by Thia Finn
“Y-Yes, ma’am, I am.” The ma’am thing caused Peri to cringe and give him another look that said, “Damn, do I really look that old to you?”
“And what’s your name, junior?”
“Hayden Devillier, ma’am.” He gave her a boyish grin, as though he thought his response sounded flirtatious.
Peri, laughing to herself at his technique, replied, “Okay, kid, cut the ma’am business. You are making me feel old, which I am definitely not at twenty-five. Now, who exactly are you supposed to be related to here at 13 Recordings?”
Ryan found himself stepping up to the counter, spellbound by Peri’s sexy confidence and take-no-prisoners attitude. Her coal black hair pulled back into a wide headband was shining under the recessed lighting above the desk. She was a beauty, and he hoped that her boyfriend appreciated how hard she worked to get ahead. He watched the exchange with rapt attention and had to laugh at Peri feeling she was old just because of some kid’s good country manners. “Got a newbie here, Peri?”
She rolled her eyes at Ryan. This kind of thing happened all the time with their studios being easy to find near the popular South Congress area in Austin, and musicians were constantly stopping in, asking for help in the music business. “Yes, he claims to be related to one of our musicians.” Redirecting her dark, shrewd eyes back to the kid, “Now, spill it, kid. Who are you related to?”
“His name is Ryan Powell, and he’s in the band Assured Distraction, but I’ve never actually met him. My mom is his cousin and told me all about his family.”
Ryan whipped his head around and glared at the kid. “What the fuck? I’m Ryan Powell, and I damn sure don’t know anyone named ‘Devillier.’” Ryan, standing at six-foot-two, towered over most people, but this kid was close to looking him eye-to-eye. His baby face did not match his size, so it was easy to tell he had to be still in his teens.
“That’s what my momma said you would say when you and me finally met. She said to tell you that her name is Kylie Thibodeaux and you would know her.” Ryan could tell Hayden was intimidated by his glare, but the kid didn’t look the type to back down from much.
“Kylie Thibodeaux, huh? I haven’t heard that name in a long time, Hayden.” Ryan turned and looked at Peri, who was hanging on every word exchanged between the two as though she was watching an episode of Outlander. “How about we get a drink and talk about it?” Hayden nodded in agreement, and before Peri could ask any questions, the two were out the swinging door.
Ryan remembered Kylie from his childhood from when his parents went to family gatherings or he visited his grandparents’ farm in deep East Texas. These relatives were country folk who talked with a definite southern drawl. He always had a great time when they visited his grandparents because some of the best fishing in Texas was located a few miles away in Lake Sam Rayburn or Toledo Bend. Some of his favorite memories were of his grandfather and dad teaching him how to land a big bass in those lakes.
“From the looks of you, I’m taking it you’re not old enough to drink, right?” Again, Hayden nodded his affirmation. Ryan was trying to figure out how this kid located him or what he could want. He had many relatives running around Louisiana and the eastern half of Texas, but he had not seen or spoken to them since his grandfather passed and his grandmother moved in with his parents. That had been over five years ago. He certainly never expected someone from that part of his past to show up here, where he’d lived for years, looking for him.
When they walked into Outsiders Grill, a few blocks from the studio, they found a table and he ordered a beer and the kid a soft drink. When the waitress backed away from their table to fill their drink order she continued to stare at Ryan until he turned and looked at the kid. “Hayden, you hungry? They make great hamburgers here.” The look on the kid’s face said it all, so he added, “I’m hungry myself, and I’m buying.”
“Sure, I guess, wouldn’t want you eating alone. Yeah, I’ll have one, too, thanks.” He gave Ryan a big grin.
“Yeah, something like that.” When the waitress returned with their drinks, Ryan ordered them both double cheeseburgers and Buffalo fries. He rarely ate like this at lunch, but Hayden looked like he was probably trying to conserve money by skipping some meals, but he wouldn’t be responsible for letting the kid go hungry. Ryan remembered when he was that age he was constantly hungry and ate whenever food was available.
“So, Hayden, what the fuck are you doing here in Austin?” Ryan was eager to get to the bottom of this story.
Hayden sat down across the picnic table from him and looked him straight in the eye. “Well, the truth is, I’m looking for a job. My mom said you’re in some kind of badass rock band, and maybe you would help me land an audition or a job with your band to help get me started in music.”
“Oh, she did, did she?” Ryan ground out behind his steeple-tented hands. It was all Ryan could do to contain his anger at the mother of this kid. Who sent their kid across Texas to find someone they had never met on a crapshoot of a chance at some pipedream gig? And without even a phone call before sending him down the road? “How old are you, Hayden?”
“I turned eighteen last week, sir,” he proudly admitted.
Ryan had to chuckle at the kid’s youthful enthusiasm, but damn his mom for kicking the kid out so soon after becoming of legal age. Maybe Hayden had been counting the days until he turned eighteen to leave. Ryan didn’t know but he was going to find out and the sooner, the better. “Happy belated birthday, Hayden. So, how did you get to Austin?”
“I’ve got my truck. I drove in last night.” Hayden was tearing into his burger, leaving Ryan certain that the kid hadn’t eaten much since he’d left home for Austin.
“Last night, huh? You have friends here in Austin you’re staying with then?” Ryan couldn’t wait to hear the answer to this question but was afraid he already knew the unfortunate answer.
Hayden didn’t answer for several minutes as he continued to shove the food into his mouth. Ryan couldn’t decide if he was starving or avoiding the question, but Hayden had yet to look him in the eye. After the last of the burger was swallowed, Hayden finally looked up at Ryan and wiped his mouth.
“I stayed in my truck. I have money, but I didn’t want to waste it on a hotel room since I could sleep in it. I didn’t get here until after midnight, and I thought renting a room that late was a waste.”
“In your truck, huh?” Ryan couldn’t believe he’d heard the kid correctly, and he prayed he hadn’t.
“Yeah, in a park I found over on the other side of the interstate.”
“Damn it, Hayden. That was a dumb shit idea. Sleeping in your fucking truck isn’t safe, at all. What were you thinking? Oh yeah, you could save some money.” As mad as he was, he felt bad that he was taking his anger out on the teen. He knew what it was like to be a struggling musician; he’d been there himself not too long ago.
“Look, kid. I know it’s hard as hell getting into the business and make enough money to support yourself, but our band doesn’t need anyone now. What do you play?”
“Guitar, and I’m a good singer. Everyone says so.” Ryan could see the pride Hayden’s face.
Ryan smiled at him, “I bet you are.” Hayden’s enthusiasm almost made Ryan excited for him. He remembered those days all too well. “I’ll tell ya’ what, come on over and you can crash on my couch until you can find you a place to stay other than your fucking truck.”
“I don’t want to interfere with what you have going on. I have some money for a room, but I need a job, and then I’ll find a place to stay permanently.” Ryan could picture the kind of room he could rent with the money he had. He might be safer sleeping in his truck.
“Absolutely not, that is all kinds of fucked up, kid. I can’t have you risking your life staying in some damn park in east Austin at night or some sleazy motel. No telling what would happen. I don’t know exactly where you came from, but this isn’t small town East Texas. Austin’s a great place but it’s a big city, and you coul
d get yourself killed just by landing yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Come over to my apartment and we’ll get you settled for the night.”
Ryan could tell Hayden was deciding if going with him was a good idea. When he finally agreed, it relieved his fears. He didn’t want the kid staying another night in his truck, and understood Hayden’s plight of living in BFE while trying to start a music career. AD might be able to help him, or Ryan thought they could. He hoped the kid had talent like he thought he did.
“You won’t regret this, Ryan. My mom and all of my friends tell me all the time how good I play guitar and sing which is always what I’ve loved. I write music, too. I need a chance to prove myself to people.”
“Hey, let’s walk back down to the studio since I need to get some info from Peri, and then we’ll head to my place.” Ryan needed to get the date night settled first.
Ryan helped Hayden carry his things into the apartment. “It’s not a great place, and I sure as fuck don’t plan on living here too damn much longer, but it’s clean and safe, at least.” Ryan rented the apartment after the first paycheck he received from 13 Recordings. He and Krissy didn’t live together, but they might as well have. He hadn’t even considered what she was going to say when she found out they would have an audience for their wild times in the bedroom. Those nights may have to move to her apartment, but she had a roommate, too.
“Hey, it’s great of you to let me stay. I appreciate it. My mom said you were a great guy, and she hoped maybe you would help me out.”
“Have a seat and let’s talk about your momma.” Ryan wanted to know exactly how he had gotten mixed up in this boy’s life without any warning. “What’s your story, Hayden?”
“Okay, I guess that’s a good idea.” Hayden seemed unsure to Ryan at this point. Maybe he thought he would kick him out after hearing the story.
“So, you know my name is Devillier, but my mom’s name is Thibodeaux. She told me y’all are cousins, but hadn’t seen each other since the two of you were young. Now that we’ve met, I guess you had to be young because you’re damn sure not too much older than me.”
“That’s exactly what the fuck I was thinking. I’m twenty-four. How old’s your mother?”
“She’s thirty-four.” Hayden wouldn’t look at him. It didn’t take Ryan long to figure out how young his mom was when she had him: Kylie was a mom at sixteen.
“Look, Hayden, I’m not here to judge you or your mom, so no need to be fucking embarrassed. Shit happens. What makes a difference is how life plays out once you do get some control. It sounds like she tried to do right by you. Someone sure as hell took the time to teach you right from wrong.”
Hayden stared at Ryan for a few minutes before he continued. “Yeah, she did. My grandparents weren’t able to help her too much, but they did what they could. They kept me so my mom could finish high school and work at the grocery store in our town. My grandpa gave me my first guitar when I was ten. He always loved music and he could play some, too. It was great when he would play for us. When he figured out I was able to pick up music by ear and wanted to learn, he bought me this old Gibson at the pawn shop and taught me all he knew. I got lucky that our school’s band director loved guitar, too. He kinda’ picked up where my grandpa left off teaching me. I can play the hell out of this thing now. Just wait ‘til you hear me.”
Ryan again had to laugh. This kid’s positive attitude and confidence in his skills were great to witness. He knew those two things would get the kid a long way in the industry if he didn’t burn out before he made it big. “Get the damn thing out and let’s hear what you got.”
Tuning a little on the old guitar, Hayden launched into Assured Distraction’s newest releases, Fuel to the Fire. The upbeat tempo of the rock song had several spots with acoustic guitar solos and Ryan watched the kid work the strings and was shocked by the sweet sound the kid could produce. He was right; he could play the hell out of the guitar, and he rocked the song. Next, he transitioned into a ballad, and his voice was smooth and deep but more than that, he had a unique sound. After a few cover songs, he played something Ryan didn’t recognize, and it had all the makings of a hit song.
“Wow, I’m blown away, kid. I’m glad you listened to your mom and friends when they told you that you could play and sing. Let me send a message to the rest of the band and get my guitar, we’ll play some together.”
Walking back in with his own Gibson, he sat down opposite Hayden and the two started playing some cover songs they both knew. The two cousins were able to feed off of each other’s melodies.
Gunner threw the door open like he owned the place, a smirk already on his face. “What’s wrong, fucker? You need help remembering how to walk like a man now that Krissy’s finally put your balls in a jar?”
“Nothing’s wrong, dickhead. I just needed y’all to quit playing with yourselves and get your lazy asses over here and act like musicians for a minute.” Pissed faces glared back at Ryan in response. “What? I needed y’all to get here, and it couldn’t wait.”
“We dropped everything and ran over here. What is so damn important for us to come immediately? I was in the middle of something that could have led to coming.” Gunner, the grown man with the mind of a sixteen-year-old boy, smirked.
“I want to introduce you to my cousin, Hayden. He popped in for a surprise visit.”
All eyes were on Hayden now, and he stared back at them equal parts nervousness and fascination to be in the same room with these rising stars in rock music. He knew the band from the radio, but he had no idea their presence would feel so much larger-than-life in person. Their well-muscled bodies and wild hair made for impressive-looking company, but the array of colorful tats covering their skin rounded out the rocker image. They all very much looked like they were born and bred rock gods. To the small-town kid that hadn’t experienced seasoned, successful musicians, the look of these two was a bit staggering.
He stood, all the same, good manners instilled in him his entire life, and shook hands with both of Ryan’s bandmates as he introduced them.
Hayden tried to find his voice before he finally managed a clear greeting. “Uh, it’s great to meet you guys. I’ve been a fan for a long time.”
The two gave him a quick head nod, not wanting to make it an awkward introduction for him, and then turned to Ryan for the next part of the story.
“Okay, asshat, so where’s the fire?” Carter finally asked Ryan.
“Well, Hayden rolled into town last night looking for a job. The kid’s good - damn good on guitar and vocals. I wanted the band to have a chance to hear him before we try to hook him up with Cash or anything at the studio.” Ryan knew the kid had skills worth their time.
“Well, all right. Let’s hear what ya’ got, kid.” Gunner seemed all for it.
Hayden and Ryan started playing a few of the band’s newer songs, and the rest of them were in awe of the way Hayden picked them up but still put his spin on them which gave their music a fresh new sound. Ryan let Hayden play several of his songs of his own and backed him up. With only a few songs out of the way, Carter and Gunner both decided they needed to ramp-up the sound, so they joined the two playing. Luckily, Ryan had extra guitars so Carter could play and Gunner never went anywhere without some sticks in his truck.
Gunner stood when the doorbell sounded returning with several pizza boxes and beer. “Good idea I had, huh?”
“Dude, how’d you get beer delivered?” Carter asked as he popped one open.
“I have my sources,” Gunner smirked. “When you order pizza from the same place long enough, you don’t even have to tell them what to bring, just how many.” The group continued only taking a break to eat or when needed.
When a song came together, it was videoed on Gunner’s phone in the off chance they needed to let someone else listen to it. The laughter rang out from the group when they picked up or added a riff or beat to their music in a way they never played it before.
“Well, what do
y’all think?” Ryan asked the other two members.
“Dude, this is some of the best jamming we’ve done in a while,” Gunner added between songs that didn’t flow together as many of them did.
Carter spoke up. “That was fucking awesome. You have mad skills on guitar, but your playing doesn’t come close to what you can do with your voice. Where did you learn to play and sing?
“Most of what I know my grandpa taught me. We sang together for most of my life so I guess you could say, he taught me how to sing and play. My music teacher in high school helped me with guitar after my grandpa. The teacher taught me all I know about how to read and write music.”
Ryan was glad to hear Hayden’s back stories because he knew they helped Hayden get where he was in life. Ryan could tell from Hayden’s demeanor he was excited to tell them.
“Well, Dude, I think you did your grandpa and teacher proud tonight with us because I think you have a real future in the music business. I hope Cash sees it that way, too.”
The group was in consensus, and all started speaking at the same time throwing out ideas as to what they thought would be good for the kid to work toward. It was all a lot for Hayden to digest at once but he listened to everything they had to say.
“You got any more songs that you know we might consider using? We’re always looking for more music that plays into our style, and I would say everything you’ve played is adaptable to something Assured Distraction would consider.” Ryan asked Hayden when the talk died down some. Ryan’s question sparked another round of music.
By midnight, they all decided to call it a night and head back to their homes. Gunner told them all goodbye then turned and gave a puzzled look at Ryan. “Hey, Ryan, where’s Krissy? I would have thought you’d be making animal noises with her all night.” When Ryan looked at Gunner, his face said it all. “Oh, Fuck. What did you do now, dumbass?”
