Page 56 of A Tragic Melody

“Yeah.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Hard to look at you after watching you puke all over the table.”

“I didn’t take you for the kind of guy who cared about a little vomit.”

“It wasn’t the vomit, but what caused it. And what you did after.”

She laughs. “Sorry Wyatt, you aren’t going to convince me sobriety is better.”

“Yeah.” I nod.

“Accepting defeat?”

“Might as well, right? Nothing I do is going to change anything. You’re still going to use drugs and destroy me.”

“Shame. I was having fun battling it out with you.”

“It was kind of fun.”

“Well at least when it all goes up in flames, you won’t be surprised.”

“I’m sure you’ll still make it exciting.”

“You bet.” She grins before spinning around, her blonde hair hitting me in the chest.

“I wrote you a song.”

She glances back. “You did?”

“Yeah. You asked, and I’m supposed to deliver, right?”

“Exactly. Send it to me.”

“Will do.”

I don’t see her again until soundcheck. It’s the first one I’ve done with her. She orders the sound guys around like she is queen, and she might as well be.

Testing the mic in each section of the stage, giving orders to lower the volume here, and increase it there. The guys and I just play what she tells us to. Testing out our equipment isn’t important, so long as she likes what we sound like.

It isn’t until the end that I make a suggestion.

“Can we turn up her vocals in my earpiece?”

“Why?” Tuesday asks, looking at me. “It should be fine as is.”

“Respectfully, I’m going to need you to trust me on this.”

“Why should I?” She glares, hand on her hip. She is wearing tight, black jeans and a tube top under a red leather jacket. “You’ve only played with me once.”

“Yes, and I could’ve done a better job if your vocals were turned up.”

“Won’t that drown out the rest of us?” Kellen asks.

“Yeah.” I shrug. “But I can play better to her voice. The music is great, but we should work on our timing. It was fine when Lenny was playing lead, but we can do better without him. The notes are great,” I add, looking at Tuesday. She keeps her lips pressed together. “But they were written for amateurs. We can improve them if you just let me try a few things.”

“Like you did with Silent Rage?” she asks.