a pop princess who danced like a puppet for her label. I had to get the fans on a whole other level, and I knew with Jet Ryder’s voice paired with mine, we’d be breaking boundaries.
Stepping onto the stage, I was ready.
This is what I was born to do.
The crowd was still roaring from the previous song, my ears buffered by the ear pieces, giving me straight sound to the instrumentals, and to Jet’s voice.
A spotlight flickered on Jet, and the strum of his guitar rang through the arena, the crowds earlier roars turning into a rage. Their fans were different than mine, but the intensity was similar, and the high of being on stage began to rush through me, along with the beautiful tone of Jet’s voice.
My own body began to sway from his song, listening to the lyrics and letting my energy become one with the words. It was an intimate process, singing a song and performing it to a live audience. If you weren’t feeling the song, the crowd would know it.
I’d gotten to my spot, center stage, the lights still dark to the point no one could see me, my microphone firmly in my hand. I held it to my lips, preparing to deliver.
I kept my eyes closed, the electricity of Jet’s guitar fueled my veins, the vibe in Chase’s base rumbled into my bones, Rocket’s fingers worked diligently on his mix table to create new harmony, and the beat of Gunner’s drums merged the sounds together, only one key part missing. My vocal chords tingled with excitement, ready to contribute to the catchy song that all of their fans had been pleading to hear. My fears were put on hold, the music, giving me the confidence to perform.
The spotlight flew on, and like a light switch, I was in my element, the words moving through my lips and into the microphone, loud and clear for all the ears of Addicts Unite fans to hear.
Chapter Eleven
Jet, present
My heart was racing from the mesh of our voices. We were both used to putting on a show for a crowd, knowing what they liked and didn’t. The tone of the stadium would change with each song, and the intuition of each fans’ emotions came with our jobs. We had to know what direction to take when it came to pleasing a crowd of eager fans.
The only problem was, with Regan, the vibe became more intense, and I couldn’t grasp where the rush was coming from. Was it the rip roaring sea of fans? How perfect our voices really did sound together? Or was it simply just, her.
Once the song was over, she held onto my gaze, her smile broad and her eyes bright. I grinned back at her, my chest rising and falling at a rapid rate from the adrenaline.
I put my lips to the microphone and held my guitar to my hip, reaching for Raina’s hand. She laced our fingers together instantly, not batting an eye at the contact. “Ladies and gentleman, the lovely, Ms. Raina Skye!”
The crowd of fans hollered in approval all around us while she waved goodbye with her diamond studded microphone, her smile still huge while she looked in awe at the mass of people.
She gave me one last gaze, no anger or resentment in her eyes. Any negativity toward me had disappeared in the smile she gave, and it went straight to my chest. She squeezed my hand, then let go, blowing kisses to the crowd as she walked off stage.
***
“That show was off the hook!” One of the roadies cheered as we made our way off stage.
My only acknowledgment was to give him a high five then hand him my guitar.
“Great show, bro,” another roadie said, and I gave him a nod, my mind unable to think of anything else besides my performance with Regan.
The four of us were escorted to an SUV immediately after the show to our hotel. Mikey driving and Sebastian in the front seat.
“That was a spectacular show!” He said enthusiastically. “Really remarkable!” He wasn’t normally this chipper, unless he had what he’d consider, a million dollar idea.
“Dude, you did rev up the crowd big time tonight,” Rocket said, nudging my shoulder.
“Yeah New York fans definitely brought it tonight!” Chase added.
Rocket, Chase, and Gunner all discussed the show with Seb, while I stayed quiet, a bit stuck in my head. I was thankful none of them noticed.
Once we got to the hotel, fans were lined up along