonder if we made a big mistake
I tried to go on like I never knew you
I'm awake, but my world is half asleep
I pray for this heart to be unbroken
But without you, all I'm going to be is incomplete
🎵🎶🎵🎶🎶🎶🎵
Whenever he sang this song, he imagined a vast meadow, with a towering tree whose leaves were just beginning to change for autumn. But tonight, he pictured it in spring, blue blossoms drifting through the air like falling petals. Now, the sun was rising over the horizon.
He feared they only had time—time to let the future unfold with the same quiet composure that now seemed so fitting. The audience once lost in a dark haze, now embraced a sense of renewal, as if something inside them had bloomed.
New ideas, a song laced with raw reality, emotions that dug deep into people's hearts, even if they didn't fully understand them. Billy poured his soul into it, and the energy of the moment carried him forward.
-It's really good. – Connor murmured, surprised to find himself affected by the song's intensity.
🎵🎶🎵🎶🎶🎶🎵
I don't mean to drag it on
But I can't seem to let you go
I don't wanna make you face this world alone
I wanna let you go (alone)
I tried to go on like I never knew you
I'm awake, but my world is half asleep
I pray for this heart to be unbroken
But without you, all I'm going to be is incomplete
Incomplete
🎵🎶🎵🎶🎶🎶🎵
…
What a gratifying feeling it was to sing for an audience that truly appreciated what he did. The sensation of taking something and turning it into a memory.
The rain began to fall. It was freezing, but the crowd came prepared with raincoats and hooded ponchos. The stadium's partial roof covered some of them, but the cold cut through the air. Billy felt the icy droplets on his skin. He stuck out his tongue, tasting the water as it numbed his lips.
-We have to jump… Jump! There's no other way. – he shouted.
...