Starlit | BxB

Sage Saturn sat nervously on a leather red arm chair as bright lights filled his pale green eyes practically blinding him, the 18 year old singer leant back trying to shield himself from the harsh LED lights as theme music blared out around him along with audience applause, mostly canned.

“Welcome to the Joanne Evans show!” The woman beside him, Joanne Evans, broadcasted loudly which resulted in even more applause. “Joining me today is the one and only Sage Saturn!” She grinned over at him warmly and Sage smiled back giving the cameras a shy wave, he was still getting used to this whole being famous fiasco.

“Thanks for having me” Sage answered calmly, his voice echoing around the studio.

“If you haven’t heard of Sage before, where the hell have you been?” Joanne told the cameras earning some genuine chuckles this time from the small audience. “He’s charted more times than I can count, that might be because I can’t count. He’s had more number 1 hits than I’ve had sick days, they don’t let me take them. And he’s got over 10 million followers on TikTok, that’s more than the population of Scotland and Wales combined! Sage could start his own United Kingdom” She joked each quip earning canned laughter from the editors along with occasional chuckles from the in house audience.

“I don’t think I’ll be doing that” Sage commented still plastering a smile on his face.

“Here’s what I want to know. You, let’s talk about you Sage, how did you get here? You’re so youthful. How did you get so big so fast!” Joanne asked curiously as the camera panned back to Sage.

Sage gulped nervously, despite being one of Britain’s biggest pop sensations now. He still wasn’t the most keen on attention. “Well, I just made music. I did what I loved and other people seem to like it too” Sage answered softly, his quiet voice only being audible due to the mic he was connected to. He ran a hand through his luscious brown curls which made Joanne snicker.

“And you’re saying sex appeal had nothing to do with it?” She joked making Sage let out a forced chuckle. “You’re smoking hot, you’ve got a voice that no one can get bored of, no wonder everyone loves you!”

This comment resulted in loud cheering and applause from the audience, Sage glanced nervously at the faces before looking away hastily. “What drove you to write and sing, I mean some of your songs are pretty deep. Christmas Lights is one of the most raw songs I’ve ever heard in my life” Joanne said referencing one of Sage’s biggest hits. “Did those lyrics come from a personal place?”

Sage nodded hesitating before replying. “They did Joanne, when I was 11 my dad walked out on us, me and my Mum. I still don’t know why, sometimes I blame myself. Wonder if I was a bad kid or something, it really affected me growing up as you can imagine” A chorus of sympathetic noises rang through the audience as Joanne nodded along.

“That must’ve been so difficult for you not knowing what even happened, was this after your autism diagnosis?” Joanne questioned her voice gaining a gentler edge than it had before.

“No, that happened soon after. I think it made things a bit easier for me though. Having a name to put to the face of why I always felt so different” Sage explained quietly, in reality there was so many reasons he felt different. Being autistic wasn’t even close to the top of the list, in fact he wouldn’t have even thought it was weird had other people not cruelly told him otherwise. Being gay and extremely depressed were two of the biggest factors which made Sage Saturn unable to sleep at night, but as he glanced out at the dimly lit audience, he knew he could never admit any of it publicly.

“How does being on the spectrum shape your music? I must say, it’s good to see such positive neurodivergent representation” Joanne queried curiously her last remark gaining applause.

“I think having autism can often be seen as a bad thing, like we lack empathy and can’t function properly. But I think it’s the opposite, to me having autism means I see the world through a different lens to other people so to speak. Which I think is very evident in my music” Sage told her nodding his head.

“Relationships. Let’s hear it. There have been rumours swirling the web that you are secretly dating so many of the famous pop girlies! Spill the beans for us Sage, are you still available? Asking for a friend...” Joanne questioned changing the subject.

Sage shifted uncomfortable on his seat not making eye contact. “No no, I’m single” He answered. A chorus of loud cheers and wolf whistles came from the crowd in response to his words which Sage quickly laughed off blushing bright red.

“Let’s not discount the boys, have you ever thought about that? Have your gay or bi fans got any chance? Still just asking for a friend of course” Joanne teasingly probed her eyebrows bouncing up and down mischievously. Sage felt himself go numb as he processed what she’d said, did she know? Surely not? What if everyone knew? What if the entire crowd had just figured him out?

“No!” He blurted out defensively, raising his voice. Joanne paused a second stopping laughing as they remained in an awkward silence before she quickly recovered continuing the interview, veering away from the topic of love after Sage’s unexpected outburst.

“Let’s talk about your new single, Sandcastles. I know we all love a good day out at the beach, but why sandcastles specifically? Why not say, surfing, or sunbathing, sunbathing with a piña colada! That’d be my song title” She quipped before turning to Sage to let him answer.

“It’s nothing to do with the beach actually” Sage answered before realising Joanne was being sarcastic. “Which you obviously knew, duh” he quickly added, his cheeks flushing red again as the crowd laughed, Joanne smiled nodding her head as he continued.

“It’s more about my teenage years and my life after dad walked out, with sandcastles being used as a metaphor” He informed her earning a round of sympathetic applause. The lyrics also had deeper meaning to them which no one else would understand without knowing Sage’s sexuality struggles or his inner demons he and to fight day in and day out.

“So far you’ve gotten a number one hit with your songs Dreamland, The Ticket and Late Nights, do you think Sandcastles might join that exclusive club?” Joanne asked bouncily.

“Maybe, only time will tell I guess” Sage answered with a shrug. He was ready to leave now. His social battery was practically dead at this point, luckily for him soon enough it was time to leave, however he still had one more thing to do.

“Before we let you go Sage, I want to say how lovely it’s been having you on my show! So let’s give it up, singing his new single live for the very first time, Sage Saturn with Sandcastles!” She shouted followed by applause, Sage stood up strolling slowly over to the mic stand as the music began. He sang softly, the quiet melodies filled with raw emotion as the words came out. The audience went silent listening intently as Sage sung.

His voice was truly like liquid gold, the live cut of any his songs was always just as good as in studio, sometimes even better. Sage Saturn was a one of a kind artist, a rarity amongst the autotune, plastic messes of the current top 50.

After his performance Sage bowed to the audience as they applauded him. He then embraced with Joanne who thanked him again before walking off set back into his dressing room.

Inside was a small woman, she sported a smart black pony tail, purple lipstick and a striking jet black dress, matched with dark heels and even darker tights. She was lazing around on the small sofa, impatiently scrolling on her phone.

“Hey Poppy” Sage whispered collapsing beside her and sighing heavily.

“Hey babes” Poppy replied putting her phone down and sitting up. Poppy was Sage’s go too for anything. She was his best friend and his personal assistant. She knew more about him than even he did. “You were very... inconspicuous” she commented.

“I know, I panicked. It took me completely off guard her asking about boys” Sage answered with another heavy sigh, the weight of what had happened eating up at him.

“I could tell” She shot back. “I say if the shoe fits wear it. You have nothing to be ashamed of Sage. Being gay isn’t a choice, and even if it was it would still be a slay” She told him shrugging.

“I guess, but you know what my label would say” Sage reminded her sadly.

“They’re a bunch of archaic fossils from the late homophobic era, their opinions don’t matter. They’ll probably have passed away within 1-5 working days anyway” She replied smirking. Sage giggled at this, not a fake laugh like he did on set, a genuine laugh. Poppy always knew how to cheer him up.

“Right, let’s go get Starbucks. I’m dying for a latte” She ordered jumping to her feet. Sage got up quickly, collecting his things then beginning to walk out of the dressing room, however before he made it to the door Poppy stopped him.

She wrapped her arms around his skinny frame comfortingly. “Whatever they say, it doesn’t matter. You should be proud of who you are darling, okay?” She told him sternly. Sage just nodded forcing a smile onto his face to reassure her whilst simultaneously holding back the tears that threatened to fall. Poppy sent a warm grin back at him before leading the way out of the confining dressing room.