“Mine is the opposite of these guys, one more of rebellion. I come from a long line of scientists like the kind that will bore you to tears if you’re dumb enough to strike up a conversation with them. My dad wanted me to go to college and follow in his footsteps. That shit wasn’t for me. I got into guitar playing as more a way to piss him off really, which was beyond shitty because my parents still supported me through all the crap I gave them. They’ve come to many of our local gigs. Once I got the bug and found the guitar to be my outlet like Rhone had, it all just clicked.”
“Great stories. Music is a musician’s life blood. Either you’re born with the gift or you’re not. Your management team sent a couple demo songs that we’ve been playing and getting some awesome feedback from the listeners on. Hey, all you crazy fuckers out there in the blistering sun,” he called out to the fans on the floor. All four of our heads turned eyeing the wall to wall faces staring back at us. “Wanna hear some ETF?”
They screamed as one — for us. They wanted to hear us. I had no idea Octane had been playing our songs. I’d barely been listening to the radio with everything that’s been going on. Our life has been one giant rollercoaster ride since we left Vegas.
“Alright, calm the fuck down. Let’s play this track, it’s called “Forsaken.”” the crowd cheered when the opening riffs played. This would be the first time we would hear one of our songs played while we sat back and listened to it in front of anyone other than ourselves. This was nothing like a YouTube viewing. This was a live fucking listening with a live fucking crowd hearing it. A home crowd at that.
It was hard to sit there and not bang it out like I would if I were behind my drums. What was even more surprising was when it got to the chorus, the crowd sang along.
All this pain, all this hate
How can you claim to know my fate?
I can’t take this shit no more
I know I’ve said it before
But this time, my ass is out the door
I didn’t choose this life
It was chosen for me
As fucked up as it may seem
It’s what defines me
Chorus:
Listen to what I say
I’m a puppet you played
Tattered, torn, abused by you
Left exposed for all to view
What did I ever do to you?
Why have you Forsaken me?
You left me to die
Cast me aside
Leaving me alone, without pride
Fool me once, shame on you
Do it twice, ha-ha, I’m nobody’s fool
As time went by
Memories of you faded
Long since forgotten
As it should’ve been
Chorus:
Listen to what I say
I’m a puppet you played
Tattered, torn, abused by you
Left exposed for all to view
What did I ever do to you?
Why have you Forsaken me?
You’ve got some nerve
Showing your face again
You’ve got no place in my life
You’ll fuck with me no more
Once forgotten
Once forsaken
This Phoenix persevered
Paving a new life
Paving a new way
Leading me further away from you
Forsaken I will be, no more…
When the song ended and the crowd died down, Jose dove back in, “So guys, how was that?”
“Fucking awesome!” I yelled, throwing horns in the air and watched as the crowd raised them back.
“Ha-ha, great song. Can’t wait to get my hands on the CD to play for you guys. Do you know when it will be released?” he asked.
“Not yet, we go straight from here to the studio so probably sometime early next year,” Chase told him.
“Right on. Well, I, for one, am looking forward to your performance tomorrow night. Any band bunnies touring with you guys?” he asked us.
“Nah man, nothing like that,” Selzter said. “Although this one…” He nudged my shoulder. “Has his radar set on a hot little blond chef.”
“Nice,” Jose replied. “She needs to hook your friends up with hers.”
“He,” I said without thinking.
“Oh, right on man. He’s a lucky man to be a part of this. You guys are gonna climb your way to the top in no time, I can see it already. Alright metal heads, this is Jose Mangin. I’m gonna leave you with another Embrace the Fear track to get you amped up for their performance tomorrow night.”
Once everything was shut down and we were off the air, he thanked us again. The dude was cool as fuck, but I was still star struck over this. Security walked us back to our trailer and not a word was spoken between the four of us. I think we were all shell shocked.
I stood outside the tent, behind the stage and listened to Rhone’s group interview over the PA system. A big crowd had formed in front of them and while the song of theirs they played wasn’t one I normally would’ve went for, I did have to say by the middle of it I found myself moving to the beat while I cooked.
“You wouldn’t happen to be the hot little blond they spoke of, would you?” Jordan asked, scaring the shit out of me. This time the embarrassment was like tenfold, setting my cheeks on fire.
“Um, yeah. I think so,” reluctantly, I admitted. Instantly feeling like I was about to let down the only person in my life whose opinion really mattered.
“Just be careful, Ely. I don’t want you to get hurt,” he said, then walked away.
My heart fell and I felt like such a fool. Not a second later, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I knew it was Rhone.
Rhone: Did you listen to our interview?
I couldn’t help the smile on my face, I only hoped he wouldn’t make me regret taking the chance I was with him.
Me: I did, you guys were great. So, who’s the lucky blond?
Rhone: I was hoping it was you.
I had a feeling he was gonna say that, but I wasn’t so sure I was comfortable being cast out into the limelight. I had too much at stake.
Rhone: We’ve got a photoshoot now. I’ll see you later.
Tucking my phone away, I got back to the job I was being paid to do. This wasn’t a vacation for me and I wasn’t getting compensated for flirting with Rockstar’s. I really needed to get a grip almost as much as I needed to find out where Rhone thought this was going. If sex was all he wanted, then I had no choice but to put a stop to it now. I know how I am and with as charming, and handsome as Rhone is, it will be no time before I’m head over heels stupid for him. I couldn’t afford for him to break me. It took me too long to find myself after being lost for so long. Nor did I want to be the one to hold him back when his life in the spotlight was just gaining footing.
By four pm, every tent was packed, and the last of the buses were lined up for miles to get in. Seemed the remaining groups and their entourages had arrived, now the fun would really begin. The freezer trucks were stocked and ready to go. Jordan had a large order delivered earlier this morning with another scheduled for tomorrow as well. Meals were prepped and waiting in the chaffing dishes. As one emptied, another would immediately replace it. Our goal was to have zero empty dishes on the buffet tables. The tents were at capacity and even with the fans running, I was sweating like mad.