Under the Lights (A Brothers of Rock - GONE BY AUTUMN - Novel) (4 page)

My voice is damn good.

(4)

Jules opened the apartment door,
wanting to wipe the smile off her face. For some reason, Tara never showed to
the backup singer audition. Jules tried calling her ten times before she had to
audition. It was crazy and nerve-racking. So much so that Jules was still
shaking. The shock hadn
’
t
settled in yet that she was going to be singing backup vocals for Gone by
Autumn.

Freaking Gone by Autumn
…

“
Tara?
”
Jules called out, her voice
crackling.

She ran through the apartment and saw
the bathroom light on. She opened the door, but Tara wasn
’
t there. When Jules opened the
bedroom door, Tara stood there, holding her phone in her hand.

“
Hey,
”
Jules said.
“
Are you okay?
”

Tara spun around.
“
I
…
how did it go?
”

“
Did
you get my calls? My texts? I tried
…”

“
I
got them,
”
Tara said.
“
I
’
m
sorry I didn
’
t make it.
Just tell me what happened.
”

“
Okay.
Can we sit down? I feel like I
’
m
going to pass out.
”

“
Why?
What
’
s wrong?
”

“
I
got the gig,
”
Jules said.
Her voice cracked again.
“
I
got it.
”

Tara gasped and dropped her phone.
“
Are you messing with me?
”

“
No.
I swear. There
’
s three of
us. Just to test things out.
”

“
That
fast? Are you practicing with the band?
”

Jules backed up to the bed and sat
down.
“
No. I
’
m singing tomorrow night at a
show with them. At The Jack. I
’
m
going to be on stage!
”

“
That
’
s amazing, Jules. You deserve
it.
”

“
I
got there and it was just Asher, Ryan, Gabe, and their manager. They put us on
stage and made us sing.
”

“
You
didn
’
t meet the entire band
yet?
”

“
No.
”

“
And
they aren
’
t practicing
first?
”

“
No.
They have a show.
”

“
And
you
’
re singing with them?
”

“
That
’
s right.
”

“
I
’
m confused.
”

“
I
’
m
…
overwhelmed right now. Almost scared. I don
’
t
know how I just got up there and did it. I can't believe that Jackie remembered
me and called me. I
’
m just
…”

Tara crouched down and grabbed
Jules by her knees.
“
You
deserve it all. That
’
s why
I didn
’
t answer your calls
and texts, Jules. It
’
s your
thing. Your life and dream.
”

“
What
about you?
”

“
I
’
m good where I am. I
’
ve been working with a band.
Learning some things on guitar. This was your chance and you rocked it.
”

“
I
can suggest you,
”
Jules
said.
“
Help you get there
too.
”

“
No.
I
’
m good. I
’
ve got some small gigs in the
works. Don
’
t worry. This is
about you. We need to freaking celebrate this. I mean, holy shit, you
’
re going to be singing with Gone
by Autumn tomorrow night.
”

“
I
know. It hasn
’
t sunk in
yet. I
’
m shocked. Scared. I
was so damn worried about you, Tara.
”

“
You
care about me?
”

“
You
didn
’
t pick up. I wanted us
there together. That
’
s what
we
’
ve been talking about.
”

“
I
appreciate you caring. Just don
’
t
forget about me when you
’
re
famous. Or when you
’
re
jumping into bed with the band.
”

Jules laughed.
“
Yeah, right. That
’
s not going to happen.
”

“
Are
you kidding me?
”
Tara
asked.
“
Have you looked in
the mirror lately? You
’
re gorgeous,
Jules. You
’
re going to
break all those rockstar hearts.
”
Tara stood up.
“
I can
’
t wait to see you on stage.
”

Jules shrieked.

I can
’
t wait to be on stage.

Tara
’
s
phone rang and she took the call, leaving the room. Jules fell back on her bed
and stared at the ceiling. It had all happened so fast. Jules figured there
would have been judging, second rounds of singing, and then an offer to
practice. Certainly nothing like this.

A show?

A real show?

Asher had even touched her elbow
and smiled his bad boy rockstar smile at her.

“
Make
sure you know the songs. Even the new ones.
”

“
I
don
’
t know
the new ones. Are they out yet?
”

“
Not
yet.
”

“
Then
how
…”

Asher just laughed and walked away.

Gone by Autumn were rebels. And
Jules was going to be singing with them.

(5)

The other two women were named
Marilyn and Dani. They were basically the same as Jules, only a little more
stuck up and lost in their own worlds. They were terrified of what to wear to
attract the attention of the guys in Gone by Autumn. Jules wasn
’
t worried about that. She cared
about learning the notes she needed to hit when it was her time to sing. She
wore nothing fancy, even resisting Tara
’
s
pleading to wear something badass and cool.

Jules grabbed clothes, got dressed,
and kept telling herself this was nothing but just another night out. The only
difference was that instead of being in the audience singing, she would be on
stage, singing.

And everyone is going to hear
your voice.

Jules drove alone and parked
directly behind the building. Tara pulled up next to her. There was a small
crowd of people gathered, hoping to meet the bands. Some were in their own
bands and were waiting for a shot at opening a show or getting to know Stevie.

Jules had no idea where to go when
she got inside.

Straight backstage?

Backstage
…

“
I
’
m getting a drink,
”
Tara said.
“
Let me buy you one. Celebration.
”

“
Should
I drink before singing?
”

“
You
’
re a rockstar,
”
Tara said.
“
They all drink. Come on, loosen
up. Then head backstage and meet up with the band.
”

“
The
band. This is insane.
”

“
Yeah,
it is. We
’
re killer early.
Plenty of time for a drink.
”

“
Just
one then.
”

Tara led the way to the bar and
ordered up two mixed drinks that were the color of blood and had the taste of
pure alcohol. Tara drank fast while Jules
’
sipped hers. Her heart was completely racing. She couldn
’
t help but look over her shoulder, knowing that in
just a little while she would be on that stage with Gone by Autumn. Singing
their songs. Being part of their show.

If this all worked out she could
end up on tour with them.

There were a few people on the
stage, pointing, talking, moving equipment around, taping things to the floor.

“
Come
on,
”
Tara said,
“
drink up.
”

“
Sorry.
”

“
Don
’
t be sorry. Drink. Drink.
”

“
I
am,
”
Jules said.
“
I
’
m
nervous. I feel like I
’
m
going to throw up if I drink.
”

“
You
’
re fine,
”
Tara said. She grabbed her phone.
“
Oh, shit, I have to take this.
”

Tara stormed away from the bar and
Jules found herself alone. She sipped her mixed drink and took deep breaths.
Everything would be just fine. She had listened to every possible Gone by
Autumn song she could find. There wasn
’
t
a note she didn
’
t know by
now. And whatever was going to happen with the new stuff would just happen. It
wasn
’
t like they were
playing a stadium or something. It was a small club. More of a relaxing kind of
show. Like playing for friends.

“
Swirling
that drink won
’
t make it go
away any faster.
”

Jules let her drink go and looked
over at the man standing next to her. He reached across the bar and knocked on
it. He held up two fingers and the bartender gave a thumbs up.

When he looked at Jules, she lost
her breath.

It was Tanner. One of the
guitarists from Gone by Autumn. And he just caught her sitting at the bar,
drinking before their show.

“
You
don
’
t talk?
”
Tanner asked.

“
Sorry,
”
Jules said.
“
My
…
I was with a friend. She just had to leave.
”

“
Good
story,
”
Tanner said.
“
You look nervous as hell.
”

“
I
am. Because of tonight.
”

Tanner got his first drink, a shot,
and threw it back. The second drink was a beer. He hovered over the bar, not
sitting, but just leaning. She couldn't get over how good he looked. A steel
cut jaw and dark eyes. Dark hair, dark clothes, the aura of a rockstar just
dripping off him. If there were just a handful more people in the club, Tanner
would have been swarmed by now.

“
What
are you worried about?
”
Tanner asked.

“
I
’
m Jules. I
’
m one of the backup singers. For
Gone by Autumn.
”

“
Is
that so?
”
Tanner grinned.
“
And you
’
re out here, drinking? Instead of being backstage,
practicing. Learning the new stuff. Getting together with the other singers and
figuring out your ranges and who wants to take the lead when and where.
”

“
Oh
my gosh, I
’
m so sorry
…”

“
Wow,
that
’
s a ballsy move,
”
Tanner said. He slid his beer
bottle over and tapped it against Jules
’
glass.
“
Cheers then.
”

“
Cheers,
”
Jules said.
“
It
’
s
kind of crazy to meet you right now. Just so you know.
”

“
We
really didn
’
t meet,
”
Tanner said.
“
I kind of just started bothering
you.
”

“
I
don
’
t mind.
”

“
I
don
’
t really care. I
’
d bother you whether you
’
d like it or not. It's just who
I am.
”

Tanner drank more of his beer.
Jules
’
eyes walked all over
him. Up and down his body when he wasn
’
t
looking. He was sexy. And it was so cool to be standing there, talking to an
actual rockstar.

“
How
many new songs are you playing?
”
Jules asked.

“
I
guess you
’
ll find out soon
enough,
”
Tanner said.
“
If you were backstage, you
’
d know.
”

“
Then
I guess I
’
ll go backstage.
”

Jules stood from her seat and
started to turn. Tanner grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her toward him.
“
You didn
’
t finish your drink.
”

“
I
didn
’
t want the drink to
begin with,
”
Jules said.
“
My roommate begged me to have
one with her. Then she took a phone call and left me stranded.
”

“
Yeah?
”

“
And
I
’
m nervous as hell. I
thought I was coming to some audition and I
’
d
have a chance to prepare, practice before a show, but that
’
s not what happened. I sang for
five minutes and now I
’
m just
supposed to get on stage and sing with Gone by Autumn.
”

“
Well,
when you say it like that, it all sounds terrifying,
”
Tanner said.
“
No
wonder you needed a drink. I
’
m
surprised you didn
’
t have
two or three.
”

“
Is
that why you guys drink before shows? To take the edge off?
”

“
I
drink because it tastes good and I want to. I don
’
t
need to take the edge off. I live on the edge. And while this is considered one
of our smaller shows, it's still a Gone by Autumn show. We
’
ll play the same way whether we are
in front of a hundred thousand people or a hundred.
”

“
No
pressure,
”
Jules said.
“
Maybe I will finish that drink.
”

Tanner swatted at the glass and it
went flying from the bar and shattered on the floor.
“
No. Go backstage. Don
’
t
fuck up an opportunity. If you
’
re
meant to do this, then do it.
”

Jules slowly turned and felt Tanner
’
s grip lessen on her wrist. She
swore that he purposely ran his fingers down her hand, flirting with her
fingers. She could feel the his callused fingertips, from years of playing
guitar. She laughed to herself when she realized how ridiculous it was. There
was no way in hell that one of the guitarists from Gone by Autumn would give a
damn about her. He was probably just enjoying the attention.

As Jules walked toward the side
stage, she felt someone grab her arm.

“
I
’
m sorry about that,
”
Tara said.
“
That was the
potential band
.
”
She made air quotes when she
said
potential band
because she told Jules she wouldn
’
t get her hopes up that
something good would happen.
“
I
saw you at the bar. Flirting with someone? Ms. Badass Rockstar.
”

“
Flirting?
I don
’
t know about that. That
was Tanner from Gone by Autumn. He was giving me shit about drinking before a
show.
”

“
Oh,
damn. I hope you
’
re not in
trouble.
”

“
I
don
’
t think so. He was
drinking too. I think he just wanted to act like a dick because he could.
”

“
That
’
s sexy. You
’
re so lucky.
”

“
You
could be doing this with me,
”
Jules said.

“
It
’
s your night. Go kick some ass.
”

*

Tanner finished his beer and
ordered another one. The club was starting to fill up now. He hung at the bar,
trying his best to stay out of the limelight, but that was impossible when you
were considered famous. However, he didn
’
t
mind signing autographs and meeting Gone by Autumn fans. He could hang until it
got to be too much. Then he
’
d
slip backstage and grab a guitar and get ready.

Aside from the drinks, Tanner
stayed at the bar thinking about the woman he
’
d
been talking to. She was pretty and even cuter when she was nervous. He could
have been nicer to her, but sometimes it was more fun to flirt by pushing away.
That way nobody would get hurt.

That
’
s
how Tanner preferred to take care of business when it came to women. Not that
he was planning on taking the woman to bed tonight, but hell, who knew what
would happen. There were three backup singers going to be sharing the stage
with the band tonight. So there was the chance that he had three women, already
ready to go.

“
Another
show here, huh?
”

Tanner turned his head. He didn
’
t feel like talking to a man.
Women, sure thing. Guys? Unless they were in the band or were Sam, he had no
interest in it at all.

To make matters worse, it wasn
’
t just some guy looking to make
small talk with the band. It was Richie. He wasn
’
t
in a suit and tie, thankfully, so he didn
’
t
stick out in the crowd, but he still looked like a crooked businessman and
pompous asshole.

“
What
the hell do you want?
”
Tanner asked.

“
Didn
’
t hear back from you,
”
Richie said.
“
Had me a little worried. I
thought our talks were going quite well.
”

“
Talks?
We
weren
’
t talking.
You were talking.
”

“
And
you were listening,
”
Richie
said.
“
How funny I get some
information that tonight Gone by Autumn is playing a show at The Jack. More so,
I hear that you guys are introducing some new band members?
”

“
Not
band members,
”
Tanner said.
“
Backup singers.
”

“
Backup
singers? Why
’
s that? Ryan
can
’
t take the lead
anymore?
”

“
Piss
off, Richie.
”