Page 103 of Hard Rock Love
“I know how important this audition is,” he said before she could speak. “I really don’t want to miss it. But this exam is important to me, too.”
“Since when did you start going to college?” Gael asked, sounding aghast at the idea. “I thought you were fucking relieved when you graduated high school because it meant you never had to go to class again and you could concentrate on the band.”
“I never did,” Seth said quietly, casting his eyes to the floor. “I never actually graduated. I failed English. I was supposed to go back. I didn’t. I dropped out. I wanted to focus on Cherry Lips.”
Cerise’s eyes went wide. Liam put a hand on her shoulder.
“Seth…” Guilt flickered across her face. “I had no idea…”
“Don’t think it’s your fault or anything,” he hurried to say. “I know you’re a hard ass about the band, but I could have gone back if I wanted to. It was my decision. It’s just…” Seth shrugged listlessly. “It’s always bothered me, the fact that I never got my diploma. So I decided to take this course, to get my last credit, so I could finally graduate for real.”
“Good for you,” Liam said with an approving nod.
“Yeah, good for Seth and all that,” Gael cut in, “but what about the audition? You said it’s on the same day as your exam.”
“Can you do both?” Nathan asked hopefully.
“They overlap,” Seth replied. “Even if I finished early, I wouldn’t have enough time to get across town.”
“Shit,” Cerise cursed quietly. She tapped her red-tipped nails vigorously against one another with loud clicking sounds. “Shit,” she said again with more force.
“Don’t freak out,” Seth said. “I have an idea. That’s why August is here.”
August lifted his hand in greeting with a wry smile, as if reminding them he was standing there. Cerise eyed him with an almost scarily intense stare.
“You’re going to fill in for Seth?” she demanded, immediately understanding the situation.
“I’m more than happy to, if you agree to it,” August said.
Cerise looked to the rest of the band. They all seemed to be thinking quietly.
“You guys…” Seth started, then exhaled slowly, meeting each of their eyes in turn. “I’ve spent so long wanting to make everyone else happy. And I love doing things for my friends, I really do. But now I have a chance to do something that makes me happy. I want to do this forme.But—” he pressed his lips together, looking at his feet.“I understand if you guys really need me there. I don’t need to take the exam.”
“Of course you’re taking that exam,” Cerise said fiercely. Seth lifted his chin, expression turning hopeful. “I’m just wondering if the judges will allow it.”
“They will,” August said confidently.
“How do you know?” Nathan asked.
“I’m August Summers,” was all he said.
The others took that explanation as a given. I had to wonder just how much pull this guy hand in the music industry. He couldn't only be a drummer in a rock band.
Cerise looked to the guys.
“What do you guys think?” she asked.
“I’m for it,” Liam said. “I don’t want you thinking we don’t need you,” he told Seth firmly. “I just understand this is important to you. I want to support that. Okay?”
“Same here,” Nathan said.
“It sucks that we have to do it without you,” Gael said. “But I get it. If doing this thing is important to you, then it’s important to us. Besides,” he turned to August with a brazen grin. “We’re pretty much guaranteed to get the job with you on drums. You’re fucking legendary.”
Seth’s mouth pursed into a pout, but he didn’t say anything.
“So it’s agreed,” Cerise said. “August will play drums for us during the audition.”
“Noah’s going to kill me, of course,” August said dryly, and I assumed he was talking about a member of his own band. “He’ll say I’m helping the competition.”
