Page 3 of The Spotlight Effect

“Then walk,” I say, trying to put my AirPod back in, but Lia grabs my hand.

“Please take us?” Lia bats her eyes, pleading.

“I’ll buy your drink too,” Astrid adds. Although it sucks we’re in college and we have to share a car, I have two opinions: be an ass and say no like normal or say yes and get a free milkshake that she spends her money on.

“Fine, but I want a large milkshake,” I say, continuing out the door.

“Alexia, lovely to see you,” Principal Miller says as I walk by.

“Charming, as always,” I reply.

“Try not to terrorize anyone over break or when you come back,” she says.

“We both know he kicked himself in the balls,” I reply, causing Faith to laugh. Principal Miller doesn’t do anything but shake her head and I smile, turning back around. “Don’t even. That asshole deserved it,” I say before Lia even has the chance to open her mouth.

I unlock my silver Jeep Renegade as Faith unlocks her Mini Coop next to me. “See you at practice!” Faith blows a kiss to me and gets in her car. I get inside my Jeep with Lia in the passenger seat and Astrid in the back in the middle.

Let’s get this over with.

The ride there isn’t terrible, and being here, I'm fine just drinking my milkshake, but now it has been almost an hour. As much as I love this milkshake, I’m ready to leave, so I honk my horn at Lia and Astrid. “You have ten seconds before I leave you!” I shout out to them and crank up my Jeep. They know I’m not kidding because they start running to the car.

“You know you’re an ass?” Astrid tells me as I back out.

“I try to be,” I reply.

“Hopefully, this trip will make you less bitchy,” Astrid whispers to herself.

I highly doubt it will. I’m the way I am for a reason.

THE CONCERT END

GRAYSON

The crowd cheers as our band logo flashes over the stage, closing out our concert. The stage goes dark, letting one more flood of red glowing water strike down with silver confetti falling, the curtains shutting.

Finally, I take my guitar off and sit in its stand. “I can eat now,” Charlie says, pulling out his earpiece and turning it off. I remove my earpiece along with everyone else, but my ears feel slightly sore from the two hours of wearing them.

“I can finally take this tight skirt off,” Scarlett says, shimmying a bit to adjust.

“You choose to wear it,” Kenan states, and Scarlett rolls her eyes, probably thinking he responded just like a boy would.

While we close the stage down and put our instruments in their cases, Austin’s wife, Bridgett, welcomes the VIP’s backstage to the greeting room. I make sure to tell the staff my guitar needs to be put in my car so I can take it home as I walk off the stage.

“Good job tonight, guys. Meeting in my dressing room after meet and greets,” Austin, our manager, calls out while making his way across the stage.

Great, another meeting. Lately it’s like we have three meetings a week about something. Most of it is because of our great success: everyone wants to interview us, have us on their show or want tours placed somewhere else. Austin and Golden Star are demanding a lot recently.

“Have you finished the new song?” Charlie asks me as he slings his arm over my shoulders and starts to walk with me off the stage.

“I’m working on it. Just gotta get the last verse down, and then it’ll be good,” I answer.

“Alright, remember we need it in two days, but no pressure,” Charlie reminds me.

“I remember. Two days…” I say. Charlie pats my shoulder and walks off. I head to my dressing room to finally catch my breath.

I run my fingers through my sweaty hair and mark another show off my calendar. Before I leave to go to the meet and greet, I take a seat on my black leather couch, letting out a deep sigh. I need a break.

Another show, another check. Another lonely night is coming up. No time for a pity party, I have fans waiting to meet the great Grayson Archer. I pull myself together, put some cologne on, rinse my mouth with mouthwash, and apply some lip balm before heading to the VIP rooms. Time to put on a happy face.

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