Page 64 of Paint the Town, Dove
Throwing Tav a thumbs up, I turned to face the rest of Jaw & Lion. My legacy man, it was up here. Them three, plus me…
Time to make some fucking magic.
I slid in my earpiece. “How we feeling?”
Donny spoke first, exhaling a plume of smoke. “Let’s rock.”
“Toss that thing, man, c’mon.” I ripped the vape right out of his hand, pocketing it. “It’s Radio City.”
“You flaked on soundcheck yesterday,” he shrugged.
“Made it to the meeting, though,” I said, pulling out my flask. I turned around to make sure Scarlett was occupied (she was) and took a quick swig.
“No smoking but you can drink?” Donny quirked a brow, holding his hand out. “Hand it here.”
“Pass, it’s my pre-show ritual.”
Derek laughed. “I’ve got one, too. Her name’s Wendy.”
“Flavour of the month, Spindly?” Donny chuckled, tuning his bass.
“We’ll see,” he knocked his drumstick over Donny’s head, walking over to his set.
Dean, as usual, kept quiet, polishing his guitar. Named her Talia, I think, after his first girlfriend. Ten years, man. You might think she was the love of his life, if she didn’t sleep with his brother. “He works in foreign exchange! You’re a dead end, Dean. Always going to play at shitty bars with shitty people. Going. Nowhere.”
So the story goes.
His brother got arrested for money laundering, while Dean became the lead guitarist of the biggest band in the fucking world.
He kept Talia as a reminder of how he proved her wrong.
Talk about a classic power move.
I bumped Dean’s fist. “All good?”
He nodded. “Sound.”
“Right on,” I laughed, ruffling the old man’s hair, making my way back to centre stage. “Good to go, Tav!”
“Hit the lights!” He called out, and within seconds, the concert hall was a black hole of nothing.
Only I –we– could bring back that luster.
I placed two fingers to my mouth, pads kissing my lips, and pressed them against Harley. “One more show, baby,” I whispered.
And the music took over.
Vagabond
Arc & Sheild Records
Composition By: Ryden Spectre
[Verse One]
It’s a climb
This journey forward
