After the funeral, Lucas and I sat in his car and reminisced about Bruce and Jerome. We shared laugh after laugh, discussing their outrageous antics and moments when all of us would skip school and wander around the city.

“I feel like I was too hard on them,” I confessed. “Like, yeah, they were wild boys who got us in a lot of trouble, but they were always there for us when we needed them. I should’ve been looser and more carefree, you know?”

“Don’t worry about it. They loved you.”

My eyes glanced at the car clock. “I should get home.”

“Do you really have to? I missed you so much these days, and I got some big news I’ve been wanting to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“Okay, remember when I told you Cassandra Blackwood followed me?”

I sat up in anticipation. “Yeah, did she contact you?”

“Yup, she did. Guess what? She invited the band to perform tonight at one of New York’s hottest clubs as her special guest.”

On instinct, my body launched at him with my arms wrapped around his neck. “Wow, I’m so happy for you.” I separated after realizing my display of emotion. He wasn’t off the hook yet, and my excitement dwindled after a thought came to mind. “But…Bruce and Jerome are gone, and Tyler hates you. There isn’t a band anymore.”

“I know, but that’s not gonna stop me. I explained the situation to Cassandra and told her I’m a solo artist from now on. I wanted to do this tonight for Bruce and Jerome and prove to myself that I can perform on stage alone. I need this transition to the next stage of my life. I can’t live with my dad anymore. I hate him.”

“I’m sorry things are this way. His drinking is getting worse?”

“Yeah. He’s not the same guy who raised me and took care of Mom. I’m ready to move out and do things on my own, which is why I need your support tonight. It’ll be the first time I’m performing in front of a mature crowd, and I can’t blow this. This could be the moment my music career really takes off and I can start my own life. With you.”

His words warmed my heart, but I had to give him the cold shoulder. Forgiveness wasn’t going to come easy, and my mom’s icy gaze slid into my head at the thought of not going home.

“Sorry, Lucas. My parents have me chained down after what happened at the school. I’m not allowed out, especially late hours.”

“Damn. Well, what about Sophia the Doll?”

I couldn’t hold back from bursting into laughter. “We both know that’s not gonna work. We used it one-time so we could sneak out to that concert together, but never again.”

“C’mon, use the life-size doll in your closet. You even showed me how you did it, remember? You put the doll underneath your sheets, laid it on its side, then put the cosmetic wig from your old Halloween costume on its head and it looked like you were sleeping.”

Even he couldn’t resist the urge to chuckle after saying that. “I doubt my parents would actually fall for it,” I told him. “We don’t even know if it worked last time. Maybe they didn’t come into my room that night and that’s why I didn’t get caught.”

“Ali, when we first started dating, your mom and dad were like the epitome of strict parents because they thought we were having sex already. Trust me, they came into the room.”

Disobeying my parents again would lead to the punishment of a lifetime, and I wasn’t too keen on being so friendly with him just yet, but I knew how important it was to be by his side. Were we back together? No. Maybe. I didn’t know. But I’d do anything for him regardless.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“You’re crazy, you know that?” I said with a smile.

“Crazy about you? Yeah, I know.”

My eyes rolled. “Alright. I’ll do this. For you.”

***

Later that night, I positioned Sophia the Doll in my bed and climbed out of my bedroom window. With a quick dash, I slid in Lucas’s car and demanded he hit the gas. Fast. He drove in the direction of the club, anxious to perform for a crowded audience.

After a twenty-minute drive, we arrived in front of a building with vibrant lights illuminating the entrance. Lucas parked the car and grabbed his guitar from the back seat before the two of us approached the bouncer at the front door.

“Hey, my name’s Lucas Stewart. I’m here to—”

“Back of the line, bud,” the bouncer ordered, pointing to a row of agitated people waiting to get inside. “Are you even twenty-one?”

The bouncer chuckled at his own question before looking me up and down. “Hey, your boy isn’t allowed in, but you can slide through these doors and wait until my shift is over.”

Ugh. My skin crawled at his invite. “No thanks.”

“Look, that’s my girl, alright? Chill out,” Lucas told him. I smiled as he stood his ground in my defense, though he appeared small compared to the bouncer’s massive build. “I’m scheduled to perform here tonight. Cassandra Blackwood invited me.”

“I’ll check the list.” The bouncer flipped through a small pad, overlooking all the names written on the paper. “Nope. Move along.”

The people waiting to get inside grew antsy. “Hey, what’s the holdup?” one of them hollered.

“Shut up and wait,” I yelled at the rowdy pack before pulling Lucas aside. “Are you sure this is the right place?”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

The bouncer flexed his muscles and sized up Lucas. “You need to get lost before I escort you away from the building personally.”

The near confrontation was interrupted by a woman who stepped outside of the club door. She wore a sleeveless mesh dress that revealed a serpent tattoo running down her left arm onto her wrist, where the letter S was embedded into her skin. Even the shouting of the people in line diminished into whispers at her presence.

“Lucas Stewart. I’ve been waiting for you.” She spoke in a low, seductive voice with a British accent. “Follow me.”

“Miss, his name isn’t on the list. He—”

The bouncer’s defiant speech was put to a halt after the woman touched his arm.

“He’s coming inside,” she softly said to him.

My eyes narrowed at the bouncer, whose sudden change in posture after the woman spoke made me worried. His chin dropped and his shoulders slouched as if he were hypnotized.

“Something’s not right here,” I mumbled, feeling a lingering sensation of lust and covetousness from the woman.

“Lucas, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” She brushed back her raven-black hair and stared at him enticingly before glancing at me. “I see you brought a friend. I’m Cassandra Blackwood. Come with me, loves.”

We accompanied Cassandra into the club, walking through the buzzing environment filled with adults dancing in a crazed frenzy. A path of purple strobe lights led to a quieter back room that hosted other musicians prepping for their performances.

“Is this where I’ll be waiting to go on stage?” Lucas asked, grabbing a water bottle off the refreshment table and gulping it down with haste.

“No, darling. This room is for those who haven’t made it yet. As my special guest, you’ll be treated to luxury.”

She pushed open a door in the back of the room and walked into a wide, fuchsia colored suite containing lavender furniture and gold accessories. Lucas and I stepped inside and closed the door behind us.

“As ambassador of the club, I’m granted special privileges that no one else can have,” Cassandra stated, her fingers trailing down Lucas’s arm. My brow raised at her subtle flirting, and I noticed he was gaping at her voluptuous body. “I want to share my exquisite taste with you. I love the band’s music, and I saw something special in you the moment I saw one of your videos. With my connections, I can turn you into a star.”

Bothered by his obvious compulsion toward her, I wanted to voice my annoyance over his ogling, but decided not to as making a scene could ruin his chance at stardom.

“Lucas?” I called out his name. He appeared to be in a daze. “Lucas, can you hear me?”

“Yeah, Aliyah?”

Tugging him a few feet away from Cassandra, I asked, “Are you alright?”

“Uh, yeah, I’m good. A little nervous, though. I don’t wanna screw up and turn away any A&R reps that were interested in the band before I went solo. I need to go out there and give it my all. For Bruce, Jerome, you, and even Tyler.”

“And you will,” I assured, kissing him on the lips and making sure Cassandra saw it. She was forcing me to forgive him faster than I had wanted to. “I’ll be right here supporting you. If you want, I can come up with a cheer on the spot.”

He laughed until Cassandra walked over to us. “Lucas, you’re up next. I’ll be watching you.”

“Thank you for this opportunity, Miss Blackwood. I’m very grateful.”

He turned to me and smiled. I wrapped my arms around his neck and said, “Go out there and kill it.”

“Will do. Thanks, babe. I love you.”