Next time Henri called Doc Worthington, he’d mention “a friend.” There had to be a name for what ailed the woman.
“Okay.” Time to move on. “Now that you know what kind of deranged lunatics might be after me, let’s make some music. You’ve been over the selections?”
Michael’s fingers flew on his guitar’s fingerboard, proving he’d at least practiced the new version of“A Matter of When.” “No offense, dude, but I’ve heard you sing. Can you actually hit the high C on ‘Ice Inside’?”
Details, details. But the song wasn’t the same without the high notes. “We rehearse as is. When we get there, we’ll adjust as needed.” And if all went according to plan, adjusting wouldn’t be necessary.
“Whatever you say. You’re the boss.” To his guitar Michael murmured, “C’mon, Sylvia. Time to rock.”
The “yes, I am the boss” didn’t quite make it off Henri’s tongue. “No. We’re a band. This isn’t about me but about all of us.” Where the hell had the “all for one” speech come from? Tessa, Michael, Jake, and Colton stared back at Henri. Each of them was the best he and Lucas could find. If there was a weak link, it had to be Henri himself, with his limited vocal range and less than stellar history. In the past he’d relied on kickass lyrics to make up for the lack, which had only gotten him so far. He’d been working to improve, but had he improved enough? He focused a determined gaze on Michael. “I’ll hit the fucking note. ‘A Matter of When,’ from the top.”
Michael nodded and fingered the intro silently once before launching into a wake-the-dead solo. Ha! That’d get an audience’s attention. Jake joined on the count of five, followed by Colton and Tessa. Lastly, Henri cleared his throat and joined his band in making music.
“Where have you been?
All my life spent lonely,
I know you’re out there,
The one I’ve waited for….”
He sang toward the band, watching their timing, how they interacted. This being their first rehearsal, he expected frequent stops. Instead, Tessa caressed her drum kit, downplaying her role for the sake of the melancholy tune. No egos took over, none of the musicians attempted to dominate. They played together like a well-oiled machine, with only the odd note or two marring the perfection.
“I know I’ll find you,
It’s just a matter of when.”
The song ended. Nothing spectacular. It wouldn’t be a hit single without major work, but it would serve as a nice intermission between the edgier pieces. And it held appeal for romance-seeking fans.
The next song on the list required more skill, and featured the dreaded “C.” Henri’s private attempts succeeded about 50 percent of the time, but he wasn’t ready to sacrifice the chorus yet, not without a fight. He needed a chocolate bar and a high shelf, and the new album needed this hard driving song to keep his heavy metal fans happy and balance out the softer tracks. “Okay, now for ‘Ice Inside.’”
Michael made eye contact but didn’t speak. He began playing, the others joining in. After the introduction, Henri filled his lungs per Seb’s instruction and imagined reaching way up into the pantry.I can do this.
“Ice inside where his heart used to be,
Though he hides it well so none can see,
With a smile on his face he fools passersby
I know him well, I see the lie.
They only see what he wants them to see,
But he can never hide the truth from me.”
So far, so good. The chorus approached. And the “C.”
“Some may believe,
Some won’t care,
Deep within he hides despair.
Lonely with his lover near,
The pain is more than he can bear.”
He pulled in a deep breath and wailed, “There’s ice inside, there’s ice inside.”
