Page 47 of Broken Melody
She’s staring at me again. I’ve caught Sailor’s eyes on me a lot during the last week. Normally, I’d find this an unspoken invitation for some time between the sheets, but the look in Sailor’s eyes is anything but an invitation. It’s more like she’s looking into me, instead of just at me, trying to figure me out and waiting for me to do or say something. But what? I’ve considered asking her what the deal is a few times, but that would only start an argument that I’m not interested initiating. In fact, I’d prefer to avoid it like the plague. And she’s seemed different, softer, meeker. Truth is I miss the sassy Sailor like hell. Talk about sexy. Sailor riled up is a memory that comes in handy – especially when I need some…uh…stress relief.
We’re finished recording the songs for the album, other than the ones they want to record while we’re on tour. Rather than have all studio music, this time around they want to do a couple songs live, which is cool. Our first single comes out next week and we’re all pretty stoked about its release. We voted to release the single ‘Chaos’ first, a fast-paced song we anticipate will be played from dance club to dance club. It features both my and Sailor’s voices alone as well as some sweet harmony so people get a taste of the change, but can rest assured they’ll still hear some fantastic music and lyrics just like they’ve become accustomed. So new and old combined. We didn’t write this one, it was written for us with the intent of featuring Sailor and me in mind. However, there are plenty of new songs that we did write and they will be part of the album too. In my opinion, we outdid ourselves with this album and I’m quite proud of it. It’s different for us, a new sound. Perhaps, as much as I hate to admit it, the label was right about what we needed after all. We haven’t lost anything and all seem to becoming the best of ourselves in this new arrangement.
“No! You’re not paying attention. For this number, you need to stand here Maddox. Your place marker is this x on the floor, do you see it?” Ronnie, our tour choreographer is yelling at me and I guess I can’t blame him. My thoughts have been wandering since we started this morning. Which already seems like a long time ago.
“Yeah, I see it. Got it.”
“Then get yourself over there five seconds before ‘Wound Up’ begins, not one note after.”
“Yes, sir,” I respond and when he turns his back I salute. Out of the corner of my eyes, I see Sailor stifle a laugh, so I turn to her and wink, loving it when her smile widens.
“Then Sailor, when you reach the second stanza you’ll walk across the stage to your marker here, next to Maddox’s, so you can share the microphone for the chorus.”
“Sounds good,” Sailor says chirpily and I roll my eyes at her making her giggle.
“Something funny about this that I’m missing, Mr. Colt?” Ronnie asks in exasperation.
“No sir, sorry sir,” I say and everyone, except Ronnie snorts and unsuccessfully tries to cover a laugh.
“Alright. Then the two of you do whatever you want to do at this point, but dance near one another, please. The shooting fireworks occur during the next song, so I’ll need you to each be back to your positions here,” Ron shows us, “by the time this song is over and the next one begins. Then we’ll slow it down after that. Understand?”
We nod our heads. Ron’s great and I understand why we need a choreographer, we don’t want to trip over each other or look like toddlers trying to play soccer, but we aren’t a boy band, or Justin Bieber, so there aren’t coordinated dance moves going on. Typically, it’s actually cool; we just let our music guide us on how we wish to express ourselves on stage and other than knowing where to be at certain times for effects, anything goes. We haven’t had issues or negative feedback in the past on our stage presentation and I don’t foresee that happening now. Sailor doesn’t seem to have difficulty knowing how to move - not one single bit. But I get the intent and am being as cooperative as I can. I suppose it does make for a less complicated and more light-hearted, tour practice though, even at Ronnie’s expense at times.
“Alright, let’s run through the very beginning where you’ll appear on stage and start right into ‘Chaos’, okay?”
Like good little rock stars we move off the stage and go down the stairs until we are directly below the stage. There are lifts that will bring us stage-level at our scheduled time. The drums start first, then the keyboard, then the guitar. I only sing for this song with Sailor, no instrument for me. I sing the first verse alone and then she joins me for the next. It’s all done by design because the label is pushing Sailor’s addition to our band hard. They want her to come up on stage last, full on stage lighting hitting her, while she sings her initial solo. It’s the perfect introduction to Sailor and her voice.
“I have to admit I’m pretty stoked about this,” Nixon says.
“Me too,” I add with a smile.
“Yeah?” Sailor asks me with a curious look on her face.
“Yep. I can’t wait to see what everyone’s reaction is to your entrance on stage. I think it’s going to be great,” I tell her honestly and when she smiles wide at me, my pulse picks up speed and I vow to make her do that more often – she’s even more stunning.
“I’m excited,” she says jumping around a little bit on her feet and it makes her look adorable. Not that she needs help. She’s got her hair in a bun on top of her head today and she’s wearing minimal makeup. Her natural beauty is completely attention grabbing – she doesn’t need any paint or fancy clothes to make her attractive. In fact, I think I prefer her like this. “So what should I expect later?” she asks and it makes me realize I’m staring at her.
“Later?”
“Yes, during the photo shoot.”
“Oh,” I shrug, “Nothing special.”
“Oh come on, give me more than that.”
“Well, they’ll have wardrobe ready to go and generally we talk out the vision for the cover ahead of time, but since we’re doing a group photo to showcase you there wasn’t really a vision to talk out with this one. We deferred the decision to the label since they want control of these things… because….you know….”
“Because adding me was their idea and not yours?”
“Well yes,” I tell her feeling awkward. “But also because they are controlling this album’s release because of all…the most recent drama lately.” I sigh. “Honestly, the photo shoots aren’t that big of a deal. Usually it’s us standing around looking like a bunch of pretentious douche bags while we smile and pose for a few hours.” She laughs and I smile. “We may have a wardrobe change or two and we’ll just do what they ask until they get the ‘perfect shot’. Then we’re out of there.”
“Cool. I’m a little nervous. I’m not really a fan of getting my picture taken,” she grimaces.
“I’ve gotta tell ya, songbird, you’re going to have to start getting used to that.” She knows I’m right. The label has managed to keep Sailor’s identity and addition to the band under wraps so far, but no doubt she’s already causing a buzz with photographers wondering what she’s doing around us. They’ve already captured photos of us going in and out of the studio and the arena. Most of the rags have decided that she’s the girlfriend of one of us, but haven’t fully agreed on which one.
“He’s right,” Nixon says. “You being part of the band is going to hit the interwebs in a big way here soon.”
“They aren’t wrong,” Rocco says. “You heard that the label is sending out a press release tomorrow, right?” She nods. “They want to announce your addition. To them, it’s all about the timing.”
