Page 21 of Ticket to the Stars: Part One

“That’s right. We should change that.”

When I looked at him, I saw he was grinning. Unlike Priest, Bishop’s smile wasn’t lopsided. It was full and wide, the kind of smile that showed off his perfect teeth, accompanied by two tiny dimples in his cheeks.

“Lucky for you, I have a great idea.”

And then he told me that great idea. Let’s just say that I, personally, did not find the idea so great. I knew sooner or later I’d have to sing in front of them and prove that I indeed had the singing chops, but come on, really?

I repeated his so-called idea to him, “A karaoke bar?”

Bishop opened his mouth to either defend his idea or try to convince me to go for it, but before he had the chance to say a single word, heavy footsteps thudded down the hall, and Priest skidded to a stop right outside my door.

Priest glanced between us, acting like he was out of breath. “Did someone say karaoke?” He strolled into the room, grinning. “I know just what you can wear.” He picked up the dress from the bed, and he spotted the shoe boxes before me. “Ooh, you can pair it with those.”

“I’m not dressing up to go karaoke-ing.” I didn’t even know if that was a word, but I didn’t care. Not once in my life had I ever done any karaoke, and I didn’t want to start now.

“Sure you are. We all will. Even Deacon.” Still clutching the black dress, Priest strolled over to the door—careful to avoid the bags on the floor this time—and called out loudly, “Deacon, karaoke tonight! Wear your prettiest dress!”

I was pretty sure I heard a gruff “Fuck that” as a response, but Deacon’s less than enthusiastic reply didn’t damper Priest’s spirits at all.

Priest deposited the dress onto my bed, clapping his hands. “Oh, yes. Tonight. Be ready by seven. Then we go out and see what you’re made of!” He was practically giddy like a schoolgirl as he skipped out of my room, utterly blissful at the turn of events.

I had no idea someone like him could be into the idea of karaoke so much.

It was only after Priest left the room that I drew my gaze back to Bishop, who stood looking a little sheepish. “Yeah, that’s definitely a word you don’t want to say when Priest is within a hundred feet of you. He’s got hearing like a bat.”

It was my turn to cross my arms. “I’m not going.”

Bishop’s smile was back, and my willpower wavered. “Just think about it, okay? We can’t force you, but we have to know what we’re dealing with here.” He stuffed his hands into his pockets and took a hesitant step toward me. “Besides, I think it’d be fun. We could all use a little de-stressing.”

Oh, way to put all the weight on me. Ugh. Did I really have to go sing karaoke in front of these guys?

Bishop left my room after that—so much for his help in putting away all of these clothes. It took me over an hour to do it, mostly because there were so many clothes I didn’t know what to do with. The walk-in closet, even with the shoes and shirts hanging, was still barren and empty.

Another thing? Most of the clothes were black. Black or white. Or black and white. The only thing Ramona didn’t buy for me were panties. Bras, yes, probably because some of the dresses she’d gotten required more than your typical, average bra underneath.

I put everything away, save for that black dress. It still lay on my bed, untouched, and as I walked over to my bed, I sighed.

I couldn’t wear the dress. It wasn’t me. And neither was doing karaoke.

But then again, being here, the newest member of a band I never listened to before, wasn’t me either. This whole thing was a new experience—one I’d be getting paid for, one I could use to kickstart a solo career after my contract expired. If that wasn’t a reason enough to push myself out of my comfort zone, I didn’t know what was.

Chapter Eleven – Bishop

Deacon didn’t want to go. It took both Priest and I to convince him to get dressed up and come with us. Priest knew a place—because he was Priest and he knew everybody and everything. A karaoke bar that wasn’t exactly your average, run of the mill karaoke bar. Fancier, with more expensive drinks and the kind of semi-elegant atmosphere that was only slightly hampered by the fact there was a stage.

I went for some black pants, along with a dark gray shirt and black suspenders—Priest had gotten me the suspenders last year, claiming girls went crazy for them. He would know. I, myself, didn’t see how or why girls would go crazy for them. In fact, tonight was the first time I’d be wearing them.

Not too dressed up, but enough. Wanted to look good for our newest member.

Angel. It was still weird as hell to know we now had a girl in our ranks, a girl we’d have to share the stage with soon enough. Tonight was meant to be fun, but it was also about seeing what she was made of, figuring out why Ramona and her people chose her out of everyone.

I walked out of my room once I was ready, finding Priest and Deacon in the living room. Deacon was sitting on the couch, wearing nothing more than a black t-shirt and dark blue jeans. His black hair was pulled back in a low bun, and he was busy frowning at Priest, who stood before him with an annoyed expression on his face.

“Come on, bro,” Priest said. “Get off your ass and come with us. The four of us need to bond and shit, and we can’t do that when you’re being a sourpuss.” He knocked against Deacon’s legs, which he had spread out on the coffee table.

Deacon hissed, “Fuck off. I’m not going. You two can frolic with your new girl, but I’m not going to pretend this is something different than what it is. She’s here for one album and one tour, and that’s it. I don’t need to be best friends with her.”

Priest heard me approaching and tossed me a pleading look. His blond hair was swept back, his gray eyes desperate. His tall, muscular frame wore a long-sleeved shirt, though its buttons were undone to his chest, revealing his multitude of tattoos. The sleeves had been rolled up to his elbows—something else I remembered him saying the girls went nuts over.

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