Free Rock Radio by Lisa Wainland

Gainesville!”
    The crowd cheered.
    “I have a special treat for you tonight.  A new band in town that I think you’ll like.”
    More cheers.
    “They call themselves Red Lawn.  Now, give them a hand...maybe you’ll be able to say you saw them here first!  Here’s Red Lawn!”
    The crowd erupted as the guys took the stage.  Andy walked past them.  “They’re yours to lose,” he said.
    Alex played a riff on his guitar.  Harper gently tapped the drums.  The crowd grew silent.
    “Five, six...five, six, seven, eight!”
    They started the set with a new song they had just put together, The Winner .  It was upbeat with a catchy rhythm.  The crowd responded.  Cody worked the microphone like he’d been singing all his life.  The passion was evident in his voice and the crowd loved him for it.  Cody looked out into the sea of people, scanning for Laura.  No sign of her, but he did see people responding to the music.  It was a great feeling.  They finished the song and went into the next.  They had found their groove.
    It was then that Cody looked up and saw Laura.  She was leaning up against a wood post in the back chatting with some other girls.  Her long blonde hair fell softly around her face.  She looked amazing.
    The song ended.  Cody took a moment to address the crowd.  “How’s everybody doing tonight?”
    The crowd yelled their approval.
    “We’re Red Lawn and we’re glad you are staying up late with us!”  Cody paused and looked directly at Laura, “Our next song is called All You Were and I hope you like it.”
    He saw Laura smile.
    The band broke into his powerful song about love and loss.  Cody crooned, “And all you were is all I was.”   He was singing for Laura.  He only knew her name, but he also knew he wanted to know more.  He belted out the lyrics.  The crowd applauded and cheered like crazy at the end of their song, the end of their set.
    “Thank you, goodnight!”
    Red Lawn left the stage in ecstasy.  “Did you hear the crowd?”
    “They loved us!”
    The applause was like a drug, they all wanted more.
    Cody wanted to get out to see Laura.  “I’ll be back.”
    “Cody’s in love,” Alex chided.
    “Can it.”
    “Don’t stay out too late, Cody, we’re gonna go home soon,” Alex said.
    “Maybe, you’re going home soon,” Harper chimed in, “but as far as I can see there’s a lot of single women out there who want to meet me.  I’m not going anywhere so fast.”
    “Yeah, me neither,” Bobby agreed and followed Harper and Cody to the bar.
    Alex shrugged his shoulders, if he couldn’t beat them, he’d join them.
    Cody made his way to the back of the bar, to Laura.
    “Hey,” he said, sidling up to her, “I’m so glad you came.”
    “What?” she spoke loudly trying to hear him over the loud crowd.
    “I said I’m glad you came tonight.”
    She smiled and melted his heart.  “Me too.”
    “Are you here alone?” he asked, hoping she was single.
    “No, I came with my girlfriends.  That’s Holly,” she said pointing to a petite brunette who was in deep conversation with a fraternity guy.  “And that’s Marci over at the bar.”  She waved to her friend who was desperately trying to get the attention of the bartender.  Marci waved back then resumed her pursuit.  “You guys sounded great...again.”
    “Thanks for that.  It means a lot to me.”
    “Well I heard you guys practice.  I knew it’d be a good show.”  She smiled.
    Cody took a chance.  “I kinda hoped you came for more than that.”  He held his breath.
    She looked him directly in the eyes.  “I did.”
    He rubbed his hand down her shoulder.  “Can I get your number?  Maybe we could go out sometime.”
    “I’d like that.”  Her eyes glanced around, “Do you have paper?”
    Cody thought quickly and plucked a napkin from the bar.  Laura pulled a pen from her small purse and wrote down her name and number.
    “Laura.”  Marci came up beside her.  She had