Zac. I can't stop thinking about us and how bad I want to go back."
I can't believe her. If she loves him the way she says, she shouldn't stick around here and let him slip away. "Then do it. Stop being miserable and go."
"You really think I should?"
I wouldn't hesitate. "Absolutely. You love him and that's not going to go away." I know that much from experience.
She reaches for my hand and squeezes it. "I'm gonna do it, but I want you to go to that audition instead of me."
Has she lost her mind? That's not the way things are done in the music industry. I don't get to decide I'll go in her place. "I can't show up for your audition."
"Yes, you can. Get up and get dressed. You have an hour."
"No. No. No, I can't do that." Can I?
"They're expecting a female vocalist. That's what you are—and a great one. They won't care about the details after they hear you sing. And it's actually a pretty perfect situation, if you think about it. They need a singer who can play guitar. You need a job. Problem solved."
It's been over two weeks since I sang or played. "I haven't rehearsed."
"Choose something familiar like…'What Hurts the Most.' You've been performing that song longer than we've known each other. It's one of your best and you can knock it out of the park without even warming up."
She's right. It's always one of my best performances. It could work.
Gah! Am I really considering this? "We both know this stunt is nuts. Even if they like my voice, this is unprofessional. And desperate. They'll tell me to get lost."
"I'll go with you. We'll act like I'm there for the audition and you're there to support me. We'll swap places at the last minute."
She makes it sound so easy—and so hard to say no. "I'm gonna do it. What do I have to lose at this point?"
"Nothing."
She's right. When you have nothing, there's very little for you to lose. "I have to get ready."
We're called back into a studio and I'm nervous as hell. This isn't me trying out for some mediocre band playing small clubs. These guys are doing it big time.
Addison introduces herself and I stand back as she drops the bomb. "I won't be the one auditioning today." She gestures over her shoulder. "She's here to sing in my place."
There's a brief moment of silence before the guy I recognize as the vocalist speaks up. "I don't think so—that's not how things work around here. Addison Donavon is the person we're expecting. That's who our agent lined up, so there are no exceptions. We don't play tag team."
I knew this was a bad idea. I'm on the verge of turning around to walk out the door but Addison isn't ready to cave. "My manager arranged this audition for me before I knew I'd be leaving the country. Doesn't it seem ridiculous to let this audition go to waste when what you need is standing right here in front of you?"
"We're not looking for a second-rate replacement." It's obvious who the leader is here by the spokesperson: Mr. Perfect Blond Locks with earrings and tatted forearms.
"That's not what you have here. She's an incredible vocalist and musician. She plays by ear—guitar and piano." As much as I appreciate Addison listing my virtues, I'm beginning to feel like something of a charity case. I despise it.
"No. She doesn't have a scheduled audition so she doesn't get to play or sing unless her manager arranges it." Fat chance of that happening since David dropped me after the Blake incident.
The arguing continues like that—back and forth—until I finally interrupt. "It's okay, Addison. Let's go."
"No! It's not okay." She turns back to the one she's been arguing with. "You're messing up big time if you let her walk out of here."
This is humiliating, and I refuse to stand here being discussed like I'm not present while Addison pleads for me. I lift my guitar case from the floor and walk toward the door. "Gentlemen, I'm sorry for any inconvenience I may have caused and I wish you the best of luck in finding the perfect vocalist." It's my
I can't believe her. If she loves him the way she says, she shouldn't stick around here and let him slip away. "Then do it. Stop being miserable and go."
"You really think I should?"
I wouldn't hesitate. "Absolutely. You love him and that's not going to go away." I know that much from experience.
She reaches for my hand and squeezes it. "I'm gonna do it, but I want you to go to that audition instead of me."
Has she lost her mind? That's not the way things are done in the music industry. I don't get to decide I'll go in her place. "I can't show up for your audition."
"Yes, you can. Get up and get dressed. You have an hour."
"No. No. No, I can't do that." Can I?
"They're expecting a female vocalist. That's what you are—and a great one. They won't care about the details after they hear you sing. And it's actually a pretty perfect situation, if you think about it. They need a singer who can play guitar. You need a job. Problem solved."
It's been over two weeks since I sang or played. "I haven't rehearsed."
"Choose something familiar like…'What Hurts the Most.' You've been performing that song longer than we've known each other. It's one of your best and you can knock it out of the park without even warming up."
She's right. It's always one of my best performances. It could work.
Gah! Am I really considering this? "We both know this stunt is nuts. Even if they like my voice, this is unprofessional. And desperate. They'll tell me to get lost."
"I'll go with you. We'll act like I'm there for the audition and you're there to support me. We'll swap places at the last minute."
She makes it sound so easy—and so hard to say no. "I'm gonna do it. What do I have to lose at this point?"
"Nothing."
She's right. When you have nothing, there's very little for you to lose. "I have to get ready."
We're called back into a studio and I'm nervous as hell. This isn't me trying out for some mediocre band playing small clubs. These guys are doing it big time.
Addison introduces herself and I stand back as she drops the bomb. "I won't be the one auditioning today." She gestures over her shoulder. "She's here to sing in my place."
There's a brief moment of silence before the guy I recognize as the vocalist speaks up. "I don't think so—that's not how things work around here. Addison Donavon is the person we're expecting. That's who our agent lined up, so there are no exceptions. We don't play tag team."
I knew this was a bad idea. I'm on the verge of turning around to walk out the door but Addison isn't ready to cave. "My manager arranged this audition for me before I knew I'd be leaving the country. Doesn't it seem ridiculous to let this audition go to waste when what you need is standing right here in front of you?"
"We're not looking for a second-rate replacement." It's obvious who the leader is here by the spokesperson: Mr. Perfect Blond Locks with earrings and tatted forearms.
"That's not what you have here. She's an incredible vocalist and musician. She plays by ear—guitar and piano." As much as I appreciate Addison listing my virtues, I'm beginning to feel like something of a charity case. I despise it.
"No. She doesn't have a scheduled audition so she doesn't get to play or sing unless her manager arranges it." Fat chance of that happening since David dropped me after the Blake incident.
The arguing continues like that—back and forth—until I finally interrupt. "It's okay, Addison. Let's go."
"No! It's not okay." She turns back to the one she's been arguing with. "You're messing up big time if you let her walk out of here."
This is humiliating, and I refuse to stand here being discussed like I'm not present while Addison pleads for me. I lift my guitar case from the floor and walk toward the door. "Gentlemen, I'm sorry for any inconvenience I may have caused and I wish you the best of luck in finding the perfect vocalist." It's my
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