Free Facade by Kim Carmichael

here, he said he would be here.
    He wasn’t. She was all alone and she let the music play.
     

Chapter Ten
    With his cane in hand, Nash wedged himself into the small space in one of the stage wings where props were kept. “You know, just once maybe it would be refreshing to either be up on stage or in the audience.”
    “We used to be on stage all the time.” Erik shook his head and leaned back on some old fashioned table behind some meadow set piece. From their vantage point they could clearly make out the stage and blend into the background. “I don’t need to be in an audience.”
    “Well, if nothing else, you could make it as a spy.” Nash let out a low chuckle. “You have a true knack for being able to sneak around.”
    “Yeah, great spy, I’m very easy to pick out of a crowd, hence, the sneaking.” Erik watched one of the contestants come up on stage. He hoped Christine found her way through the crowd all right, she seemed exceptionally nervous. Maybe he should have gone with her rather than made her navigate the chaos alone, or maybe part of him wanted her to realize how badly she needed him. He was truly a terrible being, not fit for her.
    The male contestant took hold of the microphone and his long bangs fell into his eyes. Apparently the boy was going for some sort of emo look. Erik shrugged, the whole thing was rather passé.
    His music started, a predicable folk rock tune and Erik winced once the boy began to sing. It wasn’t bad per se, it was just nothing. Why on earth did this person even try out? If this person made it, Christine would be a shoe in.
    Not even all the way into the first verse, some a man in the audience stood up. “Stop!”
    Well, that was rude.
    Erik grunted. Boring or not, no one should be interrupted mid-song. Though in truth, he was happy he didn’t have to listen to any more.
    “Thank you, but you’re not what we’re looking for.” The man pointed to the exit. “Please exit and you will receive a bag of swag.”
    Nash elbowed him. “What’s swag?”
    “Premiums and other things you give out for free. It means stuff we all get.” Erik shrugged.
    “Speaking of stuff we all should get, I have something for you.” Nash fumbled around in his pocket and pressed something into Erik’s hand. “Actually, two things.”
    It might have been a while, but Erik knew a condom, or two, when he felt one. “What is this for?” He sighed, waiting for a snarky response.
    “Because you need it. Because just in case things go your way you’re ready, because it’s time for you to move on with your life.” Nash’s tone was even and serious.
    “What? So that you can go on with yours?” Erik closed his hand around the condoms.
    “Just take it. I think Christine is good for you. She wants you. You both deserve it,” Nash whispered.
    No, he didn’t use sex the way Nash did to get over what happened, and though he wanted to thrust the condoms back at his friend, he didn’t need this right now and shoved them into his pants pocket. “Someone else is coming on stage.”
    Nash rubbed his hands together. “Ready for the next victim.”
    They watched two more contestants come to a similar fate of the first, then the first group came up on stage.
    This particular gaggle of garbage rang familiar. They were Christine’s old band. “That’s who Christine used to play with.”
    Both he and Nash leaned forward.
    The band took their spots and the blonde screech machine flipped her hair around.
    “Oh, one of these,” Nash whispered. “Isn’t it weird they have bands and solo acts in the same show?”
    “They compete separately until the end, and then the ultimate act is chosen.” He had become an expert on this show. He waited. Without Christine, this should be a flop.
    The drummer hit his sticks to give the beat and the band began to play the same song they performed the fateful day Christine showed up in his theatre.
    Right on cue, the blonde did her thing. They sounded exactly