A rough, throaty cough echoed through the corridors of SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California—a deep, involuntary sound that cut through the otherwise quiet hallway. The massive stadium, soon to be the epicenter of the biggest event of the year for Americans, still had hours to go before the highly anticipated spectacle would begin. The cough belonged to none other than Ethan Jones, the young music superstar whose name had been buzzing nonstop in the industry.
Ethan had been invited personally by Eminem and 50 Cent, both of whom were set to headline the Super Bowl Halftime Show alongside other major artists. Despite his status as a pop star, Ethan had long admired hip-hop legends like them, and the opportunity to be here, to witness such a momentous event from the inside, was surreal.
Yet, at that moment, he was more concerned with his dry throat than the grandeur of the event.
"Damn," he muttered under his breath, groaning softly as he tried to clear the irritation in his throat by swallowing. The feeling was unpleasant, a scratchy sensation that refused to go away. Maybe it was the air conditioning in the stadium with the rain bath just a day ago, or maybe he was coming down with something. Either way, he didn't have time to dwell on it.
He adjusted his jacket as he continued walking, his footsteps echoing softly against the polished floor. He was on his way to the private suite Eminem had pointed out to him earlier, where he was supposed to meet up with Hailie—Eminem's daughter. She had left earlier to catch up with some of her friends, and now he was making his way there, though he couldn't help but notice how eerily quiet the inside of the stadium felt.
Ethan had expected to see more people already gathered, especially considering how massive the event was. Sure, he had spotted large crowds outside, with fans decked out in jerseys and face paint, hyped for the game and the halftime show. But inside? Inside felt oddly still. Apart from a few personnel and security, most of the activity seemed to be concentrated on the field where preparations were still underway. It was strange, but he shrugged off the thought and kept moving.
Reaching a set of double doors, he hesitated for only a second before pushing them open, stepping into the luxurious private suite. The moment he entered, his eyes scanned the space, taking in the extravagant setup.
The suite was massive, almost like a mini-lounge designed to provide the ultimate VIP experience. Plush leather seats lined the space, arranged in a way that ensured every guest had a perfect view of the field. The front wall was entirely made of glass, offering a panoramic view of the stadium below, where event staff bustled around, setting up for the grand spectacle to come. A fully stocked bar sat in the corner, complete with high-end liquor, bottled water, and an array of snacks displayed on sleek glass counters. There was even a lounge area with couches so lavish they looked more suited for a five-star hotel than a football stadium.
A few large LED screens were mounted on the walls, undoubtedly meant to provide close-up views of the game and the performances later on. The entire space oozed exclusivity and comfort, a stark contrast to the electrifying chaos that would soon take over the stadium.
Just as he was finishing his assessment of the room, a familiar voice called out to him from the far end of the suite.
"Ethan, over here!"
He turned his head in the direction of the voice, spotting Hailie seated in a cozy-looking corner of the suite. She was lounging comfortably with three other girls, all of whom were smiling and chatting amongst themselves. The four of them looked completely at ease, lost in conversation until they noticed him.
Ethan nodded in acknowledgment, offering a small smirk as he started making his way toward them. His gaze briefly flickered over the other girls, but he didn't recognize any of them right away. Not that it mattered—right now, he was just glad to sit down, get comfortable, and maybe grab a drink to soothe his throat.
As he walked, he exhaled softly, already anticipating the hours ahead. The night was only getting started, and if the excitement buzzing in the air was any indication, the halftime show was going to be nothing short of legendary.
Ethan walked over to the group of girls, who were already giggling and exchanging knowing looks. As he approached, they subtly adjusted their seating, making room for him right in the middle. It was a move so synchronized that Ethan almost laughed. Instead, he just shook his head with an amused smile before taking the seat they had obviously reserved for him.
The moment he settled in, the chatter erupted.
"Oh my God, I can't believe we're sitting with Ethan Jones!" one of them gushed, practically bouncing in her seat.
"Yeah, this is insane! I was so bummed when I couldn't make it to your first tour show in L.A., but I did manage to go to your very first-ever concert," another one added, her eyes shining with excitement.
"I still can't believe I'm meeting you in person. Your music is everything to me," a third girl chimed in, hands clasped together as if she were witnessing a dream come true.
Then came the inevitable declaration of favorites. "Seven Years is my absolute favorite song of yours!" one of them exclaimed.
"No way, for me it's Blinding Light! That song is pure magic," another countered, shaking her head in emphasis.
Ethan chuckled, looking between them. "I appreciate that. It means a lot," he said sincerely.
Hailie, who had been listening with an amused expression, finally took charge. "Alright, let me introduce you properly before you guys overwhelm him," she teased before gesturing towards each of them in turn. "This is Olivia, the loudest one of the group, obviously."
Olivia, a girl with light brown hair in beachy waves, grinned unapologetically. "Guilty as charged," she admitted.
Hailie pointed to the next girl. "That's Sophia—she's the one who cried at your first concert."
Sophia, a petite girl with dark curly hair, groaned, covering her face. "Hailie! You didn't have to tell him that!"
Ethan smirked. "That's actually really sweet. I hope they were happy tears?"
Sophia peeked through her fingers before dropping her hands, nodding. "The happiest."
Hailie continued. "And this is Maddie, the one who's probably listened to Seven Years more times than you have."
Maddie, a blonde with piercing green eyes, nodded enthusiastically. "Not even ashamed."
"And finally, we have Vanessa," Hailie finished, pointing to the last girl, a tall brunette with a confident smile. "She's the one always making us late to places."
Vanessa flipped her hair dramatically. "Excuse me for wanting to look my best."
Ethan laughed, shaking his head at their dynamic. "You guys seem like a lot of fun."
Before he could say anything else, Olivia suddenly blurted out, "Can we take some pictures? I mean, we have to document this moment, right?"
As if on cue, the rest of the girls immediately agreed. "Yes! We need pictures!"
Hailie rolled her eyes but was already reaching for her phone. "You guys are embarrassing me," she muttered, though there was no real annoyance in her tone. She, too, wanted pictures, and Ethan could tell.
They all crowded in, snapping multiple photos from different angles. Vanessa, being the most camera-conscious, insisted on checking each one before moving on to the next.
Midway through their impromptu photoshoot, Maddie's phone rang. She glanced at the screen and quickly answered. "Oh, she's here," she announced after a brief pause. Into the phone, she said, "We're in the third suite. Yeah, yeah, just come in, we're all here."
As she ended the call, she looked at the group. "Sorry, that was my boyfriend and his sister. They're coming up now."
Ethan, feeling a slight curiosity about who they might be, casually turned his head towards the suite door when he heard it creak open.
The moment his eyes landed on the figures standing at the entrance, his entire body stiffened. His breath hitched slightly as he processed exactly who was standing there.
And then—
(You thought I was going to tell you, huh? LOL! It's been a while—enjoy the cliffhanger! 😂😂 Love you all, see you tomorrow! 😂😂😂)
I wrote this chapter before deciding to cut back on cliffhangers—the person is Billie Eilish, please don't come for me! 😆
If you'd like to read ahead, join my Patreon using the link below. You'll also find the color of Ethan's eyes there, along with the first chapters of two other books I plan to start—more chapters dropping soon! Thank you for your support! 🙌
patreon.com/David_Adetola