Last Song (Chasing Cross Book Five) (A Brothers of Rock Novel) (rockstar contemporary romance) (18 page)

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Rick had planned to just
walk onto the stage. He wanted to say something to the fans. He wanted to give
them a piece of his heart. He wanted to be honest with them and be as loyal to
them as they had been to him and the band. Rumors had somehow circulated that
Rick may have been joining the band again soon but most of it was online articles
that people made up all the time. Rick didn’t buy into any of it until he saw
the crowd of fans standing at the gate where the Chasing Cross tour bus was
parked. So many fans had signs and homemade shirts. Begging for Rick. Demanding
Rick to be back in the band.

That’s when Rick realized
he was stuck on the bus.

He couldn’t leave without
being seen.

He sat alone and let
thoughts gently flow through his mind. Sarah was back in California, packing
boxes. She and her friend, Susie, were spending the couple days Rick was gone
moving Sarah into Rick’s house. He loved the idea of it, but his only rule was
to stay away from the garage. That was his place. His
man cave
, as Susie
ended up calling it.

Rick called each band
member one by one to tell them how he felt and asked to join them for the last
two shows before the tour came to an end. They all said yes. Rick then got on
the first plane he could manage and flew to Texas. The couple commercial
flights made him miss the luxury of the private jets the band had been used to
flying on. It also made him want to take Sarah somewhere.

Once in Texas, Rick met
up with the band and got on the tour bus. They did an early sound check, which
felt great to do. It worried Rick though to play a show without any real
practice. But he told himself he didn’t need the practice. He was the drummer
for Chasing Cross. He could play any song he wanted. It was in his blood. He
wrote the damn drumbeats. They were his. Forever.

Johnnie sat down across
from Rick. He reached across the table on the bus and gave Rick a punch to the
shoulder.

“Thanks,” Rick said.

“You’re thinking,”
Johnnie said. “Tell me.”

“Those fans out there...”

“We told you, man,” Johnnie
said. “The most important people never judge you. Those people out there want
you on that stage tonight.”

“I wanted to say
something,” Rick said. “But I think you guys are right. I should just get on
stage and play.”

Johnnie nodded. “That
would be cool.” He looked behind him. “Then again, those fans are out there
waiting, and you do need to get inside somehow.”

Rick felt his heart
pounding. He pushed from the table and stood. The rest of the band was inside.
They were inside with Fallen Tuesday. Rick still wanted to thank Luke for
helping out. To do that he’d have to walk by the fans who crowded the gate,
desperate to see him. The scene looked like a horde out of a zombie movie, everyone
pushing, wanting to get closer.

As Rick took the steps
off the bus, he wasn’t sure what he’d say. The second someone recognized him,
the crowd erupted.

We love you!

He’s back!

I knew you’d come back!

Marry me, Rick!

Rick walked to the gate
and put his arms up and waved, trying to calm the crowd.

“I just wanted to say thanks,”
he called out. “Thank you to all our fans who stuck by us. I’m healthy. I’m
fine. I’m ready to play some music. I had to take care of some personal stuff,
but I’m here now. Don’t tell the rest of the crowd... it’s going to be a
surprise.”

Rick laughed knowing damn
well that half the people were already on their phones. They were sharing any
information they could. Taking pictures. Taking a video. Anything to prove they
met Rick from Chasing Cross and that he was back in the band.

Rick didn’t mind at all.

He started to sign
autographs and when Johnnie came off the bus the crowd screamed again.
Together, Rick and Johnnie spent a good while signing as many autographs as
they could. They took pictures. They shook hands. They listened to a dozen
marriage proposals.

By the time Rick stepped
into the arena, his head was spinning. It was a good feeling. He met up with
Chasing Cross and Fallen Tuesday. He shook hands and hugged Luke, thanking him
for everything. They all talked and laughed until someone came into the room to
say it was time for Fallen Tuesday to get ready.

The band collected
themselves and Rick watched as Luke led the way. He touched his neck and rubbed
his throat as he led his band out of the room. Rick knew that meant there was about
ninety minutes until he’d take the stage with Chasing Cross. And those ninety
minutes flew right by.

Rick then stood at the
base of the steps that would take him to the stage. He agreed to do whatever
Chasing Cross wanted. The lights were out and the crowd was going wild. The
music began to play, the same introduction he was used to. Then the band walked
by Rick.

Johnnie. Davey. Danny.
Chris.

Rick watched the guys -
his brothers - all climb the steps and take the stage. He could tell when the
crowd knew they were on stage because of how much crazier it got. Rick knew his
cue was to wait another minute or so. Someone would shine a light at him and
he’d rush to the stage.

A spotlight hit the drum
set and it stood empty.

The light went out and then
went to the rest of the band. Danny, Davey, and Chris started to play. They
held an open note, deep and thick.

The spotlight returned to
the empty drum kit for a second time and then went off, again.

That’s when Rick saw the
flashlight shine at him.

It was time to go...

Rick hurried up the steps
and climbed behind the kit. The stage was dark where he sat. The crowd roared
as the rest of the band played. Johnnie screamed into the mic, getting everyone
more excited. The lights were on the band and Rick held drumsticks in his
hands. He held them up and waited.

Then suddenly he was the
only thing illuminated on the stage.

The image was plastered
on the large screen behind Rick and the two side screens. When the fans saw
Rick – the thousands of them - the place became so loud that Rick couldn’t hear
the rest of the band playing. Johnnie turned and smiled at him. He nodded to
Rick and Rick nodded.

One by one the band
looked at Rick, ready to do it. Ready to play the show.

Rick gave the four count
with the sticks and came down on the cymbals and the bass drum at the same
time, and just like that  Chasing Cross started. The passion was back.

The show lasted over two
hours. During that time they played all the Chasing Cross hits, they played an
acoustic set, including Rick on guitar, and Rick was able to take the mic for a
second and thank everyone.

As the crowd cheered for
more, Rick saw something from the corner of his eye. He saw Fallen Tuesday
standing there. All five guys in awe of Chasing Cross. The reality was that
Chasing Cross was in awe of them. They were the next big thing. They were
everything Chasing Cross had become already and they would continue to tour the
country and the world.

Chasing Cross moved
towards the side of the stage and Rick grabbed Johnnie.

“Let them come up with
us,” Rick said. “It’s time...”

“Play with us?” Johnnie
asked.

“Not just that. It’s time
to pass it along... hand over the reigns, Johnnie.”

Johnnie looked at the
rest of Chasing Cross and they all silently agreed.

A few minutes later, both
Chasing Cross and Fallen Tuesday took the stage. There was nothing planned
about what was going to happen but they ran with it. The good thing was that
Fallen Tuesday had become big enough that when they were done playing their
equipment wasn’t torn apart. It was just moved, so all it took was a few flicks
of buttons to get Fallen Tuesday some sound.

Rick sat at his drums
with Chase ‘Mack’ Mackenzie next to him. Rick led off with a drumbeat that Mack
quickly began to follow.

Luke and Johnnie stood at
the mic together, laughing and loving the moment.

Chris stood back to back
with Fallen Tuesday bassist, Trent, tearing through the speakers with heart
thumping bass lines.

And then came the four
guitarists. Davey and Danny. And Jake and Gray from Fallen Tuesday. They shared
riffs. They shared solos. And when it came time, everyone began to play an
impromptu concert.

It lasted over thirty
minutes, switching from Chasing Cross songs to Fallen Tuesday songs even to
some covers that they all knew. As Rick looked at the overflowing stage, he
never felt more complete in his life. This was the moment. The greatest moment
of Chasing Cross.

The show finally had to
end, but Chasing Cross wasn’t done yet.

Rick stood and handed his
drumsticks to Mack. He stepped away from the kit and pointed. That was it. It
was now Mack’s job. Chris took his bass off and made Trent do the same. Chris
put his bass on Trent and nodded. Danny and Davey did the same with their
guitars to Jake and Gray. And finally, Johnnie took the mic off the stand and
held it out to the crowd.

He nodded and the rest of
Chasing Cross joined him.

When he brought the mic
back to his mouth, the entire band screamed one thing.

The only thing to say...

Thank you.

Johnnie handed the mic to
Luke and led Chasing Cross off the stage.

Fallen Tuesday was going
to do the final encore tonight. And tomorrow night. Then it would be over.
Chasing Cross would be off tour. The road would finally come to an end. No more
tour bus. No more flying show to show. No more meet n’ greets. No more
interviews. For now.

There would be life. Life
beyond the stage.

At the bottom of the
steps off stage, Johnnie stopped the band and they all hugged. Their heads were
in the middle of a circle, staring at the floor, and Johnnie said the same thing
he said after their very first show. After three of the five people clapped and
the other two people in that small crowd drank beer.

“What a show,” he said.

Rick’s heart couldn’t
wait to be back at home with Sarah, but in that moment, he cherished Chasing
Cross and he cherished his brothers of rock.

What a show...

*~*~*

The show was finally over,
but in reality it was just beginning.

That much Luke Nolan
knew. He stood in the hallway of the arena, still catching breath, drinking a
bottle of water. Each time the water passed by his throat, it hurt like hell.
He needed some hot water or hot tea. Something to soothe his vocal chords. He
hadn’t expected to get back on stage and play again. But when Chasing Cross
asks...

He shook his head and let
out a long breath.

“What a show,” he
whispered to himself.

Fallen Tuesday had one
more show with Chasing Cross before they took over as headliners for their first
major tour, traveling the country, playing stages as big as Chasing Cross did,
and it was all thanks to them. Chasing Cross was the band that constantly
promoted them. They did everything to make sure everyone knew about Fallen
Tuesday. Not to mention Luke’s opportunity to fill in on drums all that while.

Luke finished his bottle
of water and as a guitar tech walked by, he took it from Luke, offering to
throw it out. That alone was something Luke wasn’t used to yet. The massive
amounts of people helping the band. It felt like just yesterday Luke was the
one wrapping up guitar cords and mic cords. Restringing guitars with Jake over
a cold beer. Helping Mack stack the drums in the back of their old van so they
wouldn’t topple over.

Straight ahead the door
was open and inside was the rest of Fallen Tuesday. They were talking,
laughing, drinking, savoring that intense feeling of just having played for
twenty thousand people. Outside, their tour bus waited. They’d board and wake
in the next city in Texas for the next show.

Luke reached into his
pocket and pulled out his cell phone.

Still no call.

He held the phone tight
and swallowed. His throat burned and his eyes watered. He hated that feeling,
but knew that the phone call would help it. It would make everything right.

A door opened and more
voices sounded. Luke looked to his right and saw Chasing Cross leaving their
dressing room. All five guys, bumping shoulders, laughing, talking about the
show and talking about their lives. Rick and Chris were first. Danny and Davey
next. Johnnie following behind. He paused for a second and looked over his
shoulder at Luke.

Luke smiled and nodded to
the lead singer of Chasing Cross.

Johnnie nodded back.

Silent respect.

Johnnie turned and
through the light of the hallway Chasing Cross disappeared.

Just like that Fallen
Tuesday was now
the
band.

All led by Luke.

“Hey, everything cool?”

Luke saw Mack standing in
the doorway.

“We’re good,” Luke said.
“Catching my breath.”

Mack gave a thumbs up and
went back into the room.

Luke was left alone with
the sounds of the arena being taken apart after the show.

When his cell phone
started to ring, his hand gripped it tight. He started to shake. He looked into
the dressing room and knew he should have had the rest of guys with him right
then. They needed to face this as a band, but Luke couldn’t do it. He couldn’t
hurt them...

He remembered Johnnie
suggesting the members of Chasing Cross were more like brothers than bandmates.
Luke now understood what that meant. Those guys in that dressing room were his
brothers. Through hell and back.

Luke swallowed, feeling
more pain, and answered the call.

“Luke, it’s Dr.
Hornbury... listen, about your throat... I have some bad news...”

The
Brothers of Rock
novels will continue into 2014!

Coming soon… the first book featuring rock band,
Fallen Tuesday
–

Luke Nolan
-
lead singer

Gary ‘Gray’ Reish
– guitar/piano

Trent Jensen
– bassist

Jake Collins
– guitarist

Chase ‘Mack’ Mackenzie
– drummer

The first book takes a wild, rock n’ roll journey as
Fallen Tuesday
now becomes
the
band. They are the ones in the spotlight. The
headliners. On the biggest stages with thousands of fans. Behind the scenes and
backstage, however, lead singer, Luke, is facing a daunting medical condition
that could threaten the entire future of the band. Will he be able to overcome
his condition? Will he tell the rest of the guys in
Fallen Tuesday
? What
will happen to the Luke… to the band…? Find out in the next release in the
Brothers
of Rock
series!