Page 99 of Strum Me

***

“So, the word on the street is that now Coldplay’s pulled out—you guys are taking over,” Sammy, the radio talk show hosts asks us at our breakfast radio interview the next day.

“Ooh, where did you hear that?” Jez asks.

“It’s not true?”

“We’re not saying that, we’re just wondering where you heard it,” Jez fires back, winking.

“So, it is true,” Sammy presses.

“We’re not saying that either, but it sure sounds like a good idea to us…if the powers that control that sort of thing are listening,” Sebastian replies.

“Ha-ha, tell us, is it true? Because I might just have a reason to come along!”

“Come along anyway, and if it’s not us, we can boo them together!” Marius suggests, causing Sammy to burst into laughter.

“It’s going to be huge is all I can say. If there’s anyone who’s been living under a rock and haven’t heard of you yet, they will after this concert, no doubt.”

“Haven’t heard of us! For shame! We don’t wear all this makeup just for ourselves you know,” Jez insists.

“Yeah, we wear it for each other!” Sebastian finishes.

“Come on guys, really, you can’t give us a tiny hint?”

“We do nothing tiny my dear,” I finally speak up.

“Fine. You heard it here first. The Rock Chamber Boys may or may not be headlining the first ever RockFever Fest. I know. Breaking news.”

***

“Damn, how’d she hear so fast? Someone’s got loose lips that’s for sure,” Jez wonders as we leave the radio station.

“Hey, I’m Princess Loose Lips to you,” Hailey pipes up, and gives us all a knowing wink.

“I knew it,” Marius says, clapping his hands.

“Wha?” Hailey replies, giving us an innocent shrug.

“Your dad said don’t say anything,” Sebastian accuses her.

“Yeah, to you. He said the opposite to me. Anyway, it’s important to get your name out there, cementing you guys for the gig. I heard everyone is clamoring for it and there’s a huge list of bands just waiting to take over.”

“No kidding, like who?”

“Arctic Monkeys, Angus and Julia Stone, The String Flingers,” she rattles off.

“Whoa whoa, who? You’re kidding right? The String Flingers?” I ask her.

“Nope, not kidding. I heard they were in the running.”

“Good God why?” Jez sneers, totally unimpressed.

“Well, they got a lot of exposure when they played before you guys at Snow Fest and frankly, they’re cheap. They’d pretty much play for free, just for the publicity. And well—festivals aren’t cheap to run,” she explains.

“Ugh, I could fart into a microphone and sound better than those hacks,” I say, causing Marius to snort his herbal tea.

“Well, save it for the comeback tour, okay?” he says once he recovers. Grabbing onto my arm, he holds me back while the other guys keep walking. “Dude, you okay? I don’t usually see you so worked up.”