Chapter Fourteen

"How excited are you? Juliet screams as she jumps up and down while clinging to my arm. "You're excited, right? Like craaaaaaazy excited!"

I wince at her death grip on my arm. "Yeah, I'm super excited Juliet," I say as I try to pry her fingers off my arm, "but if you pull any harder on my arm, I won't be able to play my guitar and then Alison might just kick me off her tour."

"Oh, right," Juliet whispers as she quickly releases my arm and then smiles up at me. "I still can't believe you're actually going to be onstage, not only at an Alison Quick concert, but playing with her. This is literally insane!"

She starts running circles around me as she continues screaming. I can't help but laugh as I look up at Dad.

"You going to make it through the whole show with this little heathen sitting next to you?" I ask, pointing down at Juliet who has now started dancing as she screams some of Alison's lyrics.

Dad laughs. "Somehow, I'll manage." He looks down at Juliet who has now taken to attempting breakdancing apparently. "I mean do I really have a choice?" He smiles, his eyes have a slight tinge of worry in them.

I shrug. "She'll be in the VIP tent. Let her freak out as much as she wants. You'll mostly be blocked from the audience's view anyway." Dad nods. "I can get you a baseball cap to cover your face a bit though if you want. Partial incognito. It'll at least keep your full face out of the tabloids when she absolutely loses it."

Dad laughs as we both quickly glance down at Juliet, who is now sitting on the floor singing the lyrics at a more acceptable volume. She clearly wore herself out, but she's fighting it. "Hey, maybe I'll get lucky and she'll conk out before it gets that bad. There's no way she has that much energy left in her after the amount of freaking out, dancing, and singing she's been doing all day."

We both look at each other and then shake our heads simultaneously. "Wishful thinking, huh?" Dad asks.

"Yeah, I'd say." I see a crew member approaching me on my right side, so I quickly turn towards him.

"Hey, Archer, we're going to get you mic'd up here in a bit. Make your way over when you get a few free seconds. We really want to have you all ready to go in the next five minutes or so."

"Got it. I'll be there in one second. Thanks." I turn back towards my dad who is staring at me with a proud grin on his face. "What?"

"Nothing. I just can't believe this is happening for you. I mean I can believe it. You deserve it. You've worked hard enough for it that's for sure. I'm just so excited that it's finally here for you. That all of your hard work has paid off."

"Dad, it's just a small gig on someone else's tour. I wouldn't say I've really made it yet."

"You're playing music for a live audience. One that's excited to hear you. One that's not just me and your sister."

"Okay, fair point," I laugh.

"I'm just so proud of you. After everything you've been through and everything you've given up for us, it's about time you got something for yourself."

"Well, I'm not sure I'd say this is all for myself," I answer, gesturing towards Juliet.

"True. This is probably almost as exciting for you as it is for your sister. You know, she's literally talked about this and only this at school. I actually got an email from her teacher about it."

I hit myself on my forehead. "Disruptive? Not getting her work done? Driving her teacher crazy?" I ask, concern starting to take over.

"Oh no, she's been fine. Her teacher just wanted to know if it was true. I guess she's a massive Alison Quick fan and she was freaking out with Juliet. You're the talk of the school, apparently."

I shrug. "Hey, I guess it's a good thing her friends and teachers are hearing her brag about me. I'm sure that's a good break from her complaining about everything I do." I chuckle.

Dad points his finger at me. "You know that's very true." He laughs. "In all seriousness though, your mom would be so proud of you. She loved listening to your music and playing the piano alongside you."

I drop my head. "I just wish she could be here to see it," I say, running my hand through my hair and trying to fake a smile.

"She is, Arch. She's here. I can feel her. She's going to be standing right in front of that stage cheering you on, louder than everybody else in that audience," Dad's voice cracks a bit on the last part.

"Thanks, Dad," I say, trying to keep my voice steady. I reach over and pull him into a hug. He claps me on the back a few times, then pushes away.

"Knock ‘em dead, Son," he says as he smiles at me. His eyes are glistening with tears.

I smile back and then look down at Juliet. Dad bends down and picks her bag up off the floor.

"Is it time to go get ready?" Juliet asks jumping up off the ground.

"It is. Wish your brother luck before we go."

Juliet runs to me and wraps her arms around me. "Don't mess up," she says, her voice completely firm and serious.

"I'll try not to. No promises though." I wink.

She grabs my arm and pulls me down towards her. Leaning forward, she whispers into my ear. "I'm proud of you and glad to call you my big brother. But, if you tell anyone I said that, I'll deny it and probably beat you up for it."

"Awww thanks, that was almost loving," I whisper back, then give her a quick peck on the top of her head. "Love you, too."

She grins, sticks her tongue out at me, and then runs back towards Dad. She grabs his hand and starts pulling him behind her. Dad turns back to me and gives me one last big smile.

I stand staring at the wall, my guitar wrapped around me. I twirl my pick back and forth between my fingers as I try to take a few deep breaths. I'm on in two minutes.

I can't believe this. I'm about to go perform to a real audience. One bigger than the few stragglers left at a bar. I take a few more breaths then close my eyes.

I imagine my mom standing there, in front of the stage just like Dad said. Her eyes are sparkling in the light. Her smile so big that it takes up her whole face. She's clapping to the beat. I love you. She mouths.

"Archer, you're on," a voice shouts, pulling me back to reality.

I start heading out to what I hope is the beginning of my new life.