Free Rocked Down & Out (Rocked #11) by Clara Bayard
Authors: Clara Bayard
leave?" I asked no one in particular.
"No," Becca answered, coming over to put her hand on my arm. "Do you have whatever gear you need to do an interview with the guys?"
"Yeah, I do. But it can wait for a better time."
Joe barked out a harsh laugh. "Haven't you heard? Better get us all together while you still can."
I looked around, baffled.
Becca sighed. "Ellie, we need you to record the band and upload something as soon as possible. I know that's not the agreement, but you'd really be doing us a favor. We need to address this story before things get out of hand and since you're here, the management team figured this was a perfect opportunity." From her tone of voice, I could tell she thought it was anything but perfect, but as always, she did her job.
They were asking me to tape them talking about the rumors of Joe's solo album. It was exactly what I needed professionally and the last thing I wanted personally. But I had to follow her example, and do my job. So, with sweaty hands and a dry throat, I nodded.
Eight
Awkward didn't begin to describe the footage I shot of the band over the next half an hour. Becca briefed me quickly so I could have a few questions ready, but we all just wanted to get the interview over with. I explained the few different setups I wanted and then said I was ready to start. After getting Joe positioned alone and the others together behind him, I set the camera and stood next to him.
I had to clear my throat a bunch of times before I could speak without croaking. I did a quick intro and then got right to it, hoping my face didn't betray my true emotions. "Joe, right now it seems like the whole world is talking about this so-called contract. Can you tell me what's going on?"
He nodded and smiled, but the expression didn't reach his eyes. "It's crap, Ellie. This is my band. This is where I sing, where I write. I don't have any idea what that record contract is, but it isn't mine. I haven't signed anything like that. I haven't thought about signing anything like that."
"So you're saying it's a fake?"
"I don't know. I mean, it might be a mistake or, I don't know what else. I can't say what it is, just what it isn't."
"Okay." I took a deep breath. "It's no secret Dream Defiled has had a rough year. Is this yet another thing adding stress to your lives?"
Joe looked intently into the camera. "Things go wrong in life. And we're a lot luckier than most people. I can't explain this story, all I can do is tell the truth. I'm not leaving my band. I'm not leaving my brothers. Someday something might be big enough to break us up, but this isn't it."
I had no idea if he was telling the truth or not, but hid vehemence made me want to believe. "Thanks, Joe. You guys have a show tonight, do you think these rumors will affect that in any way?"
"No. Our fans know us. And when we get on the stage, everyone will see that Dream Defiled is stronger than ever. We'll let the music speak for itself."
"Thank you. Next I'd like to hear from the other members of the band…"
Dex stepped forward and put his hand on Joe's shoulder. The smaller man flinched almost imperceptively but covered it by returning the gesture.
"Dex, as the other founding member of the band, what do you want to add?"
He shrugged. "Not much, love. But whoever is trying to start trouble is gonna get trouble right back." His voice was almost too smooth for the words he was saying.
"Those sound like fighting words," I replied, hoping to get more out of him.
"I guess they are. We're not perfect, any of us. And we fight with each other. But in the end, we always fight for each other, too."
I smiled. "Can't get much clearer than that." Falling into the rhythm of work made me feel better and I managed to even get few words out of Rick and Matthew on tape before we ran out of time.
By the time Becca motioned to me that we had to stop, everyone seemed calmer, if not happier. Not that I could blame them. Preposterous rumors were nothing new for
"No," Becca answered, coming over to put her hand on my arm. "Do you have whatever gear you need to do an interview with the guys?"
"Yeah, I do. But it can wait for a better time."
Joe barked out a harsh laugh. "Haven't you heard? Better get us all together while you still can."
I looked around, baffled.
Becca sighed. "Ellie, we need you to record the band and upload something as soon as possible. I know that's not the agreement, but you'd really be doing us a favor. We need to address this story before things get out of hand and since you're here, the management team figured this was a perfect opportunity." From her tone of voice, I could tell she thought it was anything but perfect, but as always, she did her job.
They were asking me to tape them talking about the rumors of Joe's solo album. It was exactly what I needed professionally and the last thing I wanted personally. But I had to follow her example, and do my job. So, with sweaty hands and a dry throat, I nodded.
Eight
Awkward didn't begin to describe the footage I shot of the band over the next half an hour. Becca briefed me quickly so I could have a few questions ready, but we all just wanted to get the interview over with. I explained the few different setups I wanted and then said I was ready to start. After getting Joe positioned alone and the others together behind him, I set the camera and stood next to him.
I had to clear my throat a bunch of times before I could speak without croaking. I did a quick intro and then got right to it, hoping my face didn't betray my true emotions. "Joe, right now it seems like the whole world is talking about this so-called contract. Can you tell me what's going on?"
He nodded and smiled, but the expression didn't reach his eyes. "It's crap, Ellie. This is my band. This is where I sing, where I write. I don't have any idea what that record contract is, but it isn't mine. I haven't signed anything like that. I haven't thought about signing anything like that."
"So you're saying it's a fake?"
"I don't know. I mean, it might be a mistake or, I don't know what else. I can't say what it is, just what it isn't."
"Okay." I took a deep breath. "It's no secret Dream Defiled has had a rough year. Is this yet another thing adding stress to your lives?"
Joe looked intently into the camera. "Things go wrong in life. And we're a lot luckier than most people. I can't explain this story, all I can do is tell the truth. I'm not leaving my band. I'm not leaving my brothers. Someday something might be big enough to break us up, but this isn't it."
I had no idea if he was telling the truth or not, but hid vehemence made me want to believe. "Thanks, Joe. You guys have a show tonight, do you think these rumors will affect that in any way?"
"No. Our fans know us. And when we get on the stage, everyone will see that Dream Defiled is stronger than ever. We'll let the music speak for itself."
"Thank you. Next I'd like to hear from the other members of the band…"
Dex stepped forward and put his hand on Joe's shoulder. The smaller man flinched almost imperceptively but covered it by returning the gesture.
"Dex, as the other founding member of the band, what do you want to add?"
He shrugged. "Not much, love. But whoever is trying to start trouble is gonna get trouble right back." His voice was almost too smooth for the words he was saying.
"Those sound like fighting words," I replied, hoping to get more out of him.
"I guess they are. We're not perfect, any of us. And we fight with each other. But in the end, we always fight for each other, too."
I smiled. "Can't get much clearer than that." Falling into the rhythm of work made me feel better and I managed to even get few words out of Rick and Matthew on tape before we ran out of time.
By the time Becca motioned to me that we had to stop, everyone seemed calmer, if not happier. Not that I could blame them. Preposterous rumors were nothing new for