Chapter one hundred and seventy-nine:

Christy had been standing next to the lighting booth in the club, while Isaac and Taylor argued over guitar tuning on the stage. While they weren’t paying attention, Zac had snuck off the stage.

A roadie had brought her out a chair, and she thanked him politely and sat down.

After Isaac and Taylor finished fighting on the stage, and Zac had returned, they got back to business and began playing a song Christy didn’t recognize.

Both Isaac and Taylor interrupted the song numerous times to fix small mistakes and to nit-pick at each other.

She caught Isaac’s eye, and offered him a small wave. In return he winked at her.

He stopped playing and Taylor and Zac’s music also came to a loud halt.

“Ike! Keep going!” Zac shouted to be heard.

“Taylor is playing too fast!” Isaac shouted back.

“I am not!” Taylor shouted back.

“Dude!” Zac interrupted. “Stop yelling!”

Both Isaac and Taylor apologized.

Christy smiled.

A roadie appeared at her side and offered her a drink, a coffee or water.

Christy politely declined and gave him a friendly smile. It was the same man who had brought her the chair.

Jimmy appeared next to the roadie and with one cold glare, caused him to back away quickly.

Christy stood up to face Jimmy. “I love how you do that. Send grown men crying to their mothers with one look. How long did it take you to learn that?”

“A couple of years.”  Jimmy shrugged effortlessly. “I’m here to round you girls up for dinner.”

“Okay, good. Where’s Becky?”

“Backstage. I’m not sure where Jen is.” Jimmy observed. He held the door open for Christy.

“She’s back at the hotel. She said she wanted to sleep. Headache or something.”

“Okay. I’ll call her and check in just to be sure.”

“Can I do it? I’d like to speak to her… After dinner though, maybe.”

“She won’t be joining us for dinner?”

“I doubt it… Do you know when the boys will be done? I’d like to spend some time with Isaac before he goes onstage…”

Jimmy checked his watch. “They should be wrapping up the soundcheck any minute now.”

“Awesome.”

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Isaac walked off the stage after Taylor with a sigh. He grabbed a towel off the stack which was awaiting them backstage. He dried the sweat from his face and draped it around his neck.

“Oh, man. I’m starving.” Zac groaned, clutching his stomach.

“You’re always hungry.” Isaac laughed.

“Actually, this time, I’m with Zac on this one.” Taylor shrugged. “I feel like I haven’t eaten anything all day.”

Zac kicked open the door to the VIP room, making his presence known much more loudly than necessary.

“Hey girls-“ He stopped suddenly. “Oooh, pizza!” He was instantly diverted to the open box of pizza.

Isaac laughed and went to Christy’s side. He leaned over her and kissed her gently. “Enjoy the sound check?”

Christy smiled, putting down her small charcoal kit. “It would have been better if you guys didn’t fight so much.”

Isaac grinned and kissed her forehead. “Yeah, I know. We’re terrible for that. But at least it’s all in good fun… sort of.”

“Yeah, right. It you weren’t such a perfectionist we could do double the work in half the time.” Taylor observed, his mouth filled with pizza.

Isaac rolled his eyes. “Whatever Taylor. If you would quit worrying about what’s going on with your hair and whether or not your clothes compliment each other, we could do a concert everyday.”

Zac laughed and slapped Isaac’s hand in a high-five. “Good one!”

Taylor shrugged his shoulders and flopped into a chair. “At least my girlfriend doesn’t dress me.”

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