I worked as a waitress for awhile and eventually saved up enough money for a guitar. It was an electric guitar with bright blue flames painted on its purple body, and I fell in love with it the first time I saw it.

Then there was the fact that I didn't have very much experience with a real guitar. My fingers touched the neck gently and I dragged my blue pick across the strings. The sound brought back memories of me strumming my toy guitar for my dad before I had been replaced.

My small apartment was filled with the chords and rhythms that I played on that guitar. The other people who shared the apartment never complained, and I always thanked them for not turning me in.

Sometimes I would lie in my bed and strum my guitar until I fell asleep with it on my lap. Music made me feel complete, and I wondered how I had survived so long without it before.

Eventually the chords became songs, and I added my voice to the sound my guitar made. I was shocked at how nicely it fit with the songs, and found myself writing words for me to sing and play. I started performing for local bars and made more money with each performance.

Then one day I met someone who inspired me more than anyone else. He was a little bit taller than me, and his short brown hair was never combed very neatly. His hazel eyes sparkled happily and his smile showed that he truly loved life.

We met after one of my shows. I was leaving the restaurant and realized that I had dropped my pick somewhere. When I turned to go back inside and look someone opened the door and bumped into me. He looked like he was about my age, which was twenty two

"Oh, I'm so sorry, um, I'm Alex." He held out his hand in an awkward formal manner and I shook it sort of stiffly.

"Uh, Hi. I'm Emily, but everyone calls me Ember." Alex looked at me and then smiled.

"You did a really great job out there tonight Ember!" he realized that we were still holding hands and quickly dropped mine. "I was actually looking for you." I raised one eyebrow questioningly. "You dropped this."

He held up my blue pick, now chipped in a few places from the constant use, and gave it to me. Our hands touched and I watched him blush. "Thanks for bringing this back to me." I said. "I've used it so many times that it holds a lot of meaning for me."

Alex smiled again and said, "I'm glad I could help." There was an awkward silence and then he turned to walk away.

I watched as he walked away with his shoulders slumped slightly. "Wait!" I called out. He turned and there was a hopeful look in his eyes. He was like a big puppy or something.

Love was never my strong point but I decided that I couldn't just let Alex walk away. "Would you like to go get a cup of coffee with me or something? I mean, it's the least I could do after you found my pick. My treat!" Man I sounded lame.

Alex's eyes twinkled with happiness. "Sure, I mean, no!" I blinked and stared at him as he began to stutter. "Well, what I meant to say is that, er, it shouldn't be your treat. I bumped into you so I will pay for the coffee."

I opened my mouth to protest but he put a hand up to cut me off. "No. Now who's driving me or you?" We walked over to his car and he held open the door. I put my guitar in the back seat and climbed in.

The coffee shop was quiet and only a few people were there besides us. As we sipped our drinks I couldn't help but notice the way his eyes always shimmered like he was having the time of his life. "What's so funny?" I asked.

He choked on his coffee and then said, "Sorry, I was just writing a song in my head." He blushed embarrassedly. "It's a hobby of mine." Alex sighed and continued. "They're no where as good as yours though."

I smiled and his attitude brightened. "I'm sure that they're great. Why don't you sing me one?"

"You want me to- I couldn't. Sorry Ember. I'm too embarrassed to sing right now."

I could tell that he wasn't confident about his voice so I didn't push the topic. Instead I said, "So you liked my show?" He nodded and smiled. "Too bad I can't get an agent. Someday I want to become a rock star." I wasn't lying. My desire to be a star had grown to an almost unbearable level.

Alex's eyes widened. "Did you say that you needed an agent? My best friend is looking for someone to sponsor!" My eyes widened too and I stared at him in disbelief. "Would you like me to ask my friend for you?"

It was almost too good to be true. Hope sprang to my chest and I resisted the urge to sing in delight. Maybe my big break was finally here! "I would love it if you would ask your friend for me Alex."

Apparently he could tell how excited I was. He stood up and walked over to the pay phone. "I'm not sure if he will like being woken up, but I'm sure he will wake up when I tell him I got the Ember McLain!"

The other customers looked at me in surprise. An old lady bent over and whispered to her husband, but since he had a hearing aid the whisper was quite loud. "That's Ember McLain? I expected her to be much more exotic like those other rocker folks. I'm surprised that she's even noticed at all!"

It took all of my self restraint to stop myself from glaring at the old lady. If she wanted an exotic looking rocker then that was what she was going to get. I stormed out of the restaurant and stood by Alex's car. A few minutes later he ran out too.

"Ember what's wrong?" He stared into my dark green eyes for a minute. "That lady said something, didn't she?" I blinked and looked away.

"Alex, do you think that I'm a nobody?" He shook his head and opened his mouth to say something, but I continued. "Maybe I should get a new look." I looked at my reflection in the side mirror. My light brown hair flowed down past my shoulders and my green eyes seemed darker than usual.

Always the helpful person that he was, Alex said, "There's a new Wall-To-Wall mart open twenty four hours if you want. I also heard that they have a hair salon too." I forced myself to smile and climbed into his car.

Ten minutes later we were in front of the huge store. Alex and I walked through a huge parking lot that seemed to spread on forever. "There used to be a meadow here." Alex said looking scornfully at the black pavement. "I hate corporate America."

I smiled at this. "Adults ruin everything don't they?" Now Alex smiled.

"I hate to break it to you but we'll be adults soon enough." I stuck out my tongue at him and he laughed. His laugh was sweet and sounded like he laughed often.

Finally we made it to the front doors. Wall-To-Wall mart was very quiet and kind of spooky. A huge sign that looked like a map was hanging from the ceiling and a flashing arrow said, 'you are here'.

We found the hair salon and were very grateful that it wasn't too far away. Alex and I walked in and the stylist on duty woke up with a start. "Oh… customers. What brings you to my salon at…" she stared at the clock on the wall. "Three in the morning."

I walked over and sat in one of the chairs. "I would like my hair dyed please." The lady rolled her eyes and walked over.

"Although I think that you are way too young to worry about grey hairs I'll do it anyway. What color would you like?" I hadn't though about that and went through colors in my head. I could tell that the lady was getting angry.

I shifted on the chair uncomfortably and suddenly remembered the pick in my back pocket. I pulled it out and showed it too her. "This color please."

She blinked and said, "Are you sure? Whatever…" Then she carefully took my pick from me and went into a back room.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I turned to find out that Alex was staring at me. "Are you sure you want to do that to your hair Ember? I think your hair is very pretty the way it is."

I didn't answer and he sighed and picked up a magazine. The hair designer came out of the room and started working on my hair. A few hours later I looked in the mirror at my electric blue hair.

Alex was asleep in the chair and I decided not to wake him up. Instead I silently walked over to the clothes section and bought a tight black leather outfit and white high heel boots. When I returned to the hair salon Alex was still asleep and I shook him gently.

"What? Ugh, I feel like I slept on a rock." Then he looked up at me and his eyes widened. "Who the heck are you?" I rolled my eyes. "Oh, it's you Ember. I didn't recognize you with your hair like that."

Alex stood up and stretched. "I never had the chance to tell you that my agent friend said that it would be his honor to help you." I noticed that his eyes looked dull. "He should like your new look."

"Don't you like my new hairstyle?" I asked. He sighed and rubbed his eyes.

"I'm just tired. I'll drive you back to the bar and then you can get your car and go home." Alex stood up and walked out of the salon without a second glance. I followed and we soon were back in the huge parking lot.

Alex drove me home in silence and finally we were back to where we started. The silence was very awkward and I tried to start a conversation. "Alex," I called. He turned around and waited for me to catch up. "Do you ever think about the future?"

He stared at me and nodded thoughtfully. "I guess."

I was glad that he was finally speaking to me. "What do you see?"

Alex sighed again and said, "What do you see?"

That was not the answer I wanted to hear. "I'm serious!"

"… You, I see you."

I said nothing and he continued. "I see your face on magazines, billboards, and TV. You will be adored by millions and yet…" he paused and looked into my eyes. "Like the dreamers and rockers before you, you will still be alone."

Then he turned and got back into his car and drove away. I watched him leave and wondered what I had done to make him so angry.