by K. M. Raya
Soren
The concert two weeks before went smoothly and their opening act had been a huge success. They even earned themselves an encore, causing Serenity Rising's start time to be pushed back ever so slightly. He had to admit it was impressive even to him. He may not be fully on board with them joining the tour, but he couldn’t deny the crowds reaction to them. Soren was still reluctant to accept that they would be a permanent fixture. It wasn’t that he didn’t like female singers, he just didn’t think they fit with the feel of his band and their tour.
Rock music was all about passion and grit. It was about blood, sweat and tears that went into every song, every heartfelt lyric screamed into the crowd. Only a handful of times in his life had he ever come across a female rocker that could invoke those same feelings in him. Girls tended to soften things—to complicate them. He really wasn’t trying to hate, it was just the truth of the matter.
He hadn’t been able to see Hayzed ‘n’ Confuzed by the time they had to return to their bus. The night was chaotic and he imagined that the others would be celebrating their success in the only way rockers can. He remembered the early days of his career when life became a series of nonstop parties and women. It was a mess, but it made him into the person he was today. Not that he was a beacon of right and wrong, but for the most part he avoided the drugs and the siren call of boo's and gambling that many others before him had fallen victim to. The music was still at the forefront of his mind even after half a decade of touring and performing.
Now he sat in his rental car, staring at the bus that would be his home for the next twelve months. The label purchased a larger bus this time to make their travels a bit more comfortable. It was a massive black monstrosity that looked more like a hotel on wheels than an actual vehicle. A smaller bus was parked behind it with a decal that read Hayzed ‘n’ Confuzed across the side. Their bus was larger than his first tour bus had been. He remembered that first year, traveling for three straight weeks in nothing more than a glorified trailer. The old rickety thing was barely big enough to hold two people much less five plus a driver. Now the old camper was parked behind one of his summer homes.
After hefting his bags from the trunk of the car, Soren tossed his keys to someone from his road crew. He stepped onto his bus and for the first time in a while, felt genuine awe of his surroundings. The bus had cherry wood flooring and a deep, charcoal finish to the paint above him. The windows were tinted black and the entire front section consisted of a full sized kitchen and living room set. The back of the bus had a small private bedroom and a wooden door that locked. He could see a bathroom off to the side with a single standing shower, vanity and mirror.
There was a small staircase next to the back bedroom which led to an upper level sectioned off into four tiny rooms separated by a hallway. It was truly hard to believe that all of this fit on a vehicle that would be zooming down the highway at ninety miles an hour. He could hear the other guys boarding the bus a few moments later so he hurried to claim the downstairs bedroom. Finder keepers he figured. He knew Angel would fight him on it but he didn’t care, Soren James always got what he wanted.
“Did you see the size of that bus?” Miles shouted as he spotted Soren heading down the aisle toward the front of the bus. “That things bigger than my first apartment, what gives?” he asked with a huff.
Soren smacked him on the arm. “Bigger label, bigger bus, man.” Miles just grunted, rubbing his arm and plopping himself on the plush grey couch.
Soren decided a nap was in order before they hit the road.
The drive would only take about three hours before they were due to arrive at the venue and he wanted to get as much rest as possible. He sunk down onto his mattress in the back bedroom but after five minutes of tossing and turning he knew he wouldn’t be able to fall asleep. His mind was racing with pre-tour jitters. He felt stupid because this definitely was not his first rodeo. Regardless, his feelings remained. Every tour, every performance was like the first time all over again. He often wondered if this excitement would ever fade. He hoped it never would.
Hours later they arrived at the concert hall. He couldn’t say for certain what city they were in as they all started to blur together after years on the road. He knew they were somewhere in the Bay Area of California, but that was about it. He stepped off the stuffy bus and took a deep breath of crisp coastal air. California was one of his favorite places to visit. Months down the road when they reached the South, the air would grow muggy and thick.
The parking lot was packed with busses and vans. The road crew was spread out and running around from place to place. Soren smiled to himself. This was the life, the best life he could imagine living. He loved the chaos of the road. They unpredictability of a gypsy lifestyle. Sure, it was corporate funded, but the feeling was there.
He couldn’t help but flit his eyes to the Hayzed ‘n’ Confuzed bus. He told himself it was simple curiosity but he knew better. He was looking for her. Their door was wide open as he stood by his bus, pulling out a pack of cigarettes. He didn’t smoke very often, but occasionally to calm his nerves. A figure appeared at the steps of the smaller bus and he recognized the blonde head of the Hayzed ‘n’ Confuzed guitarist…Alex, he believed his name was. The man was good looking—had an athletic build and a few scattered tattoos decorating his arms. His shoulder length dirty blonde hair was tied back in a low bun.
Behind him, Lilith stepped off of the bus and Soren could feel his heartbeat pick up. He hated himself for it. He was a famous Rockstar for fucks sake! Get it together! He thought as he watched her stretch her arms overhead. Her hair was up in a silky ponytail and she wore black sweatpants and a matching hoodie. Even dressed down she was a knockout. Soren scowled at the woman who plagued his dreams for the last two weeks. In the back of his mind he knew she was going to be a problem for him. The way his body reacted to a simple look meant disaster.
Lilith’s eyes caught his at that moment and he was still scowling. Her dark eyes narrowed right back at him and damn it if it wasn’t thrilling. This girl gave zero shits about him or his fame and it did something to him. Breaking eye contact, Lilith turned to say something to Alex and the blonde man slung his arm over her shoulder as they walked away. Soren tightened his hands into fists as his eyes narrowed in on that arm. Again, he wondered if there was something going on between the two bandmates. The mere thought of it made Soren want to break something.
He shook off his stupidity, knowing that he had no right to feel this way. Hell, he’d had a woman in his bed just the other night. He needed to get his head on right and forget about the luscious singer before it became a problem for all of them. It was easier said than done as he realized he still had not moved from that spot—staring at the two as they faded from sight and walked into the venues back entrance.
10
Lilith
Their show that night was amazing. It had been a much larger crowd than any they had ever played for since the beginning of their band's career. It was such a heavy high to know that these people cheered for her music. Words that she had written while sitting in her room, on a bus or in the shower… they were words that came straight from her heart and onto paper and these people were dancing to it. She felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. Her Instagram had been blowing up for the last two weeks— thousands of new followers had popped up on her feed. One show with Serenity Rising plus a tour announcement had almost immediately catapulted them into the spotlight and there was no turning back now.
As her phone continued to go off, Lilith flicked it to vibrate so that it wouldn’t annoy her. She knew that pretty soon she was going to have to either hire a Social Media Coordinator, or pawn the job off onto Lenna. She’d honestly rather not because as much as she loved the girl, Lenna tended to be a bit neurotic. Lenna had a lot on her plate and Lilith worried about her.
The tour bus was buzzing with energy as she stepped out of the tiny bathroom after her shower. The accommodations were amazing, even if
they were a bit small. She had expected as much from a tour bus. She was still irritated that the label wasn’t allowing her to bring Pandora on the tour, even though she could see their point. Pandora had been the last thing tying her to Rose as she packed up her apartment that she had only begun to share with Blair. She left the little furball with her mother and vowed to Skype with her at least once a week.
Alex and Jett were shoving their feet into their shoes by the time Lilith dried her long hair and brushed her teeth. She'd been ready to settle down for a nap when Blair came bustling up the bus entrance.
“Hurry up bitches, they already took off without us—we need to leave now!” she called through the bus and the guys jumped up and headed towards the front.
“What are you talking about B?”
Blair stepped onto the bus and ran her eyes up Lilith’s body with clear disapproval. “What the fuck are you wearing, Lil? Were going out tonight! Time to celebrate our impending fame and fortune, Serenity Rising style!”
Blair looked good tonight. Her skin tight leather pants were accentuated by spike heeled boots and a white mesh crop top. Blair could pull off pretty much any outfit and Lilith admired her for it.
“Why didn’t anyone say anything! Ugh, hold on and let me change.” Lilith frantically ran her fingers through her freshly dried hair and figured she’d have to deal with it as was for the night.
“Hurry your ass up girl, the SR guys are probably there by now,” Blair rushed her.
Lilith threw on the first pair of tight jeans she could find, along with a cropped RATM shirt that showed a good portion of her tattooed stomach and her favorite knee high, lace up boots. She added a quick swipe of burgundy lipstick to complete the last minute look. She looked presentable, but not like she was trying too hard. Sure, they were going to be rock stars, but she needed to play it casual.
Blair eyed her once more before they stepped out into the chilly night and nodded in approval. “I swear, you don’t even have to try. I hate you,” she muttered and Lilith just laughed. Blair had no idea how attractive she was. Sure, the girl had a mohawk that could rival even the hardest of punk rockers, but she was also fine as hell and men everywhere were well aware of that fact.
They slid into the back of a waiting limousine and Lilith had to pinch herself not for the first time that night. Tour busses? Limos? Could this really be her life now? As they drove through the post-concert city streets, she found herself thinking about her twin. Rose had always been the adventurous one. She would have loved the vibe of the city and the crowds. While Lilith had always been too absorbed in her music and writing, Rose had been all about the glamour of it all.
She shook off thoughts of her sister as they pulled up to the club. A crowd had gathered out front and cameras were already flashing. The valet opened their door and the band slid out of the car into the throng of people, clamoring to see what the fuss was all about.
“Alex! Alex, how does it feel to be a Rockstar?!” called someone from the crowd. Lilith watched her friend's head whip around and she laughed at the bewildered look on his face.
His mouth hung open as he grappled for an appropriate response but ended up looking like a fish gasping for water. “Uh…” he mustered until Jett grabbed ahold of his arm and ushered the poor man closer to the entrance.
“Lilith Hayze! Is it true your sister killed herself?" An icy shiver snaked its way down her spine and her ears began to fill with the rushing sound of her blood as her heart picked up its pace.
She turned around and scanned the sea of paps for the asshole who’d said it but they all blended into one big blob of faceless human beings. She refused to let them see her break down, especially this early in the game. She turned back around and ducked under the bouncers outstretched arms that were holding the crowd at bay. She knew she would have to develop a thicker skin soon if she were going to survive in the rock world.
Once she made it into the darkness of the club, she felt a little more anonymous. With the flashing lights and the slight haze of smoke in the air, she blended in easily. As she wove her way through the mass of bodies, however, she started to notice the stares she was receiving. More and more people whispered as she walked by, eyeing her up and down like they were passing judgement. They knew who she was now and as her eyes adjusted to the dimness, so did her senses.
Lilith was hyper aware of those around her. The DJ at the head of the club was banging out some original tracks and she knew that in another life she would have been out there already, swaying to the music and losing herself. Music had always been the one thing that would whisk her away from all of her problems and drown her in peace. Now though, she needed to find her friends before everything became too overwhelming.
A strong hand clamped down on Lilith’s arm and she startled. Looking up, her eyes were met with a laughing pair of blue ones. Angel towered over her, still holding onto her arm but he didn’t speak over the thumping of the bass. He simply nodded his head for her to follow and turned—drink in hand and wove his way through the crowd. Lilith followed behind him, using his huge body as a shield. It was cowardly, but at the moment she felt so out of her element.
They found their way upstairs and passed a set of security guards who stood in front of a private room that overlooked the dance floor. The room was decked out in black leather, and the air was clearer now. The haze of smoke had cleared and Lilith felt like she could breathe again.
“Ready for a drink, sweetheart?” Angel asked and she grimaced.
“Don’t call me sweetheart, and yes, I’ll take that drink.” She smirked at the big man who chuckled deeply before grasping her arm again and leading her to the glass top bar at the back of the room.
While he ordered her a beer—which made him chuckle even more when she requested it, Lilith took the time to look around. Couches spread out through the room and a few members of both bands lounged lazily, drinking and chatting. A few women she didn’t know were sprawled out over the men, vying for their attention and exposing every ounce of skin that they were legally able to.
“Is it always like this?” she asked Angel as he handed her the chilled bottle. When the liquid touched her throat she could have sighed. Her throat was parched, and the drink felt like heaven.
“Worse, trust me on that,” he muttered but she could see the humor on his face.
“Lovely…”
Her eyes traveled over the men around her, landing on Soren, who sat on a black leather chair with a redheaded woman straddling his lap. He stroked her hips lazily with his fingers as she nibbled at his neck, but his dark eyes were latched onto Lilith’s. She sneered back. For such an attractive man, he sure was as asshole. She tried to convince herself she wasn't jealous, but she very much was. She automatically thought back to the scene she'd walked in on at that first venue. She was positive that the girl on his lap was not the same as the one he’d had plastered against the hallway wall. Her assumptions were correct apparently. He really was the stereotypical Rockstar.
11
Soren
His eyes tracked her and it pissed him off. She was by far the most beautiful fucking woman he'd ever seen and it wasn’t even an exaggeration. The way her jeans and casual t shirt were so carelessly thrown together only highlighted how naturally gorgeous she was. The redhead on his lap paled in comparison to the chocolate eyed goddess who sat on the couch in front of him—flirting with his best friend. Soren ground his teeth together as he resisted the urge to throw Karly off his lap and break Angel's teeth in.
He hated himself for the things he was feeling. He barely knew Lilith much less had any sort of claim on her. He decided to ignore it and maybe it would go away. He'd always been fascinated with all things shiny and new. That’s just what she was— a shiny and new thing that he would become bored with the moment he got what he craved from her.
Believing his own bullshit, Soren turned his eyes back to Karly and gripped her tighter. The girl purred in his ear but it really did nothing for hi
m. Her claw like nails raked over his buzzed hair and it irritated him but her lips on his neck felt nice. It was nice to be held this way if only for a little while.
The thumping of the music was dulled by the pane of glass that separated the VIP room from the rest of the club. As much as he loved a good party, he was thankful for the reprieve. His eyes flicked back to his pixie girl and zeroed in on her darkly painted lips as she sipped her beer. Who orders beer at a club? He scoffed to himself though in reality he thought it was refreshing as hell.
The dark haired beauty stood from the couch and he hated the way just a single movement from her caused his entire being to clench. His dick was hard, and not because of the woman trying to grind in his lap. He was honed in on Lilith as she grabbed Blair's hand—gliding from the room without a backwards glance. He knew she cared nothing for him and it bothered him. Women mostly loved Soren for no good reason. Sure, he knew wasn’t bad looking. He wasn’t vain or anything but he knew he had the rockstar package working for him. Girls loved his piercings and tattoos and they especially loved the way he knew his way around a guitar.
But not Lilith. No, Lilith was a musician herself and therefore immune to the siren call of a rockstar. Figures, he thought to himself. The one woman to hold his attention for more than a few hours was the one woman he wouldn’t let himself have.
Angel caught his eye and he hadn’t realized his friend had been watching him at all. “Something the matter, Sor?” Angel asked through a smirk that made Soren grind his teeth.
“Oh fuck off, man,” he snapped, and Angel just threw his head back and laughed— his blonde mane swishing behind him. His friend never had a care in the world and he could tell he was enjoying Soren’s predicament.
“You might want to get your ass down there or else some lucky asshole might just swoop in and steal your girl.”
“She’s not my girl.
“Whatever you want to tell yourself man, your eyes haven’t left her since the moment she walked into this damn place.”
