More Than Music by Elizabeth Briggs Page B

Her hair smelled of cigarettes and very strong perfume, and I nearly gagged.
    “I’m so happy! Welcome to my team,” she told us before going back to her seat. She stuck her tongue out at Dan, who just shook his head.
    The stage turned so the next band could audition. Bright lights flashed in my eyes as we were taken into another room, and as soon as the door shut, we all erupted.
    “We did it!” Kyle wrapped an arm around Jared and Hector’s necks, bringing them in for a squeeze. “We actually did it! Alexis is going to be so jealous. She loves Angel.”
    “I can’t believe it,” Hector said, his eyes wide. “Did that really happen?”
    Jared laughed and clung to the other guys. “I told you we’d make it!”
    I stood apart from their guy-bonding moment. It was fine—they’d been together for years, and I was the new kid. But then Jared pulled me over with an arm around my shoulder. “Get in here. You’re a part of this band, too.”
    His touch sent sparks through me, as it always did. I had so much I wanted to say to him—to thank him for taking a chance on me and convincing the others to let me join the band. To tell him how much it meant that he’d believed in me. But this time, words failed me. Kyle looped his arm around my other shoulder, and the four of us stood together in a huddle, grinning ear to ear.
    “That’s cute,” Ray said, speaking to a camera guy. “Make sure you get a shot of this.”
    We pulled apart at the reminder they were still there. I’d completely forgotten about the interview they did with everyone who got on the show, when they asked how the band got started, what kind of music they liked—that kind of stuff. Hopefully one of the other guys would do all the talking since I’d been in the band for, oh, less than a day now.
    Ray arranged us so that Jared and I stood in front, with Kyle and Hector slightly behind us and to the side.
    “This will be quick,” he said. “I’ll ask you some questions and you’ll look straight at the camera when you answer. Don’t worry if you mess up, we’ll edit it together so you look good. Ready?” He launched right into it without waiting for a response. “I’m here with Villain Complex from Los Angeles, who just joined Angel’s team after a fierce battle between her, Dan, and Lance. Tell me, why did you pick Angel as your mentor?” He shoved the mic in Jared’s face.
    “It was a tough decision, but she seemed like she wanted us the most.”
    “You’re the singer, yes? Can you each state your name and what you play in the band?”
    “Sure. I’m Jared Cross, and I’m the lead singer and bassist.” He flashed his stage smile, and Ray thrust the mic at me next.
    “Oh, um.” I yanked at the bottom of my dress, worried the camera was getting a view. “I’m Maddie Taylor, and I play the guitar.”
    “And sing backup,” Jared added, much to my dismay.
    The other guys said, “Hector Fernandez, drums,” and “Kyle Cross, keyboard.”
    “Great,” Ray said and then asked Jared, “So what does Villain Complex mean? Who came up with that?”
    “I did,” Jared said. “It’s a play on the phrase ‘hero complex,’ which is when someone always wants to save the day and get recognized for it. I figured someone with a villain complex would crave the opposite—they’d want to be noticed for the bad things they do. Fame through villainy and all that.” He laughed. “Basically, we all love comic books, and villains are cool.”
    I studied his face and wondered if there was a personal reason he’d chosen that name or if they really were just comic book geeks. His comment reminded me of the lyrics in “Behind the Mask,” about presenting a certain image to the world but no one seeing the real person underneath.
    Before I could ponder it further, Ray continued with his next question. “Can you tell us a little about how long you’ve been together and how you formed?”
    “Sure. Kyle and I started playing music together