The next day wasn’t only departure day for Maroon 5, but also for Gareth. So, Thalia was left behind in England for some time. The band would be back at the beginning of May, so that they had one more week to rehearse on stage. Gareth, in contrast, would be back earlier, yet both were so engrossed in work that they could hardly see. And even if they had a day off, the wedding preparation took most of their time. Thalia and Gareth helped both mothers with the  sitting arrangements. Thalia and Gareth rushed around the big dining room of the venue, which they could use for the afternoon. The country club house was just outside London and for the first time in a long period, Thalia had actually seen a park. And not just from the outside. The weather kept getting better continuously and Penny wished for the sun to shine on her wedding day. In the evening, the couple met up with Will and Will’s vocal coach in order to rehearse the song. They didn’t make it home until three and long days kept becoming routine.

 

*

Just when Thalia thought that she couldn’t go on for another day, the rehearsal period started. Luckily, she had to be at the venue, an old warehouse to fit about five thousand people in, at half past twelve. For the first time in a month she could sleep more than three hours a night. In good spirits she arrived at twenty past twelve. She was early, yet she supposed that she would be the last anyway. But to her surprise, it was only Irene, who sat on a chair in the audience room. A few men were rushing around. They plugged the instruments into the amps, worked at the stage and then disappeared and when they returned, wheeled new boxes in.

“I didn’t think we would need so many things.” Thalia said. Irene turned around.

“I was about to call you and make sure you haven’t  slept in late. To be honest, you’ve never looked more tired.”

“Thank you for the flowers. Indeed, I have never been. But that doesn’t change anything, does it?” Thalia said.

“Good morning!” she heard a familiar voice calling. It was Jesse, who came in first, followed by Ryan and James.

“Hey there! Where’s the rest?” Thalia called from her position on the stage edge, where she had walked during her talk with Irene.

“Outside, putting their cigarettes out.” Thalia had to laugh. “Anyway, how have you been?” Jesse asked, hugging her.

“Alright. I’m tired. And I’ve been working a lot. And the wedding is taking the rest of my time. I’ve had five hours of sleep last night, the longest in weeks. But anyway, how have you been?”

“Our lives seem boring compared with yours.” James remarked. “No, well, we’ve played the tour in the US, done a few TV appearances. And of course, have been looking forward to today.”

“Who hasn’t?” Thalia leaned forward and told them in a low voice. “And I’m not sure where this is leading us to at the end of the day.”

“I’m not sure either.” Jesse said, “but I thought your ideas were pretty good. And selling them to Adam as ours, well, master plan.” Just then Adam came walking into the door. Thalia sent him a smile, then got up and walked around the stage.

“I like the looks of it.”

“Hello – no welcome?” Mickey asked.

“Well, we’ve passed that stage. You’re too late.”

“You can’t do that!” Mickey whined.

“No, of course not.” She came to the edge again and bent down. After she had hugged both of the guys, she turned her attention back to the piano. It looked pretty much like hers, yet it was a brand-new one, which she had been allowed to choose the other day. She sat down and hit two or three notes. Then sighed, noticing it was the beginning of the wedding-song.

“Everything alright?” Irene asked.

“Totally. I’m just not sure whether I know how to play any of my songs. I’ve been playing ‘Sincerity’ for about sixty-four times in the past 48 hours. Every time I sit at a piano it’s all I can think of. I’m glad when it’s all done.”

“Perfectionist?” James asked.

“Until the day I die… Argh – you see, I can’t even think about anything else than the wedding.”

“And it’s not even your own.” Irene laughed.

“I don’t think I’ll ever manage. I’ll most probably die from a heart attack before.” Thalia joked.

She shrugged and then the guys climbed on stage.

“I believe Jesse kept you updated on the changes…?” Adam asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Most certainly he did. He did a good job.” Thalia praised Jesse who had kept mailing her every day to let her know what they planned. All the same, she had let him now what she thought they could change and he would tell the guys, excluding Adam. Together, they had acted as if it had been their idea. But it had worked. “And thanks for doing all of it, I’ve been awfully busy and so I appreciated all the ideas.” James winked at her and picked up his guitar.

“Ok, let’s hear whether everyone did the homework right.”

Up to now, they had ideas how to put Thalia into ‘Miss you, love you’, ‘Sunday Morning’, ‘She will be loved’ and of course there was still the complete Mash-up of ‘House by the sea’ and ‘Must get out’. On the other hand they had a few of Thalia’s songs, which could do with a bit of Adam’s singing, Ryan’s drums and James playing. Just the night before, she had asked Jesse whether he would duet her. But he hadn’t answered up to that point, excusing with: ‘How are we going to explain to Adam?’

Thalia named all her songs and the changes quickly: “OK, for ‘Clouds’, I’d like Ryan on the drums, if that OK? There’s the strong instrumental part in and it could do with a bit of thunder…” He nodded. “Then, ‘Lullaby’. James, I’m challenging you to tandem with me with the acoustic guitar. It’s the first song I actually wrote on that instrument and I need someone, who can play. Greg would do it, but it would be so much more fun if it was you. At least for the first show, here.”

“Of course. It would be a pleasure.”

“Thanks, and… there’s this other new song. Devotion. It’s piano only and maybe the three of you can add a little more music?” She looked from James to Mickey to Adam.

“And what about me?” Jesse asked.

“Well, that’s the question. Willing to duet me?” He raised his eyebrow.

“Are you sure you don’t want Adam to do the singing?” Jesse said.

“First you whine because you don’t get to do anything and then… but yeah, Adam can do the singing and we concentrate only on the singing and you do the piano.” She suggested.

“Hel-lo? No one is going to ask me about that, right?” Adam said.

“No!” Jesse and Thalia said in unison.

 

About two and a half hours later, they had gone through most of the Maroon 5 songs. Some had worked the way they should, others had completely gone down the drain.

“Can we take a break?” Adam asked, just before they were going to try ‘Sunday Morning’. Thalia got up from the piano stool, stretching her arms above her head.

“I certainly won’t object.” Everyone involved agreed and just before Thalia could leave the stage to grab a bite to eat from the catering and an urgently needed coffee, Adam caught up with her.

“Well, the actual cause for the break was because we wanted to talk to you, about the performance of this.”

“Sunday Morning? Well, what do you want to do?”  she asked, sitting down on one of the boxes next to the stairs, which lead behind the stage and towards the dressing rooms.

“You know what it’s all about. So, I thought we could act a little. Do a little flirting and such.” Adam said, while Thalia’s eyes wandered over to his friends.

“Like dancing a little closer and hug and…” Adam nodded.
“Interesting…”

“Would that be alright with you?” he asked hopefully.

“I’m not sure.” She said, acting disinterested. “What’s with all the rumours people will make up? And my boyfriend?” Adam’s dropped his head a little. Thalia grinned.

“Well, that’s OK. I never really thought about that.”

She started laughing. “As if I ever care what the tabloids will print. And Gareth isn’t any better at all with all the chicks he has on stage.” She said, still giggling. “Let’s just try and see how it works.” She patted his shoulder and turned to continue her way.

“OK, cool.” Adam said.

“And now let me grab something to eat. I’m starving.” But just as she had put one foot down the step, someone else called her name.” It was Gareth. She sprinted to the front of the stage and jumped right into his arms.

“Hey darling, what are you doing here?” she asked, when he had kissed her on the lips quickly.

“Just came to see what you’re doing! Greetings from Nic. She’s so hyper.”

“Oh yeah – everyone has arrived! How’s your family?” Thalia asked. The two made their way to the back, while Maroon 5 rested on the stage.

“Well, she said yes. But will she still be doing it?” James asked.

“I’m quite sure.” Jesse answered.

 Everyone looked at him. “You and her spend too much time chatting.” Ryan said.

"Oh, come on. It was easy to figure out. She loves winding up her boyfriend, haven’t you noticed?” Jesse defended.

 

Backstage, Gareth and Thalia said on one of the sofas. Thalia was munching happily on a sandwich, while she listened to Gareth’s talking. He had been to a photo shot at the Thames, until it had started raining.

“Weather? I don’t even know what that is anymore. I’m so happy when everything is over. I don’t know for how long I can go on like that. And the worst thing will be not to have you around, when I feel crap.” Gareth stroked her hair.

“I promise that we’ll take a break afterwards. For a long time. And we’ll go far away, where it will be just us, OK?” he whispered. Thalia nodded and closed her eyes.

“If I wasn’t that darn tired, I’d kiss you know as a reward but I can be bothered to move.” Gareth chuckled.

“Poor you, everyone’s pushing and pulling at you. The tour people, your family, press, me.” His fingers played with hers.

“And you’re the worst.” Thalia joked. Just on that comment, Maroon 5 made their entry.

“Oh, hey. Didn’t hear you coming.” She said and swung her legs down from the sofa.

“Now, anyway. What did Nicola say?”

“Telling you greetings. And she’s nagging about us keeping everything a big secret. She begged me to take her to the rehearsal tonight.”

“She can come tomorrow, here. Else I’m not getting to see here before the wedding.”

“She understands. However, she feels sorry for the two of you. She was looking forward to one of your extended shopping trips.”

“Help, no. What else am I supposed to do. I don’t even know where to fit sleeping in.” Everyone laughed.

“Tell her, I’m truly sorry and I might call her tonight. If I don’t fall asleep before, that is.” Thalia sipped the warm coffee.

“So, how’s the rehearsal?” Gareth asked, directing the question to the band.

“Surprisingly good.” Adam said, “we’re almost through our songs.” Gareth nodded.

“Any surprises planned?” At times, Gareth was just too curious.

“If we did tell you now, would it still be one?” Thalia said sarcastically, slapping his leg.

“You know I will keep it a secret!” Gareth said and pouted.

“And we promised to keep it, too.” Thalia told him and got up.

“Well, anyway. I guess I’m sort of superfluous then.” Gareth said and got up, too.

She shrugged.

He said his goodbyes while Thalia poured herself some juice. She knew he was only joking but it surprised her that he did really go.

“Gatesy!” she called after him and put the glass down. Before he could reach the back door, she caught up with him.

“You’re not leaving me like that…” she whispered and leant in to kiss him. He kissed her back but they were both interrupted by Irene announcing: “The break is over!”

“You better go.” Gareth told her. Thalia sighed.

“I know. I’ll see you tonight!”

She watched him walk along the wall until he turned around a corner.

“Are you coming?” It was Mickey, who had come to look for her.

“Of course.” She smiled at him, a dreamy expression on her face due to the memory of the kiss she had just shared.