Chapter 49: Tacit Blue
After another shower, she walked back to her room wrapped in a towel. Candace Scott looked in the mirror and removed her hair towel and started blow-drying her hair. Taking her brush, she brushed it out as she dried her hair. Once she was done, she clipped her hair back.
Dropping her towel, she slipped into her underwear. Smiling she looked at her blue eyes, it was time to go all out. Walking over to her dresser she opened a drawer and took out a small jewelry box. Looking through the box, she took out a ring and smiled. Where her siblings liked to get tattoos, Candi would get piercings. When she graduated Duke, she got her belly button pierced, when she worked, she didn't keep it in, but going out tonight, she'll have it in. Candi slipped it back in and secured it.
After medical school, she pierced her nipples. Again, she didn't wear her metal barbells at work. Tonight, she'll be wearing them. With a little laugh, she stuck out her tongue and inserted her tongue stud, which she got when she finished her pediatric residency.
Once she was done with the body jewelry she slipped on a simple necklace. Next, she filled her empty holes in her ears, as she would only wear one set of simple studs at work. When she finished her cardiac residency, she already decided she would get an industrial piercing. Nodding she knew where she was going. She knew what to wear and went to her closet. Pulling out what she wanted to wear and started changing into it.
That was a knock on the door. Candi quickly put her top on and turned to the door.
"Who is it?" Candi asked.
"Mads," came back from the door, Candi hearing her Australian Accent.
"Come in," Candi said.
The door open and Madyson walked in and closed the door behind her.
"Oh, Candi, I'm sorry, I interrupted you getting dressed," Madyson said.
Candi shook her head, "Never mind," she said and looked around, "Kaelyn's toy isn't around?"
"What's your obsession with Ross?" Madyson asked, canting her head and focusing on Candi with her Hazel eyes.
"I'd rather not show him anymore then what he already saw," Candi said.
Madyson nodded, "Well, I came to see what I can borrow for tonight," she said.
Candi nodded, "Go take a look in the closet," she said.
Madyson nodded and walked into the closet, "It's that type of place," she said with a laugh tease Candi on how she was dressed.
"I'm not finished getting dressed," Candi said.
Madyson laughed, "Tacit Blue sounds like a fun band," she said.
Candi nodded and shimmed herself into a mini skirt, "Yeah, don't let the name fool you," she said.
"Where did they come up with the name?" Madyson asked.
Candi shrugged, "I don't know, I wasn't working at the label when they got sighed," she said.
"I see," Madyson said, as she was going through Candi's closet, "It is true that you were the cousin that named Mental Lapse?"
Candi smiled, "Not totally true," she said.
"Really?" Madyson said.
"It was an offhand comment I made in study hall that Brian and Kat were in, and Kat liked it," Candi said and finished getting dressed and looked at herself in the mirror.
Madyson looked at Candi, "Going all out tonight, got the belly ring in," Madyson said.
"That's not all," Candi said and stuck her tongue out showing Madyson her tongue stud. Candi pulled her tongue back into her mouth, "Why not? I have it so why not wear it," she said.
"Well check this out," Madyson said and held up a couple of things, "What do you think?"
"That works," Candi said, "We're going to have to get you some stuff."
Madyson smiled, "Thanks, Candi, I'll see you downstairs," she said and left Candi's room.
Candi laughed she liked Madyson, of all the people that passed through Fawn's house Madyson had been one of the more interesting. It was said that the Australians were nice, but were wild when they went out. That was Madyson to a tee. Candi shoot her head and finished getting ready. She walked over to the mirror where she worked on her hair. She finished dressing, and once done she headed downstairs, and looked around to see Flynn came out of the kitchen/family room/dining room dressed to go out. Candi shook her head.
"Really Flynn, you're trying too hard," Candi said.
"What do you mean?" Flynn asked.
"Drop the flannel," Candi said and laughed.
Madyson came downstairs and looked at Flynn. She shook her head and turned to Candi. "So, who are we waiting for?" Madyson asked.
"Fawn," Flynn said, "Alden is meeting us there, as is Kaelyn and Ross."
Fawn came downstairs and walked into the Living Room/Dining/Kitchen, "Waiting for me?" Fawn asked.
"Yeah," Madyson said, "And the UBER."
"We were also placing bets," Flynn said.
"Bets on what?" Fawn asked, the clipped remains of a southern drawl more apparent in her last question.
"If you were going to go all Erin Silver," Flynn said.
Fawn shrugged in revulsion, and leaned her head back, making an ugh sound, "I've should have never shown you those pictures from me in high school," she said.
"They were classic," Flynn said.
"In my defense, I was drunk," Fawn said.
Candi held up her phone, "UBER is outside," she said.
"Well I'm here, so let's go," Fawn said and laughed. Candi knew Fawn well enough to know she wanted to add saved by the bell. They headed out to the UBER. It was decided to travel together to save time trying to find a parking space. Driving through the streets, Candi looked out the window. Fawn was looking out the other window, as the UBER driver dropped them off. They walked down the street and found a line of people outside the club. They met up with Alden, Kaelyn, and Ross.
The doors soon opened, and the crowd started to move inside the venue. Candi was at the front of the group. The doorman looked at her when she got there.
"I'm on the guest list," Candi said.
"Name?" The Doorman said, with a tone of disbelief.
"Candace Scott," Candi said.
The doorman checked the list and turned back to Candi, "ID Please?" The Doorman asked.
Candi handed over her ID. The doorman looked at the picture and looked Candi over. He nodded and handed her back her ID. The Doorman took his microphone to his mouth, "We have some VIPs coming in," he reported, and looked at Candi, "You may enter Ms. Scott, and may you and your guests have a good night."
"Candi, VIP? How did you swing that?" Kaelyn asked, her blue eyes wide with the thought of free VIP, and not having to win it or beg daddy to buy them.
Candi shrugged, "I guess Kayla was feeling generous and hooked us up," she said.
"This is a first for me," Kaelyn said.
Candi laughed, "Well enjoy," she said, knowing it wasn't Kaelyn's first time in VIP, just it was her first free upgrade.
Candi smiled and lead the group inside. A Staffer met them and led them to the VIP Section and gave them wristbands to allow them back into the VIP Section. A waitress came over and took their drink orders. Once she got her drink, Candi walked over to the edge of the VIP Section and looked over the stage.
Fawn walked over to her, "I'm excited," she said.
Candi nodded, "It could be a fun night," she said.
"I wonder how good of a singer she is live?" Fawn asked.
"You like the band, why would you ask that?" Candi asked.
"Well there are some big shoes she would have to fill," Fawn said.
"Different bands, unique styles, and different people," Candi said.
"There will be comparisons, none the less," Fawn said.
"Yeah," Candi said.
"Come with me," Fawn said, "I want to check the merch out."
Candi sighed, "Sure, but do me one favor," she said.
"What?" Fawn asked.
"Don't use the word merch again," Candi said.
They walked over to the merchandise stand. Candi looked around and wasn't interested in anything. Fawn was looking around to see what was happening on the table. Candi looked over the crowd and saw someone come over to her.
"Ms. Scott," the man said.
"Binks," Candi said.
"Mrs. Drake said you'd be coming," Binks said.
Candi nodded, "Well, I'm Doctor Scott, Binks, Ms. Scott are my sisters," she said.
"Sorry, there is just so many of you," Binks said.
Candi nodded, "No problem," she said.
"Well Tacit Blue wanted to make sure you were here," Binks said.
"Okay, well I'm here," Candi said.
Binks nodded, "Very well, Doctor Scott," he said and left.
Fawn walked over to Candi. "Who was that, Candi?" she asked.
"That is Binks, he is a label liaison for Tacit Blue," Candi said.
"What did he want?" Fawn said.
"Just wanted to see if we were here," Candi said, "What did you get?"
"A T-shirt and a CD, but I don't get the weird airplane in the artwork," Fawn said.
"I'm not sure," Candi said.
"Well let's head back before the straights get scared," Fawn said.
"I hope you mean the people that came with us," Candi said.
"Exactly," Fawn said as they returned to the VIP Area. They joined the group again at the table they were sitting at. Candi settled in and looked towards the stage. This wasn't the first time here, but everything was always a new experience.
"This is so cool, I never thought I'd ever get to be in this club in the VIP Section," Ross said.
"It's great, Candi seems to have everything wired," Kaelyn said.
"Not as wired as you think," Candi said.
Kaelyn smiled, "So, tell us the truth as a teenager you were a Pop Princess," she said, challenging Candi.
Candi laughed, "Have you ever hear me do karaoke? Do I sound like a Pop Princess?" she asked in reply.
"Duh! Autotune," Kaelyn said.
"Do Doctor's use, Duh?" Madyson asked, seeming a little off put by Kaelyn's use of the language.
"I guess we do now," Fawn chimed in.
"Kaelyn, Candi could have hardly been a Pop Princess, she was too busy playing basketball to do both," Flynn pointed out.
"She doesn't even look like the Pop Princess type," Alden said.
"Not true her cousin was in HPHA and founded Mental Lapse and played basketball," Kaelyn pointed out.
"Not on the same level, Brian, well was more interested in music," Candi said, and her mind drifted to her junior year and that day in study hall. A day that not often commented on but changed everything
(Flashback in italics)
Across the room, Candi noted Brian and Kat were talking music again. Candi sighed and shook her head, study hall was meant to study and do homework, not discuss their music.
But that's what it's supposed to be. Candi herself wasn't studying. Study Hall was one of her few breaks, so she was reading. Her dad had an extensive library and she found this one book. It looked interesting, so she took it and was just finished reading it.
"Just don't know what to write about," Brian said.
"Well write what comes to you, that has meaning," Kat said, "remember, we're going to change the world with our music."
Candi shook her head and leaned into her book. She missed the silence of Study Hall before Brian and Kat decided to re-launch their faulting music careers. Candi closed her book, now finished with it.
"Candi, what are you reading?" Brian asked.
Candi looked up from the book, "Was reading," she said.
"What were you reading?" Brian asked.
"Just some book I borrowed from my Dad," Candi said.
"Uncle Luke has some good books, is that one any good?" Brian asked.
Candi shrugged, "Thought-provoking," she said, "Talks about a cosmic oneness. I think."
"Maybe you should read it, Brian," Kat said, "Stimulate your writing."
"I've got nothing to lose," Brian said, "Candi, can I borrow it?"
"Do you have time to read it?" Candi asked.
"Of course, have that long bus trip tomorrow," Brian said.
"Ugh! Don't remind me," Candi said, "Sure," she got up and walked over to him and placed the book down in front of him, "I borrowed it so don't destroy it."
Brian looked up at Candi, "I won't," Brian said and looked at the cover, "The Marriage of Heaven of Hell, hmm sounds interesting."
Candi nodded, "Yes, and not light reading," she said and walked away, and looked out the window and saw a red-haired guy, now a senior, and her face grew dark.
"Earth to Candi, are you with us?" Madyson's voice woke Candi out of her dream-like state.
"Umm yeah," Candi said, "Just lost in thought."
"I bet she's thinking about her Pop Princess past," Kaelyn said, "I bet you had a pun for a name, such as Candi Cane or something like that."
"I wasn't a Pop Princess," Candi said as the house lights dimmed. An instrumental track came up. Candi and the group walked over to the rail, so they could see the band.
Tacit Blue was a five-piece band so the first person to come out was the drummer. He started a simple drum rhythm, which the guitarist started to come out one at a time, and started joining in.
Once the instrumental track ended the band members broke into the opening song. In a flash the lead singer rushed on the stage, she took her place center stage and grabbed the microphone.
Candi noted she was blonde, wore black sneakers, ripped up blue jeans, a black t-shirt, and a red and white checkered plaid shirt. In firm control of the microphone and with movements that were a force of nature. Once the music cue hit, she started singing.
(Song lyrics in italics)
There was a time when the sky
Held the answers for the things I couldn't find
What happens when you're blind?
A shooting star once said to me
That nothing's really what it seems
'You must make up your own mind'
Well I'll try this time
So I look to the world outside, oh
All of a sudden, I'm eating my insides
The tiny words that broke your heart
They're breaking and entering
So I look but you're not by my side
Whatever happened to 'I would rather die'?
The things that make you fall apart
They're breaking and entering
And I never said I was right
Well I'm probably the one in the wrong
The voices are telling me I just can't always be this strong
And nothing feels right, not right now
Like I've lost my mind somehow
I'm scaring myself
I don't know the girl in the mirror now
I'm burning up, I'm burning up
I don't know the girl in the mirror now
I'm burning up, I'm burning up
Well I'm burning up
So I look to the world outside, oh
All of a sudden, I'm eating my insides
The tiny words that broke your heart
They're breaking and entering
So I look but you're not by my side
Whatever happened to 'I would rather die'?
The things that make you fall apart
They're breaking and entering
I'm burning up, I'm burning up
They're breaking and entering
I'm burning up, I'm burning up
Well how can you know?
How can you stay in control when all that you know is
Falling apart? Falling apart
How can you know?
How can you stay in control when all that you know is
Falling apart? Falling apart
I'm burning up, I'm burning up
I don't know the girl in the mirror now
I'm burning up, I'm burning up
Well I'm burning up
Candi smiled, listening to the music. Nodding the lead singer had come a long way, and in a different direction than her sister. She'll forge her own path into the sun.
"What are you thinking about?" Madyson asked.
"How much I enjoy being out here with Y'all," Candi said.
"I should get Kayla a present, they're awesome," Madyson said.
Candi laughed, knowing there wasn't much Madyson could get that Kayla needed or wanted. Candi finished her drink, "I'm getting something to drink," Candi said and walked away.
The rest of the set Candi spent at the rail, table or getting drinks. Finally, she just settled at the table. Tacit Blue was opening for another band, a band on their way down, Unlucky Magician. Tacit Blue was the draw.
The group regrouped at the table. They sat around laughing and drinking.
"So, should we stay for Unlucky Magician?" Flynn asked.
"I don't know, I think Tacit Blue, will blow them off the stage," Madyson said.
"Mads, Unlucky Magician hasn't even gotten on stage yet," Alden said.
"It doesn't matter," Madyson said.
"I'm like, wow, that lead singer owned the stage," Kaelyn said.
"The Force is strong with her," Madyson said.
"She lived up to the standard," Fawn said.
Candi just nodded.
"Candi there you are, Binks said you were here," a woman's voice said.
Candi stood up and turned to a blonde woman, standing there smiling. Candi noted a few people were gawking at her. The blonde woman was dressed in black sneakers, ripped up blue jeans, a black Joy Division Unknown Pleasures t-shirt, and a red and white checked plaid shirt. Candi noted the woman had her right nostril pierce with a hoop and had a collection of cloth and leather bracelets on each wrist.
"Of course, I'm here," Candi said.
The blonde came over and embraced Candi, "It's great to see someone from home," she said as they broke apart.
"I'd expected Tuck to be here already," Candi said.
"Kayla has him doing a Keller video," The Blonde said.
Candi rolled her eyes, "I'm being rude, meet my guests, and as for Tuck he'll be here as soon as he could," she said.
"Okay," The Blonde said, smiled and they turned to the table.
"Okay, let's keep this simple, the group is Kaelyn, Ross, Madyson, Flynn, Alden, and Fawn your biggest fan," Candi said and pointed each person out, "Guys, this is Alix Hartmann, an old friend from home, and the lead singer of Tacit Blue."
Everyone replied with some form of wow or hi. Candi offered Alix a seat and they joined the group at the table.
"Alix, can you sign my shirt?" Fawn asked.
Alix smiled and nodded, "Sure," she said, "Does anyone have a sharpie?"
Fawn produced her shirt and a sharpie, "I do," she said.
Alix signed the shirt and smiled. "I hope you enjoyed the show," she said.
"I did," Fawn said.
"Hartmann, why does that name sound familiar?" Ross asked.
"Erica Hartmann from Strike Witches, maybe," Alix said with a laugh and she turned to Fawn, "So, you're one of my biggest fans, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"Thank you," Fawn said, "You were awesome tonight."
"You're welcome and thank you," Alix said.
"So, Alix can you settle a bet?" Kaelyn asked.
Alix nodded, "Okay, I'll try," she said.
"I have a bet that Candi was a Pop Princess before she was a doctor," Kaelyn said, "Since you're from her hometown, so is it true or not?"
Alix laughed, "No, Candi wasn't a Pop Princess," she said. Kaelyn pouted when she was proven wrong.
Madyson looked at Alix, "So, how do you know Candi? Did you go to school together?" she asked.
Alix looked at Madyson, "Love your accent, where you from?" she asked.
"Australia," Madyson said.
"Sydney? I've been to Sydney, love Sydney," Alix said.
"No, Melbourne," Madyson said.
"Sorry," Alix said.
"Not a problem, get it all the time," Madyson said, "So, as I asked did you go to school with Candi?"
Alix shook her head, "Oh no, too many years between us, you can say we meet through my sister," she said.
"Awe, that's nice," Kaelyn said.
"That's the simple version," Alix said, "I really got to know her after the great divorce."
"The Great Divorce?" Madyson asked.
"It's when there were tremendous changes in several acts at the label I worked at," Candi said, "Alix use to hang out at the label."
Alix laughed, "I was forced to, Opa wanted quiet so he made Katyusha take me with her," she said.
"Katyusha?" Madyson asked.
"Her older sister," Candi said.
"Yeah, my parents had two girls," Alix said, she laughed, "Rumor is when Keith comes back there is an important meeting."
Candi nodded, "I heard," she said.
Alix nodded, "Well I have to get back," she said.
Fawn smiled, "Could you get my CD signed for me as well, by the whole band?" she asked Alix.
Alix took the CD and smiled, "I'll get it back to you," she said, "I can get them to sign the t-shirt as well."
Fawn shook her head, "Thanks," she said.
"You're welcome," Alix said and took the t-shirt as well, then left.
Candi looked at the Group.
"That's awesome, Candi," Kaelyn said.
"What? Just a friend saying hi," Candi replied.
"There's more to the story," Kaelyn said.
Candi shook her head, "No, not really," she said.
"There really isn't," Fawn said, "Candi told you they met years ago."
Kaelyn nodded. Candi smiled and turned towards the stage. They seemed to be staying for the second band.