Chapter One

The worn out piano keys still sang cleanly in the empty auditorium. I slowly slid my fingers over the now-rough porcelain and smiled sadly. For four years I had been escaping to this dusty old back room with the weathered piano, forgotten by everyone but me. Contrary to popular belief, getting a degree in music is anything but easy, and this room seemed to be the only place that reminded me why I had chosen to study piano day in and day out. I pulled my long auburn hair back in a ponytail and then hit another chord, feeling the pulse of the piano vibrating with music. This would probably be my last day escaping to this room. With graduation in two days, I had little to stay for once I had put on my cap and gown. Then again, I had little to leave for at this point. All of my friends were busy getting amazing internships, while I was desperately willing to take any job that would move me out of small town Pullman, Washington, whether or not it was related to music.

A heavy knock resounded on the maintenance room door and I jumped, sheet music falling to the floor. Standing slowly, I said a quick goodbye to my piano. "Goodbye old friend. Thank you for keeping me sane. I only wish I could take you with me."

"Layla Parker! For the love of god! I know you're in there!" Another knock sent me flying to the door and I opened it to see a breathless face two inches from mine.

"Oh, hey Maddie."

"Were you expecting someone else? I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who even knows about this secret clubhouse of yours! I think of it as one of the privileges of being your friend for ten years."

Maddie was nearly jumping up and down with excitement as she babbled on, brown ponytail flying. I opened the door all the way to let her through the room but she grabbed my hand to pull me outside.

"We don't have time, you gotta go see Mr. Richardson right away!"

"What are you talking about?" I took Maddie by the shoulders to stop her. "Am I in trouble?"

My stomach quickly sunk. The last thing I needed was to find out I had somehow missed a requirement or pissed off my music theory teacher two days before I graduated. I had an irrational fear that just when it seemed like a sure thing, some disaster would stop me from getting my degree.

"No, no, you're not in trouble." She rolled her eyes. "Honestly Layla, why do you always assume that? I am going to help you grow a backbone if it's the last thing I do! Now come on! He's been looking everywhere for you."

Mr. Richardson's office was strategically placed next to the front door of the music building. Maddie and I had a theory this was so that he could keep note of every student rushing in the door after the hour and be sure to put them on probation if they were continuously late for classes. There were even days when he would sit in the doorway, clipboard in hand. Approaching the closed door, my heart started beating wildly in my chest. Maddie squeezed my hand and let go.

"Chill out, it's a good thing! Maybe you and Richie can even end on better terms."

"If you would just tell me what this is about, maybe I wouldn't be so nervous." I mumbled through clenched teeth.

"Sorry, no can do, this is his news." And with that, she knocked on the door and then scampered away before I could stop her.

"Come in Ms. Parker." I heard his muffled voice through the door.

How did he know I had been outside? He probably had heard our entire conversation. Shaking off my nerves, I gently opened the office door and eased myself inside. The office was immaculate, in a strangely terrifying way. I wouldn't have been surprised if he measured the distance between every pen before placing them down on the desk.

"Please sit down. I have something to discuss with you."

I was startled by how quickly he cut to the chase. I glanced at his face, settled into a consistent and sadly permanent scowl. It was impossible to tell his mood, but it was hard for me to think this could possibly be good news. I sat down cautiously, clasping my sweaty palms on my lap. After an uncomfortable silence, I opened my mouth to speak but he beat me to the punch.

"Well, Ms. Parker, how do you feel your employment search has been going?"

I frowned. This was certainly not a good way to start the meeting. And of course he already knew that things were not going well, but he wanted to hear me admit my failure.

I cleared my throat. "It has been…a struggle." I saw his eye twitch and quickly added, "However, I am extremely confident that something will come along eventually."

"It seems that eventually is today Ms. Parker."

"Excuse me?"

He stared at me as if I were asking him how to walk. "Do you want a job, or are you enjoying the thrills of unemployment?"

I hesitated. "I want a job." I spoke slowly, feeling strangely like I was about to sign a deal with the devil.

"Good. Then it is settled. I have a job for you. It is a job I am surprised they find you qualified for, but when I submitted resumes you were requested. Therefore, you will take the job." "Congratulations." He cleared his throat, as if it pained him to even say the word.

I watched as he pulled a large manila folder from his desk drawer and slid it across the desk to me. And then, as if I weren't still sitting in the room filled with questions, he pulled out a copy of The Steinway Saga autobiography and proceeded to read quietly.

"Excuse me, Mr. Richardson." My voice sounded like a quiet squeak, and I reveled once again in my own insecurity. Maddie was right; I needed to grow a backbone. "Excuse me." I repeated a little louder, and he glanced up from his reading. "What is the job?"

He sighed slowly and lowered the book. "Damien Reeves needs a new pianist."

I stared blankly. "Who is Damien Reeves?"

For the first time in four years, I could see that he was caught off guard. However, the look of shock was quickly replaced as he lifted his book again. I waited, thoroughly confused. I decided to try a different tactic.

"When does the job start, exactly?"

"Next week."

My jaw dropped. "Next week? There is no way I can be starting a job next week! I still would have to find a place to live!" My mind started racing. I couldn't get my house in Pullman packed up before next week, let alone move to god knows where.

"That won't be necessary."

"What do you mean?" I almost shouted in exasperation.

Mr. Richardson gave such a lengthy eye roll that I worried his eyeballs would never make it back to the front of his head. When he did speak, it was with a finality I didn't dare question. "Damien Reeves is a singer. You will be joining his world tour. You are expected in Los Angeles by next Monday. Best of luck."

Maddie looked like a little girl on Christmas Eve as she bounced around the apartment, grabbing my belongings and throwing them into the empty suitcases littering our apartment.

"You are going to have so much fun! I mean Mr. Richardson mentioned that he had a job opportunity for you, but I never dreamed it would be touring with Damien Reeves! You are so lucky!"

"There is no way I can go!" I started pulling out the items she packed, placing them back on their shelves.

Maddie stopped dead in her tracks. "There is no way you are turning this down. Layla Parker, this is a dream come true! Anyone would jump at it! It serves me right for choosing stupid sports medicine. I would give an arm and a leg just to be in the same room as Damien Reeves!"

"Why do you keep saying his name like that?" I sighed, sinking down into the couch.

Maddie quickly followed suit, grabbing her laptop. "Because, Layla, this is Damien Reeves."

She pulled up a fansite showcasing a giant picture of a man who I assumed to be Damien Reeves standing in front of one of those big printed backdrops they have at premieres and award ceremonies. He was tall and muscular, a lock of dark brown hair falling into his green eyes. He looked like standing in a tux was about the last thing he wanted to be doing, but he was definitely attractive. Alright, he was hot. Even with a frown on his face I could see why Maddie was on cloud nine.

"Okay, so he's attractive. And he's apparently won some-"

"Three!"

"-three Grammy Awards. That still doesn't mean that I should throw my whole life away to tour with him, doing…what? Playing the piano for him? This contract doesn't even make any sense."

"Layla." Maddie stared at me with wide eyes. "What I am about to say I mean in the nicest way. What life?! You have no life to throw away. You were graduating with no job opportunities and yet here is the opportunity of a lifetime just waiting for you. What choice do you really have?"

"But you're my family, Maddie. How am I supposed to leave you?" Maddie was one of the only people in my life who knew about my family, or more appropriately my lack thereof. I left home at eighteen and hadn't looked back, but now the idea of leaving my only friend behind terrified me.

Maddie wrapped me up in a hug and I felt tears prick my eyes. She held me for a few minutes and I was reminded, for what seemed like the millionth time, just how lucky I was to have her in my life. And then just as quickly, she pulled me to my feet.

"Alright, you've felt sorry for yourself, you've panicked, and you've wallowed. And now its time to get up off your ass and make something happen. Repeat after me: I am going on tour with Damien Reeves."

"This is ridiculous!" I laughed, trying to pull away from her. "I can't do this!"

"LAYLA PARKER REPEAT AFTER ME OR SO HELP ME GOD-"

"I am going on tour with Damien Reeves." The words burst out of my mouth before I could stop them and I froze, eyes wide. Was this actually happening?

I am going on tour with Damien Reeves.