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The backstage air felt thick with cigarette smoke and the lingering pulse of the show. The faint hum of amplifiers still buzzed beneath the surface, as if the music didn’t want to let go just yet. Lenore stood near the edge of the dressing room hallway, pretending to be fascinated by the peeling wallpaper, but really she was just stalling.
Eric Burdon's voice drifted through the open door. Low, gravelly, and unmistakable. He laughed at something, and for a moment, the sound felt louder than the encore that had rattled the walls just minutes ago.
Lenore wasn't sure how she had ended up back here. Maybe it was the way she lingered by the stage too long, or how she caught the attention of one of the roadies who, with a knowing glance, waved her through. Either way, now she was leaning against the wall of a backstage club, rehearsing excuses to justify her presence.
Before Lenore could settle on one, he appeared in the doorway, a half-smoked cigarette tucked between his fingers. He wasn’t as tall as she had expected, but the way he carried himself filled the space. The lights hanging low over the vanity cast shadows across his face, sharp but soft around the edges.
He noticed her immediately.
“You look lost,” Eric said, eyes narrowing slightly in curiosity.
Lenore smiled, shifting your weight from one foot to the other. “I guess I am.”
His gaze lingered for a moment longer, as if he were trying to place her, but there was no urgency in his expression. He took a drag from his cigarette and leaned casually against the doorframe.
“Some people get lost on purpose,” he mused. “How did you end up here?”
She wasn't sure how to answer, so she just shrugged. “Maybe. The music was good tonight.”
That made him grin. “Was it? I’m never sure from up there.”
Lenore glanced toward the stage, now dim and empty. “It was very good,”
Eric looked at her carefully then, the kind of look that dug just beneath the surface but didn’t make her uncomfortable. Finally, he nodded toward the room behind him.
“Come in for a bit. I don’t bite.”
She hesitated, but the warmth in his voice eased the weight in her chest.
The room was small, cluttered with half-empty glasses and worn-out chairs. The rest of the band was scattered around, laughing and talking like the night could stretch on forever. Eric took a seat by the corner, strumming an unplugged guitar idly, and gestured for her to sit across from him.
“You a fan of us?” he asked, tilting his head.
“I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.”
He chuckled softly, eyes gleaming beneath dark curls. “Good answer.”
He plucked a few soft notes on the guitar, letting the sound settle between them before glancing up. “What’s your name?”
“Lenore.”
Eric raised his brows slightly, a spark of interest flickering in his expression. “Lenore?” He said, long, drawn out, adding charms to her name that she didn't know could exist. “That’s not one you hear much these days.”
She smiled faintly. “It was my grandmother’s name.”
“I like it,” he said, testing the name again as if tasting it. “It suits you. There’s something… classic about it.”
Lenore felt the warmth creep up her neck but kept her gaze steady. “Thanks. I guess I’ve always thought it was a little out of place.”
Eric leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees. “Out of place isn’t a bad thing. Most people spend their whole lives trying to stand out. Maybe you’ve got a head start.”
She laughed softly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Maybe.”
As he strummed lazily on the guitar, she tilted her head, watching his hands move over the strings. “You know,” she started with a playful smirk, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you actually play anything on stage. Just that harmonica sometimes. Why is that?”
Eric chuckled, setting the guitar down beside him. “I leave the playing to the professionals. My voice is my instrument.”
Lenore grinned. “Well, I guess if you had to pick one, that’s a pretty good choice. It’s kind of hard to top that.”
He glanced at her, a flicker of something sheepish crossing his face as he shifted slightly in his seat. “Yeah, well… it does the job.”
“Oh, come on,” she teased. “You know that voice of yours could probably get away with murder.”
Eric laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
His grin softened, and for a moment, he just looked at her, the tension melting into something lighter. “I like you, Lenore. You’re not afraid to say what’s on your mind.”
“I figure someone’s got to keep you humble.”
Eric raised his cigarette and handed it to her. “To stay humble, then.”
Lenore smiled and waved her hands “Sorry, I don’t do… that”
He looked at the joint, her, then smiled as he pulled away “Good girl,” Eric took a drag then blew smoke to his side to avoid her face “Bad habit to get into,”
He raised an eyebrow and smirked at their situation “Do you actually listen to us?”
“What do you mean?”
Eric let out a small chuckle and took another drag from his cigarette “I don’t believe I have ever interacted with a fan without feeling.. threatened.”
Lenore smiled “is it crushing your ego?”
“A bit.” he smiled back. The space between them filled with easy laughter and the comfortable hum of connection. Eric could not remember the last time he was able to have a light conversation with a listener. Or without feeling like every response was being recorded by the press.
Lenore took a deep breath, feeling as though she was going to melt in her place if they continued talking like this, “If I can honest, I will admit, I am a little–”
Eric raised his brows and leaned a little closer. Her smile softened “I am feeling starstruck, hope I’m keeping it together well enough.”
Eric smirked, sensing the shift in her tone. He grabbed his guitar again, his fingers strumming softly as he hummed a few notes, clearly letting an idea form in his mind. His voice dropped into a playful, almost theatrical tone, as he started to make up a song, eyes twinkling with devilry.
"Lenore, oh Lenore,” he sang quietly as he started strumming the same chord lightly, as he was trying to think of the next lyric. He whispered the same line again, thinking, "Lenore, oh Lenore…” He continued.
"what are you doing?" she laughed. he pouted his lips to shush her and continued to strum his guitar.
“you're the one I adore,” Eric smiled as he found a word that rhymes with her name. He continued plucking the strings with his fingers in a running motion.
“I met you backstage, thought you were just a dream,” Lenore smiled sheepishly at his spontaneous choice of words. He looked down at her and smirked, coming up with more for Lenore’s song.
“But now I am stuck in your smile, as it seems."
He paused to glance up at her, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. Lenore let out a surprised laugh, her eyes wide. Eric winked humorously and continued, the absurdity of the lines easing the tension. Soon, the lines started coming to him like water and he couldn’t stop once they came.
"Lenore, oh Lenore, you’ve got me on my knees,
With your name, you're a flame, and I'm burning with ease.
You’ve got me feeling like I’m walking on a breeze."
He paused again, this time giving a playful shrug. "How’s that? On a breeze? Too corny for you?" His fingers lazily plucked a few notes before he sang the last line, making it extra dramatic.
"So, Lenore, oh Lenore, won’t you stay a bit more,
And let me serenade you, before I hit the floor."
Lenore burst out laughing, her cheeks flushing a little as she tried to catch her breath. “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard,” she said between giggles.
Eric grinned, satisfied with the reaction. “Really? I was thinking of making an album out of it,” he teased, leaning back in his chair as he continued mindlessly strumming.
She smiled, shaking her head. “I think you’ve got a future in this, Eric.”
Eric pretended to have a sudden epiphany and titled his head, “in songwriting? Maybe I do,”
Just as Lenore was about to speak, the door to the dressing room flew open, and one of the roadies stepped in, quickly scanning the room. "Eric, we're leaving in five. Got to hit the road if we want to make it to tomorrow's gig."
Eric gave a half-nod, a flicker of frustration crossing his face before he looked back at Lenore, softening his gaze. “Guess that’s my cue.” He paused, almost like he wanted to say something more, but the words hung in the air between them. The hum of the evening seemed to fall back into place, and the moment felt fleeting.
Lenore stood up abruptly, suddenly aware of the time. “Yeah, sorry, I should get going too,” she said back, wishing she was still sitting across from Eric. She would give anything to not leave their small space together.
Eric leaned forward, his fingers resting on the guitar, his gaze lingering on her. There was a hesitation in his look, as if he wasn’t sure how to finish their conversation, if he wanted to at all.
She turned toward the door, offering him a small, knowing smile. "Thanks for the song, Eric. It’ll probably be the highlight of my night."
There was a beat of silence before she reached the doorframe, turning back to look at him one last time. Eric's eyes followed her, the softness in his gaze not lost on her. For a split second, their eyes locked, and she felt the subtle weight of something unspoken between them. It made her pause, just for a moment, before she stepped out into the hallway, the buzz of the club muffling the last of their conversation.
As she walked away, her pulse quickened. She wasn’t sure if it was the song or the way Eric had looked at her, but something about the night felt different now. Like she had left with more than just the memory of a backstage encounter.