Ember

19 - A man can dream

Marco

I breathe deeply, through my nose and out through my mouth. Five minutes until showtime, and I’m psyched. Tonight will either turn out to be the best of our lives or the worst. I won’t lie; I feel a bit sick. So much is riding on this evening, and I would hate for anything to go wrong. I know I can’t change what might happen, but I pray to God above that nothing does. As a band, we have worked so hard to get to this point. But we couldn’t have done it without the fans.

Dun’s Dungeon already had a considerable following thanks to social media and the small gigs we used to put on. The fans have been posting for weeks about tonight. Some even posted on the band’s social media page that they’d be here to support us. However, this is our first gig featuring Ember, and it has to be perfect. I cannot mess up; none of us can. I promised Ember that nothing would go wrong. I shouldn’t have done that when any number of things could fuc.k up tonight. I’ll do my damn best, though, to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Ember looks fantastic tonight. She’s wearing tight, torn black jeans, a red leather bra, and a black mesh top. Her midriff is on show, and I’m fighting hard not to look. Christ, she has a six-pack!

I groan inwardly because my dic.k is straining to get out of my pants. I need to calm myself down; now is not the time to be turned on by my bandmate and her refined abs.

Ember’s heavily studded boots, high ponytail, and the heavy makeup make her look ever the rock chick. She seems so excited right now, and I can’t help smiling at her because she’s bouncing on her heels.

“Remember,” I look around the circle we’re all standing in at my bandmates. “This is our moment. Don’t worry about making mistakes; everybody does. If something does go wrong, smile and carry on as if nothing happened. Most of all, enjoy every damn moment.”

“Marco’s right,” Colin clasps my shoulder. “We’ve worked hard for this, guys. Enjoy the night, play, sing your hearts out, have fun, and, for God’s sake, smile. Don’t go out there expecting anything but amazing things to come from this. Tonight is the first night of the rest of our lives. Let’s go out there and smash it!”

Saint holds his hand out, palm down. One by one, we each pile ours on top. “Dun’s Dungeon on three,” Saint smirks. “One, two, three,”

“Dun’s Dungeon!” We all yell in unison before breaking apart.

Saint and Bob move to the left, and Ember and I move to the right as Hannah comes out of nowhere and grabs Colin. She kisses him passionately, and I have to roll my eyes. Christ knows why Hannah thinks that’s necessary right now.

Ember winks at me as the stage manager ushers us on stage. The room is pitch black, but we do as we practiced and follow the dull floor lights to our markers. We each pick up our guitars as Bob sits behind his drum kit. I look at Colin, and he nods his head as the lights come up and the music starts.

The crowd is screaming and cheering seconds into the first song, and I’m in my element! This is everything I ever thought it would be.

My eyes stray to Ember now and again, and I can’t believe how energetic she is. The girl is dancing while both playing her guitar and singing. We’re only doing a thirty-minute set as the supporting band, and the time is flying by far too quickly.

Fifteen minutes in, I take the mic for a different reason. It’s time to tell these good people who we are.

“Hello, Oklahoma!” I yell while adjusting the mic stand. The room erupts, and I laugh to myself. “My name is Marco Russo, and this beautiful angel next to me is Ember Marshall.”

I chuckle at the blush in Ember’s cheeks as many a man wolf-whistles. I can’t say as I blame them; Ember is beautiful in a way most could only dream of.

I turn my head to the left. “On bass, we have Saint Shakespeare,” Saint plucks a few cords because the man is a showoff. “Colin Montgomery on rhythm guitar, and Bob Rhys on drums. We are Dun’s Dungeon, and we love you!”

We fall right back into the song, and I’m awed by how many seem to pick up the chorus of Stain so quickly. The song is almost at an end, so it’s time for Ember’s solo. Ember wasn’t keen on a solo, but once we heard her sing Patience, we knew it was meant for her.

However, as Ember shakes her head at me, I know she’s got cold feet. I make my way over to her as Colin starts the slow rift. I have seconds to convince Ember that she can do this. I take her hand in mine, lean in, and whisper in her ear. “Don’t be nervous. You can do this.”

“I’m scared,” She whispers back.

“There’s nothing to be scared of, Ember. I’ll be right by your side, and I won’t leave you. I promise. You are amazing, Ember. Don’t doubt yourself, beautiful, because I never will. You can do this!”

I sense Ember nodding before she turns to her mic and belts out the most beautiful ballad I’ve ever heard. Lights from cell phones go up in the hundreds, and I can’t help smiling. These people hear what I hear when Ember sings. Colin was right; the fans love her, and I can see she’s captivated them just as she has me.

This woman is beyond perfect for the band. I never like to admit that Colin is right about anything. But I cannot deny that he was right about Ember. Sharing the limelight with her is everything. I won’t deny that Dun’s Dungeon was good before Ember joined us, but it’s clear to me that we’re better with her.

I can’t help watching Ember as she sings. Her voice does something to me, something I never imagined. I feel the conviction in her words right down to my core. I close my eyes momentarily, letting the power of her words flow through me.

God, what is happening to me?

Something extraordinary, that’s what.

The cheers are deafening by the time Ember’s solo ends. I can’t help smiling as the crowd chants her name. Ember’s smile is infectious, and I love seeing her like this. Ember belongs on stage. She was born to sing, and I am so proud of her for swallowing her fears.

As we sing our last song, I realize there is nowhere I would rather be than here with my best friends and the woman I think I’m falling in love with.

I don’t know how it happened, but I know how I feel. I also know that Ember may never feel the same way. Yet, every time Ember looks at me, smiles, and winks, I wonder if she might fall for me. It won’t be now, but one day.

A man can dream, can’t he?