Straight from the Heart (16 page)

After almost 2000 miles and 4 more back to
back shows we were finally in the Sunshine State. Cale had backed
off and didn’t say any more about what happened between us on the
bus. He shut himself off from the world, writing songs whenever he
had a chance, whether it was in the dressing room or after the
shows. We went out after the Omaha show, and of course I spent most
of my night with Damon until I had to go back to the bus, where I
knew there’d be girls. I saw one girl leave with her short red
dress hiked up to her hips and bed hair and I wanted to slap the
shit out of her. When I was getting ready to sleep Cale swore she
was with Raptor, but the guilty look on his face proved otherwise.
It wasn’t my business anyway.

I started writing some of my own songs also.
Not full on songs so to speak, but just feelings. I picked up a
diary at a dollar store in Omaha and figured it might help me get
my emotions out. I wrote one right after the last time I saw Ethan,
but I threw the piece of paper in the trash before the guys could
use it against me.

By the time we reached a rest stop on the
edge of California and Nevada, I had nearly 5 pages of the book
filled.

“So what’s that?” Cale sat beside me on the
curb as we were taking a breath of fresh air. I was writing some
lyrics down when he peeked over my shoulder. “Never knew you had a
diary, B.”

Hitting him with the diary, I smirked. “You
think I’m writing about you Mr. Arrogant don’t you?”

“I
know
you are.”

“As a matter of fact, .no.” I missed that
smug attitude of his, even though at times it pissed me off. “I had
an idea for a song. I've been piecing up words here and there.” I
handed him the journal, a bit anxious about what he thought of my
lyrics.

If I told you straight from the heart

How much I loved you

Needed you, wanted you

Would you break me?

“Wow…” Cale turned the page and handed it
back to me. “Your stuff is really good.”

“Really? You only read that little block,” I
told him.

“Doesn’t matter. That could be an amazing
fuckin chorus to a song, you should finish it up and we could make
that a single.”

My lyrics becoming an actual song? I don’t
think the reality of that would hit me until we recorded it. Hell I
didn’t even have names for anything I was writing. Just bits and
pieces. I let Cale borrow my book as he showed it to the guys and
of course they unanimously agreed I should write one of the singles
for the new album.

Pressure much?

As we reached Los Angeles, the city of
angels, I felt star struck. I never knew when I was going to run
into somebody famous, and my nerves were getting the best of me. I
texted Gina and Bethany as soon as we got into town, letting them
know I couldn’t wait to see them.

Me: Girls I’m finally here!

Bethany: In Cali?

Me: Hell yes, I can’t wait to see you!

Gina: Holy shit it’s been too long girl!
We’ve got dirt to share.

I smiled, texting them details about the Los
Angeles show, which was that night. A secretary from the record
company called us, scheduling lunch at Chateau Marmont in West
Hollywood, where we’d go over specific details in our contract.
Cale warned me it wouldn’t be so bad since they went through this
with the Indie label we were signed to previously.

When we all arrived at the restaurant, a
younger looking man in his 20’s and an older man who looked to be
in his late 30’s were sitting at a round table with wine glasses in
their hands. The older one, who I vaguely remembered from the show
I smashed my guitar at, shook our hands. When it was my turn, Cale
introduced me.

“Mr. Cooper, this is Bryn Schaefler, our new
guitarist,” Cale said with a confident tone to his voice. I firmly
shook Mr. Cooper’s hand.

“Nice to finally meet the girl who made
quite a statement at one of her first shows,” Mr. Cooper chuckled,
flashing a smile. “But you can call me Walker.” He gestured towards
the person still sitting. I couldn’t see his face because it was
buried in a menu, but his body mannerism seemed like he was nervous
to be here, or hiding. It was oddly familiar. “And this is one of
my new trainees at the record label, Brayden, which I’m sure you
know him Bryn since he’s your brother”

Brayden?

No wonder he was hiding from us.
He
knew I was here. My brother was working for our new record label?
No fuckin’ way.

He looked up from the menu and gave a slight
wave. Same eyes as me, same hair color as I remembered him with.
Yup it was Brayden Michael Schaefler alright. I locked eyes with
him and he let out a small smile. Walker had us sit down as he
ordered us all waters. I sat down of course next to Brayden,
shaking his hand pretending that I didn’t know him. Cale gave me a
glance as if he knew who it was and I mouthed “Y
es”
.

“So tell us a little more about you, Bryn,
being the newest member of Everlasting and all,” Walker asked, with
everyone’s eyes on me.

I sat up straight, placing my hands on my
lap. “Well I just graduated High School in June back in Michigan. I
had gotten an apartment and the woman I rented from told me about
their audition,” I gestured towards the guys. “And I guess the rest
is history.”

Brayden looked away, obviously
uncomfortable. “It’s great to see more women in rock, can’t
complain there. I’ve had various people that works for us go out
and watch you guys. Brilliant work. The covers you do are
fantastic. But one thing I want to bring up is once the contract is
signed, we want you to start working on an album. Once the news
officially breaks that you’re signed with us, there will be a lot
of hype surrounding you. You have to have a new album to back it
up.”

I had never even set foot in a studio
before, using studio equipment beyond what we used on tour. “We’ve
already been writing and getting ideas together. We’re really
honored you guys want us to represent your label.” Cale put a hand
on his heart, sounding sincere.

Walker clapped his hands together and we all
took sips of our wine, and my water the waiter just brought over.
The rest of the lunch passed by quickly, with Walker doing all of
the talking and Brayden pretending to pay attention to what his
boss was saying. I really wanted to pull the idiot aside and ask
him how the hell he had started working for the label I was about
to be signed to? More importantly,
how
could he not call his
only sister even once since he left! I was furious, but I held my
smile as we talked music, and about some of the other groups on the
label. Some of them I remembered Ethan introducing me to when he’d
put new music on my iPod from time to time. I felt star struck
knowing I would be meeting some of these bands someday.

“I’m going to use the restroom,” I said,
excusing myself as the guys were discussing video games of all
things. I don’t think they noticed me get up from my seat, but once
I left the bathroom, I bumped into none other than my brother.

I stared at him. His looks hadn’t changed,
minus a five o’ clock shadow that added a few years to him. He
looked thinner than before, which was unusual for him since Brayden
was one of those gym rats who would go every day and work out.

“Good to see you, sis,” he said, his arm
reaching out. It was as if he was expecting me to embrace him. “You
seem really happy.”

“Did you get my voicemail back in June?” I
demanded.

“The one where you said you
left
?” he
asked, referring to leaving our mom and dad. “Yeah. I was in a bad
place, Bryn, I’m sorry. I should’ve called you. You might not have
known, but I’ve always wanted to be involved in the music business,
but the business side ya know?”

I was dumbfounded. Brayden and I had the
same tastes in music, I had known that, but never did I expect him
to be in a business suit and tie like he was today.

Tears were forming, and I tried to stop them
so I wouldn’t go back out to the table with a red face. I was too
emotional to care. This was my older brother, so I wrapped my arms
around him and gave him the biggest hug I’ve ever given him. He
rubbed my back and kissed my cheek.

“Don’t cry, Bryn Michelle. Think of it like
this: we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other, right? Headquarters
is in Cleveland. Not far from home right?” Brayden laughed and let
go of me.

“Yeah guess you’re right.” I smiled faintly
as he squeezed my hand. “But let’s get back out there before ‘our’
boss starts to wonder what we’re up to.”

“He knows we’re siblings as you already
heard him mention it” Brayden explained as we walked out to the
table. “He told me about signing this band ‘Everlasting’ and that
they had a new guitarist who was a girl and she was amazingly
talented. I dig some digging and was in shock when I saw you up on
stage like a pro.”

“What can I say? These guys helped me more
than I can admit.”

Walker picked up the tab and handed us the
official paper contract. He told us to look it over carefully, read
it and all of us sign on the very last page. Luke handed me the pen
last and Brayden nodded, encouraging me. My hand had a slight
tremor but I signed my name in that cursive writing my mother
taught me when I was young, and that was it. Everlasting was now
signed to RockOut Records!!!

My reunion with Brayden was short lived. He
had to fly back to Cleveland with Walker and take care of some
promotional issues for the label, but he promised he’d try to keep
in touch.

After lunch, I texted Gina and Bethany
again, telling them they could pick up their backstage passes from
Hal who would meet them at the front of the theatre with a sign in
tow.

Gina: You better hook us up with some rock
stars here, B!

Bethany: Gina’s boy crazy, don’t mind her.
But you do have some nice looking ‘tour mates.’

I was afraid these girls were going to wet
their panties when they saw the guys. Especially Cale. I’d learned
how people flock to the lead singer more so than the other members
of the band.

It was after five o’ clock when we started
getting everything off the bus and into the theatre. Since we were
playing in one of the biggest cities in the United States, I had to
look the part of the ultimate rock girl. I stopped at Shrine of
Hollywood and bought a dress that had cap sleeves and stopped right
below my thighs. I fingered the flower embroidering as I slipped on
some black tights and comfortable flats. Adding some gold bracelets
to my wrist, I added a heavy coat of eyeliner and
lipstick. 

None of the guys were in the dressing room,
so I enjoyed the quiet time until I heard a loud knock at the
door.

“Hey bitch, let us in!” I heard a girly
voice shout from the other side. I ran over to the door and quickly
opened it.

“Ahhh, you’re here!!!” I shrieked, jumping
into Gina and Bethany’s arms. They joined me as we squeezed each
other for what felt like the longest time. “You both look so
good!”

They stood back and I couldn’t believe how
different they looked in just a few short months. Bethany had
strawberry blond hair that was in a French twist, and it looked
like she had lost a lot of weight. Her skin tight green romper made
her legs look even skinnier than they were and her heels added a
good 4 inches to her height. Gina was shorter than Bethany, wearing
red wedges to go with her black jeggings and red halter top. Her
perfectly curled dark brown hair had a few shades of caramel mixed
in and she looked tanner than when we were back in Michigan, which
was likely due to the California sun.

“You look the best, Bryn. I never would’ve
pictured Bryn Michelle Schaefler in a dress this hot!” Gina said.
They walked around the dressing room as I handed the two of them a
beer. “Is this all they drink?”

I shook my head. “Nah, the good stuff is all
on the bus, but you can have these for now.” They took sips of
their cans as we all sat down together and talked about how we’d
been the past few months.

“So how’s the modeling going?”

“Pretty well, actually,” Bethany admitted.
“Gina’s got a contract with some high-end bathing suit store in
town and I’ve been going around to places looking for gigs. I just
met with the owner of this small boutique not far from here and
they want me to come in and see if I would be a good fit to
represent their company.

“Well they’d be crazy if they didn’t pick
you, Beth. You’re much prettier than I’ll ever be.” I sighed,
kicking my legs up. Just a few minutes later, Cale, Vince, Raptor
and Luke burst in, clearly amused by three girls sitting in their
dressing room.

“Heyy there ladies. You must be Bryn’s
friends?” Cale asked, turning on his flirtatious charm that could
woo any girl that didn’t know him. Gina and Bethany stood up
nervously, like they were being judged for a modeling job. Their
eyes locked not to Cale, but to the other guys that were ogling
them from behind Cale. I rolled my eyes and laughed. I’d seen this
too many times and usually they had their way with the groupie
girls. I didn’t want my friends to be their next victims, even
though I knew they were good guys deep down.

“Ye…Yes we are,” Gina stammered. “I’m Gina
and this is Bethany…” Her face turned red as if she was going to
cry. He bent down to grab each one of their hands and kiss it.
Prince Charming. Yeah right.

“Nice to meet you. And welcome to our
un-lively dressing room,” he joked. “This is the rest of the guys.
Vince, Raptor and Luke. Guys, this is Gina and Bethany, Bryn’s best
friends from back home. They live in LA isn’t that right?” I was
surprised Cale remembered when I told him that they lived here and
were aspiring models.

“Mhmm. We share an apartment a few miles
from here.” Bethany replied, waving at the guys. Vince smirked at
her and waved shyly back, which was a first. Vince was never one to
be shy, so he must really like her. “So what time do you guys go on
tonight?”