by Cathryn Fox
“What are you doing?” a voice yelled.
It was a short, round man with a look of rage on his face.
“Getting my guitars,” Gray said.
“Christ,” the man said. “The goddamn bus is jacked up right now. I’m trying to find a way to get it working and you’re on the damn thing. You know how dangerous that is?”
“No,” Mack said. “Why don’t you tell me how dangerous it is.”
“That can’t be good,” Trent whispered to Luke.
“No, not at all,” Luke said.
He rushed to break up the scene, getting between an angry tow truck driver and an annoyed Mack.
“Hold up,” Luke said.
“Hold up?” the man said. “What the hell does that mean? Hold up. You know what I’m trying to do for you?”
“You’ll get paid,” Luke said. “I’m sorry about the band here. We needed our guitars.”
“You could’ve said something!” the man shouted.
“Mack, Gray,” Luke said. “We done?”
“We’re done,” Mack said.
Luke gave a nod and the drummer and guitarist lifted the guitars and walked away. Luke looked at the tow truck driver, nodding again. “I’m sorry about that,” Luke said. “Kind of hard to take musicians away from their instruments. We’ll stay off the bus now.”
The man shook his head and rubbed his face. “Look, I’m sorry. I was just under the bus and I saw it moving. I thought the damn thing was going to fall on me.”
“Not a problem,” Luke said.
“Hey, I gotta ask while I’m here,” the man said. “My daughter is a big fan…”
Luke laughed. “Of course. Hope you have a pen and paper, I’m not allowed on the bus.”
“Smart ass,” the man said. He pulled pen and paper from his pocket and gave it to Luke.
Luke took the paper to the band and they all signed it for the tow truck driver. Everyone signed with smiles on their faces, amazed at how their day turned out. By then they should have been at the radio station, greeting fans, taking pictures, laughing and joking, enjoying the highlights of being the hottest rock band going. Instead, they were stranded on the side of the road, cold, signing a piece of paper that smelled of grease for a tow truck driver that was going to take their bus away.
A few minutes later Luke’s cell phone rang and it was Frank calling.
“Frank, talk to me,” Luke said.
“Where are you?”
“On the side of the road. Where are you?”
“I’m at the radio station still,” Frank said. “We’re working on different dates to bring you guys back here to for the live gig.”
“They can’t wait it out?” Luke asked. He felt his heart jump. Should he have suggested such a thing?
“They probably could,” Frank said. “But I’d hate to do that to the fans for a few songs. You’ll be on the radio for an interview. I hate to say this, but it’s kind of building some buzz that you were in a bus crash.”
“Buzz? It’s building buzz? I’m standing on the side of a road, Frank. I just had to sign an autograph for the tow truck driver. We’re freezing our asses off.”
“The limo will be there in a few minutes,” Frank said. “I promise.”
“You got a limo?”
“Yes. And I got the top floor of the hotel. You won’t be bothered.”
Mack stepped in front of Luke, put his thumb to his lips, and tilted his head back a few times. His eyes were wide and he smiled.
“Frank, the boys want to know about the drink situation at the hotel,” Luke said.
Mack gave a thumbs up.
“There’s plenty to drink,” Frank said. “Just don’t get into trouble, Luke.”
“Frank…”
“I’m serious,” Frank said. “I’m not there to babysit you guys tonight. Go there. Have a few drinks. Relax. Enjoy the night off.”
“Don’t worry,” Luke said, “Gray went back on the bus and got our guitars.”
“Perfect then,” Frank said.
Luke hung up the phone and before he could say a word to the band, a vehicle started to pull to the side of the road. It was a black limo, just as Frank had said.
“Our ride is here,” Luke pointed out.
They each grabbed a guitar. Everyone, except Luke, walked to the limo. He hung back and saw the driver of the tour bus, Tim, standing near the front of the bus, smoking a cigarette.
“We’re going to a hotel,” Luke said. “You can join us. Food. Booze. A place to sleep.”
“I’m good,” Tim said. “Can’t leave my bus.”
“Are you sure? Can I get you anything, Tim? I’ll call Frank…”
“It’s good,” Tim said. “Thanks.”
“Thank you, Tim, for keeping this thing standing when that tire blew.”
“Everyone gets their chance to be a hero,” Tim said. “Just have to take advantage of it when it happens.”
Luke smiled and thought about those words for a second. It amazed him how a guy like Tim could be so dedicated to something like driving a tour bus. But it saved Luke’s life, and the rest of the band. Luke turned and watched the rest of Fallen Tuesday climb into the limo. He watched Jake and Trent climb in first. Then as Gary bent to get in, Mack give him a kick in the ass. Mack threw his head back, laughing.
Luke laughed too.
He loved his band.
Mack slammed the door and locked it. He looked at Fallen Tuesday, minus their lead singer, and snapped his fingers at Gray, calling for his attention.
“Hey, listen to me,” Mack said.
“What’s wrong?”
“What’s going on with Luke?”
“What do you mean?”
“You see him tonight?” Mack asked. “He looked lost. Distant from us.”
“Bus accident will do that, I guess,” Gray said.
“Screw that,” Mack said. “We busted a tire.”
“We could have flipped. We could have died.”
“I could fall down the stairs at the hotel and break my neck,” Mack said. “Does that mean I should be distant and in fear?”
“Point taken. What do you think is wrong with him?”
“I don’t know,” Mack said. “His voice sounded different.”
“Can’t judge on that,” Gray said. “Going from a warm tour bus to standing in the cold air for almost an hour. My throat is sore right now from that air.”
“Yeah, I guess,” Mack said. He rubbed his face. Something about it just didn’t feel right. “What about on the bus?”
“What about?”
“I don’t know, he seemed like he was afraid to sing.”
“Maybe he just didn’t have the right lyrics to sing,” Gray said.
“You look for the best in everything, don’t you?” Mack asked.
Gray laughed. “Is there any other way to live?”
“Yeah, in reality,” Mack said.
A knock hit the window. It was Luke looking to get into the limo.
“Mack, I don’t know what he needs,” Gray said. “We’ll keep an eye on him though, okay? This has been such a whirlwind for all of us, especially him. The tour’s going to end soon and then we’ll get a chance to step back.”
Luke pounded on the window. “Guys!”
“For tonight,” Mack said as he put his finger to the button to unlock the door. “Maybe he just needs a stiff drink…”
Mack pressed the button and the doors unlocked. The door opened as Gray leaned over to Mack to add one more thing.
“And a woman.”
Amy couldn’t get the texts out of her mind. The implications, and more than that, the almost confession that Denny had been the one that broke into Amy’s car. The police told her that it looked like someone had been digging around for money. Maybe someone hungry for a meal, maybe someone looking for their next drug score. Amy didn’t say anything at the time, but there was a small change console right next to the steering wheel. Granted, it was just change, but t
here had to be maybe ten dollars or more in coins in there. Not to mention the emergency twenty she kept in the middle console. All that remained in the car, yet the person who broke in dumped everything from the glovebox, spread her CD’s all around the car, and did nothing else except the broken window.
Uncle Tom didn’t bring the situation up again during normal business hours. The evening rush came and the line to get into Tommy Two’s was out the door. Someone announced that there was a ninety minute wait and only three people had walked out because of the wait. People wanted to eat at the restaurant and were willing to wait to do so. It meant that Amy had to make sure the kitchen was on its game and that she was the same. She couldn’t think about Denny. She couldn’t think about her car. She couldn’t think about anything. She had to focus on the tickets pouring into the kitchen, the kitchen staff around her, and the waitresses who were under duress. These were the moments when the normal restaurant spats would break out.
Standing right where she belonged, Amy managed the kitchen with her eyes intent on perfection. It was the only thing that kept her worry and pain at bay. She felt as though she had to prove to herself that she could live life on her own, without facing any old demons that were waiting. She wished Denny would just disappear forever, but Amy knew that wasn’t possible. Not with what was owed to him.
An hour into the dinner rush, Amy looked around the kitchen.
“Steve, Craig, and Madison,” she called out and pointing. “You three, outside, take a five minute breather. Just five.”
“Sure it’s not two?” Madison asked and giggled.
Amy smiled. Everyone loved to pick on Uncle Tom but it was all out of love.
Amy then began a cycle of making sure everyone got a break in the kitchen. It was a trick that took a long time to master. Any slip ups in the kitchen could easily multiply and shut everything down. By sending everyone three by three for five minute breaks it kept the kitchen moving along and it gave everyone a chance to step away. It was easy to get annoyed and frustrated, it was a job after all, Amy knew that. For her, this was her life. She wanted the restaurant to be hers… and in some ways, she wanted the restaurant to be Uncle Tom’s too. He didn’t know that and if he did, he wouldn’t understand what that meant.
Everyone had their break and then Jeff elbowed Amy.
“What?”
“Take your break,” he said. “We’re slowing now.”
“No, I’m good.”
“You need a break,” Jeff said. “You look like something’s wrong.”
“My mind is thinking too much at once,” Amy said.
“Which a break could help, right?”
Amy looked at Jeff. The tip of his tongue played with his lip ring as he smiled. He was a good looking guy, but Amy wasn’t sure about Jeff. The last thing Amy needed was a relationship, especially one with someone who had an implications of a bad boy. Tattoos, piercings, the fact that he was her employee. That didn’t work out so well the first time.
It was no secret that Jeff had eyes for Amy. Everyone teased Amy about it when Jeff wasn’t around, but never in front of Uncle Tom. He wouldn’t approve.
“I’ll step out then,” Amy said.
“I think everyone’s seated now,” Jeff said. “It’s good. Take ten minutes.”
“Are you trying to get rid of me?”
“No, I just don’t like that look on your face.”
Amy smiled and walked away. She opened the back door and walked out into the cold darkness of the night. She had a coat in the office but it seemed like too much trouble to go back in and get it for a break. She didn’t smoke so she didn’t really plan on being outside that long at all. She hugged herself and looked up to the stars. She could see her breath as she breathed.
Jeff’s words played in her mind.
I just don’t like that look on your face…
Amy closed her eyes.
What look? The look of worry and fear… the look of a secret debt coming to collect?
“Shit,” Amy whispered.
She would have to call Denny. And maybe settle everything. Somehow.
Chapter Four
The limo pulled around to the back of the hotel. It made it barely ten feet into the parking lot when a crowd of people appeared, cheering and screaming for Fallen Tuesday.
“Holy hell,” Trent said.
“What is this?” Jake asked.
“This is being famous,” Mack said.
“There’s a hundred people out there,” Gray said.
“At least,” Luke said.
“How? How the hell?” Mack asked.
“Technology,” Luke said. “How many people saw us on the side of the road? How many people took a picture and tagged the location? The radio station probably said something by now. Christ, and Frank sends a limo for us. It’s no secret then, I guess.”
“What do we do?” Trent asked.
Mack clapped his hands together. “We get our shit and get to the hotel.”
“How?” Gray asked.
“We’ve wanted this since we were kids,” Luke said. “We were once these crazy fans, weren’t we? Sneaking around shows and hotels and buses, desperate for an autograph. Now we’re the rockstars.”
“Rockstars.” Mack leaned forward and grabbed a guitar.
Luke opened the door and stepped out with a guitar. Everyone followed and they took a few steps before the crowd erupted even more. The fans were fun. They were screaming because the band was okay. They screamed questions about the accident. Fallen Tuesday stuck close and walked through the crowd. The fans were blocking the way to the hotel. It worried Luke for a second, but then he saw the security guards open the door. Four large men were on their way to help.
“What’s happening?” Luke called out.
His voice hurt but the crowd loved it.
Soon there looked like a million hands shaking right in Luke’s face. There were pictures, posters, papers, and shirts. Markers and pens. Then came the cell phones. The clicks of pictures, flashes of cameras, and then people holding their phones out taping the entire scene.
Luke looked at the band and nodded.
They all started to sign autographs.
This was the moment they all had been waiting for. Their first gig was in their high school auditorium at a talent show. The audience count had been twelve people, including three teachers and the principal. Not even a minute into their first song, the principal pulled the plug because he didn’t like the music. That’s where Fallen Tuesday had started. The first real gig was at a local college, opening for a college band. The audience count was seven, five of those being the band members of the other band. When they first arrived in Los Angeles, every dive bar and club turned them down twice before giving them a shot to play.
Luke’s wrist hurt and he had been kissed by two dozen women. Many had proposed to him and more had offered to join him in the hotel for a little fun. The same women made their way to the rest of band, offering the same. Luke learned how to field those offers with laughs and nothing more. Jake and Trent were a little gun shy of it all still. They were the baby faces in the band, the ones who could probably get more women than the rest of the band, but they were always in shock of the sudden fame. As for Gray and Mack, they loved the attention. Gray hugged all the women he could, took pictures, and wiggled around the questions and offers of love and one night stands. Mack didn’t care. He never cared. He pushed back at the women, asking them questions.
What would you do? How long could you keep up? What about your friends?
He was brutal and Frank hated it. Frank warned them that someday someone could come forward and start trouble.
The security guards started to break up the crowd. Luke hurried to sign more autographs. He hated the idea of someone going home without a picture, autograph, or even a handshake. He knew that feeling, but he also knew that when the limo pulled into the parking lot there was about a hundred people. Now, there was twice that, maybe more. It wouldn’t b
e possible to sign all the autographs for the fans waiting. Fallen Tuesday would be outside all night and even then it wouldn’t stop. Everyone was already posting the pictures of the band on social networks and texting their friends, thus creating the buzz for a larger crowd.
“Sorry,” Luke said as put his hands up.
The rest of the band followed his lead. They picked up their guitars and huddled together between all four of the bodyguards and made their way into the hotel. When the door shut, Luke let out a long sigh.
“That was intense,” Jake said.
“That was great,” Mack said. “I want to go back out there and pick a few of them.”
“I’ll second that,” Gray said.
The bodyguards remained, waiting to know if that was something they were serious about.
“Call it a night,” Luke said. “We have to get upstairs and call Frank. We still have to get on the radio station for the interview.”
“He’s right,” Trent said.
“I’m always right, let’s go.”
Luke took a step and one of the bodyguards jumped in front of him. This part, Luke wasn’t used to just yet. He hated being led around like an animal, but he understood why, considering the scene outside. The band was escorted up the stairs to an elevator. The doors opened and it was empty. Everyone climbed inside, including the bodyguards. They all remained quiet and the bodyguards led the way to the rooms. The entire floor was theirs.
The band piled into the last room down the hall.
When the door shut, Luke felt relieved.
“I hate that feeling,” he said.
“What feeling?” Gray asked.
“That feeling like I’m being babysat,” Luke said. “Can’t stand it.”
“The price of fame,” Gray said as he wrapped his arm around Luke. “The paycheck is nice though, isn’t it?”
Luke smiled.
Yeah, the paycheck was nice. Very nice. Luke’s paycheck had been even nicer thanks to his shows with Chasing Cross. He hadn’t expected to get a dime for it, but the band made sure he was paid as though he were the drummer for Chasing Cross. It was a lot of extra money. It was almost guilt ridden money because Luke never wanted to play music to become rich and he hated the idea of everything not being equal in Fallen Tuesday, so the extra money sat in his bank account and he told himself he’d do something special with it.