And when the glowing screen stares back at me, I find that I never clicked send.
Over the years, I’d watched videos of them on the internet, but seeing Cameryn and Tyler, my best friends, like this, performing on the big stage, was something else.
They were exactly where they were meant to be.
This was their playground.
Fog fills the stage while flame machines ignite at different intervals. My eyes are locked on Cameryn as she falls to her bleeding knees, slapping and plucking her bass guitar, rolling her torso against the face expertly. Her mouth is propped open, tongue resting against her top teeth while she throws her head backward, waves of dirty blonde hair spilling down the length of her spine with the movement and her black cropped tank rising,only just covering the bottom of her bare breasts. She closes her eyes and plays along with the melody I knowsaved her.
I’m smiling, goosebumps streaking over my limbs in fierce explosions of pride as I swing my gaze to the back of the stage, finding Tyler. I bite my bottom lip as it begins to tremble, tears of joy licking the backs of my corneas.
He’s so fucking happy, andI’m so fucking proud.
His sticks flex between his fingers when he throws his whole body into each hit. And as I watch him, I see the young boy with sticks in his back pocket and one hopeful dream. He made that happen,though I always knew he would.
I cast a thumb across my jaw, collecting my happy tears, when I feel a presence at my back. It’s large, warm, yet blistering cold and sogoddamnclose.My spine tightens when a chill snakes its way down the length.Crossing my arms over my chest, I create a barrier for the unruly pulse.
I know exactly who it is.
Leather, lime, and pine.
Fuck him.
I have made a clear effort to avoid him tonight. Staying close to Ty, knowing damn well that Harlen doesn’t have the balls to approach me when I’m with him.
Truly, that’s the only game plan I’ve had, and it seemed to be working,until right now.
I suck a sharp breath between my teeth and wince slightly when the now cool air shocks the nerves at my gums. Flicking my eyes to Harmony at the edge of the stage, I ignore him and focus on her.
She’s different, so unique, a tonal mix of Taylor Momsen from The Pretty Reckless and Maria Brick from In This Moment.
Her vocal cords are both a gold mine of shimmering beauty and the glowing cinders among a pile of reckless ash.
Travis, Harmony’s guitarist, moves toward Cameryn, and they tangle themselves together to finish out the song. I met him tonight, and he reminded me so much of Ty, the dark hair and black eyes, except he has a sleeve of tattoos, whereas Ty has none.
The buzz of the crowd vibrates at my scalp when the entire stage falls black and Harmony yells into the microphone, “Alright. Who wants to-” She pauses, takes a deep breath, then chuckles lightly, pushing her platinum money piece out of her eyes, “chase the storm?”
Goosebumps.
And at her words, he steps closer.
Fuck.
Harlen’s calloused hand ghosts its way over my hip, and I shiver, closing my eyes as the skin at our point of contact tingles.
The screams from the crowd are like a tidal wave, out for destruction, but his touch is the only force that has the ability to destroy me tonight.
My heart leaps to my throat, and before I can find a way to swallow, his hand is gone.
I don’t turn around. I stay right where I am.What the fuck?
“I can’t hear you!” Harmony screams before Ty throws a few kicks at his kickdrum and the crowd starts to chant, “Chasing the Storm.”Both Cameryn and Travis exit at the opposite side of the stage when Chase slides up to my left. He’s standing beside me in the wings, his face serious as he closes his dark eyes and reclines his head. I watch the tightness of his throat as he swallows, then says something beneath his breath.
Fuck, this is survival.
When I feel a nudge at my shoulder, I flick my gaze to my right, finding Asher’s mossy greens before he winks at me. A deep smile cuts across his pretty lips, his sharp dimples coming out of hiding. “You good?” he asks.
I force a smile to my lips. “Yeah,” I lie, wondering where the fuck Harlen is when Ash nods, pinches my shoulder, and moves onto the stage.
