Silence is Suicide.

Chapter Twenty-Six.

With my back turned, someone shoved me, I tripped over my bass and then into a wall.

"Who the fuck let you in?" Andrew breathed in my ear. His sweat dripped on my back. "When the fuck did you have enough money to make it here?"

Shut up Andrew. Leave me alone.

He must've noticed the bass and said, "Stupid Uncommon. I hope you don't actually think you're a musician."

Someone called for Andrew, most likely a member of his band, but whoever it was, I thank him. He saved me by saying "Leave the loser alone, we got this in the bag."

Andrew growled and said "When you see my bitch, tell her to meet me. I hope you break a leg, Uncommon. And I don't mean that in a nice way. Literally, break your leg." He shoved me harder into the wall, but his grip released. I turned around and exhaled.

"Emerson!" I heard someone call my name. "Emerson, over here! Turn around!"

Rae. She must've come from the opposite direction.

Her curls were straightened today and she wore a black t-shirt with Andrew's name on it. I rolled my eyes at this, but she didn't notice that, gladly. I waved at her and smiled.

"Oh my gosh, Emerson, I'm so glad to see you!" She ran up and hugged me tightly. It hurt a little. I wrapped my arms around her small body.

"Isn't this city beautiful?" she asked me, her eyes sparkled as she looked up at me. I nodded in agreement.

"Five minutes to stage! Nuclear Winter, ya'll ready?" a manager said giving us a warning. This sadly meant our conversation was about to be cut short.

"Fuck yes!" Jeremy yelled at the manager. It chain reaction into everyone else yelling.

They started to yell, jump, and fist pumped. I watched them.

Rae sighed and turned back to me, "Good luck, Emerson." She began to walk away, but turned around after a few steps, "Kick Andrew and his stupid band's ass. Ps, they didn't do so well." She giggled and then turned out of my sight. I smiled and rolled my eyes at her. Thank you.

I sat on the floor and sighed again. I placed my elbows on my knees and cupped my head in my hands. I was so nervous.

"You okay, bro? You're whiter than usual." Jeremy asked me, noticing my discomfort. He put his arm around my shoulder, squeezed, and gave me a warm smile. "It's okay. I know it's scary and you're nervous, but just get lost in the music, like you do during our practices. You won't even know they're there anymore. Okay?"

I nodded, and he squeezed again. "Atta boy. It's show time."

**

Blinding lights, screaming people, and a huge stage. That's all I saw. I felt dizzy and faint. Oh shit, I feel an urge to throw up... Stay strong, Emerson!

"WHAT UP CALI?!" Darren wailed into the microphone. A wave of screams flooded my ears.

"HOW ARE YOU ALL TONIGHT?" More screams; louder screams.

"WE! ARE! NUCLEAR! WINTER!" The screams blared.

Pete counted off on his drum sticks. One, two, three, four. Jeremy and Eddy started strumming away on their guitars. Their music played fluidly and flawlessly. Pete started hitting the drum kit with much energy. This was my cue, I started strumming mellow. My stomach was in knots. I focused solely on my bass. I refused to look up or even move. I didn't want to mess up and make a fool of myself. I concentrated and I wouldn't let my friends down.

"...You took a part of me, as you walked out of the door. You broke me, you stupid whore! After all the shit you put me through, I still gave the best to you..."

This was something the guys wrote a long time ago. Apparently, Darren wrote it about an ex-girlfriend back when he was seventeen.

"...After all the lies I put up with you, I'm finally strong enough to say I'm through. This may be my last chance to say goodbye, but I'll have to put it on stand-by. I'm finally getting stronger, and now you're just a goner..."

Darren screamed the lyrics. He had unclean and clean vocals throughout the song. It sounded really nice when we practiced, but I didn't feel like listening to him now, I just concentrated.

Jeremy ran over next to me and shredded. While shredding, he told me to loosen up a bit. I nodded, and began to move a little. I looked at him and bobbed to the music. One song transitioned to the next. We had a set of three songs. After the first song, I got more comfortable, and moved around the stage, walking around and playing just as him, but with a little less energy. He noticed this and approved of my progress.

Who would have thought me, Emerson Bernard Scott would be performing on stage right now?

The second song transitioned into the third, and by now I could fully scan the audience. But one face stood out from the rest... The one in the front row.

I walked closer to the edge of the stage.

I stared at her.

She stared back.

Her mouth gaped open. Her eyes grew wide.

Were my own eyes deceiving me?

My heart felt like it was about to explode...

She began moving toward the doors. She started running.

No... Wait for me...

Just as the song finished, the adrenaline kicked in. I lifted the bass off my shoulders, laid it on the stage and jumped off. I pushed my way through the crowd. Darren was saying something in the microphone, but I didn't care. I pushed and shoved and ran through.

I made it to the back and I pushed through the heavy metal doors. Where'd she go? I scanned the busy street and saw a figure run down and around a corner. I followed. I ran down the sidewalk at full speed and spun around the corner. Oh God, please be her...

I found myself turning corners trying to reach this figure.

I ran into an alleyway. Finally, I had the right turn. I think I found her.