Night Shifts Black

by Alyson Santos

  Luke gives me an apologetic smile, but I only laugh.

  “Have fun,” I say, moving toward the door.

  Luke surprises me by stopping my retreat. “Where are you going? You should stay. You cool with that, Case?”

  Casey shrugs and nods, barely even adjusting from his focus on the screen.

  “Fine with me. Hey, so here’s the first take at the keys. Before I clean it up, I just wanted to see what you thought of the general direction.”

  Luke nods and pulls a set of the same type of custom headphones Casey has from a solid black case. He puts them in his ears and hands the other end to Casey to insert into the laptop.

  Casey makes a few keystrokes and waits while Luke listens. We both watch his face, and I find myself nervous for Casey for some reason. It’s obvious that Luke’s opinion means a lot to him. Finally, Luke must finish and pulls an earpiece out.

  “It’s good, Case. Maybe a little aggressive on the verses. I love the intro, though. I can totally hear the piano riff followed by the band coming in with the crash of the drums and guitars.”

  Casey nods. “That’s what I was thinking. One pass of piano for that first progression, and then all-in hard on the second.”

  Luke agrees. “Yeah, I like that.”

  Casey quiets and stares at the screen again before turning back to Luke. “I’d love if you could help me with the vocal. You’d kill this one. You know you would.”

  I hold my breath. The look on Casey’s face. The look on Luke’s. I don’t know if I can handle watching Casey’s hopeful expression shatter again. Or Luke’s pain at causing it. I almost want to flee from the room rather than be forced to witness either.

  There’s a long silence that’s painful for all of us.

  Finally, Casey looks away and nods, and there it is. The heartbreak I didn’t want to have to see. I swallow, my own heart aching for him.

  “Yeah, sorry,” Casey mumbles.

  Luke draws in a deep breath, and I see his fist actually clench in distress.

  “Casey…”

  Casey doesn’t look at him and waves his hand. “No, I know. Sorry, it’s fine. I shouldn’t have asked.” But we both know he’s hurt. Again.

  Luke shakes his head and steps forward. “No, it’s not fine, Casey. It’s not fine.”

  Casey glances at him in surprise, as do I. Luke’s face is a mess of regret and love and sadness, and a host of other things I wasn’t expecting and can’t start to explain.

  He draws in a deep breath and picks up one of the microphones, examining it with an eerie mix of awe and fear. There must be a hurricane thrashing around his head right now. And Casey’s. I don’t speak, trying not to move for fear of ruining whatever miracle might be occurring at the moment. Finally, he closes his eyes for a brief second before focusing back on Casey.

  “Can you run through it with me a few times first?” he asks quietly. “I only heard it that once, and I know you changed some of the melody anyway.”

  Tears spring to my eyes when I see the glisten in Casey’s. Then Luke’s.

  Casey clears his throat and blinks back at the screen. I can tell he’s trying not to let the tears take hold. “Um, yeah, of course. Just...”

  Luke nods, and places his hand on Casey’s shoulder. Casey glances up at him still in shock, and I almost choke when Luke pulls him to his feet in a solid embrace.

  I slip through the door and close it quietly behind me.

  ∞∞∞

  I force myself to leave them alone the rest of the afternoon. I can hear enough to know that whatever they’re creating is something I want to witness more than anything, but I manage to restrain myself and give them their much-needed time alone. What happened, what’s happening now, is historic, and I’m not about to risk any kind of interference. Still, I’m dying for more than the muted sounds of laughter, debate, and Luke’s iconic voice filtering through the door. I consider hovering right outside, but convince myself that acting like a creepy stalker fangirl after all of this is not the way to go.

  Instead, I lie on the couch, staring at the ceiling, smiling like an idiot to myself as I listen to what I can of the magic. After about three hours, the door finally opens, and I bolt up to greet them.

  Casey almost looks startled when he sees my head pop up from behind the couch and laughs.

  “What are you doing?” he asks, and I rest my arms on the edge to face them.

  “Not distracting you,” I tease with a grin that he returns.

  “Oh really?” he says, and I love the light in his eyes.

  “I’m gonna go chill in my room for a bit. Nice work, Case,” Luke says, slapping his arm before disappearing back down the hall.

  “Want a beer?” Casey asks me, heading toward the fridge.

  “Sure,” I answer, and he grabs a couple bottles. “Sounds like it’s going well,” I continue after he pops the caps and hands me one.

  He nods and drops beside me. “We’re both pretty happy with the direction. It’s going to sound awesome with our actual gear in the studio.”

  “I can’t wait to see you play drums,” I say.

  He glances at me in surprise, then laughs. “That’s right. I guess you haven’t even seen me play yet.”

  I shake my head. “Just violins and that weird string-choir-air sounding thing.”

  “Pads.”

  “Huh?”

  “That sound. It’s called a pad.”

  “Oh.” I lean against him, and he puts his arm around me as I’d hoped. “How’s Luke?” I ask quietly.

  “Good,” he says. “Better than I’ve seen him in a long time. It was like…” he stops, and I can hear the emotion rising in his voice again. I reach up and interlace my fingers with his. He squeezes and lets me pull his arm tighter around my shoulders.

  “It’s going to be slow, but it’s going, Casey. I think it’s finally going.”

  He nods and kisses my hair. “You’re amazing, Callie. I don’t know how you got through to him, but you did.”

  I almost laugh at the absurd comment. I’m amazing. Yeah, right. I’m still not even sure what I am exactly, but I’m pretty sure it’s not amazing.

  “All I did was force myself into his life and refuse to let him hurt me.”

  “Yeah, well, no one else managed to do that.”

  “How many people really tried besides you?”

  He quiets, and I sigh. “It was timing, too, Casey. It was a lot of things. Sometimes it takes a stranger. Friends know too much.”

  “True. You hold on too tight with friends.”

  I nod. “Although, let’s be honest. I’m the one who got the best deal out of all this.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  “No question.”

  I turn to him and gaze into his eyes. His expression softens, and I love the smile that spreads over his lips. I kiss him gently. I have to. That smile…

  “Promise me one thing though, Callie.”

  I grow serious when he does.

  “No matter what happens with the two of us, we will always be there for him. I can’t lose him, too. I can’t.”

  I squeeze his hand. “Neither can I.”

  He seems to relax, and the mood lightens again. “Want to hear what we’ve got so far?”

  “Are you kidding? Since the second I left the room.”

  He grins and pulls me to my feet.

  ∞∞∞

  Casey keeps his promise, and by early evening we’ve all assembled in the main living room. He’s converted his afternoon’s work into an audio file that he can play through the entertainment unit’s surround sound system, which only adds to the dramatic effect of the big reveal. He hooks up his laptop, and we all settle back on the couches in anticipation.

  Eli and Sweeny have a look of stern concentration as Casey pushes play, but I can see Luke’s smirk. It’s good and he knows it. He’s not worried.

  Even though I had an earlier preview, I’m still not prepared for the blast of sound that pours out of t
he speakers into the room. I can’t believe Casey did all of this in an afternoon on that little keyboard, but instead of being smug and arrogant, he seems contemplative more than anything. I can see his mind considering each note, each sound, as he studies the air with the same concentration as the others who have never heard the song before.

  Only Luke seems relaxed as we listen, each person lost in their own journey with the sound swelling around us. I’d love a glimpse into their heads as they decide the fate of Casey’s efforts, and find it fascinating that even after all these years together, all their success, all the hundreds of reasons why Casey Barrett should be bursting with confidence, he still waits with such nervous tension for the evaluation of his work.

  The music dies, and I hold my breath for the verdict.

  “Play it again?” Sweeny asks, and Casey clicks a few buttons to replay it.

  This time I can sense the change in their engagement with the music. I see the involuntary movement of their fingers as they seem to work out their own contributions to the composition.

  “There! Right there! Stop it!” Sweeny cries. Casey obeys, and Sweeny closes his eyes, reviewing something in his mind. “You’re going to hit the kick hard on that build, right Case?”

  Casey nods. “On the bridge into the chorus? Yeah. Definitely a fill, too, at the end. I was thinking Eli would come in hard with some killer run, too.”

  Sweeny nods. “Ok. Yeah. That lead guitar riff is sick. Wanted to make sure we were supporting it.”

  “Absolutely. You can thank Luke for the riff.”

  Sweeny seems impressed, but Luke only shrugs.

  “It’s nothing. Casey did everything else.”

  “And Callie,” Casey corrects.

  “And Callie,” Luke echoes with a direct smile to me.

  I’m pretty sure I’m blushing, but hope it’s not obvious in the dim light.

  “Love it, Case. Really,” Sweeny says. “You know, I like that for an album title, too. Greetings from the Inside.”

  “Greetings from the Inside,” Casey repeats, then nods in agreement. “Yeah. I like that.”

  “Luke, you slayed the vocal,” Eli adds, and I have to agree. I love Casey’s version, but Luke’s voice transformed the song into something entirely untouchable. Casey seems to agree, and I wish I could bottle the look on his face.

  “You sound like a rock star or something,” Casey jokes, and Luke rolls his eyes.

  “What are you doing?” Casey asks as Eli starts dialing his phone.

  “Calling TJ,” he answers.

  Casey seems startled. “TJ? Why?”

  “To see if he can get our trailer here by tomorrow instead. I want my bass.”

  ∞∞∞

  Casey and Luke make good on their promise to take me to 49th & Finch for dinner. I’m just thrilled to get Luke out of the suite. Eli and Sweeny join us as well, and the five of us slide into a booth that looks more like a lounge. When they said “bar food,” I had expected bowls of peanuts and pool tables. I don’t know why I would. Nothing else is ever as I expect with them.

  Based on the reactions of the host and staff, it’s pretty obvious they’re immediately recognized as high-priority guests. There are bottles and glasses on our table before we even have our jackets off.

  “And I thought I got VIP service at Jemma’s,” I mutter to Luke.

  He smiles over at me. “Just wait.”

  “Shit…” I hear Casey mumble, and glance over at him in alarm. He’s staring across the restaurant at another table of glossy patrons, one of which looks very familiar. Luke must notice as well.

  “Oh, man. Sorry, Case. You want to leave?”

  Casey sighs and shakes his head. “Nah, it’s fine. Maybe she won’t see us.”

  Luke scoffs. “Jana Furmali? That woman has a freaking radar for you.”

  Casey glares at him. “Yeah. And thanks for inviting her to your little get-together, by the way. She practically tackled me.”

  Luke gives him a look. “Of course I didn’t invite her! She must have come with Davis and Kane.”

  Casey grunts and fingers his napkin. I reach over and grab his hand, which seems to startle him out of his daze. He gives me a weak smile that tugs at my heart.

  “Sorry. She’s just…”

  “Persistent,” Eli finishes for him, and Casey sighs again.

  “Yeah, persistent. We went out a couple times a few months ago and she will not let go. I told her it wasn’t going to happen.”

  “I picked up on that at the party,” I comment. He seems concerned as he searches my eyes, but relaxes a bit when I squeeze his hand. “I’m not worried,” I assure him, and he gives me a quick kiss.

  “Dude, she just saw you,” Sweeny warns, leaning close.

  Casey curses under his breath, and now we’re all staring at her as she squints through the restaurant. Her face ignites when she concludes it’s him, and she starts moving toward us.

  “Can I kiss you?” Casey whispers. “Please?”

  I almost laugh, and pull him into me. We put on a pretty decent show, and I can feel Luke’s amusement to my right.

  “Hey, guys! So good to see you!” a voice interrupts, and Casey and I pull apart.

  “Jana, how’s it going?” Sweeny asks in a flat tone.

  “Great! Good. Casey, how have you been?”

  Casey glances at her and forces a polite smile. “Fine.” He holds up my hand clasped firmly in his. “Hey, did you get a chance to meet my girlfriend Callie at Luke’s place last week?” he asks, and we can all see the moment when her world crashes down around her.

  “Um…no, I don’t think so. Hi,” she says in a painfully unconvincing greeting.

  “Hi,” I respond. “I love your dress.”

  I can sense the guys holding in their laughs.

  “Thanks. It’s a Bella Amberosi.”

  I nod. I don’t know what that means.

  “I like your…” She hesitates, unable to even vaguely disguise her disgust and confusion at my existence.

  “Boyfriend?” I finish for her. “Yeah, I know. He’s amazing. I don’t blame you.”

  She almost chokes. I can feel the others’ shock, but know I guessed right when her eyes narrow and she mutters some unintelligible retort. Finally, she spins and marches back to her table.

  “Oh man, that was awesome!” Sweeny laughs.

  “You’re my hero, Callie!” Eli echoes, slamming his fist on the table.

  I grin, and steal a glance at Casey who is still shaking his head in amused disbelief.

  “Dude, she is it,” Sweeny continues, pointing at me, and I squeeze Casey’s hand.

  “Thanks, Callie,” he whispers, his face broadcasting everything I need to know.

  I nod, then grow serious.

  “What exactly is a Bella Amberosi?” I ask, and they laugh.

  ∞∞∞

  Casey and Luke order what seems like the entire menu of appetizers, and I’m blown away by each one. I can still feel Jana’s hostile gaze from across the room, but I don’t let it poison the incredible food.

  The guys weren’t kidding about 49th & Finch’s bar food. The wings, the pretzels, sliders, everything I try is a familiar flavor, but completely different at the same time. I realize I was right on with my joke that they’ve simply upgraded the same food they ate when they were a poor garage band crashing in cheap motels.

  Casey orders a couple bottles of that champagne I liked at Luke’s party, and I love that he remembers my reaction to it. He pours a glass for all of us, and we toast Friday’s return to the studio.

  As the night wears on, I settle into my seat and study each of them in silence. Sweeny and Eli seem like good guys, down-to-earth and passionate, but clearly not in the same league as Casey and Luke. There’s no question in my mind where the heart and soul of Night Shifts Black is. It makes sense, given the band’s history I’m starting to piece together.

  Based on the clues I’ve assembled, it seems that Casey and Luke started
playing together when Casey was fifteen and Luke was seventeen. Whether they were serious or not, or had other band-mates at that time, I don’t know, but Sweeny and Eli would have come into the picture two years later. They’ve put out four albums together since then, and I remember the first one being dated seven years ago, with the second one the following year. Several of the songs were the same on both, but the newer one sounded much fuller and more professional to me. I’m guessing that’s when they signed with their mega Label. Since then, they’d done two more albums, the last one going platinum and winning them a Grammy. I remember something about an Academy Award for a song in a movie as well, but I can’t remember which song or what movie. I never pay much attention to all those award shows.

  My stomach flutters when it suddenly occurs to me I might have to start. I glance over at Casey and realize I may even have to attend one. I’m still pretty sure I’m sleeping, and yet, at the same time, it’s almost like the rest of my life was the dream. Casey credits me with bringing Luke back to life and Luke credits me with inspiring Casey again. But what about what they both did for me?

  I feel alive for once. Awake. I have hope, purpose. Value. Not because I’m the girlfriend of a rock star, but because I’m somebody who can love enough to make an impact. Because I can create. Because I’m a whole person even if some of the parts are broken. I’m Callie Roland, friend, counselor, inspiration. Writer. I’m Callie Roland and I’m someone.

  ∞∞∞

  After several more bottles of alcohol, and way more food than we should have eaten, we eventually lose Eli and Sweeny to a table of single women.

  Casey excuses himself to the restroom, and Luke leans back in his seat.

  “So…” he says, glancing over at me with a smile.

  “So…” I answer, returning it.

  “We’ve come a long way since breakfast club, huh?”

  I laugh and lean back as well. “I’d say. Although Jemma’s made a killer cup of tea.”

  Luke grins. “I’ll find you a suitable replacement. I promise.”