Page 48 of Broken Melody
“Yep,” I interrupt. Since when was this a group conversation anyway? She was talking to me. “It’s all about the timing to them. They want to build up curiosity immediately before our single drops next week. They even decided not to have us do a video for the new song, choosing instead to have this photo shoot and lettingRolling Stone Magazinerelease the story as a last minute online announcement instead.”
“Jace mentioned that, but I guess I didn’t realize that it was related to my joining.” We all nod at her confirming that’s exactly what it is. “It all feels pretty crazy,” Sailor says with a shake of her head.
“I don’t want to say that you’ll get used to it, because I don’t know if that ever happens, but I promise it will get easier,” Henley says kindly patting her on the shoulder making me frown. He catches my look and winks. I briefly consider tackling him to the floor and punching him but the thought is interrupted by a yelling voice.
“Alright, are you guys in position?” Ronnie bellows down to us and we all scatter to our designated spots guiltily.
“We’re ready,” Rocco yells back.
“Alright, here we go,” Ronnie replies.
We wait for our cues and we watch as Rocco rises to the stage first. The curtain is supposed to open and the spotlight will go on him and the drums as he plays the first notes of ‘Chaos’. We can hear his beats begin, and then Nixon’s being lifted and will join on the keyboard. We can hear his quick fingers moving over the keys adding to the fast beat and in no time Henley’s on his way to join them. Moments later the guitar begins.
“Ready?” I ask Sailor.
“As I’ll ever be,” she says. “See you on stage.”
“Yes, you will,” I tell her and wink on my way up. After a couple beats I grab the microphone and start singing about how love creates chaos on the body, heart and soul. When it’s time for the second verse, Sailor seems to magically appear about ten feet away and takes the microphone to sing her verse. I couldn’t take my eyes off her if I wanted to. The way the light shines on her, she almost looks angelic. I’ve had a few weeks to listen to her sing, to enjoy it as her notes make love to the melodies of all of our songs, but I’m not even close to tiring of hearing her. She’s definitely a natural…amazing, and her voice and very being captivate and move me in a way I haven’t felt in a long time. I’ve been trying to deny it, but it’s pointless. Problem is we seem to have a love hate relationship half of the time. And despite desires to the contrary, she’s only acted like a fellow band member.
When it’s time for me to join her in song I do. Our voices rise together and it’s almost as if I can see them wrap around each other embracing and becoming one. Fate had to bring us together because no two voices could be meant to sing together more than ours. I glance back at the guys and see the same looks on their faces that I know I’m sporting as they watch Sailor determining how she does on our first run through. When we are supposed to move to our second markers, we do so flawlessly and as instructed, instead of facing the crowd, we face each other and sing. The words come out of my mouth automatically, effortlessly, long since memorized, but they become anew singing them with her. I see the sparkle and excitement in her eyes, the curve of a smile on her lips as she sings, and I watch the way her body can’t help but move to the song and I know my body responds instinctively to her. Additionally, once again I recognize I am not merely singing with her, but some of the lyrics, to her - and that realization scares the shit out of me.
When the song is over, she and I hold each other’s gaze a few beats longer than necessary and completely miss the cue to move to our next locations. It isn’t until Nixon says, “That was fucking amazing!” into the microphone that we look away and laugh.
“Yeah, hilarious. Love the way you completely missed your prompts and movements,” Ronnie says sarcastically.
I look at Sailor and mimic Ronnie, “Yeah, hilarious,” and she bursts out laughing.
“Alright, that’s it. Get out of here. You have a photo shoot to get to thank baby Jesus because I don’t want to see your ridiculous faces,” Ronnie says and we all chuckle to ourselves as we leave. “They just buzzed me that your ride is here.”
When we walk out of the back of the building, the limo that will take us to our shoot is sitting curbside. We all pile inside amidst photographers yelling our names, but pre-arranged fencing barriers keeps them far enough away that it’s easy to ignore them. “Jace, hey,” I say when we’re inside and see Jace sitting there. I’m surprised when I see Rick at his side. That is…unexpected. “Hi, Rick,” I nod and he smiles.
“Hey guys, how was the rest of the rehearsal?” Jace asks. He had stayed for only a brief time, having left earlier to make sure everything was set for our photo shoot and to answer any questions or issues that may have arisen.
“It was good. Ronnie yelled at us like always. But Sailor kicked ass,” Henley says taking a water out of the refrigerator and passing one out to all of us.
“I’m sorry I missed that,” Rick says, “Good to hear, though not surprising. I’m expecting great things from you based on what I’ve heard so far. How did it feel Sailor?”
She takes a moment to respond, twisting off the cap of her water and taking a long drink first. “It was pretty amazing, I’m not going to lie. I can’t get over how big the arena is. I mean, I’ve attended concerts here before, it’s just-”
“It looks completely different from the stage, yeah?” Rocco asks with a smile.
“Yeah. It’s crazy.”
“What’s crazy is that every single seat will be filled,” Jace says sliding next to her – a little too closely in my opinion. I realize a frown has possessed my face.
“Every single one?” She asks her eyes wide.
“Yep,” he says.
“Shut up, Jace or she’s going to turn even whiter,” I reply grumpily.
“No, it’s fine. I’m fine. It’s just…this is mind blowing.”
Jace and Rick continue to ask us questions about the rehearsal, but I only have eyes and thoughts for Sailor. I’d like to spend some one on one time with her. Every single time I intend to do so or maneuver the situation so I’m with her, it ends up being a group event. I would kill to get her alone again. Maybe work up to a repeat of our time in the closet at the club. Fuck, I want my mouth on hers again. I’m barely able to think of much else.
It isn’t until Rick says my name that I zero back in on the conversation around me. “What’s that?” I ask.
“I said that the reason I’m here is because there’s something I need to talk to you all about.”
