Page 11 of Hard Rock Deceit

"It's always thequietones."

"I don't suppose you've ever broken the rules for your art." I pushed my glasses back up my nose. August didn't seemthetype.

An odd look crossed his face, almost alarmed. It passedquickly.

"Does bribing and threatening music execs to get my own way count?" heasked.

I examined him closely. No sign of that previousexpression.

"I didn't think August Summers would have to stoop to bribery," was all I said. "I heard the music execs bend over backwardsforyou."

"Mostdo."

"And the ones thatdon't?"

"They learn to fall in line soonenough."

"Have you ever been told no byanyone?"

It was worrying that he had to pause thoughtfully for a moment, as if searching his memory for any suchinstance.

"I asked Damon and Ian to stop switching places," he said eventually. "They were always pretending to be each other. They'd agree and then immediately go back to doing it anyway." He shook his head with a long-suffering yet indulgent expression, the way a parent looked when their beloved child was actingnaughty.

A booming voice sounded from the speakers, announcing the first act. The crowd roared in approval. A group rushed onto the stage in a flurry of guitars, leather pants, andeyeliner.

"I really don't fit in at all," I observed, looking down at my sneakers andleggings.

"How about I introduce you to some people?" August suggested. "Not everyone here is arockstar."

He lead me to a roped off section close the pit. A girl with slightly messy brown hair stood next to the curtains. She wore a knee length, green cotton dress with tights. She wouldn't have looked out of place in any of my photographyclasses.

As we approached the girl, her eyes flicked between me and August. Her facelitup.

"Hello," she said with a cheery smile. "Are you a friend ofAugust's?"

With the way she stressed the word friend, it was clear she was hoping for a different answer. My face flushed hot, thinking about that moment onthebus.

"This is Cassie, our tour photographer," August introduced. "Cassie, this is Hope, Ian'sgirlfriend."

Hope was the person he wanted to bring on tour. The one his twin was more than overjoyed to leavebehind.

"Do you mind if I leave Cassie with you while I go wrangle the guys?" August asked. "She's newtothis."

"Of course. I'll take care of her." Hope linked arms with me and gave me a squeeze. I was taken aback at her friendliness. It wasn't unwelcome, just surprising. I didn't know many people this touchy-feely.

"Poor August," she said. "It's always up to him to get the guys into line. It's like herding cats." Hope turned to me. Her earnest brown eyes shone as the spotlights from stage hit them. "Have you ever been to a Darkest Days concertbefore?"

"I've never been to a rock concert before." I braced myself for her reaction, wondering whether it would be disbelief orjudgement.

She only nodded her head. "You're going to have fun. I've seen them play live too many times tocount."

"Do you go to all of Ian'sconcerts?"

"All the ones I can. And of course, I went to a bunch before we started dating, too." She gave me an embarrassed smile. "I was sort of a big fan beforewemet."

A rock star fell in love with one of his fans. That was every teenaged girl's dream come true. I wanted to hear more about their story, but the music started up, blasting our eardrums. I winced, covering my ears with mypalms.

"Sorry," Hope shouted over the music. "Should havewarnedyou."