Free Sound Bites: A Rock & Roll Love Story by Rachel K. Burke

– but I really was trying to see things from your perspective. I know you’re right. I should be playing music, despite the fact that I want to puke every time I think about it. So that’s why…” He paused and took a deep breath. “That’s why I’m going to try it.” He winced as though it hurt him to say it.
    “Wait, what you mean?” I asked, suspiciously. “You’re going to sing with the band?”
    Dylan threw his hands up in defense. “Hold on. I said I’m going to try , meaning I’ll practice with them and see if I feel comfortable. I’m not making any guarantees, but I’m willing to give it a go.”
    I cupped my hands over my mouth and muffled my scream. The plan had worked! I couldn’t wait to tell Eddie.
    “You won’t regret it,” I assured him. “I promise.”
    He leaned his head back and shot me a skeptical look. “I seriously doubt that.”
    ***
    When the day came that the first band practice was scheduled to take place, I felt similar to the way you feel right before you have to take a final exam or deliver a public speech. It was like an invisible energy force had taken over and sent my nerves completely out of whack. The first day was crucial because if Dylan could get through this practice, he could most likely get through the rest of them, which would only leave one more challenge: the initial stage performance.
    Baby steps, I told myself. First things first.
    I wanted to go with him to the practice, but he insisted that I would make him even more nervous than he already was if I was there stalking his every move. I understood completely, and instead paced around my living room for the entire two hours that the band was practicing. I fantasized about breaking into the practice space so I could spy on Dylan and see his reactions to singing in front of the other guys. And more importantly, see their reactions to him.
    Shortly after the two-hour torture had passed, I glanced at my watch. It was quarter past ten, which meant the rehearsal had been over for fifteen minutes and I still hadn’t heard from him. Giving in to the evil depths of temptation, I reached for my cell and was just about to call him when it started ringing.
    “It’s ten fifteen!” I yelled into the phone. “I’m dying over here! How did it go?”
    “It went.” His voice was dismal, discouraging. Not a good sign.
    “Stop being so vague. I want details.”
    Dylan sighed. “I… I can’t do it, Renee. I was a nervous wreck tonight.”
    My heart sank. I dug to find some words of encouragement but came up empty. I was too disappointed.
    “Are you okay?” Dylan asked.
    “Yeah,” I replied. “Just frustrated. I was really hoping you guys would make some progress tonight.”
    “So was I. But as soon as I got up to sing, I folded. I’m really sorry.”
    “It’s okay. But, if it didn’t go well, then why were you there for two hours?”
    I heard Dylan chuckling on the other end of the phone. “I’m just kidding. It went great, actually. Better than I thought it would.”
    My brief sense of relief quickly faded to anger when I thought about how insensitive he was to my feelings. “You’re such an ass.”
    He was still laughing when I hung the phone up on him. I stared at my cell for the next five minutes, waiting for it to ring. I was hoping Dylan would be one of those guys that called back after you hung up on him, but no such luck. I knew deep down he didn’t fall for that shit. He was too damn cocky. He was used to insecure girls that wouldn’t dare hang up on him, for fear he might never call again.
    Ten minutes later, I heard a knock at my door. When I opened it, Dylan was grinning. I wanted to smack the smug look right off his face.
    “So this is all a big joke to you, huh?” I glared at him, trying to stay mad even though his swaggering smile was contagious.
    “Oh come on, I was only kidding.” He punched my arm and I backed away from him.
    “Funny,” I retorted.
    He shut my door and sat down