Chasing Music

Chapter One

Annie

Two Years Ago

“What do you mean?” I whispered, disbelief evident in my voice. They had decided to drop this bombshell after practice? “Why in the hell would we be disbanding?”

My band mates-

Err, acquaintances now, I guess.

-only stared at me like I had smoke billowing out of my ears. As though I was the one acting irrational. I totally think my tone fit exactly what was needed in this situation.

Mac, our drummer, only raised an eyebrow at me as he twirled one of his drumsticks in the air. “Ann, you knew this was only just for fun.”

The other two glanced away when I tried to meet their eyes, obviously avoiding me. Only Mac, a senior at our school and a longtime friend, had the guts to tell me what they were all thinking.

“We have the gig at Myriad tonight, Annie.” His voice was soft, as if he thought if he spoke too loud she would break. “We’ll announce it then.”

I didn’t know what to say. True, there had been no expectations or promises when they had formed their group. Eventually, they would have had to dissolve the band. Still, they had amassed a following from the community and their high school. I shoved a hand through my short hair, the brown tendrils like silk against my fingers.

My eyes went to the small circular window in the garage. As I looked outside, I was reminded it was Spring. Truthfully, I shouldn’t have been too surprised. Mac and Taylor were both graduating within the year and leaving both her and Dez behind.

We couldn’t exactly call ourselves a band with only a singer and a bassist left.

Reluctantly I nodded. All the fight had left me, and I let my hand fall from my hair. “Alright,” I whispered.

Three pairs of eyes jerked to meet mine, all of them wearing matching expressions of alarm.

“What?” Dezzereigh’s voice was brittle, and held an edge of laughter as she cradled her instrument. “You actually gave up that fast?”

I smirked, trying to display a confidence I didn’t feel. “I know, right? It’s a miracle!” It came out sarcastic, and I tried to laugh; it was garbled and monotone. “But if this is going to be our last show, let’s go out with a bang!”

I did a small jump, raising my fist into the air. For a moment only awkward silence answered me. The seconds ticked by as manic smiles started to grow on all of their faces.

“Umm...,” I started to lower my arm, embarrassed. “Guys?”

They tackled me all at once in a violent depiction of a group hug. It knocked me off balance, but they didn’t let me fall.

Their warmth enveloped me and I couldn’t stop the foolish grin that lit up my face. This was my family. Even though we were breaking up, I knew we would always be there for each other.

We met up later that night at Myriad. It had taken some time to set up our equipment. A nervous energy hung in the air, but Dez was tossing out raunchy jokes every now and then to try and lighten the mood.

Still, all that I could think about was that this would be our last time together like this; playing our heart out on stage.

A shoulder bumped into mine, bringing me out of my melancholy thoughts. Black eyes met my own hazel ones, sympathy shining in their dark depths.

“Taylor?” Even to myself I sounded choked up.

The corner of his lips lifted into a bitter sweet smile. “I finished ’Goodbye,’” he whispered. This conversation was only for the two of us. “Let’s play it last.”

I let out a shuddering breath, my heart racing in my chest. It was the only original song we had ever written, and it wasn’t meant to be performed like this.

Taylor had played me a melody a month ago, and from there it had turned into our little project. He had completed the music while I had been feverishly writing the lyrics.

Somehow, it had magically been finished just in time for our last show.

Taylor handed me the music sheets for the song. The papers were wrinkled, and filled with both of our handwriting. Electricity zipped up my hand as our fingertips brushed, and my cheeks heated from the contact.

“Alright,” I whispered back, my eyes staying firmly on the music in my hands.

I felt his gaze burning into my back as I turned and walked away, but I was still too overwhelmed by everything else to give any more of a reaction.

Taylor went back to strumming his guitar quietly across the room as I started to look through the changes he had made. Green ink, his favorite color, filled the margins and crossed through certain parts. It blended with the pink ink from the pen I had used. A gentle smile tugged at my lips without even thinking about it.

The music at the end was softer now, leaving more of an Indie feel. It fit the bands mood. Had he made the changes after practice, when everyone had went home to change? Or before that?

How long had everyone else known they were breaking up before her?

I tried to ignore my growing sense of doubt as I gripped the paper tighter. The pages crinkled even more around my fingers.

An additional change were the notes and initials along the lyrics I had written. My head shot up, looking past my other two band mates and towards him. His eyes met mine, but he quickly glanced away and stared down at his guitar. Invisible hands squeezed my heart, but I didn’t go to him. I didn’t have the courage to right now.

We all had to be in the right frame of mind for our last performance.

I had memorized the new parts of the song by the time Myriad’s manager poked his head behind the curtain. “Five minutes!”

Mac answered with a sarcastic salute while the rest of us merely nodded.

Dezzy shoved her hair behind her ears, the black tendrils rebelliously curling even more as she waved us towards her. I laid down the sheet music, careful to be gentle. The rest did the same, laying down whatever they had been messing with so we could have a meeting before our set.

Mac had his hands folded behind his head, visibly relaxed. Taylor had a lazy smirk on his face. Dezzereigh, of course, had a shit eating grin on her lips as she rested her hands on her hips. In comparison to them, I radiated a nervous energy. The music was already playing in my head, my feet moving to a silent beat only I could hear.

My excitement always got the better of me.

Dez pumped her fist in the air, her mocha skin shining in the light. “Alright, guys! We’ve so got this!” Her tone made me want to believe it, but that was nothing new. She had the ability to do that to anyone. She had the ability to do that anyone. She was the reason I had started singing in the first place.

At least in public.

When I think about it, all of this started with a middle school talent show. It’s funny. Tiny events eventually shape the outcome of our lives.

Mac slapped Taylor and I on the back, his infectious smirk lighting up the room. “She’s fucking right. Let’s give our fans a show they’ll never forget.” He winked at us, his green eyes twinkling with endless mirth. “And we have a trump card they’ll never expect.” I knew he was talking about the new song.

“Like I said earlier,” I smirked, raising my palm for a high five. “Let’s go out with a god damned bang!”

Echoes of ‘hell yeah’s’ rang out around me as all of their hands fought to meet mine.

We were laughing and smiling like idiots, our nervous energy finally dissipated. It was at that moment that the manager poked his head back in, impatience plainly written on his features.

“You’re on. Hurry it up.”

Mackenzie shouldered by men, tapping his drumstick against the outside of his thigh. “The crowd calls.”

Taylor flicked my forehead as he walked by, pulling his guitar up by the strap with on hand. “And we can’t leave them waiting, right?”

Dezzy skipped by, grabbing her bass on the way. I followed after, rubbing my forehead with a grin on my lips.

“No, we can’t.”