The applause and shouts of si is instant and deafening.
Gavin says something to the audience too, but I don’t hear it because Cash is looking directly at me. My heart stops beating. I can’t move. I just stand there transfixed and staring until he winks and turns away from me. I watch him energetically run to the other end of the stage as the intro to the first number, Let’s Hang Out, starts playing. The crowd goes crazy. Cash’s deep rich voice sparks more wild screaming.
Britney, like most of the fans, has jumped to her feet clapping, cheering, and dancing to the beat. The atmosphere is so electric with the throbbing of the powerful beat and the grinding of all the people below that it is infectious and I find my body reacting to the vibe too.
I remember that first time in Atlanta being there right in the heart of the energy and how good I felt, seeing Cash up on that stage, so close but so unobtainable. Now here I am with a VIP seat right at the front of the stage and he’s just as gorgeous as ever, but this time around he’s mine.
At least for tonight.
I look around at the sea of young girls swaying to the beat and filled with wild excitement at the sight of these handsome, virile young men and for the first time I understand what it must be like for these performers. Out on that stage they are larger than life. Heroes. Buzzed up with alcohol and out of control hormones, they look out across the arena at the adoring fans and see prey.
Although the band members are all handsome and have good voices, Cash has that something extra. He exudes confidence, presence and raw sex appeal. He’s also the most gorgeous. Hearing Cash’s name being screamed by so many beautiful girls makes me slightly insecure and I have to remind myself it’s me he has chosen to be with him tonight.
For one hour the band struts and performs dance moves with seemingly unlimited energy, lapping up all the love coming from their fans, as hit song after song reverberates across the packed arena. Britney is still boogieing next to me, trying to encourage me to join in using various facial expressions, but the heat all around is so intense I have to sit to cool down a little.
Then it is time for the finale and Tinie Tempah dressed all in black with a red jacket joins the band on stage. To Britney’s delight Tinie wishes her a happy birthday. I look at her with a grin and she is red with exertion, pleasure and excitement.
A girl brings some boxes to the stage. The band members take the boxes and sit with their backs turned away from the audience. When they turn around they are all wearing red shoes that match Tinie’s red jacket. Together they sing Written in the Stars and I feel the song in my bones. Like the lyrics of the song seasons come and go but I will never change. My love for Cash is written in the stars.
Afterwards they all do Dizzee Rascal’s famous jump routine and the crowd becomes an enormous heaving mass of people jumping up and down while they scream, ‘Jump, jump, jump.’
Panting, the band announces how much they love their audience and thanks them all. ‘Grazie a tutti. See you all next year,’ the guys say before the notes for their biggest hit ring out. The Girl Who Can’t Say No. For the chorus the band lets the audience sing the words.
Two encores later, the crowd is clapping persistently, begging for more, but the guys say their final farewell. ‘Buona notte Milan.’ They bow in formation and run off the stage.
Even as they disappear from view Sean is already there to fetch us back to the dressing room. The cool air along the dressing room corridor hits my face and I welcome it after the steamy atmosphere in the arena. Britney is still buzzing and smiling happily when a boy with red hair and freckles comes up to us.
‘Britney?’ he says with an English accent.
‘Yeah,’ she says cautiously.
‘Your brother has arranged for you to meet Tinie Tempah.’
‘What?’ Britney exclaims.
‘Yup, I’m supposed to take you to him. The man has a birthday gift for you.’
‘A birthday present, for me?’ Britney repeats in astonishment.
‘If you want to come with me I’ll take you to him and bring you back.’
She turns to me. ‘Come with me?’
I shake my head and smile at her excitement. ‘You go ahead. I’ll wait for you in Cash’s dressing room.’
Smothering the squeal that threatens to escape the back of her throat, Britney clasps her hands to her face before planting a big kiss on my cheek.
‘This is the best birthday ever,’ she tells me and goes off with the man.
I am still smiling as we walk down the corridor when I spot Cash walking towards us.
‘I’ll be off then,’ Sean says. Lifting his hand in a wave, he starts walking back to where we came from.