Page 101 of Hard Rock Tease

Thankyou for your interest in Dark Sound Studios. After reviewing your application, we are pleased to offer you the summer position of social media intern for…

Ididn’t getany further than that before squealing out loud, a continuous noise rising in pitch with every second. The sound only died down when I ran out of breath. I didn’t even care if I was heard from several floors above and below—let them try to shush me.

After what felt like hundreds of internship applications, I’d finally done it. I’d spent days on my application, thinking over every sentence, every word. I wrote and re-wrote a sample social media plan more times than I could count. I debated which examples of my work to showcase in my portfolio for hours.

It had worked. I’d gotten the job. I silently thanked my CHATTR follower who’d sent me the link to the job post. I never would have thought to apply to Dark Sound Studios if I hadn’t seen it. My phone buzzed again. A message popped up over the email.

…DidI come on too strong?

Neil. He was still waiting for my answer. He would have to wait a little while longer. This news had to be shared.

Igot a summer internship!!

Irestrainedmyself from using more than two exclamation marks.

Oh wow! Congrats!

Thanks!

So I guess this means you’ll be busy all summer?

Ibit my lip, debating. Neil had asked me out. I wanted to say yes, but this could be my big break into the music industry. It was the last summer before my senior year of college. I’d been planning on taking summer courses to graduate early if I hadn’t gotten the internship. The job description said travel was required. I had no idea where I’d be for the next three or four months.

Ilike you, Neil. I’d like to give us a try. I really would. But I think I need to focus all my attention on this opportunity. For now.

I understand.

Maybe when summer’s over we can get together and you can buy me a drink. See if there’s any chemistry?

I’d like that.

Igrinnedand clutched my phone to my chest. An amazing social media job working with rock stars this summer and a chance to date the guy I’d been crushing on when it was over.

It looked like being an internet-addicted fangirl was starting to pay off.

***

OFFICIALLY, MY TITLE was Social Media Coordinator. Unofficially, I was the Internet Girl. I’d been hired to work at Dark Sound Studios, posting all the interesting things going on at the fledgling music label on various social media sites. They were just starting out, but one of their biggest acts, Feral Silence, was setting the music scene ablaze. Lead singer Kell, drummer Morris, bassist Ren, and lead guitarist and backup vocalist Jayce.

My fantasy husband.

Jayce wasn’t the only reason I applied for the position. I was serious about getting my foot in the door, serious about making a name for myself in the industry. This opportunity was once in a lifetime.

But I couldn’t lie. The fact that my idol was one of Dark Sound Studios’ major acts definitely helped.

I doubted I would ever meet him. The band was busy working on their sophomore album. Rumor had it they were sequestered away for the summer to hammer it out. That was probably a good thing. I’d been lucky enough to see Feral Silence live more than a dozen times. One glimpse of Jayce on stage was always enough to send me into a fangirl tizzy for months. I didn’t know how I’d react if I actually met him in person.

The email told me to show up for my first day at one of the medium-sized concert venues in the city. Dark Sound was throwing me right into it. I wondered if I’d get any training at all, or if I’d be expected to fend for myself.

I’d been to this concert venue many times before, usually to see acts I liked, but sometimes to see acts I’d never heard so I could review them online. That was how I’d discovered some of my favorite music.

It wasn’t, however, how I’d heard of Feral Silence. It seemed like one day everyone on the internet was talking about them. I’d had to check them out for myself. One music video was all it took. I went out and bought a physical copy of their debut album immediately. I attended every concert I could. I followed their every move online.

I’d never seen Feral Silence at this venue, though. It was a two-story converted Victorian-style house. It was a novelty, walking straight up to the front door without waiting in line behind a hundred fans.

“Name?”

The intimidating security guard at the front door held a clipboard and wore a headset over one ear. He made me nervous even though I had every right to be there.