“Don’t look at me, dude. I thought Michelangelo was a ninja turtle.”
“Yes,” Matty agree. “Me too.”
“Guys.” Tucker popped into the room. “Stop everything you’re doing.”
Since we weren’t doing a damn thing, it was fairly easy to stop.
“What’s up, Tucker?” I asked.
“Just got a call from the label,” excitement lacing his words. “How would Sketch Monsters like to play The Basin?”
All four of our faces probably looked the same—stunned, excited, terrified.
“Hell yeah, we would,” I blurted out, unsure how or why we’d been granted such privileges but not dumb enough to turn it down. The Basin was a large outdoor arena reserved for the biggest names. Sketch Monsters was not one of those names. “They’re adding it to the tour?”
“No. Just one night. And you won’t be headlining, you’ll be opening—for Wylder.”
“Opening?” I slid up in my seat. “Is that the right move?”
“Normally I’d say no, but this is a great opportunity. It’s being filmed for a pay-per-view. They told me at least your last two songs will be on the recording, so we’ve got to save our best two for last.”
“We’re going to be on TV?” Matty asked.
“Well,youwon’t be,” Brandon said. “The camera adds ten pounds of ugly. But the rest of us will be.”
Tucker clapped once to focus our attention. “Hey! Listen up. There’s just one catch, a rather large one. It’s tonight. You go on at six p.m.”
No way did I hear him correctly. “Tonight?”
“Yep. Not ideal, obviously. This is a last-minute changeup. The band that was supposed to perform woke up this morning spewing out both ends. Food poisoning, I’m told. Anyway, they’re all too sick to play. The label knows you guys have been preparing for your own tour, so they’re offering the gig to you first. It’s a sold-out arena. It doesn’t get much bigger than this. Are you in?”
There was no need to do a survey. Just by the hungry expressions on all our faces, I knew we’d be up on that stage tonight. “We’re in.”
* * *
“Quinn, can I talk to you for a second?” Tucker pulled me aside after all the details had been ironed out.
“What’s up?”
“We’ve got a bit of an issue with Jess.”
“With Jess?”
“Yes. Her ex is all over the internet accusing her of perpetrating a burglary. Says she was convicted of a felony. He’s also alleging that Jess is scamming you… and your family.”
I leaned back against the wall, speechless.
“Now look, I don’t want to be insensitive in any way, but is it possible these allegations are true?”
“No. I mean, yes. She pled guilty to first-degree burglary in juvenile court like ten years ago. She was sentenced to detention, but her record was sealed when she turned eighteen. And, no, Tucker. Jess is absolutely not trying to scam my family.”
“Okay. I know this is terrible timing, and I’m sorry this came out today. If you get a chance, let your family know what’s happening before this gets out of hand.”
“I will. I gotta go.”
“Meet back here no later than two, Quinn. We’ll do a run-through and then we’ll head to the arena together. Don’t be late.”
“I won’t.”
