Page 6 of Wish You Once More
A small cheer rippled through the crowd.
A screech of feedback ripped through the air. I rolled my eyes. Honestly, for the amount of times we’d played there, the sound engineer ought to know the right levels by now.
It didn’t seem to bother Scott though. He was in the zone now.
“Just a reminder that while we’re not releasing this material for a bit, we need your help in getting it out there. So feel free to video snippets of the songs, and put them on your socials,” he said. “But we’ll start with something you know and love…”
The PR Manager had suggested the idea to help us get the new stuff known. In exchange for getting tickets to the gig, the fans would upload teasers of the songs they liked best, alongside some official ones. We’d never tried this style of marketing before but hoped that it would spread the word.
Bobby counted us in, and we started the opening chords ofWasted By My Side. I was taking on the part which would usually be sung by a female. Saff Barnes, the original vocalist, couldn’t to come tonight so I was stepping in, although my voice was nothing like Saff’s. I’d flatly refused to play up to Scott like she did when she was onstage with us. I still had a dirty bass line to perform.
Our set stopped short of an hour and a half. We’d mixed the ten new songs in with our most popular material, and then slapped a cover on at the end. Playing Velvet Revolver’sSlitherwas always a joy, and less obvious. Plus the bass line was epic and for four minutes and eight seconds I got to pretend I was Duff McKagan. The crowd appeared to enjoy everything we played, even when we slowed it down forAdjust My Reality.I still had my doubts about the tempo, Bobby and me didn’t have a lot to do during the song, but still, I shouldn’t complain.
As we were about to leave the stage, I spotted Rosie and her friend, Ellie Porley. Scott hadn’t mentioned anything about them coming tonight. Ellie and I had gone out on a few dates, but nothing had come of it. She was nice enough, but I didn’t get any kind of spark from her.
“Scott, that was fantastic!” Rosie barged into the dressing room and headed straight for her boyfriend, kissing him full on the lips. “I loved it.”
“Oi, put him down. You don’t know where he’s been.” I laughed. “On second thoughts, you probably do.”
“You’re just jealous.” She blew me a kiss.
I didn’t like to think that she was right, but seeing them together, so happy, did bring out the green-eyed monster occasionally. The only single member of the band currently, I sometimes felt a little out of place, like the child amongst a group of adults. Maybe I needed to try harder with Ellie.
Almost as if she could read my mind, Ellie approached me.
“Hey, Mat. Great gig.” She smiled, pushing her dark hair away from her face.
“Thanks. We hope people like the new stuff.” I busied myself putting my bass away, making sure it was safe in its case. I’d need to take it on the train with me tomorrow.
“I’m sure they will,” Ellie hesitated, “do you want to come out for a few drinks? Scott and Rosie said they were going to the pub to celebrate.”
The sensible thing to do would be to go back to my flat, get an early night, and prepare for the weekend with my brother.
My gaze strayed to Scott and Rosie, their hands all over each other, lost in their own world.
I wanted that.
I wanted to love someone, to adore them so thoroughly it consumed me.
And I wouldn’t get that by going home.
“Sure, sounds good.” I flashed Ellie a megawatt smile. “Let’s go.”
4
Bree
Why the fuck was it so hard to write a text message?
After about a billion attempts, each of which had been deleted, I threw my phone on the bench in frustration.
Darla had asked me to contact Mat, but I couldn’t seem to do it.
I picked my phone up again, scrolling back to the last string of messages between us. Mat’s heartfelt pleas were met with me replying in ALL SHOUTY CAPITALS to leave me the fuck alone and never contact me again. My final text was dated almost four years ago. At least he’d heeded my wishes.
Did he even have the same phone number? I could take all the time in the world getting the words right, only to send it to the wrong person or have it bounce back.
All I had to say was something simple like, ‘thanks for helping out’ or, ‘weather’s looking great for the weekend’. It hardly needed to be an epic, heartfelt love letter.
