| The exit came up and they flew off 95. Eight more miles and they would be to the second Creed show. Jovi and Jacki's eyes were flying. "Where is it? Where is it?" Jovi was telling Jacki to watch while she drove. "Duuude, I am looking, I am looking." Jacki's nose was pressed to the glass. Soon she saw a small sign that said 'Amphitheater' and an arrow. "Straight ahead my friend." Jovi gave the car more gas. Soon, they came upon more cars all going the same place they were going. They parked and got out. The venue was in the middle of the fairgrounds there. It was a chilly evening, but was soon to get warmer. They walked in, Jacki hiding another camera, and went to find their seats. Jovi soon bumped into a guy that she works with at her internship. Jovi introduced Jacki to him and they chatted for a bit. He smiled and asked Jovi if she wanted to go backstage. Jovi's eyes popped out of her head. She asked about Jacki. Her friend smiled and got out two passes. Jacki felt an asthma attack coming on. Jacki cracked her pass and stuck it on her leg. Jovi was having problems getting hers to peel off. Jacki took it from her and got it on Jovi. Jovi's friend was almost running to the backstage area. Jacki and Jovi followed. They entered the VIP room and their eyes scanned the area. Jovi's friend basically dropped them off there. He chit chatted a bit, told them he had been playing Ping-Pong earlier with Mark and then Jovi's friend took off. When Jovi and Jacki heard that Mark had been there earlier, they looked at each other and smiled. They noticed Scottie Philips was sitting with someone chatting. He was the only band member in the room. Jacki noticed Hilaree and Jagger as well. The girls sort of hovered over by the food table. Scottie looked up and smiled at them. They plastered smiles on their faces as well. A woman came over to Scottie and asked him to meet someone. He smiled at them again and got up. Jovi and Jacki smiled back and giggled to each other. They looked around the room. A couple tables, assorted people, a ping pong table, crewmembers, and fans. They were not sure what they were doing there. Jacki noticed that Scottie was finishing up with the person he was talking to and turned as if he was going to come over to them. He started to walk and was tapped by a guy. He smiled AGAIN and stopped to talk to the guy. Jacki laughed. Jovi was keeping her eyes peeled for Tremonti. Scottie finished up with the guy and was caught by a crewmember. Jacki and Jovi just hung by the table. Soon, Scottie turned around and made his way over to them. "Hi guys. What's up. I'm Scott." The girls were stunned. He came to US!! Jacki and Jovi told Scott that they had been at Tampa the night before. He thanked them. Jacki told him that she had Scott Stapp sign a ticket from 3 years prior. Scott looked shocked. "Wow." They chatted with him for a while. "We were the chicks in the front with the glow sticks," Jovi said. Scottie smiled. "Oooh.. glow sticks." He did a funky hand motion and the girls both laughed. Jovi asked if they could get a picture. He said of course and they gave the camera to another person in the room. He put his arms around the girls. "Wow. You two are both taller than I am. This isn't fair." The girls laughed again. They got their picture and a hug each. He then signed Jovi's shirt and Jacki's concert ticket. He said goodbye and they did too. He wandered to the backstage area. Jovi and Jacki sat down and took a breath. ~~~~~~~~~~ After sitting for a while and letting their minds calm down, they started to wonder where Mark was. Brett had wandered out a couple times, but was busy with different people. They sat and chatted about Creed related things and then familiar strains of a song started to play. Jovi realized it was a Limp Bizkit song. They looked at each other and laughed. "How ironic, eh?" Jacki said. Jovi nodded and saw the guy who had been talking to Scottie earlier. He smiled at them and got something to drink. Jacki said to him, "So what's goin on?" "Not much. I have been around here for most of the afternoon. I interviewed Scott. I got to take some pictures." 'We are waiting for the guitarist to come out." "Oh, he is here. He'll be out, I am sure." Just as he said that, a tall dark-haired guitarist wandered out from the backstage area. "Well, there you go," He said, "Go get him." Jacki saw Mark first. Jovi noticed him and turned her head to say something to Jacki, but she was already out of her chair and halfway across the room to where Mark was headed. He was picking up a ping pong paddle. It took Jovi a moment to register that Jacki was gone, then got up and followed her. Jacki walked right up to Mark, smiled and started to talk. "Uhm, Mark?" "Yeah?" He looked her right in the eyes. "Hi. My name is Jacki. I wanted to stop you before you got away." He smiled at her. She kept talking. "We," She motioned to Jovi, "were at Tampa last night." "Oh. Hey. " "We were the two tall chicks in the front row with the glow sticks." Jovi added. "Wow. Hey. I remember you two. You guys are taller than from where you were behind the barricade." He smiled again. His eyes stayed right with whoever was talking. The girls laughed at what he said. "We just wanted to tell you how much your music means to us." Jacki said. She reached out and touched his arm. "I have wanted to tell you that WTLF means so much in my life. I really believe that it is one of the reasons that I am still on this earth." Mark looked genuinely interested. "Well, that is great. You know, that is why I do this. Thank you." "I flew in from Chicago for the shows." Jacki said. Mark was looking right at her. "Wow. My parents are up in Chicago right now." Mark added. "I am going to be going to the St. Louis show too." Jacki chimed in. Mark smiled at her. "Cool." He kept his eyes on whoever was talking, unless someone else talked to him. He then always brought his attention back to the two girls in front of him. "I should be at the Orlando show." Jovi said. "Really? That is gonna be a great show because we live there." Jacki and Jovi both thought, duh. They smiled and listened attentively. A silence settled over them. Jovi picked up a foot and said, "Wow, we're bonding. Adidas." Mark looked over at Jovi. He looked confused. "Our shoes are the same." She picked her foot up again. "Oh, heh, yeah. Mine are so old. I need to get a new pair." They all looked down at his shoes. Jovi looked up and smiled. "Can you sign my shirt?" Jovi asked Jacki for the pen. Mark saw Jovi's shirt and he laughed. "Boys Lie, huh?" He looked at Jacki and smiled. "Nice, huh?" Jacki said back. They shared a fun moment. Jovi turned and let him sign her sleeve. Jacki spoke up again. "Last night I had Scott sign a concert ticket that I have had for 3 years." He was surprised as well. "Cool." He signed Jovi's shirt and Jacki's concert ticket. Jovi lost her cool for a bit and went into big time fan mode. "You don't understand what this means to the two of us. This is something we thought would never happen." "That is cool. I appreciate this." Jacki smiled and watched him talking. He asked if they were going to be in the pit again. Jovi spoke up. "No, because we did not know about it. Is it for special people?" "No. It is for anyone." "We have seats. That sucks." He smiled at Jovi again, looking right at her. Jovi asked if they could get some pictures. |