Bea & the Broken Record

Chapter 29: Move Along, Move Along

"Asher, remember what it felt like the first time we played or a crowd?" Brody asked.

Yeah, I was scared out of my mind but I sucked it up and did it. For the guys.

"Yeah, I guess," I said instead. Brody stood up and squeezed my shoulders.

"That's what it'll feel like. Feeling the energy surge through you, feeling the music flow. It makes you feel like you're on top of the world, doesn't it?" Brody sounded so proud of what he and the band did.

No, I thought, I don't always feel like that.

"Little brother," Brody beamed his smile at me. "We are about to become somebody. Don't you want that?"

This was the first time in my life that I thought even a little bit about regretting Ablaze. It made me mad, almost. I'd wanted a band and to become famous for most of my life. Why was is that I felt that way now?

"Yeah," was all I said to answer his question. The doubt filled my stomach and I couldn't get it out, I could only ignore it and pretend it wasn't there.

Because if I didn't want this, what would happen to my brothers?

"Alright, boys!" A stage manager yelled for us with a big happy grin on his scruffy face. "Let's get this show on the road! Good luck!" The nice man patted us each on the back as we left, entering the stage.

The lights were so bright and blinding that I wasn't able to see half the audience in front of me. The ones closest to the stage were more visible but only because of their multi-colored glow sticks. I could see them bouncing around and laughing, looking the happiest they ever had.

And that's when a smile broke out on my face.

As I took center stage, catching the eyes of all the girls and guys out there with smiles on their faces, I knew my exact reason for doing what I loved.

"Hey guys," I said as I looked left and right at Ben and Grayson with their guitars and smiling faces. Then back at Quentin standing behind his keyboard. I didn't even have to look at Brody to see his smile.

"We're Ablaze, and I hope you enjoy the show, because I know we will." With that, I began the strumming my guitar to start off our song. The music didn't spread through me like Brody had said, but the smiling faces as we played did.

Our song carried on and even with the ear-pieces in my ears I could hear the voices of the crowd singing along. We were playing a cover of a song called Move Along by The All-American Rejects. Drew thought starting off with a cover and then one of our own songs would have been best. It would get the crowd started, hyped up for what was to come.

It was different from what was usually done, and I liked it.

"And even when your hope is gone, move along, move along just to make it through," I sang with all my heart, wanting to hear their voices even more, louder and louder, stronger and stronger.

I pulled the microphone away from my mouth and pointed it towards the crowd and listened to them sing a few lyrics with my band.

It was amazing. They were amazing.

Several songs later, all our own, we were exiting the stage and getting high fives from all the crew members. I jerked my head side to side so my shaggy hair would shake all the swear out of it.

We weren't able to talk to Alex or any of the other guys before they went on stage. The crowd roared even louder than before and I felt my adrenaline pump through my veins.