There was a low hum inside the lounge, but it was a lot quieter than outside at the gate. Annie sat in a plush recliner that overlooked the Rocky Mountains. She loved Denver and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. Where did Bristol live? Somebody that rich and famous probably had a half a dozen places around the world. Bristol was so admirable. She was everything Annie aspired to be. Annie had seen videos of people crying because she talked to them or took photographs with them. Maybe that was a bit much, but with success came sacrifice, and millions of dollars to live alone in a large mansion didn’t sound half bad. She would set up a whole wing in her make-believe mansion for her jam room and invite musicians she met along the way to come over and jam with her. She was Annie Foster, after all. Nobody would turn her down.

“Boarding for Flight 568 nonstop to Salt Lake City will begin shortly.”

The announcement pushed Annie out of her fantasy. She grabbed her messenger bag and guitar and made her way down the lounge stairs and to the gate. Being first in line was nice. She asked one of the flight attendants if she could store her guitar in the upright closet behind the pilots. The flight attendant acted perturbed, so she named-dropped. “I’m opening for Bristol Baines in Salt Lake City tonight, and as much as I trust the airline, I couldn’t check my baby.” She patted her hard case lovingly. Surprise registered on the attendant’s face, and she immediately opened the closet and allowed Annie to slide her case under the pilots’ jackets.

“Thank you. I’m Annie Foster, by the way.”

“I’m Irene. If you need anything, please let me know.”

Irene returned with a Coke and a Clif bar, per Annie’s request. She wasn’t hungry but knew that protein bar would come in handy being on the road and slipped it into her bag. She put in her AirPods and scrolled through Instagram. It was time for a social media update. She quickly looked around for privacy and recorded a ten-second video to post.

“It’s Annie Foster. I’m on a plane getting ready to join Bristol Baines on her Angel/Devil Tour. I’m so excited. Check out her tour dates, and I’ll see you on the road.” She finished just as the passenger next to her put her bag in the overhead and plopped down on the seat. Annie gave her a smile and shuffled so she was closer to the window. The woman’s musky perfume overpowered their small space and was starting to give Annie a headache. This was going to be the longest ninety minutes of her life.

* * *

She walked over to the man holding an iPad with her name displayed. “Hi. I’m Annie.”

“Right this way, Ms. Foster.”