We're with the Band

by Adrianne Ambrose

  Their table was quickly swarmed by kids brandishing cameras and autograph books. “The Candy Hearts are awesome!” one girl trilled.

  “I know you guys are going to be totally famous!” another boy shouted as he shoved a camera in Tina’s face.

  Tina didn’t mind the attention at all. She just smiled and signed anything that was shoved at her. Reggie half wished they had already eaten because then he could probably trick her into signing for the check.

  “Come on, Betty,” Archie said, jumping to his feet. “Let’s get out of here!” They made a dash to Archie’s old car with the fans in hot pursuit.

  Once they were safely inside the vehicle with all the doors locked, Tina began to laugh. “Did you see how many fans we have? That was awesome!”

  But Betty was not happy. She had been looking forward to a nice dinner with no talk of bands or songs or fans, and now the evening was ruined.

  “How do they keep finding us?” Betty wondered, her voice trembling. “And why do they keep finding us? Is it really worth mobbing us and ruining our dinner for a few autographs? I mean, no one even knows us outside of Riverdale.”

  Tina rolled her eyes. “Betty, you are totally underestimating the power of The Candy Hearts.”

  Chapter 8

  “Where were you?” Veronica all but shouted the next day as she unlocked her car’s trunk so Betty could put in her guitar. “Nancy and I waited for you guys yesterday for two hours!”

  “Ronnie, what are you talking about?” Betty stared at her, wide-eyed. “Band practice wasn’t yesterday. It was the day before. Tina and I came over, but you weren’t home.”

  “That’s a lie! I specifically told Tina I was going to the club with my parents and we agreed that practice would be yesterday. Nancy knew about it. Why didn’t you?”

  Betty was already stressed. She wasn’t in the mood to be the target of one of Veronica’s temper tantrums. “Oh just calm down,” Betty grumbled. “So there was a little mistake and we ended up thinking band practice was on the wrong night. It’s not the end of the world.”

  “Not for you, maybe, but I actually have a social life,” Veronica informed her. “There are a lot of things I could do besides sit around waiting for you.”

  “Like what, Miss Popularity?”

  “I could have gone on a date with Archie.” Veronica unlocked the car and they both climbed in.

  Betty laughed. “No, you couldn’t have.”

  “And why not?” Veronica snarled as she started up her car.

  “Because,” Betty told her, buckling her seatbelt, “Archie was on a date with me.”

  Veronica was stunned into silence. She was so furious and confused and hurt that she couldn’t think of anything to say to her best friend. She couldn’t even look at her. They drove to Pop’s Chocklit Shoppe in an uncomfortable silence that continued even after they met Tina and Nancy.

  “You guys, please talk to each other,” Tina pleaded as The Candy Hearts set up their gear at the back of Pop’s Chocklit Shoppe. “This is all my fault. I got confused when Veronica said she was going out to dinner with her family. I switched the days in my head. Don’t be mad at each other.”

  “Or”—Veronica directed her comment at Tina although it was obvious she wanted Betty to overhear—“somebody wanted me to sit at home waiting so she could sneak off and have a date with Archie.”

  “Hey,” Betty said, whirling around to face both of them. “Archie asked me out and I said yes. We were going to invite you, but Tina said you were busy.”

  Tina looked sheepish. “Sorry. I really thought last night was when you were going out with your folks.”

  Veronica glared at the girls. “I’m not sure I believe either one of you.”

  XOXO

  That night, the show at Pop’s Chocklit Shoppe was pretty awful. Betty and Veronica’s harmonies were painfully off. Even their voices weren’t getting along. Tina raced through every song and Nancy just seemed lost. When it was time for them to play their most popular song, “BFF,” Betty glanced over, half-willing to put their argument behind her and share the microphone with Veronica like she always did, but Ronnie glared at her so angrily, she just stayed where she was.

  After their performance, Tina was bouncing off the walls as was her custom after a show. “That was great!” she said.

  Nancy gave her a concerned look. “Great? What are you talking about? I’m completely embarrassed. We sounded awful.”

  “Okay, we didn’t sound our best,” the drummer conceded. “But tons of kids asked for our autographs and someone sent us each a red rose and I saw at least three girls and two guys wearing homemade Candy Heart T-shirts. We should really get some professional band T-shirts made up and sell them at the shows.”

  There was a sincere lack of enthusiasm for her latest idea. Veronica just rolled her eyes and Betty busied herself with packing up her guitar. Nancy took a deep breath and then said, “Tina, maybe we should, you know, ease up a little with the whole band thing. I mean, playing so many gigs all the time is kind of stressful. The parents for all of my babysitting jobs are mad at me, and I haven’t seen Chuck in a week.”

  Tina looked like she could have been knocked over with a feather. “Ease up on the band? Are you crazy? If anything we’ve got to start practicing a lot more. We’ve got to learn more songs. We’ve got to give this band everything we’ve got, right?!”

  Raising both her shoulders in a questioning shrug, Nancy asked, “But why?”

  “Why?” Tina was flabbergasted. “Why? Because we’ve got the huge mall gig in less than a week and The Candy Hearts have got to be perfect. That show is going to open a lot of doors for us, right? We’re going to be playing all the time. And bigger shows. Much bigger. After things go well at the mall, we are going to get a ton of great gigs.”

  “Hmmm.” Nancy pursed her lips. “Tina, I’ve got to be honest with you, summer is almost over and in another couple of weeks we’ll be back at school. Then I’m really going to need to focus on homework and college applications. I can’t spend all my free time on the band.”

  Tina crossed her arms. “So what are you saying, Nancy? Are you trying to quit the band? Because if that’s what you’re saying, we can always find another bass player.”

  Pinching the bridge of her nose, Nancy shook her head. “Listen, I don’t know what I’m saying. I’m tired and I just want to go home and, you know, not think about the band for a little while.”

  “Good idea,” Betty agreed, hoisting up her guitar case.

  “I could go a few days without thinking about the band,” Veronica chimed in.

  They all headed for the door. “Hey, guys,” Tina called after them. “Don’t forget we have practice tomorrow.”

  “Oh, I won’t forget,” Veronica said over her shoulder. “I’m just wondering if you will.”

  Veronica drove Betty home in almost total silence. It was an even more uncomfortable car ride than it had been on the way to Pop’s Chocklit Shoppe.

  Betty slouched in her seat, counting the seconds until it was over. She wasn’t feeling very good about The Candy Hearts anymore. Mostly it was the obsessive fans. She just couldn’t figure out how the teenagers kept tracking them down. And, more importantly, why? But, up until that evening, at least playing the shows had been fun. But now with Veronica not even willing to share a microphone with her during “BFF,” the best thing about the band had suddenly soured. Betty didn’t know what to do. Normally when she had a problem she talked to Veronica. But the icy chill radiating off of her best friend let Betty know that remedy was not currently an option.

  XOXO

  Practice the next day brought little relief to the band tension. Fans hiding in the shrubbery kept a steady racket going of “plink, plink, plink” as they pelted the windows of the pool house with personalized candy hearts. The sweets said things like “BFF,” “I luv you,” and “You’re mine.” It was creepy on a couple of levels. Veronica had to use the pool house phone to call the but
ler and get him to chase the kids off with his broom again.

  “Why does this keep happening?” Betty asked. “I mean, we’re just a local band. We should be begging our friends to come to our shows, not being stalked by candy-wielding weirdos.”

  “You’re right,” Veronica agreed. “This whole obsessive fan thing has officially gotten old.”

  “You guys,” Tina said, putting her hands on her hips, “they’re fans. Don’t you get it? You’re supposed to be flattered. They love our music, right? They’re obsessed with us. Doesn’t that make you feel good?”

  The other members of The Candy Hearts gave her concerned looks. “Not really,” Nancy admitted.

  A stunned look crossed Tina’s face. “I can’t believe what I’m hearing! Do you know how many girls would kill to be in your position?”

  “Would you please relax?” Veronica said impatiently. “We’re all going to be starting school in a couple of weeks. You included. I’m starting to think that’s a good thing. Then maybe you’ll have something to obsess over besides the band.”

  XOXO

  Betty looked at her reflection in the mirror and sighed. The outfits Veronica had picked out for The Candy Hearts to wear for the Central Town Mall grand reopening were supercute, but there was no sparkle in Betty’s blue eyes. This was the big gig they’d all been working for, but she couldn’t help but feel nervous. Central High was Riverdale’s school rival, and there was always a chance that the audience would give them a chilly reception. And, even worse, there was a bigger chance that Veronica would give her the cold shoulder onstage.

  Smoothing down her minidress, Betty gave her outfit one last check. Something kept itching the back of her neck at the collar line. Running her hand across the cloth, Betty found a tag that she quickly clipped off. She went to throw it away, but then did a double take. Veronica had told her that she’d purchased the band’s outfits at Forever Seventeen, but the tag definitely said Marlene’s Boutique. Betty frowned as a large pang of guilt washed over her. Veronica had felt the need to lie to her about where she purchased their outfits. They’d been friends since before either one of them knew the difference between a designer label and something from a bargain basement, and now, all of a sudden, Veronica felt the need to lie. Betty couldn’t help but feel that being in The Candy Hearts was driving a wedge into their friendship. The whole thing just made her feel sad.

  The parking lot of Central Town Mall was already filled with cars by the time Tina picked Betty up and they drove over together.

  “Wow, people are really excited,” Betty mused, looking out the window.

  “Of course they are!” Tina wheeled the car into the back lot where Ms. Marcos had instructed them to park. “They’ve even hired roadies to help us with our gear.”

  “Roadies?” Betty perked up. “Cool! The closest we’ve come to roadies is when The Archies help carry our speakers.”

  “I know!” Tina was grinning from ear to ear. “The Candy Hearts are really coming up in the world. This gig is just the beginning.”

  The comment caused Betty to purse her lips, but she said nothing. The mall show meant a lot to Tina and she wanted her friend to have her moment—even if Betty wasn’t all that enthusiastic about sharing in the moment.

  Veronica and Nancy were already backstage setting up their gear when Tina and Betty walked in, followed by three enormous roadies toting their equipment. “You can put my kit down over there.” Tina beamed at the roadie who had somehow managed to carry the four heavy cases that contained her entire drum set. “I could get used to this,” Tina said, winking at Nancy, who was standing nearby feeling awkward as a huge roadie loomed over her.

  Nancy peered up at the hulking man. “It might take me awhile.”

  “Don’t be so small town,” Tina said, laughing at her.

  “You live in Riverdale, too, you know,” Nancy pointed out. “And speaking of which, have any of you gotten a look at the crowd? There are a ton of kids from Central out there. I mean, the place is packed and practically the whole first six rows next to the stage are kids from Central High.”

  “So.” Tina shrugged as she opened one of her drum cases.

  “Tina, you don’t exactly know this because you just moved here, but Central and Riverdale are huge rivals,” Nancy informed her.

  This made Tina laugh again. “You’re being ridiculous. The Candy Hearts’ music transcends silly high school rivalries. We have nothing to worry about.”

  “If you say so,” Nancy replied, but she didn’t sound convinced.

  “Hey, Veronica,” Betty said as she walked toward her maybe/maybe-not best friend. Her initial attempt was met with a cold shoulder, but Betty forged ahead, anyway. “Thanks for the Marlene’s Boutique outfit. Everyone looks really cute.”

  The comment brought Veronica up short. “They’re from Forever Seventeen.”

  “No,” Betty said, keeping her voice gentle, “they’re not. There was a tag on my minidress that you must have missed. It said Marlene’s.”

  Veronica stumbled for an explanation.

  “Oh, Ronnie,” Tina interjected. “Why don’t you just tell her the truth?”

  Veronica knitted her brows. “What are you talking about?”

  “Oh please,” Tina said, rolling her eyes. Then, she turned to Betty. “Veronica was worried you’d get bent out of shape if you knew how much our outfits cost because, you know, you’re kind of a goody-two-shoes.”

  “I never said that!” Veronica insisted.

  “Come on, Ronnie,” Tina said defiantly. “I’m sick of you two fighting. Let’s be honest here and clear the air.”

  Glaring right back at her, Veronica snarled, “Stop calling me Ronnie.”

  Betty’s cheeks grew pink. She looked over at Veronica and said, “You called me a goody-two-shoes?”

  “No . . .” Veronica wanted to explain, but Tina cut her off.

  “Not in so many words, but come on, Betty. You are kind of a goody-two-shoes. Accept it. Just like what you said about Veronica. She’s kind of a spoiled daddy’s girl.”

  Veronica whipped her head around to glare at her friend. “You called me a spoiled daddy’s girl?”

  “No!” Betty insisted. “I didn’t.”

  Tina chuckled. “Yes, you did. I mean, maybe not word-for-word, but you might as well admit how you feel. Spoiled daddy’s girl is what you’re thinking when you look at Veronica. We all are.”

  “I am not thinking that!” Betty protested, her face glowing fire engine–red. “I would never think something like that about Veronica. She’s my best friend.”

  “Not anymore!” Veronica thundered.

  “Would you two please stop fighting all the time?” Tina yelled at them both. “I am so tired of you guys always being at each other’s throats! I hate being in the middle!” Tina yanked her Tri-Tom out of its case. “Why do I always have to do everything around here? Why am I always in the middle?”

  Betty and Veronica both turned to give her questioning looks. Then, with a sideways glance, Veronica asked under her breath, “Do you have any idea what she’s talking about?”

  Shaking her head, Betty replied, “Not really.”

  XOXO

  By the time The Candy Hearts were all set up, the crowd was getting impatient. Someone started chanting, “BFF! BFF!” and soon the whole crowd chimed in.

  Looking at her watch, Nancy frowned and clucked her tongue. “It’s only twelve thirty. We’re not supposed to start playing until one. What’s everyone doing here already? How are we supposed to do our sound check?”

  “What can I say?” Tina threw her hands up in the air as if she were at a loss, but it was obvious she was thrilled. “We’ve got great fans.”

  “Girls, what are you doing?” Ms. Marcos called as she rushed over to them.

  “Trying to figure out how to do our sound check,” Nancy offered.

  “Well, I’m afraid it’s too crowded for that. You’ll just have to do without,” Ms. Marcos replied. />
  “But we have to have a sound check,” Veronica insisted. “We have to know if our mics are working and how everything sounds with the mixing board. Betty and Nancy have to make sure they’re in tune. I’m sorry, Ms. Marcos, but we really do need one.”

  The mall manager appeared even more strained as she looked at the girls’ faces and then glanced at the curtain that was doing little to muffle the sound of the crowd chanting, “BFF! BFF!”

  “No we don’t,” Tina interjected. “Not really. Don’t worry, Ms. Marcos, The Candy Hearts are professionals and we’re going to sound great even if we don’t have a sound check.”

  “What?” Veronica glared at the drummer. “Are you crazy?”

  “Not as crazy as that crowd is about The Candy Hearts. Come on, girls. We just need to have confidence and play, right? Listen to them out there. The crowd already loves us.”

  “Okay, fine.” Veronica gave in. “Let’s just get this over with. Nancy, what time is it?”

  Nancy looked at her watch. “We’ve got twenty minutes before we hit the stage.”

  “Excuse me a minute, girls.” Ms. Marcos hurried over to the stage manager.

  Betty peeked through the break in the curtain and scanned the audience. Turning pale, she put a hand to her forehead and murmured, “I think I’m going to be sick.”

  She really did look ill and Tina was immediately alarmed. “What? Why?”

  “Because there are two billion kids out there, a ton of them are from Central, and we haven’t even had a sound check,” Betty wailed. “I hate to say it, but The Candy Hearts are going down in flames.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous!” Tina shouted. “There’s a lot riding on this show! We have to make it our best show ever!”

  “BFF! BFF!” the crowd kept chanting.

  Looking grim, Veronica grumbled under her breath, “I wish we’d never agreed to this.”

  Ms. Marcos hurried back over to The Candy Hearts. “Girls, we’re going to start the show early,” she informed them.

  “What?!” The Candy Hearts collectively gasped.

  “Those kids out there are going to start eating the stage if we don’t do something. This whole thing is turning into a safety hazard. You girls have got to get out there and start playing.”