I walked over to the canvas-covered fence and folded my arms over my chest, sneaking a peek between two bars. Not a bad crowd that’d stayed, not bad at all. I’d expected more people to leave once the second band had left the stage, but I estimated there were a few hundred still standing there. Waiting for us.

It’d be interesting to see if any of our demos got sold over at the merch tents.

“Stage is clear!” someone from the crew hollered.

It was our cue.

I rejoined the others and grabbed my guitars, then jogged up the steps and nodded to Luiz. Soon as my electric was plugged in, he would start us off.

The stage was still dark as a big man in a headset and festival T-shirt grabbed the mic to introduce us.

“Next up, straight from Brooklyn! Give it up for The Second Initiative!”

It was a freaking rush to hear the people cheering right away. Maybe they were drunk already. They hadn’t fucking heard us yet. But I took advantage, quickly plugged in my guitar, and took a chord, holding it in place to pour a feedback effect out of the speakers and through the crowd. Then I took my spot in front of my mic and my overdrive on the floor, pressed down the pedal as Luiz hit the hi-hat, and Nicky followed suit. As the music exploded, so did the stage. Spotlights lit us up and killed the nerves.

Nicky and I exchanged a chuckle before I turned my back on the crowd and made eye contact with Maria and Matt. They led the way for the choir. Got a nod from Chris, got a nod from Sylvia. Shit was good.

I faced the mic again and threw myself into the song, managing to block out the outside world like I hadn’t been able to do this morning.

I’m leaving…in the morning.

I don’t…I don’t know where I’m going.

But we’ve got a long way to go.

Chapter 15

The entire gig had been so loud that when we sat down with our acoustic guitars to deliver the last song in front of a quiet audience, a rushing sound invaded my ears.

I kept one foot on the floor and half sat on the stool, and my voice was granted a break with a tune that was much easier to sing. Well, at the moment anyway. There was a crescendo later when I’d have to give it my all one last time.

Nicky and Chris harmonized beautifully alongside me, taking over for a beat so I could move on to my next task. I switched places with Sylvia; she took care of the rhythm, and my fingers found their home on the keyboard.

She stayed by my side, and we sang into the same mic.