Page 93 of Paint the Town, Dove
“Pretty sure she’s out with Abe,” Derek slung his arm over the clothing rack, smug, antagonizing.
Alright,fuck no.“Come again?”
“He’s just messing with you,” Dean scoffed. “Abe’s long gone.”
“Am I messing with you? Or did I poke a nerve?” Derek prodded. “Come on, tell us. What’s she like?”
“They put something in your pills, Spindly?” I stood, shaking the clothing rack he was hanging on to. “Seem pretty fucking out of it right now.”
He flinched, moving back. “All good.”
Nah, not all good.“Don’t need to be putting out drummer ads in the paper now, do I?”
His throat bobbed, “Swear, just having some fun before the show.”
“Been having too much fun lately,” Donny grumbled, fisting my shirt. “Fuck off with this bullshit, man. Are we ready to do this? End the tour right in our FUCKING hometown???”
Smile, Ryden.
Put on a goddamn smile.
“Yep,” I said, drawing them in. “We good?” I glanced at Derek. He nodded, crossing his heart. “Well, alright. Gather up boys.”
With our arms slung around each other’s shoulders, I looked them dead in the eye, Jaw & Lion, my chosen brothers. “Radio City?”
Their grins were wide, hair untidy, hearts unified. “Radio City,” they chanted, “Radio City, Radio FUCKING City!”
“Radio City,” I repeated. And there we stood, linked together like an immovable force.
A sold out tour.
A charting album.
A legacy I created –
With the people I chose.
And when the lyrics burn, the Eagle grows wings. “Let’s do what we were born to do.”
***
Spectre! Spectre! Spectre!
My people, voices howling like banshees, an electric wave of fireworks exploding through the venue.
Spectre! Spectre! Spectre!
Faces, faces all around me held out towels, water,flasks– that I’d remember later,those faces. It was cause for celebration,so what? The final night I could let loose (like you do every night), but I earned this.
I fucking earned this.
“Mr. Spectre, is there anything else yourequire –”
Everything fades out aroundher.
Because I was already dead set on what Ineeded, decked in all black, ruby lipstick like an alarm calling me home.
Scarlett stood just before the stage, earpiece and dice in hand.
