RED THREAD - r. keating

ix.

backstage at the academy, phoebe fidgets with her guitar, feeling the weight of the upcoming gig. it's her first time playing for a crowd beyond the familiar setting of a pub, and the nerves are real.

before the nerves can overpower her, robert walks through the door. noticing her unease, he steps forward, but his hands on her shoulders, "pheebs, you're going to be amazing." looking up at him, phoebe says, "thanks, rob. i'm just... i don't know, feeling a bit overwhelmed."

robert meets her gaze with a reassuring smile. "it's natural to feel nervous, especially for a big gig like this. but trust me, the moment you step on that stage, everything will fade." he gestures towards the door leading to the stage, where the muffled sounds of the crowd echo. phoebe takes a deep breath, her shoulders visibly relaxing.

"you're incredibly talented phoebe, and they're here to hear your music," robert continues, "take a deep breath and enjoy the moment. we're all cheering for you."

phoebe manages a small smile, nodding in appreciation. "thanks, rob. i needed to hear that." with a final reassuring nod, robert leaves her to gather herself before the momentous performance, his encouraging words lingering in the air.

the backstage ambiance transforms into a hushed anticipation as the stage manager signals it's phoebe's time to shine. with a deep breath, she steps towards the entrance, her guitar in hand.

the distant roar of the crowd becomes more pronounced as she inches closer to the stage. the backstage crew gives her a final nod of encouragement, and with a quick exchange of glances with robert, phoebe steps into the spotlight.

the stage is bathed in a warm glow, and the sea of faces in the crowd comes into focus. the nerves that once gripped her backstage now turn into a surge of adrenaline as she embraces the energy of the moment.

phoebe takes a moment before the mic, aware of the significance of the night. the crowd's anticipation hangs in the air.

"hey, dublin! how's everyone feeling tonight?" her question is met with enthusiastic cheers. "wonderful! now, i'm about to share something very special with you. this song i'm about to play is the very first song i ever wrote. i wrote it back when i was 17, about being 17. a lot has changed since then, and tomorrow, my debut album drops. you're the first to hear these songs live." excitement ripples through the crowd, a collective anticipation for the unknown melodies about to unfold. with that, phoebe introduces "minor," and as the first notes fill the air, the crowd settles into the anticipation of a musical journey yet to unfold.

she finishes "minor," and the crowd erupts in cheers, in which she can even hear saoirse's screams from the back. phoebe seamlessly transitions into the next song, the first chords of "nonsense" filling the venue without a formal introduction. the lively chords hit, catching the crowd's attention, and cheers erupt as they vibe with the energetic rhythm. the venue is buzzing with the infectious beat, and the audience is all in, feeling the lively melody. as the crowd catches on to the sexual theme of the song, phoebe lets out a laugh into the microphone, a hint of awkwardness in the air. undeterred, she carries on, the music filling the venue despite the slightly uneasy atmosphere. the audience, now in on the playful yet cheeky vibe, responds with a mix of laughter and cheers, embracing the candid moment in phoebe's performance. she ends the song, singing "how quickly can you take your clothes off? pop quiz," and speaks into the mic again. "okay moving onto my next song!" as she mentions the title, "feels like this," a quick glance to the side of the stage reveals a momentary exchange with robert, adding an unspoken layer to her introduction.