Chapter 10 – The Exit

Don’t you ever dream of some place better

Or a life that’s greater,

Don’t you ever feel like you’ve been destined,

For something bigger than your skin?

-Forgive Durden

“A photoshoot? We don’t have time!” I heard Ben yell into his phone. His face was red and a vein was bulging out of his neck. Apparently Ice Civilian was wanted in a photoshoot. “Urgh…fine, fine, I’ll fit it into the schedule,” Ben grumbled before hanging up.

“What magazine?” I asked.

“Spin. They don’t even THINK of our touring schedule. So inconsiderate,” Ben said darkly. I swear, that man is insane. Stay clear of him.

We were in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After saying a sad goodbye to Brian in South Carolina, I couldn’t stop thinking about the normal times we had before Ice Civilian got big – back when we would hang out at the movies or bowling alley. Those days were probably gone now, and I hadn’t even stopped to think of that. I sighed sadly and went to go find Will or Taire, the two people that could cheer me up whenever I was down.

I ran into Will warming up his voice onstage. He stopped when I entered and his face lit up.

“Hey Rav! What’s up? Want to sing something with me?”

Why not? “Sure.” I answered. “What do you want to sing?”

“Let’s get the band to back us up. How about Wine Red by The Hush Sound?”

I beamed. The Hush Sound was one of my favorite bands. “Yes! I’d love that!” Will grabbed my arm and we went to go search for some other band members. We found Andy to play drums, Taire on bass, Michael on guitar, and Will and me on vocals.

I grabbed the keyboard and began playing the chords for Wine Red. I stared singing and Will joined in.

Who shot that arrow in your throat,

Who missed the crimson apple?

It hung heavy on the tree above your head

This chaos this calamity

This garden once was perfect

Give your immortality, I’ll set you up against the stars.

When Andy came in with the drums, a few people stuck their heads in the doorway to listen. A bunch of the band members came in and sat down to listen to the rest of the song. When we finished, they cheered and applauded us.

“Whoo! Who’s this hot new band hm?” Josh whooped. “Play something else!”

“What do you want?” I asked.

“That’s What You Get,” Emerson chimed in. I glared at him – he KNOWS that Paramore is hard to sing! Not everyone has the vocal acrobatics of Hayley.

“You up for it Rav? I’ll play second guitar,” Will asked me. I frowned. I hope I don’t mess up too badly.

“Sure. I just hope my vocals are up to par,” I said. After Andy came in with the first beat, the rest of the group joined in and I started jumping around, as I had seen Hayley do at a few of her concerts.

That’s what you get when you let your heart win

Whoaaaa

Tha’ts what you get when you let your heart win

Whoaaaa

I drowned all my sense with

The sound of its beating

And that’s what you get when you let your heart win

Whoaaa

I walked across the stage as I sang and by the end of the song, I was pumped up. All the people listening had formed a mini mosh-pit and were jumping around. When the song finished, I yelled into the microphone,

“Thank you Philadelphia! It’s been amazing!”

Emerson was smirking. He drawled,

“Well, looks like your sister has taken over your band Josh. I think she might be better than you!”

Josh laughed and said,

“Yeah, damnit, I don’t know what I’m going to do now! I guess I’ll be forced out into the streets now. All thanks to my sister.”

I rolled my eyes. I had to admit, the exhilarating feeling of performing the vocals and dancing around was addicting and got the adrenaline rushing through me.

“Nah, I’d never take my brother’s job! He’s too good at what he does. Plus all the girls would miss him. I have a feeling I’d make the ticket sales go down,” I said.

“Yeah, but you’d make the ticket sales go up with more guys wanting to see you,” Emerson said.

“Well, I’m not in a band as of right now, so it’s all good,” I said, finishing the conversation. My stomach rumbled as we all remembered that we needed to get dinner before the show in a few hours.

“I want a cheese steak! It is Philly,” Josh declared. I agreed and suggested Pats, which I had been to a few years ago. Emerson shook his head and said, “Nah, I’ve been here before. I prefer Geno’s.”

Whoa.

“Excuuuuuuuse me?” I asked. “Geno’s? Are you for serious?”

Taire was looking at the both us with a confused expression on his face. “What are you two talking about?”

I tore my eyes from Emerson’s stubborn face and explained to Taire, “In Philly, the two famous cheese steak places are called Pats and Geno’s. They’re right across the street from each other and they basically kind of battle to see who gets the most customers. They’re both pretty good, but obviously Pats is much better.”

Emerson chimed in. “This is where Rav’s wrong. Geno’s is so much better. You’d like it more Taire. There’s flashy lights there and everything.”

I snorted. “Yeah that’s right, it’s just flashier. What matters is the actual food. Pats is clearly favored, even if it is the underdog on physical appearance.”

Emerson rolled his eyes and said, “Well why don’t we just let the others decide huh? We’ll go there and see who likes what.” I glared at him and he returned my look. If looks could kill, we would both be fried at the spot.

It was silent for a few seconds before we Will cleared his throat nervously.

“Uh, guys… we don’t have to have Philly cheese steaks either.”

Emerson and I both turned to glare at him.

“Or… we can…” he trailed off.

“Well, I’m starving. I’ll just have one from both places!” Taire announced. “Then I’ll be the judge.”

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“So?” I asked, prodding Taire with my elbow.

“Thmeph brghmg grrrughd.”

“Hey Emerson, did you hear that? He said Pats,” I announced proudly.

“You might want to get your hearing checked, babe. He obviously said Geno’s,” Emerson retorted.

“Nu-uh.”

“Yuh-huh.”

We both turned to look at Taire intensely.

Taire swallowed. “They’re both good. No winner.”

This received heavy sighs from Emerson and me. We turned to the rest of the group, who was looking pointedly away from us. Ugh, they were no help.

I stuck out my tongue. “Pats,” I muttered.

He did the same. “Geno’s.”

“I hate you.”

“No you love me.”

“Asshole.”

“Woman.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?!”

“It means you got boobs and a pussy.”

“What?”

“And you should stay in the kitchen.”

“WHAT?!”

“You heard me.”

“Well in that case, my taste in food should be superior.”

“Nah, you just make the food for the men. We’re the ones who eat it.”

“Asshole.”

“You’re such a… butterfly.”

“Don’t call me a butterfly!”

“Butterfly.”

“Stop.”

“Butterfly.”

We continued on with this banter until Taire finally stood up and yelled,

“Just get it over and fuck already!”

Emerson and I both turned to him with surprised expressions. However, mine was in outrage, while his was suggestive and grinning.

“Him? EW!”

“Any day, babe.”

“Hey, that’s my sister!” Josh interjected.

Adrienne interrupted us all by standing up and saying, “I think it’s time we head back.” The rest of the group quickly agreed as I grumbled about the insensitivity of guys. We walked back to the venue with me complaining the whole time about Emerson to Adrienne.

Hours later, Rising Ashes was about to go onstage when I was standing on the side. Emerson grinned at me and quickly said, “Hey there, Mariposa. Yeah, that’s right, I took Spanish in Middle School,” before walking out to a roaring audience.

I frowned in anger. Why the fuck was he calling me a stupid animal?

I stormed backstage and sat down next to Adrienne, still frowning. She looked at me and rolled her eyes.

“You so like him.”

“You so sounded like Michaela Kowalski there,” I responded.

“Oh, shut up. Okay Ravia. He’s hot. He’s got a sense of humor. He’s famous. He’s hot. He’s a singer. Oh, did I mention he’s hot?”

“No, I don’t think you did,” I replied sarcastically.

“Oh. Well, he’s hot,” she said cheekily.

“He’s also an asshole who thinks with his dick,” I said.

“Well… I mean, you’ve never really seen him fucking a girl have you?” she asked.

“No, and I hope I never will.”

“I mean, the most I’ve seen him do is make out with a girl. They never usually stay that long anyway,” Adrienne said.

“Yeah… uh, Age? I don’t care,” I said bitterly. For some reason, Emerson just got under my skin and it made me want to punch something. He was like an irritating hangnail that refused to let go. I winced as I thought of the bad analogy in my head.

“Hey Rav, whatcha thinking?” Will interrupted my thoughts.

“How Emerson is like an annoying hangnail,” I responded without thinking.

“Uh… well. I don’t really know what to say to that,” Will said.

“Huh?” I shook myself out of my daze. “Oh sorry. Didn’t mean to gross you out. He’s just so annoying!”

Will laughed. “I know, but you know he just annoys you cause it amuses him. Plus, he can’t keep his eyes off you and this is the only way he can keep you talking to him.”

I rolled my eyes. “If his eyes are anywhere on me, it’s on my boobs. He thinks with his dick.”

“True, but don’t a lot of guys? I mean, it’s just what we think of. And it’s not all perverted thoughts either. We like the …um, feminine parts, but in the end, it comes down to the girl’s personality and how chill she is.”

“But, it doesn’t seem like he cares at all. He’s just into the girl’s body,” I retorted.

“Nah, that’s just what it seems like. I’ve known Em for a long time and he’s actually pretty decent,” Will said.

I shrugged my shoulders. It didn’t really matter to me – he’d always be an asshole to me.

“Just give him a chance. He’s a good guy,” Will said.

I only grunted and got up to go put away Ice Civilian’s instruments. Emerson needed someone to give him a good kick in the ass. I wouldn’t lower myself to the level of the girls who allowed him to screw them over. Literally. If he wanted to be my friend, he needed to earn it.

So… I know I haven’t updated in awhile. I’m sorry! Senior year has caught up to me… I have such bad senioritis. Just waiting for colleges to get back to me in late March/early April. Anyway, REVIEW!!!!