Rock Radio - By Lisa Wainland Page 0,30
have for tearing us apart? What we have is special. Why would you throw it away?” Cody was distraught.
“It is special.” Laura sobbed heavily. “This hurts me, too. But what choice do I have? I never see you.”
Cody heard her last words. She was right, but that didn’t make it hurt any less.
“Laura, I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“Maybe we’ll find our way back to each other,” he said.
“I hope so,” Laura whispered.
“Like I said, we’ll be in Jacksonville this weekend if you change your mind.”
“I don’t think that’d be such a good idea.”
Cody sighed. “Good-bye, Laura.”
“Good-bye, Cody.”
Cody hung up the phone in disbelief. He was in a hotel room in Tallahassee. Alone. Tonight and tomorrow they were playing sold out shows at the Tallahassee Theater. Then they were off for a two-night stint in Jacksonville. It was a crazy life, but he didn’t think he’d lose Laura over it. Everything else was going so well. They’d finally finished up a list of eleven songs that Eric felt were good enough for an album. They needed to make a CD, Eric explained, to get radio play. Radio play was the key to making it big. Everything was coming together and now Laura was leaving him. “Nothing ever works out,” he yelled to no one and left his hotel room. He knocked on Harper’s door.
“Hey, buddy what’s up?”
“Laura wants to take a break. I think we’re done.”
“Come in, come in.”
Cody told Harper the whole story.
“Dude, you’re gonna be a rock star, you can get whatever girl you want. Hell, we’re not even that famous and I’ve managed to get laid. Many, many times in fact.” He smiled at his conquests.
“This is different.”
“No, it’s not,” Harper said. “A girl is a girl is a girl.”
“Laura is not just a girl.”
Harper lightly punched Cody’s shoulder. “C’mon lets go downstairs and get a drink.”
“Naw, I don’t feel like it.”
“That’s exactly why you should go.”
“Maybe another night.” Cody had a splitting headache. He thought he wanted to talk, but realized he just wanted to go to bed.
“Suit yourself, bud.”
Cody left Harper’s room, took some PM cold medicine to help him sleep and went to bed. A nap would be good before tonight’s performance.
Cody was on automatic pilot for their two night stint. He had no one to sing to. The van ride to Jacksonville was especially hard. He could only think of Laura. If things were the way they should be, he’d be seeing her tonight...touching her soft skin, running his fingers through her golden hair. They hadn’t spoken since the fight. The realization that it was over was sinking in hard and fast.
After checking into the hotel, he tried calling her, but only got her machine. He tried again an hour later, still no answer.
Harper came to Cody’s room.
“Dude, I’m kidnapping you.”
“What?”
“We’re going downstairs to have a drink.”
Cody held back.
“I know, I know, you’re not a big drinker, but one won’t kill you. You gotta snap out of this funk. This Laura crap is affecting your performance.”
Cody knew he was right.
“Let’s go.”
The two friends went down to the bar. Harper ordered two shots. The burn of the alcohol felt good down Cody’s throat. Is this what my dad liked? he wondered.
“How ‘bout another?” Harper asked motioning to the bartender.
“Bring it on.”
They had two beers before heading back up to get ready for the show. Cody had a good buzz going. He felt better.
“Thanks, man,” he told Harper as they headed to the show.
“I told you, Cody, you’re a rock star. There’s another girl for you. Don’t hang yourself up.”
“You’re right.”
The guys entered the club. It was a huge venue, bigger than any they’d played so far. The owner came to greet them. “We sold out your show,” he said. “I appreciate that. Good luck tonight.”
They began setting up their instruments. Cody wandered to the bar.
“Gimme a shot of tequila.”
The bartender looked at him. “You sure? Before you perform?”
“Why do you think I’m so good?” Cody replied flippantly.
“Okay.”
Cody gulped down the shot. “Another.”
The bartender raised his eyebrows and obliged.
Cody threw the liquor down his throat, letting it scorch its way down to his stomach. Who needed Laura? Certainly not him.
The band took the stage to an enthusiastic crowd. Cody sang his heart out, parading around the stage with renewed vigor, every bit the star.
They finished their set and the crowd went wild.
“Great show,” the owner said, coming backstage to congratulate the band. He opened a cooler filled with beers. “Let’s toast,” he said, “for an