"We're playin Identitiy. Its been booked."
Joel walked onto the tour bus and set at the table across from his
brother. Benji didn't say a word, instead he sat and fumbled with his
phone.
"What's been booked?" Paul asked as he walked out from the back of the
bus.
"Identity," Joel responded.
On his way to sit on the couch beside the table Paul gave Benji a pat
on the back.
"What's goin on? Did someone die?" Billy stepped on the bus. He looked
from Benji to Paul to Joel.
"We're booked to play Identitiy." Paul spoke the clubs name as if
someone had indeed died.
Billy took a seat next to Paul and responded with a sympathetic "Oh."
Benji put down his phone and let a smile appear on his face. "It's not
that big of a deal. Its been what? Two years. I've moved on. We'll go
play at Identity and have a kick ass show like always."
But it was a big deal, and they all knew it, whether Benji wanted to
admit it or not. Two years ago Benji did something to make the girl
he loved walk out on him. He had only seen her once since then and it
wasn't under the greatest of circumstances, and now his band was going
to play at the club she use to hang out at. But that was a long time
ago. 2 years. A lot can change in 2 years. Or can it?
"Now who's up for some PS2 ass whoopin?" he continued trying to lighten
the mood.
"If anyone's gonna get their ass kicked its you Benj. I'm the PS2
grand-master." Billy bragged as he followed Benji to the back lounge
of the bus.
"More like grandmother." Benji joked.
"So he's over her?" Paul asked as soon as Benji was out of earshot.
Joel shrugged his shoulders. "He heard a rumor that she moved outta
state a few months back, so I'm pretty sure thats why he doesn't care
about us playin Identity...because he thinks she won't be there."
"But its just a rumor," Paul pointed out. "she could still show up."
"Its more than a rumor, it a lie. Sara fed it to him so he would go
visit her. Steve told me that when he called the club to confirm the
show he asked to speak with the person in charge of booking talent
and it was Brynn."
Paul's jaw dropped. "So she's the one who booked us?"
"Uh huh."
"Hey boys," Laura said as she boarded the bus. Chad, Steve and Cyrus
were right behind her.
"Hey," Paul greeted them. "There's a PS2 showdown goin on in the back
if your interested."
Chad and Steve immediately headed to the back of the bus. They were
typical guys. Mention video games and they were nowhere to be found.
"Your not gonna game?" Joel asked Cyrus. "Shocking!"
"Are you kidding," Laura laughed. "Cyrus has no game...of any kind."
Cyrus gave Laura a dirty look. "Jordan sent me to see if you guys have
some pomade. He's out."
Paul got up and got a drink out of the fridge. "Aw...princess without
his pomade."
Laura, Cyrus, and Joel all laughed.
"Go ask Billy for some, he's our resident princess." Joel instructed.
"Yeah, he's as bad as Jordan when it comes to his hair." Paul agreed.
Cyrus walked to the back of the bus and Laura took a seat next to Paul.
"I just talked to Steve...does Benji know?" she questioned.
Joel shook his head. "Yeah, he says he's cool with it. But thats only
because he thinks she won't be there."
"But Brynn works there!"
"Thanks for pointing out the obvious. You know it would've been helpful
if you would have told us that BEFORE Steve confirmed the show." Paul
scolded her.
"I didn't think it was that important. I never thought that she would
book you guys for a show. Plus its been kind of an unsaid rule that
we don't talk about Brynn...especially with Benji being around."
Joel ran a hand through his slightly gelled hair. "Well it is
important. Benji's gonna find out that she works for Identity sooner
or later and there's a possibility of a repeat of what happened the
last time he saw her. Which, let me remind you, we don't want to happen
agian."
"Unless you can convince her not to go to the show." Paul suggested.
Laura sighed. "Therein lies the problem. Even if Brynn would listen to
me long enough to tell her not to come, she's friends with half of the
guys on this tour. She wouldn't miss going to the show for the world."
"Well we have to do something," Paul pointed out. "She can't go to the
show."
Joel stood up and grabbed his cell phone out of the pocket of his black
MADE hoodie that was drapped over the back of the couch.
"Give me your cell phone." He instructed Laura.
Laura looked up questioningly at him. He stuck his hand out waiting for
her to hand him the phone. Reluctantly she dug in her purse and handed
her phone to Joel. He shoved his own phone in his pocket and exited the
bus.
Back to Losing Grip Main
On to Chapter 2