Chapter Eleven

Jace

J ace was relieved when he saw the rest of the band show up. He wasn’t sure if he would have to do this show alone. Then there was Nico. He couldn’t have dressed any hotter. Why did he have to look like that tonight?

Laura saw him in the café talking to Mary when she came for breakfast, then she sat down and talked to him. Jace ended up spending all day with her, and it turned out to be fun. Her apartment became Jace’s refuge for the rest of the day. She was kind enough to add blue streaks into his hair. All the way back to high school, she wanted more from him than he could give. When she kissed him on the lips in front of the band, he saw Nico roll his eyes. What was he supposed to do? He wouldn’t push her away and be rude.

Jace figured he needed to talk to Mark and Sammie before Nico. He walked over to them. “Hey, sorry about today. Things got messed up, but I’m okay now.”

“You owe me,” Mark said .

“For what?” Jace asked.

“Because I had to practice singing your solos. We didn’t know if you’d show up or not. That’s how my day went. Thanks to you.”

“Sorry about that. I wasn’t in a place to talk to anyone in the band.”

“Fuck you too!” Mark said.

“You could have sent us a text,” Sammie said.

“I guess I could’ve. I’m sorry.”

“Are you trying to act straight?” Mark asked.

“No. Why would you say that?”

“We all saw you kissing that girl,” Mark said.

“I’ve known her since kindergarten. Just friends.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Sammie asked.

“Yes. I had a great day with Laura. She’s an old friend. She put the streaks in my hair.”

“I love them. But she forgot your eyeliner,” Sammie said.

“I forgot about it, too. Can you put some on?”

Sammie looked inside his bag and pulled out the eyeliner. He made Jace stand still while he applied it.

“Thanks, Sammie.”

“Hey, did Nico fuck you in the shower?” he whispered into Jace’s ear.

“No. But we had an argument at the café, and he left.”

“He was bummed out when he returned without you. He rented his own room.”

“He did?” Hearing Nico no longer wanted to sleep in the same bed upset him, so he decided it would be best to ignore Nico before they played. He couldn’t handle Nico destroying his mood. He plucked the strings of his guitar, fine-tuning each one until they produced a perfect tone .

“Attention, everyone, we need to evacuate the building immediately. Please remain calm and proceed to the nearest exit. Follow the staff’s instructions and move quickly but safely. Thank you for your cooperation.”

“Oh, no” Jace picked up his guitar while the others picked up what they could. They stood in line to exit, leaving the drums and keyboard in the club.

Jace’s heart pounded as he stepped out of the venue, the familiar streets of Bakersfield feeling more alien than ever. The church he had grown up in, the place that had once felt like a sanctuary, now seemed like a breeding ground for hostility. His eyes widened in horror as he saw his father among a crowd outside the club, his arm arcing through the air to hurl an egg that splattered against Jace’s chest.

On the sidewalk, a sea of angry faces and hateful signs greeted him. “Leave Bakersfield, Jace,” one sign read, while another proclaimed, “Sacred Fire is demonic.” The words cut deeper than any physical blow, each one a reminder of the rejection from the community he’d once called home.

Without warning, the crowd surged, and eggs rained down on him. The cold, slimy mess of raw eggs and broken shells clung to his skin and clothes, each impact a stinging reminder of their disdain. Panic set in, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps as he tried to shield himself.

Suddenly, Nico was there. He took Jace’s guitar and handed it to Sammie. With his powerful arms, he lifted Jace off the ground and threw him over his shoulder. Jace clung to Nico, his mind reeling from the shock and humiliation. Behind them, Mark and Sammie pushed through the crowd, their faces set with determination.

The limo door swung open, and Nico practically threw Jace inside before diving in after him. Mark and Sammie followed, slamming the door shut just as another egg hit the window. Safe inside the vehicle, Jace’s body trembled uncontrollably, the reality of the situation crashing down on him. He had never felt so utterly alone, despite the comforting presence of his bandmates.

Sammie handed Jace his guitar covered with broken eggs, and Jace felt the slimy remnants sliding down his jacket. Sammie then passed him a handkerchief. The protesters’ jeers still echoed in Jace’s ears, and the humiliation stung more than the physical mess. His father and the church people had made their hatred clear, and it cut deep into his heart. He cleaned his guitar as much as he could and broke a string from rubbing so hard.

“You okay?” Nico asked as he gently tried to remove the raw eggs from his face with a bandana.

“No. I want to get out of this mother-fucking town.”

“Let’s get you cleaned up. We’ll leave after they deliver my drums and Sammie’s keyboard,” Nico said from beside him, his arm around Jace’s shoulders. “Hey, don’t let them get to you,” Nico spoke softly, trying to meet Jace’s eyes. “Last night, the crowd loved you. They were chanting your name, remember?”

Jace looked down, his voice barely above a whisper. “But my own father…and all those people from the church…they hate me, Nico. How can I face anyone in this town again?”

Nico squeezed his shoulder gently. “I know it hurts, Jace. But think about all the people who came to see you perform. They were there for you, cheering you on. You were amazing on stage, and they saw that.”

Jace sighed, feeling the weight of the night’s events pressing down on him. “It’s just hard to believe that when all I can think about is how much my father hates me.”

Nico’s eyes softened. “Your father doesn’t define who you are, Jace. You have so much talent and so many people who support you. Focus on that. Focus on the music and the people who love you for who you are. ”

Jace nodded slowly, trying to absorb Nico’s words. “Thanks, Nico. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Nico smiled, giving Jace’s shoulder one last reassuring squeeze. “You’ll get through this, Jace. And I’ll be right here with you, every step of the way.”

Jace listened to Nico’s voice as he made the call to the club, informing them they wouldn’t be coming back. With their safety in jeopardy, Nico urgently requested their remaining instruments be delivered safely to the hotel.

“What did he say?” Jace asked.

“They’re delivering the instruments. Mark and Sammie will direct them to my van.” He handed the keys to Mark. “Come upstairs and pack as soon as you have our things.”

Sammie handed Jace a chocolate bar.

“Thanks.” Tears ran down Jace’s face.

“Don’t worry, Jace. You’ll be as good as new once you’re cleaned up. We’re not staying here a minute longer than needed.”

Jace dropped his face to his hands, his eyes downcast as he purposely avoided making eye contact with anyone. He was ashamed, humiliated.

As they arrived at the hotel, Jace said, “I’m ashamed to walk into the lobby like this. It’s going to be all over town. I hope no one at Black Rock finds out.”

“We all have egg on us,” Nico said as he helped him out of the limo.

He stood with Nico in the elevator, his head down. Once inside their room, Nico helped him into the shower and adjusted the hot water. When Jace finished. Nico left to get his clothes, then took a shower, and by then, Mark and Sammie had arrived from securing their instruments. They each took a shower and packed. As Nico took care of Jace, he asked Mark and Sammie to gather their gear and carry it out. Jace stumbled, disoriented, but Nico offered a helping hand as they made their way to the van. Jace never looked up at any part of town. Until Nico hit the freeway, Jace stared at his boots.