SING:
Love ain´t no Crime!
Chapter 29. Until my voice gives in!
Ash´s Pov:
We were one song away until my Chapter was about to begin, and it made me a little nervous, to be honest in the next few acts, mine as well as Johnny´s chapter included, it were only 5 songs which will really be like rock and Punkrock, but is this enough for the audience, which, as Buster said it, came only to hear me rocking off.
The thought of disappointing them was making me racing around in our Cabin, dressed once again in that Black sparkling dinner dress, which I would wear until the end, now.
To be honest it has been quite a while since I really wore something so elegant the last time, I think it was to the garden Party of my father´s 50th birthday, about 7 years ago.
And I must say, it does look good on me, especially with that Blood-red lipstick which Rosita has borrowed to me..., at the very least it was no real flashing color like the last time I wore a dress, which was to the debut of my first Solo Single, Set it all Free.
But even this amazing sight of myself in the mirror, could not bring me off my nervousness.
"Will it be okay, won´t they be disappointed that I don´t wear my usual rock clothes, but this dinner dress instead..., i´m not even really playing the guitar, only in about 2 songs, since they are my songs!" I mumbled as I was running circles in the women´s cabin, almost getting myself dizzy.
"You know, the more you run around, the more nervous you get!" A voice stated from the side, while the person to whom it belonged, prepared herself for the next act.
"What else am I supposed to do?!" I asked, unsure if she was right or wrong.
"Just calm down..., that would be a first good thing to do..., you know you kinda make me nervous too!" Lucy stated as she turned around from the dresser in which she put on the Make-up.
"And I can´t have that now, after all my song is before yours and since I got this once in a Lifetime opportunity for a solo on a stage infront of an audience, I would hate to mess it up!" She stated as she forced me to sit down.
"In any way you worry far too much, you worry that people might dislike you, so what, in the end you can gain other people who like you instead, the world is in constant change and no matter how hard you try, one day you will have to go with the flow.
Ashley...,you are a Girl who's greatest Talent is her amazing Voice, to just waste it on rock purely, is as close to a sin as possible, your voice was born to sing in all variations possible and here you have the Chance to do that.
If you are under contract of a Label you will have to follow so many rules that it might someday suffocated your talent and over short or long you are unable to ever establish yourself in other genres, you have to create various fan-bases if you want to survive in this Industry.
Believe me I had thoroughly studied it to someday become a famous songstress myself..., but well I never even got to that, as I was 15 I had to move to San Francisco and give up all of these teenage dreams, to get good grades and find a job quickly, to support the family.
While I was in college I went working part-time to make sure we have enough money for the hospital bill and our life and well..., ever since my Father left my mother 3 years ago, I broke of school shortly before my exam and worked like a mad woman to make sure we could go by with the little money I earned..., but I don´t know for how long this will still last, even if I get a full-time job at Larry´s Bar, isn´t it said that it will become easier on us.
Sometimes I do wish Buster would be with me, so I would have someone to hold onto, when my sorrow tries to overcome me, I don´t want my mother to see me then, she is still so full of life and always wants to see me happy, but when I cry it might break her weak heart.
Honestly I have no idea what i´m supposed to do once Mom dies, should I really live with Buster, I mean I have no educational diploma and beside of tending a Bar and serving Customers, I don´t know a thing about other professions.
I always believed in my dream and worked hard to achieve it, too hard, so that once, after it was gone I hadn´t a clue what to do for a very long time, as I was done with Highschool, I just picked something of the list of possible colleges to go to, it was pure luck that I still managed to get a cheap one.
As the years went by, I began to lose more and more my hope to ever be able to fulfil my dream number one..., I even began to question my purpose in life and if what I did had any true significance...
Jesus i´m coming massively of the topic, anyways what I want to say is that, once you are older it gets harder to establish yourself into something new, so you got try everything you can while you are young and still a newcomer.
For once you are older, you are expected to never change the thing you do, the people know you in rock for example, once a few decades are over, without a change, you will forever regret it, you just won´t be able to get away from it anymore!" Lucy stated and my head began to spin from all of that.
And faster than I imagined, was not only my fear but also the time gone.
"Lucy, you have to go!" We heard Buster´s voice saying behind the door in a rushed manner.
"I´m coming!" The same replied before she looked at me, deep into my eyes.
"Ashley Simons, your voice is amazing and once you realize that yourself you will be able to accept the fact, that rock isn´t everything there is.
And whoever dares to mock you and dislike you then, has no right to listen to your voice any further!" Lucy stated, as she let go of me and walked towards the door.
"You are so strong and smart!" I stated, but as she looked at me her voice sounded really melancholic.
"I´m not..., I just see a bit of myself in you, and don´t want you to make the wrong decisions, this has nothing to do with strength..., rather with cowardice, since I haven´t the guts to do it myself.
What I do today is all to what my passion from once is still capable off, all which I can allow myself to do, before I will have to give it up once more for something bigger and greater..., for my family!" She replied before she walked through the door and left me with my chin on the ground.
"She gave up Music for her family and her love..., so what have I achieved as I gave up my family for Music and a false love!" I thought to myself in awe.
"You say yourself, that you are weak..., yet you too don´t realize something, just how strong you really are.
I wish for you, that your dream will not end with today, maybe postpone a little but that you one day will never have to give up something so important again!" I mumbled as I went out of the Cabin to watch Lucy´s performance.
"And now, we come to the Last Song of Rosita´s Chapter.
This song..., is about love..., about those we love and those we want to keep in our lives.
A big applause for Lucita Fernandez and Stand by me!" Buster stated in his microphone in front of the Curtain, as Lucy took her position in the middle of the stage, behind of the Curtain.
As the same rose in the Air, Buster rushed with high speed behind the curtain and passionately kissed Lucy before running back of the stage, leaving the same giggling and blushing before she focused again as the Audience came in view and the Orchestra began to play.
(Original: Stand by me by Florence and the Machine)
Lucy:
"When the night has come
And the land turns dark
And the moon is the only light we see
No, I won't be afraid
Oh, I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
So, darling, darling, stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Oh, stand now, stand by me, stand by me!"
While Lucy sang I looked at the screen here at the backstage area, which showed the view from the V.I.P. Lounges, zoomed towards the stage.
I had to say, that I never saw such a splendid performance like hers.
It was clear that she must have prepared herself for all her life, to have such a chance like this.
"If the sky that we look upon
Should crumble and fall
Or the mountain should burn up in the flames
I won't cry, I won't cry
No, I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
And darling, darling, stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Oh, stand now, stand by me, stand by me
And, darling, darling, stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Oh, stand, stand by me, stand by me
Whenever we're in trouble won't you stand by me?
Oh, stand by me
Oh, stand now, stand by me
So darling, darling, stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Oh, stand now, stand by me, stand by me
Whenever we're in trouble won't you stand by me?
Oh, stand by me
Oh, stand now, stand by me, stand by me!"
The Song ended with the sounds of the Orchestra and Lucy singing the chorus with outstretched hand, while she breathed hard once the song was over and the Cheers and whistles and the Applause kicked in.
"Indeed a splendid performance!" I heard it next to me.
I looked up to see Mrs. Noodleman standing next to me, looking at Lucy with a critical but benevolent look on her face.
"This Woman has definitely the potential to become great, it´s a shame that she wastes her talent in a simple Beach Bar, even if it is for an important reason..., in the end she is already far more Mature than I had been, giving up her own passion for the sake of someone beloved!" she stated.
"She´s incredible indeed..., if only I could cut of piece of her talent for me!" I replied, although not sure if she even truly spoke with me.
"You my dear ,have plenty of talent yourself, maybe not so much as Miss Kumara and her incredible voice, but believe me, with a little less shouting during rock music and a little training, you will be just as good as her.
After all you definitely do have a voice to kill for, if only you would let the world see it some more..., in any way, as a former senior of this Theater, I do promise myself much from all of you, so make sure to meet my expectations, it would be a shame if you would have to waste your talent somewhere, where it isn´t even fully acknowledged!" Mrs. Noodleman stated as she turned around and was about to go, most likely back to her V.I.P Lounge.
"I look forward to your Performance, Miss Simons, I would love to shove it down your father´s throat!" She stated and I was buff, I didn´t told her about it but only the Crew.
"How do you know?!" I asked her dumbfounded.
"I knew it ever since I saw you on stage, Your Father has been quite..., how shall I say..., let´s just say that he constantly miscalculates his believe that you would be totally talentless and a failure of a Daughter...!" She stated and I suddenly felt a strong sting in my heart.
Even though I disliked him, ever since this whole ordeal with the border school, did it hurt to hear that he still thinks of me as a major failure.
"...So you better give me a really good reason to prove him wrong, so that I can make sure your father acknowledges, that the failure is but only himself!" Mrs. Noodleman stated with a benevolent smile, as she lifted my chin up with her fan.
Seeing this much believe and trust in her eyes pumped me up, to the brim, with new confidence.
"I will not disappoint you!" I stated with determination.
Father will eat these words of him for sure and I hope he chokes on them.
"I will sing until the whole world knows my name, or until my voice gives in!" I stated while I heard Buster introducing my video in the back ground.
"That is a very good way to start..., you know, right now you remind me of myself, this rebellious streak and the wish to live your own life; free from everything that holds you down, this need to sing out what you feel..., I know that craving very well, it was the same that made me leaving my home in an uncontrolled moment and entered the big city to find my place to be, my rest-haven in which I could sing my heart out.
In that matter you and Miss Kumara both remind me of myself..., and I guess that is a good thing, at the very least it speaks for a long carrier, if you keep at running that mile.
Anyways, I see forward to read in the newspaper, that you have your name carved in stone and a star on the walk of fame, next to those of the rest of your family!" Mrs. Noodleman stated as she turned around and walked away.
"She is an Amazing woman isn´t she!" I heard as I felt someone stepping next to me.
"Indeed!" I replied.
"So you soon are up, I wish you luck honey, knock them out with your beauty and voice!" Johnny stated, as he looked at me on eye level before kissing me.
I had to admit, seeing him in a Tuxedo was just too good to be true, it looked like he was ready for a wedding..., would he look like this if he would..., marry me perhaps..., someday in the future?
"And now I want you to, applaud with me and welcome once again, for her very own chapter, Miss Ashley Simons!" I heard Buster saying and a drumroll was heard.
"I guess I got to go, see you afterwards!" I stated as I rushed towards the Stage.
"Good luck!" I heard someone saying as I ran past him or her.
As I heard that voice I froze for a second, before I shook my head, it couldn´t be her.
"Thanks!" I just replied without looking to whom I answered.
I made it in time behind the curtain before the same was opened, and the lights were dimmed.
"Good Afternoon Dear Guest, it´s good to see you and welcome to my Chapter, as you have seen In the video, there were many things which had gone wrong in my life not so long ago and which I tried to somehow process for myself.
The first three songs I sing, are songs about how I felt after I was left by my EX-Boyfriend and how much it affected me, all the pain, the sorrow and the wrath I felt inside of me whenever I remembered it.
You might remind my song from 2 months ago, in which I tried to show that despite all this I was strong..., but I had to see that even if I tried to be strong, the aftermath of it, just hurted me deeply, more than I had thought.
I felt like I was trapped somewhere, without a way out and for a long time I didn´t even sought for a way to escape, I just embraced that darkness, until I found strength by following someone, who held a light out for me and offered me his big strong arms to hold onto and to be comforted by gentle hands.
Later on I will also sing a song about that man, the man who managed to give me back what I thought to have lost thanks to Lance.
The ability to truly love someone!
But for now these three songs are dedicated to pain, sorrow which slowly turns to wrath and strength!" I explained the nature of this song.
I took a deep breath before I calmed myself down.
"Here we go!" I thought and said in the microphone as sign to begin.
I began to hum a melody and a melancholic guitar-riff was to be heard.
(Original: Paint it Black by Ciara (vocal edit))
Ash:
"Hmmmmm, hmm, hmm, hmm... !"(3X)
(Instrumental intro)
"I see a red Heart and I want to paint it black
No colors any more, I want them to turn black
I see some girls walk by, dressed in their motley clothes
I have to turn my head and let my darkness flow!
I see a line of cars and they're all paint in black
No flowers and no love, they have both turned to black
I see people turn their heads and quickly look away
Like a person breath its last, it just happens every day!
I look inside myself and see my soul is black
I see my red heart, I just have to paint it black
Maybe then I'll fade away and not have to face the facts
It's not easy facing up, when your whole world is black!
No more will my bright sun shine upon a richer green
I could not foresee this thing happening to me (me-e)
I ask myself so long, while watching the blackening sun
Will my life bright up again, when the morning comes?!"
I sang as I felt a familiar pain trying to grow again, but with all mental power which I possessed, I ringed it down again and nipped the evil in the bud.
Meanwhile the Band in the Background, some guest performers, played the melancholic music with incredible depth and even the choir they created sounded dark.
But there was something which kind of disturbed me..., I knew that one voice..., but even if, why and how would she have found her way here..., could it be Buster´s doing?
The Band:
"I wanna see it painted black, someone paint it black
Black as night, black as coal,
I wanna see the sun, falling down, from the sky!" (2X)
Ash:
"I see a red heart and I want to paint it black
No colors any more, I want them to turn black
I see some girls walk by, dressed in their motley clothes
I have to turn my head and just let my darkness flow!"
All:
"Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmmmmm...!"(2X)
The cheers I earned were strong , every one stood up, just like back 2 months ago and somehow, all of a sudden, my fears from before were all gone and it didn´t even mattered to me anymore, if someone disliked the things I sang.
I guess Lucy was right, I sing to be heard not to be liked and loved, if there are people disliking the fact that I don´t play rock only, then there must also be people who appreciate that fact and cheer me on when I play and sing in different genres.
At the very least I sing mostly for my own benefit, because it is my passion and my will.
No one shall ever dare to try and control my life again, I had enough of that crap.
"The next song is about my feelings towards my Ex-boyfriend, after I was able, thanks to some help, to finally end that chapter and begin to write a new one.
After that Guy cheated on me I was, for a long time, quite miserable, and although I didn´t thought about suicide was I close to losing myself.
It was the helping and gentle hand of my friend and new Boyfriend Johnny Baxter, which pulled me out of the dark and literally shoved me into the light.
Thanks to that wake-up call I was able to come to terms with myself and I decided to change a few things on myself.
The biggest change I have done on me, is perhaps my career-plan.
Before I wanted to become a professional Punk-Rock / Post Hardcore musician, like Red Veiled Brides..., and even though I still like that kind of music, had I decided to myself that I should at least try to do anything I can possibly do in the musical business.
I began to sing different songs and genres, than just those I used to sing, I even went as far as to relearn on how to play an instrument, against which I had a long time animosity, because of some bad memories from the past.
The result of that first attempt of changing myself, you see infront of you right now.
I don´t know if you all appreciate it or not..., but honestly I must say that I don´t really care about that, I am finally prepared to be liked or disliked, I am finally prepared to be accepted or not, be it as it will...!
In the end all I want is that there are people out there who understand me and who respond to it, either with a nice comment on our Headbook-site, or in some other way.
And to all who think they have to mock me, especially there where I cannot see nor hear them..., to them I can only say that I don´t care at all..., this means especially you Lance...!
I don´t care what you say and think about me, but if you think I let you insult my family which I gained in this theater, than better be sure to get your sorry pride trampled with feet and run over by a steamroller, understood?
Anyways, the next song is exactly about that guy and my feelings and thoughts, once I understood for myself that it gets me nothing to mourn my past with him, but to look at the future instead and just keep my head held high and always turned towards the endless horizon.
It tells about these little moments when I think back that I could have that moment with him, if he wouldn´t have cheated on me and left my life with such a big pile of bulls**t..., sorry about that..., well you get the gist of it, anyways, hit is guys!" I stated and for the first time looked at the band behind me, only to get my assumption proven.
On the Lead-guitar stood no one else but Heather, who winked at me, before she began to play.
I just sighed and accepted the fact that one of my best friends conversed with my Boss, behind my back, to get a gig at my Workplace with her Band.
"Well as long as she does a good job, I guess there is no harm in it!" I thought.
Luckily my Contract was dated towards the next 10 years so I had no real fear to someday just be replaced by someone else.
The next song began with some simple cords of a guitar, as I began to sing, before being accompanied by a heavy Beat of the drums.
(Original: Rolling in the Deep by Adele)
Ash:
"There's a fire starting in my heart
Reaching a fever pitch and it has brought me out the dark
Finally, I can see yourself crystal clear
Go ahead and sell me out and I'll lay your s**t bare
See how I'll leave with every piece of you
Don't underestimate the things that I will do
There's a fire starting in my heart
Reaching a fever pitch and it's bring me out the dark!"
In the whole ensemble of heavy bits and simple chords, a Piano was mixed in and I, out of the corners of my eyes, saw Johnny playing close to me as he was illuminated by the Spotlight.
"The scars of your love, remind me of us
They keep me thinking that we almost had it all
The scars of your love, they leave me breathless
I can't help feeling!"
Ash (The Band):
"We could have had it all
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
Rolling in the deep
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart inside of your hands
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
And you played it to the beat
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)!"
The song sure was a prime example of how it feels when a disdained woman begins to take her revenge, coming to terms with the fact that no matter how much she would mourn, that love never comes back.
Thanks to Johnny I finally understood that and could finally move on, now all I wanted to do was to destroy everything he has built..., it wouldn´t have come to this decision, if only he would have let me live in peace instead of starting a fight with us.
Ash:
"Lance, you know I have no story to be told
But I've heard one dark of you and I'm gonna make your head burn
Think of me in the depths of your despair
Make a home down there as mine sure won't be shared!"
Ash (The Band):
"The scars of your love remind me of us
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
They keep me thinking that we almost had it all
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
The scars of your love, they leave me breathless
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
I can't help feeling
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
We could have had it all
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
Rolling in the deep
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart inside of your hands
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
And you played it to the beat
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
We could have had it all
Rolling in the deep
You had my heart inside of your hands
But you played it with a beating!"
The hard beats of the Drummers and the support of the band, helped me to keep going, as the memories of Lance´s betrayal tried to sweep me away again.
Thanks to them I was able to get a grip on myself and go through this.
The wrath of a disdained woman was not to underestimate.
Ash:
"Throw your luck out and watch me on my theft
Count your losses to see with what you´re left
I turned my sorrow into wrath-bound force
You'll pay back what you stole and from now on work like a horse!"
Ash (The Band):
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
We could have had it all
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
We could have had it all
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
It all, it all, it all
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
We could have had it all
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
Rolling in the deep
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart inside of your hands
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
And you played it to the beat
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
We could have had it all
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
Rolling in the deep
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart inside of your hands
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
But you played it
You played it
You played it
You played it to the beat!"
I sang and while I still thought about that bad reference to another proud member of our society, which I made just seconds ago, was I too pumped up to simply stop right now.
"Onwards to the next one, Peoples, and believe me this song is for every hater who thinks he has to keep annoying me with his comments about how bad I am and what my faults are and why I should just get off the stage and let someone else do what I do.
To be honest, I know i´m not perfect, but heck, I don´t even try to be, you either like me or not, so do I, am I actually complaining about you haters, for not liking me..., no, because I couldn´t care less.
A smart woman said to me not long ago, that my voice would be too good to just keep it chained to one single genre, and I have decided to heed her advice of using the diversity of possibilities I have at hand, to prove to myself that I am worth standing up a stage.
This here is for all of those who ever mocked me behind my back, for those who dared to hold my talents and passion back, chaining it on the ground to disable me to set them free,
Yes I mean you guys down there, Mom and Dad, you kept on saying to stay as your little princess and just do whatever you say without complaining, but as you have seen these times are long over, either you accept me as I am, or you will just have to face the fact that I ain´t coming back to you.
Also is this song for those who even dared to tell me face to face that I would suck, so it's especially for you Lance, I know you are watching..., hit it guys!" I stated as the Keyboarder began to play a small tunes, before Guitar and Drums kicked in, one of the Stagehands brought me my guitar and I began to rock along the band, as Heather jumped next to me.
"It´s good to see you so pumped up Ash!" She stated to me, her microphone turned upwards to not catch her voice.
"I know.., I just kinda imagine to me that this Sucker would be here and stand right in front of me and that I can shove these word he said to me last time right down his throat alongside his guitar.
Anyways it´s kinda cool that you are here, but you gotta tell me later how that came to be, got it!" I stated and she nodded, before turning the microphone right.
(Original: Until my last breathe by Tarja Turunen)
Ash:
"I cannot shout it loud enough
I'm giving up this fight!
How can I still justify?
When you deny my voice?
To take the lead, I am not allowed
I just follow along
You words are weapons without a sound
My cries are dying unborn!"
Ash (Heather and the Band):
"Until my last breath
You'll never know (Not ever)
Until you feel the silence
When I am gone (Forever gone)
Now it's vanishing (Vanishing)
Everything (Everything)
What we might have been
Only hollow words (hollow words)
Are said to me (said to me), no you won't see me again!"
I sang alongside Heather.
Ash (The Band):
"Who can change this melody?
Deep inside it needs to burn
The worships of the enemy
The guilt, it takes its turns!
Watching as you´ve disappeared
Silence was all that remained (But now)
My wishes are slowly crossing over
Towards the one who will stay.
Until my last breath
You'll never know (Not ever)
Until you feel the silence
When I am gone (Forever gone)
Now it's vanishing (vanishing)
Everything (Everything)
What we might have been
Only hollow words (hollow words)
Are said to me, (said to me) no you won't see me again!"
Finally came what most of the Audience has been waiting for, Ashley Simons Guitar play, and believe me, rocking along a good friend is definitely more worth and fun, than rocking with someone who doesn´t even acknowledges your talent and not even tries to support you, but instead even tries to hold you back.
(Instrumental)
Ash (The Band):
"Until my last breath
You'll never know (Not ever)
Until you feel the silence
When I am gone (Forever gone)
Now it's vanishing (vanishing)
Everything (Everything)
What we might have been
Only hollow words (hollow words)
Are said to me, (said to me) no you won't see me again!"
(Instrumental)
"Until my last breath!" (2X)
I panted Hard after the song faded out and I was done singing, to be honest I nearly totally powered myself out during this song.
"And now Ash, play your song, we will support you!" I heard it coming from next to me and I made huge eyes.
"Wait..., but..., are you certain, I mean have you even ever read the chords, I don't think I ever posted them somewhere!" I asked her a little skeptical as the cheers of the crowd began to fade after a massive applause-avalanche.
"No fear we´ve been practicing ever since the Fight with Lance, your Boss came the next day towards me, during the afternoon, to thank us for our help, especially for keeping Johnny in check before he might have made a crime.
As he asked us if he could do anything to repay it, I told him that I wanted to somehow support you a little, to let you know that I am on your side and there for you whenever you need me, I mean we are friends after all, I hope you haven´t forgotten this!" Heather stated and I embraced her.
"Of course not, well if you guys are certain, then we will give it a try!" I stated to her and they all nodded.
"Hit it Ryan!" Heather stated towards the drummer as the same began with some heavy beats on the Bass Drum, going in a distinguished Rhythm, which the Audience instantly picked up, cheered and whistled and clapped along.
(Original: Set it all free by Scarlett Johansson (Ash´s own song))
Ash:
"I followed my heart into the fire
Got burned, got broken down by desire
I tried, I tried but the smoke in my eyes
Left me blurry, blurry and blind!"
As soon as the first few lines were over, the Mood in the Audience turned to extreme cheering and whistling and I got the feeling that this was what most have been waiting for ever since my Chapter began, I barely could hear my own voice, if it wasn´t for the Microphone right infront of me.
Maybe it also was due to the Band, beginning the song with a splendid play, as if we had played this song together for ages, it all fitted like the gears of a clockwork, it just told me how much they must have practiced to get that good at this song.
"I picked all the pieces up off the ground
I've burned all my fingers but that's gone now
Got the glue in my hands and stick into the plan
Stick into the plan that says
I can do anything at all
I can do anything at all!"
Heather and I sided up the neck of our guitars in slow-motion before the Rock `n´ Roll was literally unleashed from the Guitars, mine as well as hers, I stepped a bit to the side and she instantly got the hint but looked a little perplexed before catching her groove back.
Ash and Heather:
"This is our kiss goodbye
You can stand alone and watch us fly
Cause nothing's keeping us down
Gonna let it all out
Come on and say right now, right now, right now
This is our big hello
Cause we´re here & never letting go
We can finally see, it's not just a dream
When we set it all free, all free, all free
We set it all free!"
The Band:
"Oooh, ooooh, oooh, oooooooh!" (3X)
I smiled from heart as she smiled back, I do knew about her dream to stand at a stage at least once, but same as Rosita and Lucy, she kept it on second place and gave it up for something more Important.
And this was her Shop, she once told me, in private, that before the Shop, her father had constant stress with the Cops because of small thefts he made and that their mother left them as she was still young, a little it reminded me of Johnny
As her Father opened up the shop she made it to her mission to keep it going, so that he would not have to turn back to criminality and so that she would not lose him as well, she gave up her dreams for the sake of family and that made her in my eyes one of the three strongest women I knew.
I often asked myself if I would be capable of that, giving up my dreams for something else.
Still in this very moment, there was nothing to see from her having given up anything, only a woman whose inner strength and passion burned equal to my own.
Ash:
"I was a girl caught under your thumb
But my stars gonna shine brighter than your sun
And I will break so high, shoot so far
Gonna hit, gonna hit, hit every target
Make it count this time
I will make it count this time!"
Ash and Heather:
"This is our kiss goodbye
You can stand alone and watch us fly
Cause nothing's keeping us down
Gonna let it all out
Come on and say right now, right now, right now
This is our big hello
Cause we´re here & never letting go
We can finally see, it's not just a dream
When we set it all free, all free, all free
We set it all free!"
We set it all free
We set it all free
We set it all free!"
We sang together before I started my Guitar solo, while the band played in the background, before Heather and I sang softer before turning it back up.
However this time something happened before the Solo.
Some strange Glass fence raised infront of the Stage, and I had a pretty good idea what it was for.
Indeed, as soon as I began to rock off again I unintentionally shot some quills, which were however this time reflected by the security screens.
Luckily I didn´t struck any of the Band-members but they still looked a little afraid, all but Heather, who came up as I nodded to her, telling her to come back to the mic.
Ash and Heather:
"This is our kiss goodbye
You can stand alone and watch us fly
Cause nothing's keeping us down
Gonna let it all out
Come on and say right now, right now, right now
This is our big hello
Cause we´re here & never letting go
We can finally see, it's not just a dream
When we set it all free, all free, all free
We set it all free!"
We set it all free
We set it all free
We set it all free
We set it all free
We set it all fre-e!"
We sang together and the cheers seemed even more massive than everything this show had ever gotten since it´s start, it seemed to me, as though as if this song had become the new favorite song of most of the townspeople.
"Whew, this was awesome, what am I saying, You guys are awesome, so tell me, are you ready for some more Rock and roll...?!" I asked and as response a new shockwave of Cheers over-rolled me.
"Alright, but I think you guys need to cool down for a few minutes, we don´t want you all to suffer a heart-attack, what do you say, 15 minutes might be enough, got to keep this throat oiled anyways, how about it, are you in?!" I asked and they all cheered.
"Alright then, we will be back to rock you, in 15 minutes!" I stated and with this announcement the curtain dropped.
As soon as I was backstage, I rushed to the restroom, gosh it was hard to hold it in and still do as if nothing was wrong.
Also I do needed a drink, my throat was almost dry.
"That was one mighty song you wrote there, Sis, the people truly love it!" I heard a voice from the next cabin as I sat there doing my ..., business.
"Well I hope so, I would hate it if the hype for this song would so soon run out, but I guess I better keep it up with the writing, or else I am soon undermined by someone we cannot allow to win!" I stated and I heard an approving hum.
"Indeed, I would hate to see him succeed, especially after what he did to you!" Heather stated.
"Yep especially because of that, so tell me, how does it come that you are here, not that I mind, i´m glad you guys are, but still!" I stated.
"Well as I said your Boss came the day after that fight towards us in the afternoon and asked us if there was a favor he could fulfill to us, and that when I asked, it was nothing different as what I told you before, I honestly still fear to wake up and realize it has all been just a dream by me!" Heather stated giggling.
"Oh it is most certainly not, anyways, who are your Band members, never really saw them before..., at least I guess?!" I asked.
"Some friends back from when I was in Highschool, we occasionally played together in our test studio in the back of our store, to test out the new Merchandise we got in.
The Drummer is Ryan, a close friend and one of those guys Lance had borrowed money from and hasn´t returned it ever since, that´s also a few years ago.
Let me tell you that he is still quite pissed about it and would do nothing more than making Lance´s life as hard as possible, so it was kinda easy to convince him to help me with this performance.
Then we have Luna, our Keyboarder, she´s actually the older sister of our Manager / Promoter, Marlon, whose mission is to get us gigs on Sunday, seriously, if the theater wouldn´t have been, I would have asked you to join us but I guess you are better off as a Solo artist and occasional duet Partner of your Boyfriend, how was his name again..., Johnny right...
Anyways, the last but not least on the list is Austin, Luna´s Boyfriend and our Bassist and Acoustic Guitar-player.
And well you know me, the lead singer and lead guitarist of our Band!" Heather stated.
"I see and how´s your Band´s name?!" I asked.
"It´s called StereoSkull, after an Idea of Luna and Marlon, who both are a bit goth-orientated... also because we couldn´t come up with something better!" Heather replied with a sheepish giggling.
"I see.., well in anyways, I am really thankful to you guys, thanks to you my Performance has been a success so far and it might help me to keep my fans and add some new ones, instead of losing some!" I replied in all honesty.
"You don´t need to get all mushy now, I mean that´s what friends are for, one hand washes the other, as long as you support our store, we will gladly support you guys as band, it's a give and take business relationship, between your Boss and my Father!" She explained and I was in awe.
"I see!" I could only say, well it did was easier to pull the resources we needed from a direct source.
"Anyways, I hope you don´t expect me to stay the whole 15 minutes on the toilet, I still gonna get myself a drink before we will play again, see you later!" I heard her saying before she flushed and went outside the cabin to the sink to wash her hands.
I quickly finished up as well before doing the same.
"Well the next three songs will surely rock them of their chairs!" I mumbled as I thought about the next acts to come.
But until then it still was a little while.
To be continued...
A/N: Another Chapter another major talent, make sure to not miss a thing, the grand conclusion towards Ash´s Chapter and the beginning of Johnny´s Chapter, the last one of the Show.
I hope you stay tuned, sincerely, the Storyteller and his Books.
