Page 3 of Hope & Harmony

As usual, I’m behind the bar, pouring drinks and soaking in the energy. This legendary club has become my second home over the past couple of months.

Zane Rocks, the bad-ass guitarist of Less Than Zero, the last big band to break out of Seattle, co-owns the club and the restaurant next door with his wife, Fiona. With wild hair and frenetic energy, Zane may be young, but he’s Seattle music royalty. His father, Carter Pope, is the guitarist for the legendary grunge band Limelight. Fiona’s father, Gus, owned the original Mission Club before he died.

The two of them are, well…most def #couplegoals.

Amidst a blur of orders, Zane approaches me. “Hope, please do me a solid. The opener is stuck at the Canadian border. Could you fill in?”

“Uh…” I’m tongue-tied and excited all at the same time. Playing any slot at The Mission is a dream come true. “Um…”

“I’ll have someone cover the bar.” He places his hands together like he’s praying. “Please.”

I shake my head sadly. “I didn’t bring my guitar.”

“Shit.” Zane scrunches his nose.

I realize it’s now or maybe never. He’s giving me a shot, I need to take it. “Do you have an acoustic I can borrow?”

“Uh…yeah! Absolutely. Come with me.” Zane takes off, gesturing for me to follow.

My heart skips a beat. The Mission’s stage is a world away from the lunch crowd at Pike Place Market. Can I do this?

“You’ve got half an hour to get ready.” Zane hands me a gorgeous Breedlove Tobacco Burst acoustic. “I’ll grab you a few minutes before you go on.”

Quickly, I run through a couple of songs on the unfamiliar instrument and scribble out a set list.

Zane pops his head in. “Ready?”

“Uh…yeah.” I squeeze out a smile and follow him down the back hallway. “Thank you for the opportunity.”

We arrive at the side of the stage. “From what I’m hearing, you’ve earned it. Try not to feel any pressure. Enjoy yourself, you’ll be great!”

Onstage, I glance out at the audience, desperate for a familiar face to anchor me. It’s futile, the stage lights are blinding, and the room seems to stretch on forever. Gulping down my nerves, I adjust the microphone and take a deep breath. My fingers tremble slightly when I poise them on the frets.

Well…this is it.

My moment.

I strum a chord and begin. My voice is a little shaky at first, then stronger as I feel more at ease. By the second verse, I'm flying, lost in the performance. Music fills the room and finds its place amongst the murmur of the crowd.

When I finish, there’s a moment of silence before the crowd erupts into whoops and cheers. Encouraged, I close my eyes and launch into the rest of my set. These aremysongs.Mystories. The music flows through me until, before I know it, my time is up.

I did it. I faced my fear. Took the stage. Sang my heart out.

“I’m Hope Kristiansen, thank you for listening.” I wave.

The enthusiasm is deafening. Placing my hand over my heart, I take a moment and let it wash over me. My legs may feel like jelly, but my heart is soaring. One of my biggest dreams has just come true.

I can’t help but grin.

This is just the beginning, I can feel it.

CHAPTER 3

ALEK

That Same Night

Tonight’s gonna be epic if I can just calm myself down.

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