• I looked in the mirror, examining my rocker facade. I just couldn’t decide what else I needed. Black lipstick, check. Heavy eyeliner, check. Grungy street clothes, check. Sleek shiny hair, not for this performance. I messed my hair into an emo-punk hairstyle and walked onto the stage. I settled into my position behind the drums as the lights dimmed. Caden smiled at me and went back to fine-tuning his bass.

    The red velvet curtain started to lift and I bowed my head down. Hushed whispered echoes through the audience and Jared hit a note, letting it echo throughout the room. The lights flickered and then I heard my cue and started to pound out my notes.

    I listened for the rest of the instruments and heard the deep soulful tones of the bass. Keira’s melodic voice was half screaming the lyrics we had created and I heard Jared start playing a solo that was too fast to count the beats. My palms grew hot as I plunged them down onto the drum again and again. My charcoal black hair fell in my eyes, but I didn’t bother to move it away; it added to the whole “grunge factor.”

    My head bobbed to the harsh beats pouring from the speakers. The neon lights flashed and pulsated, giving us a ghostly appearance and morphing the faces of those around me. I beat the drums harder, smirking at the sound coming from it. I felt invincible, I was invincible.

    My cues started to come faster and faster, getting more complex every time. The thrash echoed around the club, which fueled me to make more. I felt beads of sweat fall on my hands and I quickly wiped my forehead. Tonight was the best performance we had ever given.

    The green neon started to flash less often and I stopped, wiping my hands in preparation for my solo. The vocal’s quieted. The guitar stopped letting Jared look back at me. The bass slowed, keeping the beat to guide me. I sat back down and the spotlight finally centered directly on me.

    My hands seemed to be furious. The cymbal rang, cueing the guitar to join by playing a small quiet riff. For some reason, I started to jump up and down, moving to the rapid beat I was producing. The crowd began to cheer whistling and clapping. Keira came back in, shouting at random periods of time.
    I finished my solo and joined the regular rhythm again, sitting down in the process. The song was slowing now, Caden picking his way up the bass’s neck, morphing the song down another path. I, too, started to change the intensity of the sound I was creating and Keira followed suit. Her vocals became harmonious, matching her character and voice quality. Jared launched into a slow ballad, intertwining his notes with Keira’s singing.

    I stood up slowly, turning away from my drums. Neon green radiance showered over me and I arched my neck upward. My eyes glinted in the light, seeming to sparkle. Cutting off the neon, a white light illuminated my destination. A beautiful ebony piano. I almost skipped to it, stroking the stool’s plush green fabric. My fingers touched the keys and instantly moved to embark on my solo superior to all solos. I sighed as my eyes closed, listening to the music that erupted. So complex to play, yet so simple to hear.

    My eyes flickered open, wanting to see the awestruck faces of the audience. I smiled seeing their mouths wide open and their eyes hypnotized. I looked at my band mates, Caden automatically catching my eye. He winked, sending the blood running up my cheeks. I looked away, trying to remember what I was supposed to play next.

    I may not have remembered, but my fingers did. Strong and calloused, they curved to the exact keys and kept playing without my consent. I ached to stop, to relax my fingers, but it was worth the discomfort. The higher notes were now ricocheting around the room, my signal to end the piano. My fingers teetered on the final keys and I broke away, letting the finishing note hovering above everyone.

    I stood up, mascara and sweat running down my cheeks. I looked punk, but we all did. We were the opposite, though, making sure that we remembered our classical roots. The band started saying thank yous, so I walked up to center stage with them. We grabbed hands and bowed, smiling at all the praise we were receiving.

    Someone announced the club’s closing over the loud speaker and everyone started to file out. I sat back on the piano stool, watching the velvet curtain fall closed. I heard quiet footsteps approaching and son Caden’s arm was wrapped around my shoulders. He pulled me closer to him and I laid my head on his chest.

    “You never cease to amaze us.” He said, laughing. He kissed my forehead and I sighed. A happy sigh.
    “Ah, I don’t deserve all the credit. You were amazing too.” I added, speaking directly to him. I smirked and leaned up, kissing his cheek.

    “Let’s get home.” I said, yawning. It had been a long night, and home was a long while away. Caden nodded and pulled me up, towing me along with him. We entered to backstage prep area and were confronted by Jared.
    “Awesome job.” His eyes locked with mine, but I looked away. He never could get over me. He blushed and raked his hand through his brown hair. He sighed, obviously nervous about what he had to say.
    “Job didn’t pay as much as we expected.” He mumbled. Of course, it never does, I thought. Jared was apparently worried for us. He knew we needed the money most. Caden and I had no families to send us weekly allowances.
    “How much?” I questioned, holding my hand out. He took an envelope from his back pocket and grabbed a couple bills. Hundreds. He set the money delicately in my hand and I counted it. Three hundred. I motioned to Caden and me. He nodded. One-fifty each.

    “Great,” I sighed and clapped him on the shoulder. We started walking down the vibrant red hallway leaving Jared behind. Caden sighed heavily, worrying like I was. I stopped and grabbed my regular clothes and my make-up bag from the band‘s universal prep room.. I took Caden’s hand and we continued down the hall, heading for the brightly painted EXIT door.

    “I’ll call with the next rehearsal!” Jared yelled as we stepped outside. I was only half listening as he called something else, still focused on the money shortage. Three hundred dollars was not enough for two people. We had to pay bills, buy food, and gas.

    “I think we’ll be walking awhile.” Caden said as if reading my mind. I nodded and let my eyes wandered the still crowed parking lot. The street lights were mostly out and I couldn’t detect our car anywhere.

    “Do you remember where we parked?” I asked, shading my eyes.
    “Hey you drove, how should I know?” He laughed and pointed out a spot by a coffee place. Convenient, since he loved coffee. We clasped hand and jogged through the cold night towards the small 24 hour coffee shop. We entered the empty café and I waited by the quaint fireplace, trying to warm up. The cash register clanged and Caden was shortly by my side.

    “Let’s head to the car. The sooner we head off, the sooner we get home.” He sipped his coffee and placed a hand on my arm. I smiled and grabbed the keys out of my pocket.

    “Will you drive?” I asked, my eyes shutting. I was going downhill fast. The gig really tired me out, considering I had to play two solos.

    “Sure.” Caden grabbed the keys and pushed me out the door. I huddled into my jacket, wondering why the night was so cold. We walked the short distance from the shop to my car and by then I was thoroughly chilled. I opened the door to my old silver Volkswagen and climbed into the black leather seat. Caden started the engine and the light thrumming eased me into sleep.
    “How long until we get there?” I asked childishly, yawning.
    “An hour or two.” I heard him sip his coffee and put the car in drive. Even through my closed eyes, I could sense the blinding streetlights of the highway. I was keeping him from sleep, or relaxation anyway. I placed my hand in Caden’s and opened my eyes wanting to turn the radio on.

    “What song?” He asked, not recognizing the falsetto voice that was singing. I chuckled, remembering how many times we had listened to this song.

    “Super massive Black hole.” I said, my eyes drifting shut again.
    “Muse right? Your favorite?” Caden asked, already knowing the answer.
    “Mhm hmm.”I murmured. The song was capturing my attention, my hands beating along with the actual drummer. My eyes opened as the chorus sounded again and I went completely into a drumming rage. My fingers hit the dashboard and Caden took hold of them firmly.
    “You need sleep,” he stated, looking at my bagged eyes.
    “I-”
    “And we can’t afford for you to break the car.” He smirked nd that got me laughing. He let my fingers go and I sat back in my seat. My eyes closed and I let my mind wander into Dreamland.

    îîîîîîîîîîîîîîîîîîîîîîîîîîîîîîîîîîîî

    Cameras flashed, people were screaming, people was waiting to see me. Me. I smiled widely as the red carpet was rolled out and almost fainted as my glamed-up shoe touched it. My life was perfect. My music was fabulous. But where were the people I loved?

    íííííííííííííííííííííííííííííííííííí

    “Hey wake up, we’re home.” Caden’s soft voice sounded close and tired. I fluttered my eyelids open and soon his face came into view.

    “Hi,” I greeted him. My voice sounded lifeless, dull. I felt lifeless. He laughed and pulled me from the car. I looked at my surroundings, completely disoriented. The sun was already rising, filing the sky with pretty purples and oranges. Clouds scattered the sky and cast shadows on the pine trees in our front yard. Our building was dark, no one quite awake yet. I stretched, digging in my pocket for the flat key.
    “How long were we driving?” I asked trying to make conversation. I looked at Caden’s green eyes. They were tired. He tousled his cropped brown hair, adding to his whole “tired” look.

    “Hour or two?” He shrugged, yawning widely. He reached for my hand and we walked up the sidewalk to the door. I leaned heavily on him, wanting to go back to sleep.

    “You slept remember?” He mumbled wrapping his arm around my torso. He yawned again and I clicked the lock open, walking into the lobby.
    “Any mail?”Caden asked propping open the next door. I opened our sot and pulled out a few legal-looking envelopes.

    “Bill, junk, parent, bill.” I said in a monotone voice, stacking them under my arm. I heard him sigh as I walked into the open stairwell. I clumped up the stairs, fighting the drowsiness the whole way.