Higher Octave (Heavy Influence #2.5)

by Ann Marie Frohoff

  Higher Octave

  A Heavy Influence Novella

  2.5

  By Ann Marie Frohoff

  Copyright © 2015 by Ann Marie Frohoff

  All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use the material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  AMF Publishing

  Ann Marie Frohoff

  heavyinfluencetrilogy@gmail.com

  First Digital Edition: February 2015

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Frohoff, Ann Marie, 1971—

  Higher Octave : a novella / by Ann Marie Frohoff.— 1st edition

  Summary: Jake Masters has fallen from musical grace. His inner demons didn’t care about the awards, the multi-platinum records, the legions of fans around the world, nor his undying love for Alyssa. When Jake comes through fray, blurry about his future, he meets an unlikely inspiration, reigniting his passion and reason for living.

  ISBN: 099165725X ISBN: 978-0-9916572-5-4

  “If you are not too long, I will wait here for you all my life. ~

  Oscar Wilde

  1

  A golden pink haze hovered over the Malibu hills as the sun began its decent from the sky, as if it were about to take a dip in the ocean. A light, foggy, ocean mist began to roll towards the compound I’d been staying at for the last three months – the Promises rehab facility. It was the beginning of April, and the spring season fluttered and bloomed around me as I sat waiting for Bobby to visit. Bobby was my bassist and childhood friend. Other than calls and texts, it’d been over a year since I’d seen him last.

  It was the third spring season to come since my complete fall from grace. The music had gone completely silent.

  I was a free man. Free from answering to a manger, a label, a band or a girlfriend. My entire life was a sad E! True Hollywood Story, or something from Behind the Music – literally. I’d watched those episodes more times than I could count. I even recorded them so I could watch whenever I wanted, and it was a lot. I’m a free man, I thought, but I wasn’t really free. I still thought about and what I’d done and Alyssa every day. All the things I’d done and continued to do while I was in and out of the four other rehab facilities around the country.

  Alyssa, my childhood friend, love of my life and the girl next door, was in her last year at Pepperdine University. The pull of her was real and more intense as the days went by at Promises. I’d stayed away from Promises on purpose, knowing it was too close in proximity to her, to keep me from wanting to see her. Now there I was and there she was, just over the hill, and I felt the grip on my heart. I could have left Promises whenever I wanted, but I didn’t have anywhere else to be. I wasn’t sure about where I was headed or if I even wanted to make music. Though my notebooks were filled with lyrics and my head was filled with melodies, I’d yet to touch a guitar to string anything together. I wondered if Aly thought about me at all anymore. I had to come to terms that she’d ended up with Nathan, the guy that’d always been there to hold her up when we’d broken down – fuckin’ Nathan. I had to give it to the guy; he never gave up. He loved her and treated her better than I ever did. She’d spat in my face when she found out that Sienna and I had been sleeping together – Yep, I’d done the unthinkable. I’d slept with my dead best friend’s wife.

  The thought of Sienna sent a wave of nausea through me.

  I’m sorry, Dump.

  Sienna and I had used each other in so many ways after Dump’s death and my breakup with Aly. We’d both went to the first two-rehab facilities together, in and out, fucking around until it wasn’t fun anymore. Sienna began losing major modeling gigs, and the band got dropped from our label. The media went to town with speculation about our supposed sordid relationship. Even though Aly and I weren’t involved romantically, we maintained close contact, and the news sent her bursting through the doors of a Phoenix rehab facility. Sienna and I never admitted to anything. We’d kept our intimate moments to ourselves and let the media run amok, but when Aly confronted me, I told her the truth. That was the real end of our relationship, and the last time I’d talked to Aly.

  A flutter to the right of my ear startled me, and I swatted the air, noticing two hummingbirds at the red bird feeder right above my head. I marveled at their hovering tiny bodies and nearly invisible wings.

  “Thank you,” I heard Bobby say, and I turned to see Lydia, one of the many staff counselors, pointing in my direction. A smile sprung to my face. Bobby looked great. I stood, and was surprised that my knees were a bit weak from excitement.

  “Hey man!” I met him halfway, in the middle of the grey flagstone patio. We were the only ones outside. “Thank you, Lydia.” I waved to her, and she vanished inside with a smile. “Welcome to my humble abode.” I bowed.

  Bobby grinned, looking around. “Can I smoke out here?”

  “Yep.”

  “Do you mind?”

  “Nope.” I shook my head and I led him back to the table I’d sat at. “I’ll just sit on this side so the breeze will carry that shit in the other direction.” I’d always hated smoke, and blamed cigarettes for killing Dump. “I’m gonna keep sayin’ it. Stop smokin’. I don’t want to have to bury you for some cancer bullshit.”

  Bobby frowned and lit up anyway. “My dad smokes, my granddad smokes, and my great granddad smoked until he was eighty-nine. I’m goin’ with good odds.”

  “Fair enough.”

  “Why are you still here?” He looked at me, perplexed, as he bit his cig between his teeth and lit it.

  That’s the million-dollar question. “Don’t really have anywhere to be.”

  Bobby sucked on his cig, inhaling deeply, and blew out a stream of smoke. He nodded and smiled at me like he had a story to tell. He leaned towards me with his elbows on the table. “I came here to tell you I’m getting married.”

  A shock tingled at my fingertips. Wow. “Damn. Congratulations.” I sat back into my wooden chair. “Holy shit, man. So you and Marshall?”

  “Yeah.” His eyes beamed with confirmation. “He popped the question two days ago. He’s been a great fuckin’ partner, Jake. I love him. He wants kids, and I kinda do, too, ya know.”

  I was truly happy for them. “I’m stoked for you. Seriously.”

  “You’re the first person I’ve told.”

  Thinking about Marshall made me think about Aly. I was sure she knew they were getting married.

  “When’s the wedding?”

  “June fourteenth.” That was just around the corner, and as if Bobby read my mind he explained, “I know it’s fast, but I’m leaving on tour and Marsh is going to Paris for an interview at some high profile fashion house.” He waved his hand with raised eyebrows. “I should pay more attention.”

  “You guys going traditional? Like a real wedding?”

  He nodded with a corny grin. “Marshall wants a wedding. I’m gonna let him do whatever he wants.”

  Having Bobby sitting right in front of me had me all jacked up with happiness. I hadn’t felt uplifted in a long time. I almost forgot what it felt like. “Man, it’s good to see you.” I leaned in slapping my palms on the Beachwood table. Guilt crept up my spine, and I leaned back, shaking my head
. “I’m sorry I haven’t been communicating and you felt you had to drive over here.”

  He blinked twice, looking a bit serious. “I wanted to. I miss you, man. How are you?”

  “I’m actually really good. Been writing a shit-ton, but not sure what I wanna do with it all.”

  Bobby sighed and snuffed out his cigarette in a little silver cup. His eyes searched mine, an indication he had more to say. “What? What else you got?”

  “If Marshall really goes for a traditional wedding, I want you to be my best man.”

  “Sure. I’m down, man.” I said enthusiastically. “And I’m gonna be the best godfather your kid will ever have. That is, if you’ll allow me the honor.”

  Bobby chuckled. “Of course.” He nodded, taking me in for a beat. “And you know if it’s traditional, Aly will probably be Marshall’s best chick.”

  This time, my hands and arms went numb and heat flashed over me. “Okay. Is what it is.” I shrugged, sucking in a deep breath. I gestured with a serpentine wave of my arm. “Life rolls on.”

  Bobby’s smile was tight. “And there’s more.”

  My heart was already pounding like a jackhammer, and now it felt like it would pop out from my ear. “What?”

  “Nathan asked Aly to marry him, and he may be at the wedding, too.”

  I could barely spit any words out, and felt like I was choking. I sprung up and walked to the mini-fridge next to the barbeque. Anger, jealousy and loss ignited in my stomach. Taking a can of Coke in my fist, I wanted to throw it through the window and watch the glass shatter like my heart. Instead, I sighed deeply, controlling my emotions, and took a big gulp as if it were a shot of whisky.

  “Sorry man. I didn’t know how else to say it.” Bobby’s shoulders inched upward, gesturing apologetically.

  I belched unexpectedly and patted my chest. “Damn. I never drink this shit,” I said, staring at the can and then back at Bobby. “You know she’s right over the hill?” I pointed with the can in my hand. “That’s why I haven’t left here.”

  “I’m sorry.” He said looking as pained as I felt. Fuckin’ Nathan. I didn’t want to ask if she’d said yes. I assumed she had; otherwise, Bobby wouldn’t have said anything. My memory flashed with Aly’s hurt, tearful, and angry face as I’d confirmed my despicable relationship with Sienna. She threw the ring I’d given her at my face.

  I sniffed, took another drink, and cracked my neck. “Thanks for telling me.” I held my can of Coke out to him. “Cheers to everyone’s happy endings. I guess it’s really time for me to move on.”

  But for some reason I couldn’t, and I didn’t understand why. I stayed at Promises for another two weeks, talking to Lydia about it. She told me to keep journaling and to play music again.

  No shit.

  ***

  I hadn’t felt as clear-headed as I felt at that moment in years, looking out at the massive red Golden Gate Bridge. It was a warm summer day and the bay breeze cooled my sun-heated skin. I was being a full on tourist, standing there taking a picture of it with my camera phone. Then I decided to take a selfie. What the fuck, why not? I thought and I held the camera out at arms’ length and smiled with the bridge behind me. My first selfie, all by myself. A new beginning. A new life, I thought. I’d not posted anything on social media in over three years, and decided this was as good of a time as any. I was working on a new solo record, and decided right then it was time to announce it.

  “Marty,” I called and strolled toward him, as I downloaded all the deleted social media apps back on my phone. “I’m going to announce my solo endeavor.”

  His eyes batted with surprise, and he pushed his glasses up on his nose. “Wow. Okay. Are you sure you’re ready?”

  “Yep. This day. This time. I finally feel a real sense of freedom and…” I breathed in happily. “Hope. I’m feelin’ hopeful.” I nodded and refocused on my task at hand.

  Boom. I tapped post, and there it was, my mug on Instagram – the caption: I’m back! Get ready, Killas. New solo tracks are comin’. That post fed the rest of my accounts, and my phone began to explode with reply push notifications. It was music to my ears, and fire burst inside me. An excitement I’d thought I’d never feel again.

  Marty stood next to me, smiling, taking his own pictures. He’d never been to San Francisco. I’d rehired Marty to drive me around and to be my wingman. With a conscious decision to move on from the past, to make amends with those I’d hurt so deeply, included my mother and Notting, I was more determined than ever to bury the past. I’d done so much damage, it was hard to choose where to begin, but I started with Marty.

  I’d not driven a car since my third DUI. Two happened within a sixth month period, and I’d spent almost six months in jail with heavy fines and a massive settlement. Not that I couldn’t drive; I just didn’t want to. I’d almost killed a teenaged girl running a red light, t-boning her car a year and a half prior, and I had not touched a steering wheel since. The desire to be alone behind the wheel was a million miles away.

  I swam in my eager thoughts of a new life, as I prepared to run face-first into my old life at Bobby and Marshall’s engagement dinner. They’d moved to the little bay side town of Tiburon, just south of San Francisco. Marshall worked in San Francisco as a fashion design assistant, and Bobby still toured as a hired hand with various bands from time to time. The success from our band, Rita’s Revolt, allowed Bobby a very comfortable life. Money from all of our music publishing would always be coming in, and it made me feel good that I’d made the choice to include him and Dump in the publishing rights, even though I’d been the one to write all of our songs. I thought of Sienna and sincerely hoped she was doing well. I didn’t think she’d be at this dinner, but a bit of fear ran through me. I didn’t want my past to cause any drama for Bobby and Marshall.

  “Hey, Marty.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Have you heard anything from or about Sienna?”

  I strolled over to Marty, dodging a sea of Japanese tourists, young and old, exciting a tour bus. I smiled at the ones who’d stared at me, wondering if any of them would recognize me. Japan was one of our biggest fanbases, but if anyone did, no one said anything. I’d fallen off the face of the planet after Dump’s death, and especially after that stunt at The Roxy with the song I’d made with Aly. Other than bad tabloid press – I’d vanished.

  “No, I haven’t.” He shook his head with concern.

  “Yeah. Me neither.” Sienna told me to leave her alone. She’d apologized to me, as if it was all her fault we’d done the unthinkable. She’d said she wanted to start a new life, with none of us in it.

  Marty looked at his watch. “We better get going.”

  My heart speed up. “It’s now or never.”

  I had no idea what Aly looked like anymore.

  ***

  The cool bay breeze rustled my hair, and my date’s heels clicked on the cement sidewalk, echoing off the surrounding cottages. We snaked up and around a short hill to Marshall and Bobby’s home, just a few blocks away from my small hotel. All I could think about was how it would all unfold. I just wanted to get it over with.

  A horizontal dark wood fence surrounded a small well-maintained yard of a one-story contemporary home with Balinese accents. Little white lights were strung up the slender tree trunks of what looked like prehistoric bonsai trees, and cracked-glass lanterns the size of grapefruits hung throughout their branches.

  When I stepped into the house, I wondered whom I’d see first. I turned into the vast living room. Oversized contemporary sofas and white upholstered chairs sat on sealed cement floors. Dark wood coffee tables and end tables sat upon groovy patterned blue area rugs. The ceiling was vaulted, and beams and silver ducts were exposed. Modern silver lighting fixtures hung down here and there, and cactus and succulent plants accented the sparse setting. It was an open floor plan, and the kitchen was at the far end.

  I scanned the crowd, looking for Aly. She was somewhere near. I could feel it. I heard
Marshall’s voice and turned and the first set of eyes I met were Aly’s. She smiled and waved. I did the same, and looked back at my companion, whose long blond hair flowed down her back over her black body-hugging dress. She was beautiful, no doubt. I wondered what Aly thought of seeing us together, and I looked around for Nathan. Instead, I spotted Nadine, Aly’s best friend since high school.

  “Alyssa!” Marshall’s voice sang out, and I tried not to follow his movement. His hair was still lavender, and he wore a white button-up and cuffed white pants. His feet were bare, and his toenails were pink. “Look at you, you’re so ravishing in that red dress! Holy moly! And when did you cut your hair! I love it!” Marshall cooed at Alyssa. It was hard for anyone not to stare at them.

  Marshall was pinging off the walls, and Bobby went over to greet them with arms wide open, embracing Aly tightly. “You look great. Wow,” he complimented Aly, putting his arm around Marshall’s shoulders.

  “Oh my God! Let me get a picture of you two! I’m so excited for you guys.” Aly dug in her little black clutch, taking out a phone, and turned to place her bag on the arm of the sofa nearest her. She glanced up over the room, in my direction. I was staring at her, right over the shoulder of my date, and our eyes locked.

  She looked away quickly and turned back to Marshall and Bobby. “Okay, get ready.” She held the phone up clumsily. I could tell she was nervous, and it made me want to go to her. Bobby gave her a gentle smile and mouthed breathe.

  “Nadine, will you please take our picture?” She jumped in the middle of Marshall and Bobby.

  I couldn’t take it anymore, and had to go say hello. I grabbed the hand of my date and strolled over to them.