Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2004 20:03:19 -0800 (PST) From: Author James <authorjames2002@yahoo.com> Subject: The Shadow Chapter 14 Shy Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. I do not know the sexual orientation of any of the celebrities who will be appearing in the story. WARNING: The character does not have a happy life and will not have very many happy events in his life. If this kind of stuff bothers you, I do not recommend reading. Otherwise, enjoy. The Shadow created by Street and Smith, Walter B. Gibson. Copyright Advance Magazine Publishing Inc. Author's email address: authorjames2002@yahoo.com Chapter 14 Shy The guys from the group known as O-Town were finishing getting dressed before going down to the limousine. They all seemed charged with excitement at performing. The city of New York always brought great excitement and 'good times', as Dan would put it. Jacob grabbed his shirt and threw it around his freshly washed body and began to button it up. The others noticed his attitude change since their performance in Buenos Aires. He hadn't seemed his usual, fun-loving self. Several times they tried to talk with him about it, as his behavior changed immensely. Before, guys would throw themselves at him and he would take them up on their offers of a night of sex. But after their concert in Buenos Aires, he stopped. He no longer seemed interested in hook-ups. And he wasn't opening up to them, at least, not until Ashley got him away from the others and talked to him alone. When he and Ashley were alone, he told Ashley that he was tired of the empty sex he had. Most of the guys he had relationships with were shallow, only wanting him for his looks and money, not for what he was inside. It wasn't for the lack of him trying to get to know these people, either. He would try to hold serious conversations with them, but they didn't seem to care. Jacob honestly believed there was no depth to these men. Then, last night, his desperate attitude of never finding someone with depth changed. He talked with Ashley about the guy he noticed at the park. Ashley didn't know who he was talking about but encouraged him to see if the guy would be interested. Jacob hoped that he would see this guy again. The guys rushed downstairs to the limo and it drove off toward the park. The Shadow entered the park heading toward the stage area. 'Magic,' the Shadow thought as he made his way to the place where the group known as O-Town would be performing. 'Where do these guys come up with that shit?' Throngs of fans headed toward the stage and several looked at him, their faces changing to that of repulsion. 'Yep, I'm gross to look at,' he thought. 'No need to remind me.' After the people reached the stage, the lights came on and O-Town came out to wow everyone. They were going to perform different songs from all their albums. The fans screamed insanely. 'Not that I'm not enjoying seeing them myself,' the Shadow thought. 'They are all drop-dead gorgeous. However, they were all heterosexual. There would never be a chance with any of them. Even if just one of them were gay, I wouldn't have a chance. Not with my hideous looks.' But he couldn't understand the feelings he had when Jacob looked at him. It scared him and intrigued him at the same time. 'It's probably just a fluke. I was standing in the shadows. He didn't get a good look at me.' An hour later, the music began to "Shy Girl" and the fans went wild. Shy shy girl Shy Girl Yeah, Yeah Standing with the wallflowers Wishing you would've stayed at home You kick yourself for coming When you're standing there all alone The centers of attention are busy making all their moves Oh Girl... While all the guys are looking at them I got my eye on you Only you You might think you're nothing special You might be losing hope But baby don't you realize How beautiful you really are Shy girl It's written on your face A mermaid out of water Feeling out of place Shy girl Tryin to hide her blush Caught you looking for a second Felt my heart rush Don't run away Don't be afraid Don't be shy girl So beautiful Shy shy girl To the amazement of the fans, the group members moved off the stage and moved amongst the crowd singing to different girls. The Shadow looked around and realized how many girls were around him. I'm moving in closer Slowing trying to break the ice Shy shy girl But it's hard to get a lot on your downward glancing eyes Oh yeah You might think you're nothing special But I'm about to lose my heart Baby don't you realize How beautiful you really are Shy girl It's written on your face A mermaid out of water Feeling out of place Shy girl Tryin to hide her blush Caught you looking for a second Felt my heart rush Don't run away Don't be afraid Don't be shy girl So beautiful Shy shy girl One of the members came near the Shadow, Jacob. He stood in front of the girl to the right of the Shadow and sang to her, though his eyes wandering over to the youth as he sang. Now I'm standing right in front of you I confess I'm nervous too Girl you know there's something going on And not to give it a chance Would be so wrong Oh baby Shy girl It's written on your face A mermaid out of water Feeling out of place Shy girl Tryin to hide a blush Pretending that there's nothing between the two of us Don't run away Don't be afraid Don't be shy girl Shy girl It's written on your face A mermaid out of water Feeling out of place Shy girl Tryin to hide her blush Caught you looking for a second Felt my heart rush Don't run away Don't be afraid Don't be shy girl So beautiful Shy shy girl Hey girl Don't be shy girl Don't run away Shy shy girl Oh baby Jacob stayed for the rest of the song and, as it ended, the youth was shocked when the singer's eyes locked with his. As he sang the last phrase, he goofed up the last word. I'm looking at you Come a little closer Shy, Shy Shy guy He turned and headed back to the stage freaked about what he did. Something like that would easily get a guy worked up, but not the youth. He believed it was a goof up. 'Had he seen me in the light, he wouldn't have come near me. In fact, he would have had to turn away at the sight of me.' The group sang a few more songs and headed off stage. The youth decided it was time for his masked counterpart to keep an eye on the singers. Dressing in his regular clothes made the Shadow feel vulnerable, exposed. Plus the look he received from Jacob during both concerts made him feel very uncomfortable. The Shadow arrived at the hotel around the same time O-Town did. Moe Shrevnitz was getting better at following people. The youth climbed out of the cab and told Moe to pull around front and that he needed to be ready in case the youth needed to escape quickly. Moe agreed and drove around front, finding a place for his cab to park. The Shadow walked around to the parking deck and saw several men in tuxedoes standing in the shadows. He made himself appear invisible from their sight and watched them, waiting for them to make their move, to indicate their intentions. He didn't have to wait long as the limo carrying O-Town pulled in. "Here they come," one man said. "This is our last chance. If we fail, the Master will kill us. We tried doing it the easy way. This time, we will have to force them to give us their semen. Be on the look-out for the caped kid." The men nodded and moved into position. O-Town's bodyguards climbed out of the car first and made their way around to the back door to release the singers from the confines of the luxury car. Once the door was opened and the first singer was out, the tuxedoed men moved. Two grabbed the bodyguard and drug him back away from the car. They punched him in the face and then hit him in the back, knocking him unconscious. A third man grabbed Trevor, and pulled him away. One reached into the car and grabbed Ashley, jerking the blonde from the safety of the vehicle. The two that knocked out the bodyguard went in to grab two more guys. The other side of the door opened and Jacob emerged trying to run at full speed. "We've got a runner," one said as he reached inside to pull out a tranquilizer gun. "Knock him out." "Not a good idea," the Shadow said. His voice reverberated throughout the garage. All voices and shuffling stopped as everyone looked around attempting to find the source of the voice. "Who is your Master?" "This is none of your concern, boy. You know nothing." "I know nothing?" the Shadow said as he moved closer to the men. "You think my age indicates I know nothing? You are pathetic automatons. I know what is in your heart. I know the evil inside. Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?" Suddenly a fist appeared attached to nothing and punched the man with the tranquilizer gun. He dropped the gun as he fell backwards. The fist grabbed the gun and shot the man holding Ashley. Then it turned and fired on the man holding Erik. "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows." The gun fired several more times and all but one of the tuxedoed men was knocked out. The man took off running but the gun was hurled and hit him in the back knocking him to the ground. Trevor and Dan climbed out of the car and checked on the bodyguard while the driver ran inside to have someone call the police. Jacob looked around trying to find a glimmer of where the fist went, where the source of the voice that saved them was standing. He thought he saw some movement, but was mistaken. A short while later, the police came and carted off the thugs. The singers gave their witness testimony and paramedics checked out the bodyguard. The Shadow remained vigilant and watched over the singers and they left to go upstairs. Then he, too, left the parking deck. To Be Continued...