Angel of Fire - the Breath of Immortality - Book One #Wattys2014

Performance of a Lifetime

Chapter 22 - Performance of a Lifetime

Skylar found his long forgotten black jacket crumpled in a heap on the ground. After carefully shaking off the dirt, he gently placed it around my shoulders as we headed to the clearing. If possible, noise from the impatient crowd grew increasingly louder with each step.

I didn't know how he managed to stay so calm. I'd be freaking out if I had to perform in front of so many people. I don't do crowds. Swallowing hard, I had to ask. "Don't you ever get nervous?"

He shrugged nonchalantly. "This is the first time I'm playing with the band."

My eyes widened. "Really? I didn't know that."

"I mean, besides practice. Tonight will be my first gig."

"Like, ever?"

"It's a long story," he admitted with a sigh.

We walked into the clearing together and the crowd went nuts. I didn't think it was possible for their screams and cheers to get any louder.

I was wrong.

Frozen in shock and disbelief, I could only stare at all the people.

Carmen and my mom rushed up to us first, followed by a swarm of anxious bodies. Someone ushered Skylar to the stage, while someone else wrapped me in a warm, fuzzy blanket before thrusting me into a waiting folding chair.

"You're practically blue!" my mom cried.

"I'm fine," I insisted, embarrassed by the thousands of eyeballs trained on me.

"Where did you find Skylar?" Carmen asked.

"All the way on the East side of the cornfield. Some idiot trying to be a comedian took down the signs. Skylar didn't have a chance out there in the dark."

"How'd you find him all the way out there?"

I tossed her a knowing smile. "Call it a hunch."

Skylar took his seat behind the drums as the rest of the band walked on stage carrying their instruments. The audience erupted with a round of applause.

"I'm going to go introduce them," Carmen announced. She walked accross the clearing, calmly climbed up on the stage and borrowed her brother's microphone. I was in awe of her ability to be able to speak in front of so many people.

"Thank you for coming everyone. Did you have a good time tonight?"

The crowd roared.

"We have a special treat for you - all the way from Los Angeles, California. Please give it up for, Life in Crisis!"

It suddenly occurred to me that I'd never asked what kind of music the band played. I was about to find out as Skylar launched into an impressive drum solo.

I couldn't take my eyes off him, even when the rest of the guys joined in. Instead of Nick, this time Skylar sang lead vocals. The song sounded oddly familiar. An unexpected fusion of an uptempo dance track and hardcore punk. Alternating between passionate singing and distraught, guttural vocals - there was only one word to describe the style.

Screamo.

It wasn't until Skylar reached the chorus that I finally recognized it as a cover of a Rihanna song. Layered with aggressive, hard-hitting guitar licks, Skylar screamed the words "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE," with willful intensity, while at the same time he singled me out of the enormous crowd, locking eyes like I was the only girl in the world and the song was meant just for me.