More than Music

34

Hector’s steady rhythm centered us and Kyle clapped along to get the audience going while Jared’s voice filled the theater. I nodded my head with the music and leaned into my mic to sing the backup chant at the end of each verse. The bass line Jared pulled off was almost hypnotic, and as his fingers moved up and down the fret board, I imagined those same fingers playing across my skin. I watched his lips caress the mic as he sang and pictured him doing the same to me. And as his voice rang out from the speakers, I wondered what it’d be like to hear him cry out my name instead.

Damn, I needed to get a grip. I stomped on my pedal to change the tone and forced myself to focus. Jared’s advice about playing like no one was watching came back to me, and I tried to let myself fall into the song. Dan and the guys had told me to move more, so I started walking across the stage toward Jared, as if his words were pulling me to him. But when I neared him, I tripped on a cord in my stupid tall heels. I tried to catch myself to prevent a complete face-plant but ended up stumbling off the edge of the stage, on top of a very large security guard.

The audience gasped, and Jared’s voice choked on the lyrics. For a second, I just sat there, stunned and horrified by what had happened. I couldn’t tell if I was injured or not, my body still in the post-fall adrenaline shock. I got to my feet quickly, the audience pressing around me, on my level now with only the security guards keeping them away. Sweat dripped down my back, under my clothes. I had to escape, from the cameras, from the crowd, from this complete disaster of a performance. I glanced around, looking for an exit, but there was no way out.

Behind me, tiny explosions went off on the side of the stage, and the band kept going. No, I couldn’t run. I couldn’t abandon the guys, who were still trying to keep it together without me. No matter how embarrassed I was, the show had to go on.

I waved to show I was okay and then hopped up to sit on the edge of the stage. Kyle had filled in for me, but now it was time for the guitar solo. All I could do was go for it and try not to think about how I’d just ruined everything. With my legs hanging into the crowd and the security guards holding people back, I played my heart out. The high notes squealed as my fingers flew, and I blocked the world out, closing my eyes and letting the song take over. Just me and my guitar and an intimate performance with 7,500 of my closest friends. And somehow, it worked.

After the solo ended with the last hard riffs, I jumped back on stage with a little help from the poor security guard I’d tackled, and the crowd went crazy. I returned to my mic and joined in with Jared on the last chorus, and we ended together in perfect harmony.

The audience’s cheers shook the theater, and even the mentors looked shocked by our performance. Jared threw one arm around me, holding his other arm out to the audience like I’d just won a prize or something. He whispered in my ear, “Are you hurt?”

“No, I don’t think so.” I leaned against him while Kyle and Hector joined us, adrenaline still pumping through my veins. Soon we were all holding onto each other, feeling the audience’s enthusiasm like tremors coursing under our feet.

Ray sprinted across the stage. “Wow, what an… unexpected performance! That was Villain Complex on Team Dan. Angel, they used to be on your team and you let them go last week. Are you regretting it now?”

“Sure.” She shrugged and inspected her nails, like she was bored with it all. Whatever, Angel.

“Lance, what did you think?” Ray asked.

“Great song choice. What I want to know is, what happened with that fall?”

The host shoved the mic in my face, and I froze. This was all live and Jared was so much better at this stuff, but I decided to be honest.

“That was an accident, but I thought, whatever, I’m going to own it. Sometimes I fall down, but I get back up again and keep going. That’s life, right?”

The crowd screamed again so I must have said the right thing, and Jared squeezed me tighter.

“Very wise words,” Ray said. “Lissa, what did you think?”

“I thought it was brilliant how you turned an accident into a triumph. That’s so important in this line of work because things do go wrong sometimes, and you just have to roll with it.”

“Very true. Dan, they’re the newest member of your team—how did they do?”

“All I can say is, I’m so glad I rescued them from Angel. What were you thinking?” He leaned over to smirk at our former mentor, who huffed and crossed her arms. When she didn’t respond, he sat back and continued. “They’ve already improved so much in the week I’ve been working with them, and I can’t wait to see what they do next week. I’m really proud.”

My heart swelled at Dan’s words, and it sounded like he actually meant them, too. He must think we weren’t completely doomed if he was already talking about next week. I prayed my screw-up tonight hadn’t cost us our spot on the show.

“Now it’s up to you at home,” Ray said, staring at the camera. “If you like Villain Complex, download their song and vote for them on the website or by texting or calling this number.”

The stage turned so the next band could play, and roadies ran around us and broke down our gear. Kyle wrapped me in a big bear hug as soon as we were out of view. “Are you all right? Are you injured?”