“You haven’t heard?”
“If I’m asking you, then obviously fucking not.”
“He had to sing the other night because the crowd was revolting. It was either he sing, or they pack up and take more heat.”
I shift in the seat. He hates singing. He’s good at it and could easily sing lead on several of our songs, probably better than me. Our voices have a different range. Where his is deep, mine is raspy.
“The crowd loved it, and wanted more, but obviously they weren’t prepared for your absence and got the hell out of there.” When I don’t respond, he glances up from his phone. “We should probably talk.” He lowers his voice, his eyes going all shifty.
“About what?”
“You know.”
I frown, playing dumb. “Not sure what you mean.”
“For God’s sake, Travis. I can’t help you anymore.”
“You think I can’t get them without you?” I laugh bitterly. I could walk out on the street right now and get my hands on anything I want. It’s easier for me to make him my bitch boy. If I go down, this motherfucker is going down with me.
“Well, I think you should ease up. You’re facing some serious shit right now.”
“Thanks for pointing out the obvious, Dr. Phil. You’re not getting off that easy. You will be in just as much shit as me if everyone finds out you started this whole mess.”
He clears his throat. “I was only trying to help.”
“And you’ll keep helping unless you want to pack your bags right now and head to the unemployment line.”
His face grows red, and he looks like he wants to argue, but he can’t. “Fine.”
“Great.”
“But I’d be careful, Travis,” he warns.
My muscles clench. “With?”
“You seem to think you’re irreplaceable.”
I blink at him. I don’t think, IknowI am.
“You should watch the performance they gave while you were sitting in the back of a cop car. It was good. It’s on YouTube.” I grind my teeth together. “You’re good, you are, but irreplaceable you are not.”
My stomach clenches, and my heart rages. I don’t let him see how his words affect me. I say nothing, ignoring his jab, and exit the bus. I need a shower to wash off this bad feeling I have.
“Three, two, one.”I count down the intro to our next song and wait for my cue to start singing, but when I open my mouth, nothing comes out. I know the lyrics, but they’re lodged in my throat.
Calvin’s words about the band being able to replace me the other day keep replaying in my head. It’s bullshit. Penn would never do that to me. Tanner might stage a coup, though. I could see that.
“Yo!” Tanner yells, shaking me from my spiraling thoughts.
I spind around, and they’re all staring at me. Tanner seems annoyed while Liam and Penn both wear a face of concern. “My bad.” I adjust the mic in front of me and start again. “Three, two, one.”
Building me up, only to kick me down
We’ve been here before, same story, different town
We just go ’round and ’round
Yet, I come back
