Rock God

Sydney

Most people don’t think about what it would be like to be the sibling of a celebrity, what it would be like to forever live in the shadow of someone who’s larger than life. Well, let me tell you…it sucks. My brother, Damon St. Claire, is a rock legend by his own rights as the bassist for the rock band Eternal Chaos of the Broken Mind. With us being separated by an age difference of six years, we never really were close. Once the band made it big and signed their contract, that little detail didn’t matter to everyone in our town. I couldn’t go to school, the store or even to the movies without being bombarded by their crazed and pathetic fans.

“Oh my god! You’re Damon’s sister, right?”

“Hey, do you think you could get me an autograph?”

“Being the sister of one of the band members means you can get free tickets to the shows, right?”

“Wow, do you think you could introduce me to the band?”

It was like being famous by association, only none of them even knew my name. Luckily for me, the school aspect of my day-to-day life is no longer going to be an issue since I graduate in two days, but the day that should be a celebration of my achievement is yet another where I’ll, instead, be thrust into my brother’s shadow. Why you ask? Well, the rock gods themselves are coming to town for my graduation. Any other girl would be ‘fangirling’ over having a famous rock band attend their graduation just for them, but I’m not like that.

This will be the first time meeting the whole band for me since I turned down the offer to attend every one of their shows both before and after they became famous. So far, word of their plan to go to the graduation, or even the fact that they’ll be in town at all, hasn’t leaked, so no one has upped their game in an attempt to get a foot in the door with meeting the guys. Thank the heaven’s for small favors.

The ride home from the school today has been quiet, giving me time to mentally prepare for what awaits me when I get there. Damon sent me a text during lunch to let me know that they made it and asked if one of the guys could crash in my room for a few hours. Jake, my only real friend and, coincidentally, the only other person in this town who isn’t obsessed with the band, has been extremely understanding where my silence is concerned, but that goes out the window the second he pulls up in front of my house.

“Syd? Are you good, or do you need me to come in and be a buffer?” God, I couldn’t love this boy more if I tried. We’ve known each other since kindergarten and he always seems to know what I need, sometimes even before I do.

“Yeah, if you don’t mind.” I give him a soft smile as he gets out of the car with me following behind him. He walks me to the door then steps back to let me lead the way in as he always does, even though my dad has told him he can just walk in whenever. Jake is like a son to him, but he always insists he would feel rude if he just barged in.

“Syd?!” I barely get a single foot over the threshold before Damon’s shout nearly has me jumping out of my skin. He rushes at me and I brace myself before he throws his arms around me and swings me around like a rag doll.

“Shit, Damon! Put me down you neanderthal!” His response is a deep chuckle, but he does slowly loosen his hold until I can pull free.

“Damn, Syd! You look so…different.” I notice three imposing figures looming behind him, but try to remain focused.

“A lot can change in a year, D. Where’s dad?” His sad smile is all the answer I need…he got called into work…again.

“It’s just us tonight. I’m going to order pizza for all of us. You staying for dinner, Jake?” I look back at Jake who is already looking down at me, checking to see if I’m okay with it.

“Yeah, he’s staying. So, you going to do introductions, or are you going to keep standing there like a prick?” Damon lets out another deep chuckle as he steps aside and starts from right to left, pointing at each man as he introduces us.

“Syd, this is our badass guitarist, Luke, our drummer, Nicco and this man is our lead singer, pianist and violinist, Kade. Guys, this is my little sister, Sydney and her best friend and partner in crime, Jake.” I shake each of their hands and notice the shared look of surprise and amusement on all their faces. Jake follows my lead, politely greeting each man and shaking their hands as if this is a totally normal situation…like having a famous rock band over to eat pizza and hang out is an everyday occurrence. Luke is a tall, lanky man with brown eyes and dark brown hair while Nicco is about average height with short light brown hair and hazel eyes. Kade is the one who stands out the most in the looks department with his broad shoulders, tall muscular frame, dark blonde hair that is long enough to be pulled into a man bun and piercing deep blue eyes. I get why women drool over him, the man looks like a modern day viking.

“So, are you both graduating then?” Kade asks with a mischievous smile on his face.

“Yep. Now I just have to convince Syd here to wear a dress under her gown.” I slowly turn my head and pin Jake with a sharp glare.

“Like I told you, not happening. I don’t understand the fascination you have with seeing me in a damn dress.” He shrugs and gives me a playful smile.

“I don’t understand the aversion you have to wearing one.” I hate how he can always turn things around on me, no matter what it is, he always seems to have the upper hand or a comeback.

“I’ll make you a deal. I’ll wear a dress…if you wear one too.” I hear my brother and the guys trying to cover their chuckles, but to my annoyance, Jake has a satisfied smirk on his face as he extends his hand to me.

“Deal.” Well, shit! He wouldn’t go through with this though, right? No way! I place my hand in his and shake on it before I can back out.

“Alright, well, what kind of pizza does everyone want. Don’t worry, I remember yours, Syd. Extra cheese, mushrooms, bacon, olives, chicken, onion, bell pepper and garlic parm sauce, right?” I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t impressed by his memory of the kind of pizza I like, but instead of letting it show, I smile and give a nod of approval.

“Damn, that sounds bomb as fuck! Get two of those.” Kade adds with a smile that likely would have the masses bowing at his large, combat boot wearing feet.

“Pepperoni and mushroom for me.” Luke’s request has Nicco nodding in agreement.

“Yeah, two of those too.” Damon looks at Jake, not knowing him as well as I do.

“Oh, I’ll just share Syd’s like I usually do. I need to step outside and call my dad so he knows I won’t be home till later.” Damon goes into the kitchen to place the order while Jake heads out the door to call his dad, leaving me alone with three strange, though admittedly attractive, men.

“So, Sydney, you excited to graduate?” Luke gives me a smile as I lift my shoulders in a shrug.

“Yes and no. I’m excited to be done with school, but I’m no closer to knowing what the hell I plan to do after.” It feels strange to admit that to them and see no judgement in their eyes.

“You’re young. You don’t have to have it all figured out yet, Syd.” Nicco adds with a warm smile that makes him look more like a little boy than a grown man.

“I assume college isn’t in your plans then?” Kade asks with a look of genuine curiosity.

“Hell, no. I’m just escaping one torturous hell and I’m not about to jump right into another. Jake’s going to NYU and wants me to move up there with him, but I don’t want to live on the east coast. I’ll probably just find a job here in town and see where it leads, I guess.” All three nod as if they actually think my plan is solid as Damon walks back in and throws an arm around my shoulders.

“So, what’d I miss?” Kade gives him a quick replay and I see the thoughtful look on Damon’s face which is a clear sign he’s devising a plan of some sort.

“Wait…what’s with the look?” He smirks, knowing he’s been caught and called out.

“Okay, so just hear me out before you say anything, Syd. I know you don’t plan to do the college thing and we’re getting ready to leave on a six month tour. How would you feel about taking a job as our assistant for the tour? You’d help set up our hotel reservations and shit like that, nothing too hard, but you would get to travel and see the country.” I want to hate the idea and part of me actually does, but another part of me is looking at it from his point of view. Once Jake leaves, I’d be alone and with no job lined up yet and no one to hang out with, traveling and seeing places I would never get to see otherwise does sound exciting.

“I doubt you guys want some nineteen year old tailing you for six months, D, and I don’t know if I want to see the ‘sex, drugs and rock n roll’ side of your fame either.” It’s true, I don’t like thinking about my big brother making reckless decisions and hooking up with groupies.

“Syd, it’s nothing like the porno you’re picturing in your head and you know I wouldn’t put you in a position to be around that shit. Sure, we have a few drinks after the shows, but it’s nothing like what I know you’re imagining.” Even though we’re not close, the hopeful look in his eyes is quickly weakening my defenses and it sucks.

“Maybe the rest of the band would rather not be on babysitting duty, D.” I know, it’s a pathetic attempt, a last-ditch effort really.

“You may be many things, Sydney, but a baby isn’t one of them. I think it’d be cool if you could join us. You definitely would be an upgrade from the assistant we had on our last tour. Dude kept fucking up my coffee order!” Nicco somehow manages to look both serious and amused as he speaks which is impressive.

“They’re right, Sydney. You should come with us. If anything, we can always get you a flight back if you end up not liking it.” Kade’s words instantly calm and soothe my nerves, saying exactly what I needed to hear to make it impossible to refuse.

“Okay.” The looks on their faces make it seem like, with one word, I just gave them the moon.

“Woah, what did I miss?” I turn and give Jake a nervous smile.

“Not much, we just talked Sydney into going with us while we’re on tour for six months.” Damon is beaming as he delivers the news and much to my surprise, Jake seems happy about it.

“Thank god! I was so worried about leaving her here. So, you going to let loose and have some fun?” I roll my eyes, but I know he’s serious.

“How about I promise that I’ll try to?” Thankfully, my answer seems to please everyone, or at least it seems to be getting them off my back…for now.