Between Songs

by N. Kognytao

  Leah was wondering if she was falling in love with the man she barely knew. She had always believed in love at first sight, but did not think anything like that would happen for her. As she stood in front of him, realizing the way his presence near her made her feel, she wondered if she had been hit by the metaphorical lightning bolt.

  “And you?” he prompted when she did not speak.

  It took her two long, embarrassing seconds to realize she had never told him her name.

  “Leah.”

  “You know, it’s not prudent for a singer to be staying up late in the cold outside air. Might catch a cold before your big debut performance.”

  “Ah, I’m not worried,” she assured. “I’m pretty strong. I rarely get sick.”

  “Don’t jinx it,” he warned, the small smile gracing his lips. He looked at the glowing tip of his cigarette and then pulled out the tin from his back pocket, stubbing out the half-smoked cigarette. “Need a ride home?”

  She was so startled by the offer, she could not speak.

  “Oh, no, I can take the bus. I wouldn’t want to impose…”

  “No imposition. But I am leaving now.”

  “You just got here,” she noted.

  He shrugged one shoulder and turned, fishing the car keys from his coat pocket. Leah forced her feet to move and follow him, not at all worried about getting in the car with him. She felt safe with him.

  She watched the lights of a black Mercedes light up as he unlocked the car. She walked slowly to the passenger’s side and climbed in as he sat in the driver’s seat.

  “I’m at the RM dormitory,” she reminded him.

  He nodded, turning the car on and backing the car out of the parking lot.

  Nervous, Leah could not think of anything to say for an embarrassingly long time. Finally, she spoke.

  “I honestly don’t know what to say to you,” she admitted, laughing.

  “You don’t have to be so nervous around me, you know,” he said. “If I disliked your company, I would not have offered to drive you back.”

  The words caused the breath to catch in her throat.

  He admitted to enjoying her company.

  “How long have you been writing?” she asked once she regained her voice.

  “Since I was seventeen,” he answered. “My first book was published when I was twenty-one.”

  “That’s impressive.”

  “I find that most creative people start pretty young,” he said, shrugging one shoulder.

  Leah raised her eyebrows. “I’m much older than a lot of the up-and-coming artists.”

  “That’ll be better for you in the long-run,” he said. “You will handle certain stresses better than your younger contemporaries.”

  “You think so?”

  “You’ve already been through more than most of them could comprehend with the situation with your sister. You have a higher stress tolerance,” he agreed. “Just trust yourself and let your intuition guide you. Age doesn’t matter.”

  Silence fell over the car.

  “Um…” she started slowly. “This may seem sort of forward, but…I would really like to get to know you.”

  “There’s not much to know.”

  “Then it won’t be too difficult?” she asked, grinning jokingly.

  He let out a breathy chuckle, the smile staying on his lips and causing Leah’s heart to soar.

  “It might be a little difficult.”

  “I’m up for the challenge.”

  “Are you?” he asked.

  She nodded confidently. “I’m trusting myself and letting my intuition guide me.”

  He nodded slowly, his eyes going back to the road.

  “Well, we’ll have to see if you’re right about this one.”

  He pulled up to the curb in front of the dorms and parked the car, turning to face her.

  “Get some rest,” he said. “Big performance tomorrow.”

  She nodded, turning to get out of the car before stopping and turning back to the driver.

  “Okay, I know I said that it would be alright if you didn’t come to the concert tomorrow, but…I will admit, I really, really hope you do.”

  He nodded.

  “I know.” He looked back at the dorm building. “Get some rest.”

  She nodded and got out of the car, walking toward the front door of the dorm, occasionally throwing a glance over her shoulder at the Mercedes. The black car did not pull away from the curb until she was through the front door, where she watched it drive away with her heart racing in her chest.

  Leah knew she would be unable to sleep that night.

  Chapter Six

  Leah forced her brain to only focus on her breathing. She spared a glance around the side of the stage to the rapidly-filling Aurora Dome. While only a section of the massive venue was being used for the concert, Leah started to realize she had severely underestimated just how many people would be present. Somewhere in the crowd, she knew her younger sister and two of her friends were waiting to see the show. Her parents had been unable to attend, so Meggie made it a Friday night out with her friends.

  She pulled himself away from the stage and paced nervously, counting her breaths as she tried to calm down. Yasmine nudged Aaron and nodded to the vocalist. Aaron motioned everyone over and they started toward the nervous Leah, surrounding her.

  It took her a while to realize, in her semi-panicked state, that they were around her. She smiled nervously as she looked around.

  “A little nervous.”

  “It will be great,” Aaron assured.

  “I was not nervous until this moment,” she said, shaking her head.

  “Once you get out there, you won’t even notice,” Keith assured. “You’ll hardly be able to see the audience anyway. Did you see the judges during your audition?”

  “Not really…”

  “You’ll do fine,” Yasmine agreed. “Just go out there and be your usual, hyper self.”

  “Right…yeah…easy…”

  She took several more deep breaths, but the panic returned full-force when the stage hands hurried them onto their spots on stage. The stage and stadium went dark and the audience cheered loudly, excited for the concert, waving their phones in the air with flashing messages to the band members.

  Keith counted off into their in-ears and then began the drum part for the song. The audience screamed loudly and Leah let out a nervous breath as she moved toward the middle of the stage. The lights were still dark, so no one could see her, but she could see the sheer number of people in the audience. They were so excited for the start of the concert that they had not noticed that the song was not one from Glaring Nights, yet.

  She was suddenly very nervous that there would be a riot when the lights came up and it was not Glaring Nights performing on the stage.

  Hearing the end of the extended intro start to come near, she took a chance and glanced at where she knew the company box to be.

  Her heart stopped.

  Sitting in the front of the company box was a familiar face topped with wavy brown hair, his bright green eyes bright enough to light up the area around him.

  Braydon was there. He had come to see her.

  Elation and awe overtook her and she smiled, taking one final deep breath just as the lights came up on stage.

  Instantly, she began singing, ignoring the confusion of the crowd and unable to see them bobbing their heads, excited at the new song from the new singer.

  Everyone always says

  Make your own destiny

  But be sure you always conform

  Cutting away lifelines, plucking out feathers

  But I’ll make a show of my wounds

  I’ll use them to carve out my place

  I am the only one holding me back

  I refuse to be just another rat in the race

  You think you can temper me

  You think I’m so easily subdued

  You don’t know the battles I’ve fought

/>   You don’t know what my overdrive can do

  You can try to define and confine me

  But you’re wasting your time

  I’ll destroy all your boundaries

  Overdrive. Over your brittle, detaining walls, I’ll climb

  As the band continued playing and Leah caught her breath, she went through the notes she had been given during rehearsal. She ran to the front of the extended stage, looking at everyone as she passed, smiling and bouncing around with the beat until she had to sing once more.

  I’m done following the chalked line

  Being myself should not be a crime

  You can try to restrain me

  But I’ll always break free

  I’m runaway train, an avalanche, a stampede

  Get out of my way

  I’m coming for the world at full speed

  As she sang the chorus once more, she took a moment to truly look over her audience. They were smiling broadly, bouncing along with her performance, excited and enjoying the new song.

  It bolstered her energy, caused her to feel as though the entire concert was hers. She could not think past that song or the beaming faces of the concert-goers, or the screams that flooded her ears around the sound of the band.

  She motioned Aaron forward and the girls in the audience screamed louder as he played the complicated guitar part in the bridge. Leah, riding high on the feeling, flew around the stage easily, exciting the crowd as she paid attention to each of section.

  Moving back to the catwalk, she began the last refrain.

  Dark playgrounds overlook city lights

  A smoky bar and strong liquor fuel the hunger

  This illusion is not enough

  Work has taken over all joys from years younger

  Look at my wounds, look at my story

  Look at how I’ve destroyed my confining seams

  I will not let this be my life,

  Pushing into Overdrive, I’ll take back my dreams

  As they had done on every rehearsal, the others playing their instruments behind Leah put their all into the last bit of the song, drinking in the excitement in the crowd before the song ended and the lights went dark.

  Leah was panting so hard, it took her a moment to hear the excited screams from the crowd.

  But when they reached her ears, her smile went from ear to ear.

  The light came back on stage, Leah stepped forward.

  “How’s everyone feeling tonight?!” she called.

  The round of screams that answered her was enough for her heart to nearly burst in her chest. She wanted to stay on that stage forever, singing and enjoying the performance with an audience. It was everything she had ever wanted, and even more.

  “Did you guys enjoy the song?”

  Again, the screams became deafening.

  “You are all awesome! My name is Leah Dillon, and these amazing people back here are my band. Come on out here, guys!”

  As Leah introduced the excited band members to the audience, Hayden, Blake, and Chris stood to the side of the stage, watching the audience, surprised and a little intimidated by the excited energy. They had seen Leah and the band practice in the run-throughs, but the reaction from the audience was unlike anything they could have expected from an unknown singer.

  Hayden’s fists clenched at his sides.

  In the company box, Braydon watched as Leah introduced everyone and then went back to hyping up the crowd.

  “Thank you so much for listening to our first song. We’ll be sure to come back with a full concert of our own soon!” she declared boldly. “So, now, it’s time for the unparalleled Glaring Nights to take the stage!”

  There were a lot of screams from the crowd, but there was no mistaking the number of disappointed protests about Leah only singing one song.

  Leah apologized and said that she would be back with her own concert yet again and then began to leave the stage, waving and bowing to the audience as they screamed excitedly after her. Braydon could not help but smile gently at the broad smile on Leah’s face.

  “This is an unexpected surprise.”

  Braydon turned slowly, expecting all along to see the face of Timothy McCollum-Gracie at some point that night. He smiled as he sat next to Braydon, looking over the band on stage as they bowed and interacted with the excited audience, trying to exit the stage, even though the audience began chanting for them.

  “I have to say, when Ms. Dillon asked me for an extra company box ticket, I did not expect you to be the one to receive it. You’ve never come to any of the concerts I invite you to.”

  He said nothing, turning his eyes back to the stage.

  “What’s the deal with her?”

  “Leah Dillon?” Tim pressed, looking over the excited young woman. “I’m not sure, to be honest. She’s got energy to her I have not felt since Michael. It’s exhilarating. I’m sure she’s going to go very far with that energy and her talent.”

  “And make you an insane amount of money?” he asked, glancing at the CEO sideways.

  “I have to find a way to keep everyone fed at the company,” he said with a grin. His eyes scanned the author next to him. “And you? What interest is she to you?”

  Braydon took a deep breath, watching the band exit the stage, despite the audience demanding an encore.

  “None,” he answered, standing.

  “You’re not staying?” Tim asked, watching him leave. “You have the ticket and you’re already here. Why not watch Glaring Nights?”

  “I’ve heard their songs, Tim,” Braydon said, straightening his coat as he left the box. “They don’t interest me, either.”

  Tim Gracie watched his back as he walked toward the exit among the chanting and screaming concert-goers. When the door closed behind him, Tim looked at the patrons of the concert before his eyes settled on Leah being ushered away by Aaron and Yasmine, smiling as she waved to the crowd.

  Tim’s face fell and the muscles in his jaw clenched.

  * * *

  With an ecstatic shout, Leah leapt down the small flight of stairs to the back of the Aurora Dome, riding the high of the successful opening performance.

  “That was amazing!” she cheered, turning to the others, beaming from ear to ear.

  “You were awesome!” Yasmine agreed, hugging her tightly. “We totally blew them away!”

  The group gathered around the singer, laughing and congratulating each other, celebrating in their accomplishment. They were so wrapped up in their elation that it took everyone a long time to notice the figure, leaning against the wall, smoking, watching them in silence from a distance.

  Yasmine saw the man first and stopped celebrating, staring at the stranger until the others of the band also noticed him.

  Leah was the last one to turn around but, rather than be suspicious, a smile took over her face and she bounded to the man.

  “I can’t tell you how happy I am you’re here.”

  He lowered the cigarette from his lips and smiled. “You did very well.”

  The rest of the band approached their excited singer, hesitant around the stranger. However, when Yasmine and Aaron got close, they recognized the author immediately.

  “Oh my God, you’re Kyle Hayward!” Yasmine gasped.

  He nodded.

  “How do you know Leah?” Aaron pressed.

  “That’s a little more complicated,” he answered. “You all did very well tonight. A very impressive performance.”

  The excited band beamed at the praise.

  “I hope you will celebrate tonight,” Braydon continued, “but I would like to steal your vocalist.”

  “Of course,” Aaron said, looking at Leah with raised eyebrows. Leah smiled and turned to Braydon.

  “Lead the way.”

  He turned and the two walked toward the nearby parking garage.

  “What’s going on here? I thought Leah didn’t have a boyfriend,” Keith murmured, watching them walk away.

  “She doesn�
�t,” Aaron agreed, grinning. “But after tonight, I have a feeling a lot of things are going to change for all of us.”

  In the yellow glow of the parking garage lights, Leah walked side-by-side with Braydon, feeling warmth radiate through her body. Just walking next to him made him feel calm, yet ecstatic at the same time. She wondered if there was a word to describe the feeling—if there was, the author next to her probably knew it.

  On the second floor, they approached the familiar black Mercedes and Leah turned to smile at Braydon.

  “Are you taking me to a celebration dinner?” she asked lightly, teasing.

  He stopped at the trunk of the car and stared at her for two seconds.

  Taking a step forward, he tenderly wrapped his hand around the back of her neck, holding her still as he pressed their lips together.

  Leah did not register what was happening until he broke the kiss, his hand slowly slipping from back of her neck. As soon as she understood what he had done, she kicked herself for not kissing him back. She stared into his green eyes as he waited for her reaction.

  It was her turn to step forward. She reached up, grabbing his collar and leaning up to meet his lips in another kiss, taking account of exactly how their mouths fit together, the way heat radiated from his skin, the sound of his breath ghosting against her mouth, the way his hands gently rested at her waist…she drank in every sensation, her body sparking with adrenaline from both the concert and their kiss.

  When they parted, she held his face still, allowing the feelings to slowly ebb as his hands held her waist.

  Opening her eyes, she saw the gentle smile on Braydon’s face. He stepped back, his fingers sliding from her waist and forcing her hands to leave his face.

  “Come on,” he murmured, nodding back to the car.

  The drive was silent as they crossed the city, acutely aware of the other one in the car. Even though the excitement from the successful performance was beginning to wear off, Leah was filled with a new type of anticipation.

  She had had boyfriends before, but it was never serious—she had always been focused on her family and then her singing. But even the boys she had been with did not awaken feelings in her like Braydon. She could feel the way her heart thundered against her ribs when she was close to him, but she also felt warm and comfortable. It was a strange combination that she reveled in.