them.”
“Howard was the real musical savant,” I answered. I was rarely a modest man but I always gave my old partner his dues. “The work I’ve done since his death is just a pale imitation of his brilliance.”
“It still sells well if the music charts are any indication,” Charlotte replied. “Don’t let this tutoring stuff discourage you. You’re still Sterling Records’ golden goose.”
“I feel like they’re just going to gut me and take those eggs straight out me,” I groaned. “I don’t know how much more I can take.”
Charlotte’s eyes glinted in the light as she said. “Heath, what keeps you going in this business? It doesn’t seem like it’s solely the money.”
“I got a ball and chain of a contract if you haven’t noticed,” I grunted. “I’m their workhorse for another five more years.”
“It can’t be just a contractual obligation that gets you on stage.”
The woman had a way of reading me in a way no one did since Howard. “Contract or not, I have to perform for my fans. Some of them have been following me since my first performance in a Liverpool bar. It’s their support that keeps me fed, clothed, and able to make music. Besides, I have to show up to work or the record doesn’t make money.”
My teacher frowned. “I know tours bring in a great deal of revenue these days. It must be very stressful to be on tour all the time.”
“Tours keep the lights on,” I answered in agreement. “If you forget about the ticket sales for a moment, you can make a fortune just off just the merchandise. Then, you add in sponsorship deals into the mix and you end up with a tidy bit of money.”
“It all seems like a well-oiled business.”
I gave her a cynical laugh. She didn’t know the half of it. “Howard always said we’d be set for life if we could trick someone into paying us to do the thing we love. If only he knew what kind of devil’s bargain we’d have to make…”
“It funny,” she began. “Before I met you, I thought being a wealthy rock star would be an incredible life.”
“It has its moments,” I offered. “Playing in front of a live audience is a dream come true. It’s one of the few times I actually feel like I’m in control of my life.”
Charlotte didn’t reply. Instead, she leaned forward towards me. I could smell her sweet perfume.
Her lips were inches from mine.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Jared appeared with an irritable look on his face. Managers always had a habit of intruding you on the worst possible moment. “What the hell are you doing here, Heath? It’s almost time for the show!”
“Acting like a good student,” I grinned, putting on my jacket. “Relax, you’ve been my manager for five years. You know how the routine goes.”
Jared grumbled something under his breath and left.
It was time to earn my pay.
Turning flush, Charlotte gathered her belongings and said. “Good luck, Heath. Break a leg.”
I shot back a brilliant smile. “I like my legs as they are, thank you very much.”
After saying goodbye, I walked towards the stage with an extra spring in my step.
Tonight was going to be an extra special performance.
I just knew it.
I had never been to a rock concert before tonight.
My idea of a good time was to curl up next to a book with a glass of hot chocolate. For a sheltered academic, I was as far away from my element tonight as possible. For that matter, the Dell Music Center didn’t serve any hot chocolate.
I could feel the energy radiate from the frenzied crowd beside me. I saw signs from women professing their everlasting love for Heath. I saw effigies of the rock star and the other members of Double Damage. It was almost as if a religious mob had swarmed the arena to worship their
“Howard was the real musical savant,” I answered. I was rarely a modest man but I always gave my old partner his dues. “The work I’ve done since his death is just a pale imitation of his brilliance.”
“It still sells well if the music charts are any indication,” Charlotte replied. “Don’t let this tutoring stuff discourage you. You’re still Sterling Records’ golden goose.”
“I feel like they’re just going to gut me and take those eggs straight out me,” I groaned. “I don’t know how much more I can take.”
Charlotte’s eyes glinted in the light as she said. “Heath, what keeps you going in this business? It doesn’t seem like it’s solely the money.”
“I got a ball and chain of a contract if you haven’t noticed,” I grunted. “I’m their workhorse for another five more years.”
“It can’t be just a contractual obligation that gets you on stage.”
The woman had a way of reading me in a way no one did since Howard. “Contract or not, I have to perform for my fans. Some of them have been following me since my first performance in a Liverpool bar. It’s their support that keeps me fed, clothed, and able to make music. Besides, I have to show up to work or the record doesn’t make money.”
My teacher frowned. “I know tours bring in a great deal of revenue these days. It must be very stressful to be on tour all the time.”
“Tours keep the lights on,” I answered in agreement. “If you forget about the ticket sales for a moment, you can make a fortune just off just the merchandise. Then, you add in sponsorship deals into the mix and you end up with a tidy bit of money.”
“It all seems like a well-oiled business.”
I gave her a cynical laugh. She didn’t know the half of it. “Howard always said we’d be set for life if we could trick someone into paying us to do the thing we love. If only he knew what kind of devil’s bargain we’d have to make…”
“It funny,” she began. “Before I met you, I thought being a wealthy rock star would be an incredible life.”
“It has its moments,” I offered. “Playing in front of a live audience is a dream come true. It’s one of the few times I actually feel like I’m in control of my life.”
Charlotte didn’t reply. Instead, she leaned forward towards me. I could smell her sweet perfume.
Her lips were inches from mine.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Jared appeared with an irritable look on his face. Managers always had a habit of intruding you on the worst possible moment. “What the hell are you doing here, Heath? It’s almost time for the show!”
“Acting like a good student,” I grinned, putting on my jacket. “Relax, you’ve been my manager for five years. You know how the routine goes.”
Jared grumbled something under his breath and left.
It was time to earn my pay.
Turning flush, Charlotte gathered her belongings and said. “Good luck, Heath. Break a leg.”
I shot back a brilliant smile. “I like my legs as they are, thank you very much.”
After saying goodbye, I walked towards the stage with an extra spring in my step.
Tonight was going to be an extra special performance.
I just knew it.
I had never been to a rock concert before tonight.
My idea of a good time was to curl up next to a book with a glass of hot chocolate. For a sheltered academic, I was as far away from my element tonight as possible. For that matter, the Dell Music Center didn’t serve any hot chocolate.
I could feel the energy radiate from the frenzied crowd beside me. I saw signs from women professing their everlasting love for Heath. I saw effigies of the rock star and the other members of Double Damage. It was almost as if a religious mob had swarmed the arena to worship their
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