Straight from the Heart (13 page)

“Your turn,” Cale said, holding out the
guitar by the head, and I practically snatched it away from him. I
got comfortable as Nick the employee handed me a pick he had in the
back office. As I adjusted the strap around me, I felt eyes
watching me. I could handle playing in front of hundreds, sometimes
thousands by now, but one person who was literally
inches
from me? I wasn’t sure I could take it.

I played the fastest version of “Twinkle
Twinkle Little Star” I had ever heard, trying to avoid anyone’s
reaction, or the amber eyes that were boring into my skin at that
very second. I glanced up and Cale appeared pretty amused. “Is
something funny?” I questioned him, standing up to put the guitar
back in its appropriate spot.

“No not at all. I’m just confirming what I
told you earlier about you looking hot.”

“Just be quiet before you go any further.” I
laughed. “You looked pretty schmexy yourself playing a purple
guitar. Buy it for yourself.”

Cale gave me a bizarre look. “Schmexy?”

“Yes! You looked all serious, but at the
same time, mysterious,” I lied. I loved watching him play the
guitar out of anything. It’s always fun on stage to watch him
become a whole other person, but seeing him stripped down, playing
simple chords on an electric guitar? It felt like pure love.

“You’re adding to my ego right now, Bryn
Schaefler,” he teased. “So, is Charming taking you out before the
show?”

I had only heard from Damon a couple of
times while we were at the shop. I’d given him my phone number
after our date in Chicago so he’d been texting me here and there
asking me what I was up to. He said they had a couple of interviews
before lunch and a meeting with a local radio station where they
were going to play some stripped down music. I told him I’d see him
at the show and left it at that.

“Nah. Got radio stuff and interviews going
on I guess. So I’m stuck with you alllll day long pal.” I pinched
his bicep and he yelled "Ow". I mouthed "Sorry" as we headed
towards the rest of the group. “Looks like Vince bought a guitar.”
I signaled toward Vince, who was beaming as he held up his new
acoustic guitar and appeared to be gloating.

“About time. He’s been playing the same old
thing for years now. We were talking about doing a bunch of
acoustic tracks for the deluxe version of the album. That’s more of
his thing,” Cale explained as Vince brought the mahogany guitar
over to show me.

“That’s even prettier than mine, I’ll give
you that.” I told Vince.

“Thanks, B. I saw yours at the audition and
I thought ‘Shit I need to get something like that.’” Vince laughed
as I felt the smooth shiny wood. I experienced the same excitement
when I bought mine because he looked like a kid in a candy store.
“Cost enough, I’ll end up saving it for my kids someday if I ever
have them.”

“Wait till your mom sees that, bud.” Hal
slapped Vince on the back.

“Yeah she’ll ask me how much it cost and why
did I spend so much money on an instrument.” Vince answered. Then
he turned to me. “My mom’s one of those frugal spenders. She
doesn’t like to spend any money unless she has a coupon or it’s
basically free. Doesn’t matter what it is.” Heck, I’d rather have
parents that were frugal with their money as opposed to ones who
had money just lying around in piles, spending it carelessly by the
bundle.

“That’s an understatement,” Hal said.
Peering down at his watch he said, “Better get going everyone and
get some food made up and head on over to the venue.”

St. Louis came and went with a bang.

When Damon knocked on the door to our
dressing room at the show, I practically knocked him down onto the
ground. “Miss me much?” he chuckled, his arms linking around my
waist. I could hear the guys groan behind me. They were either
pissed or thought it was going to be a full PDA fest.

“Too much,” I groaned. I had missed the
company. It was only a day, but to me it felt like a lot longer.
His grey eyes were bright with excitement for tonight’s show and
had a new Avenged Sevenfold t-shirt on, fitting him just right in
his torso. He definitely wasn’t as built as Cale, but close enough.
“How’d the interviews go?”

“Amazing. One of the writers from
Alternative Press drove down from Cleveland just to interview us.
They’re going to snap a couple of pictures during the show. I’m
stoked. Never gets old.” He ran a hand through his hair, flashing a
smile at me. “So did you end up buying that guitar you texted me
about?”

I wish. “Can’t afford it right now. Maybe
one day I’ll come back down here just to buy it. I felt like it was
made for me, as silly as it sounds.” I said.

“Once we get out to Cali I’ll call a few
buddies of mine that own a huge shop towards Los Angeles. They’ll
hook you up,” Damon promised. His arm stayed glued to my body as he
was chatting about something with the guys. I pretended to listen
to the conversation, only because Cale’s amber eyes were glaring at
me as he and Damon were talking about technical stuff. I wasn’t
sure what I should feel at that very second. From the way Damon
held onto me like I was his lifeline, it was clear he had some sort
of feelings for me.

Getting more comfortable with being on stage
after every show, I tried interacting more with the crowd and
working on my singing, trying to be as on point as possible. Cale
said we should be expecting a call from RockOut Records, the label
that came to see us in Ohio. So it was good we were out gaining an
even bigger fan base and more exposure. I knew most people that
followed Everlasting were surprised by the change in members. The
crowds expected to see some guy just as tattooed and talented as
the rest of the boys, rocking the stage ten times harder than I
ever could. But I told myself to go out there and play like I’m
never going to strum another guitar. Then they’ll like me.

After the show Vince told us there was a big
party going on at one of the local clubs downtown and everyone on
the tour was going. Being on such a high from the set, there was no
way I could object to tagging along. I was feeling more flirtatious
and care-free tonight for whatever reason, so when all of the bands
pulled up to Club Amnesia on Washington Avenue, I was ready to
dance. There was a line-up outside, but Damon had put everyone on a
"list" with the bouncer so, despite the protests, our group got in
first.  

I changed into a white sequined off the
shoulder top and skinny jeans that sat right below my waist,
showing a mere inch of my skin. Looking around at the hundreds of
people packed into this club bumping and grinding with little to no
clothes at all, I found Lucy, who was sitting at one of the red
circular couches against the far wall.

“You made it!” she shouted over the thumping
beat. It was a new Drake song I hadn’t heard before. Lucy looked
stunning, wearing a short red dress that went a few inches above
her knees. Her hair was brushed off to one side with a red rose
pinned behind her ear.

“Yeah it was time to let loose!” I yelled in
return, giving her a hug. “Shit you look hot Lucy!”

She gave herself a once over and let out a
shy smile “I clean up nice when I need to. But this guy right here
is going to have the girls flocking to him!” Pauly, her bandmate,
came over and started heckling Lucy about dancing. “Pauly, you know
Bryn, right?”

His eyes went from Lucy over to mine and
grinned. “I’ve seen her around on the tour, but never had the
chance to formally introduce myself.” He held out a large hand.
Pauly had to be at least 6 foot five, with colorful tattoos
covering both arms. He had jet black hair that was cut shaggy down
to his chin. “Pauly Donovan, or my parents call me Paul, but
everyone else calls me Pauly.”

“Bryn Schaefler.” I shook his hand, bearing
a sinister smile.

“So how would you ladies like to dance with
a dashing guy like myself?” Pauly offered. He held both of his arms
out, ready to escort us.

Lucy looked my way and I nodded. “Sure why
the Hell not? It’s not like I see you every second of my life,” She
joked, linking our arms with his. Pauly led us out to the dance
floor and we danced to Ellie Goulding’s “Burn.”

I’ve ever had so much fun dancing as I did
that night. Pauly didn’t hold either one of us too close, spinning
us on occasion.  Periodically I searched for Damon or any sign
of Cale, but the guys dragged Cale immediately to the bar. Damn
them being over 21. After dancing to a couple of upbeat songs,
Pauly offered to get us drinks. “I know you’re under 21, but you
look like you could use a drink.” He whispered in my ear. I sure as
hell did. I needed something to take the edge off because I was
starting to get paranoia.

“That sounds awesome. Just a vodka and diet
please.” I kissed him on the cheek. “If you see Damon or Cale up
there can you tell them I said ‘hey?’?”

“Of course darling. Be right back.” He
winked. Lucy kept eying him up as he went to the ginormous bar. If
my eyes served me right, it seemed like Lucy had some sort of
feelings for Pauly.

I turned to face her. “Okay, spill, Luce.
You have feelings for Pauly!”

She blushed a deep tomato red. “More than
that actually. I’m in love with the guy. But nothing can ever come
of it.”

“Why not? You two would be so adorable
together,” I pointed out.

“I should say the same thing about you and
Cale. He claims you’re like his sister, but I know the look in his
eye when he’s really fallen for someone. I mean Damon, .he’s hot.
I’ve also known him a
long
time. I know how he used to be,
and I really don’t think he’ll change. He’s a good guy, just a lot
of issues you shouldn’t get involved with. But basically I’m
telling you don’t date him because you’ll eventually get hurt.” Her
face turned from happy to concern when she warned me about Damon.
But I knew when she thought Cale had fallen in love with me it had
to hurt her a little bit. I only knew small bits of what happened
with her and Cale, but I wasn’t going to judge her for anything
that went wrong whatever it was.

“What has Damon done that’s so bad?” I
asked.

“He just grew up rough. He’s a womanizer and
will screw any woman that walks by him.
Minus
me, and I’ve
told him that. He didn’t have a mother figure in his life so it was
basically Abel and Damon fending for themselves while their dad
brought a different woman home every other night. Only thing that
man did was pay for their music camps and instruments. That was
it.” Lucy tensed up as Pauly walked back with a drink in each hand.
“I shouldn’t have told you all that. Just be careful.”

Squeezing her hand, I said “I promise I’ll
watch myself.” It was pure silence minus the music until Pauly
handed our drinks to us.

“Thank you. That was much needed,” I said,
taking a sip of the liquid mixture in my glass. “See either one of
them up there?”

Pauly hesitated, so I figured it wasn’t good
news. “I…uh...you might not want to see what’s going on over
there.”

That was an open invitation for me to walk
over and check it out for myself. “Cale?” I asked as I stood and
began walking toward the bar.

He nodded, and I rolled my eyes, doubling my
pace towards the edge of the bar area, where I could see a sea of
girls flocking around one bar stool. I found my guy. It was most
definitely Cale, his hair pushed completely back as I watched him
tear the lips off a red haired big chested bimbo. His hands were
cupping her ass as she grabbed a fistful of the bottom of his
shirt. It was full on PDA at its best, or worst I should say.
Wanting to gag on the spot, I told myself it wasn’t worth it. Right
as I turned around ready to tear someone apart, I could hear Cale
shout “Bryn, wait!”

No way in Hell was I giving him my attention
tonight. Pauly was right, I shouldn’t have gone over there. I
chugged my first drink, and flirted with the young bartender so I
could get another free one. It left a nasty taste in my mouth, but
it would help me forget that disgusting picture pierced in my
brain.

I couldn’t make out Lucy through the crowd,
so I made my way to the dance floor by myself. Another hip-hop song
with a catchy beat came on and I was lost in the music. That was
normally the type of music I avoided, but for this type of
occasion? I’d take it. I lifted my hands in the air, letting the
alcohol spread through my body. My hips swayed and dipped as the
bass boomed through the speakers and I let myself go. By the time
the song was over I felt hands on both my hips and a body moving
behind me in time with the music.

“It’s pretty toxic to be dancing alone,” a
voice whispered in my ear, and I recognized it as Damon’s. I didn’t
turn back to look at him, just continued to dance in silence as he
held me hard against his body. Hot damn this guy could dance like a
pro. Damon was singing along to the song as I wrapped my arms
behind his neck. “So what’s bugging you tonight?” he finally
asked.

“Just trying to have some fun!” I shouted.
Damon spun me around, arms still linked around his neck, bodies
pressed together. I wanted to kiss him so bad. I didn’t know if it
was because Cale was practically fucking a girl in public, or that
I really liked Damon.

“The way you were dancing doesn’t make it
seem like you were having some fun, Bryn,” Damon teased. “I think
it’s the classic getting revenge tactic.”

“Maybe it was,” I teased right back. “But I
was looking for you anyways.”

We stood there frozen for what felt like
forever, and then Damon tilted his head down to meet mine. Our eyes
were level and I could tell if he drank at all, I never would’ve
noticed, since I saw the beautiful gray eyes that captured my
heart.

That was when he kissed me.