Page 37 of A Little Christmas! 4: Song
“One more song!”
Holy shit, it sounded like half the club was hollering for more music. Song felt goosebumps crop up along his arms as the chanting grew to a fever pitch.
“Get on back out there,” the stage manager said. “You’ve got time for two if you really want to give them a thrill.”
Didn’t have to tell them twice; Decon, who’d thrown an arm over Song’s shoulder, made a quick U-turn, and the rest of the band followed suit.
“Which two?” Song whispered in Decon’s ears as they went back up the steps onto the stage.
“Static Dreams and Monster’s Masquerade,” Decon said. “I’ll let Ajay know.”
“Dude, you’re about to make his night.”
“He’s earned it, don’t you think?”
“Hell yeah,” Song said as he headed for the drum kit.
Song watched as Decon leaned against Ajay, tugging Mark into what looked like a brief embrace as he whispered in their ears, Ajay’s face lighting up like it was already Christmas morning. After all he’d done to make their dream of playing here in New York a reality and the way he’d stepped in and stepped up for them so they didn’t have to cancel, playing the songs he’d written and brought with him when he joined them was the least they could do to let him know just how much they appreciated him.
Like the main set, their encore was energetic, brazen, and a roller coaster ride of angst, rage, pain, and freedom. Where Static Dreams was a dark, moody, haunting piece, Monster’s Masquerade was about a wild night of extremes and the darkness that lay beneath glittering facades. They’d polished it the week before, and now they were hearing Ajay deliver it.
Goosebumps, man.
Goosebumps.
When they left that stage the second time, it was to thunderous applause once more, and not just from the people in the club. The other bands greeted them with the same kind of energy, celebrating with them at what had to be the highest point in Song’s musical career. While other musicians smacked them on the back and fist-bumped with them, Song spotted Ajay moving away, his face streaked with tears. The moment Song touched his arm, Ajay turned and burrowed his face against Song’s chest, sobbing so hard that his tears soaked through Song’s already sweat-soaked t-shirt.
Wrapping his arms around Ajay, Song guided him off to the side, where they were soon joined by Decon, concerned etched on the guitarist's face.
“Did I fuck up?” Decon asked, but the only response was louder gasps and hiccups from Ajay. “Oh fuck, I fucked up, didn’t I? Oh shit. Ajay, I’m sorry, I didn’t think to ask if you were ready to…”
Ajay spun out of his grasp and crashed into Decon, nearly knocking the big man over in his haste to hug him.
“No!” Ajay choked out. “Fuck no. You didn’t fuck up in the slightest! I’m just blown away by the fact that they loved them and that you guys loved them enough to choose them for our encore!”
Ahh, so they were happy tears. Those were the best kind as far as Song was concerned. Bracketing Ajay in, Song hugged him from behind, understanding now that he was just a little overwhelmed and super happy to have been given the opportunity to perform the music he’d written.
“Dude, those were amazing songs,” Decon declared. “And we absolutely crushed it up there. If the rest of our bookings here go the way tonight did, we’ll be welcomed back at all the venues and then some. We’ve gotta get more of your pieces polished so we can add them to the sets, if you’re, um, willing and wanting us to perform them together as a band.”
“I’d love that,” Ajay declared. “Always wanted to be part of a band, but anytime I auditioned, I was told I just didn’t mesh right with the sound they intended.”
“Well, you mesh like peanut butter and jelly with us,” Mark declared as he caught up to them. “Absolutely scrumptious. We’re a team now. Whatever we do moving forward, we do it together. You’re not just with us to sing the music we wrote before you were part of the band; we want you for the long haul, man. However far we’re able to take it.”
Talk about a defining moment.
As a unit they’d needed this after all the ups and downs of dealing with Carson’s drunken antics. The fact that him beinggone had only helped decrease Decon’s levels of aggression until he was starting to become the guy Song had grown up with again was just proof positive that he’d been a big part of what had Decon coming out of pocket and pushing for a fight after every other show.
“You guys played phenomenally tonight,” Daddy said, his voice cutting through their circle of joy and hugs.
He wasn’t alone either, though Song was shocked that instead of Zachy and Papa at his side, his friend Max stood there with a bright smile on his face, looking extremely pleased and impressed. He shot Daddy a knowing look that left Song curious and a little on edge after how horribly they’d bombed in front of him the first time.
“I’m glad I made the drive up here to hear you and your new singer,” Max explained. “I’ve got to congratulate you on taking the steps you needed to take to solve a trainwreck of a situation. Song I’ve already met, but for the rest of you who don’t know me yet, I’m Max Develin, former manager of Shriveled Rose and current manager of Crimson Liability.”
“Holy shit, this is the guy?” Mark exclaimed.
“Yup, this is the guy,” Song replied.
“I take it Song told you I’d given him my card?” Max said.