Take a Bow

“So what are you auditioning with?” I decide to change the subject away from the vocal department.

Tyler begins to enthusiastically go over his audition pieces. We don’t discuss CPA for the rest of the meal.

As he walks me to the subway, he holds my hand. We walk slowly for several blocks, and as we approach the entrance, butterflies start swirling in my stomach.

“Are you going to be okay getting home?” He steps out of the way of pedestrians coming from an arriving train.

I nod my head. “Yes. Thanks for di

He takes a step toward me and cups his hand around my chin. He leans in and kisses me gently. “Call me when you get home.”

Since I’ve apparently become mute, I nod again.

I practically float through the turnstile and back to Brooklyn.

We decide to run through “Beat It” during our sound check on Friday night. We’re the second of three acts performing at the Ravine, a new concert venue in the Village. It’s the biggest place we’ve played, the stage is a lot bigger than we’re used to … and higher up.

“No stage diving, Red,” Jack says as he looks down at the five feet that separate the stage and the floor. We’re used to being on a small riser.

Ethan keeps going over his guitar solo. His fingers are moving so fast, I don’t think any of us will be able to keep up with him.

“You know,” Ben says once Ethan stops, “I don’t think we should play it tonight. It’s not that I don’t think we could do a good job or anything, but I’d rather keep what we’re doing a surprise until the alumni concert.”

“Good point,” Jack agrees. “Best to floor everybody then.” He rearranges the set list a few more times before it’s done. Since there’ll be more people here — most likely for the headlining band — we’re starting off with a few covers to warm up the crowd before we do our original songs.

We head back to our dressing room. Everybody starts with their pre-concert rituals. Jack and Ben play video games and fake argue with each other. I do homework (I’m so hardcore!) and Ethan paces around.

A cheer erupts from Ben as Jack throws down his controller. “Oh, I didn’t realize we could cheat,” Jack says drily.

Ben gets up and does a small dance. “You’re such a sore loser.”

Jack crosses his arms and pulls his bottom lip out.

Ben turns his back on him. “Emme, Ethan, I’m going to check out the first band; you guys want to join?” He then looks over at Jack. “You are of course welcome, Sir Pouts-a-Lot.”

Ben heads out of the dressing room, and the three of us follow him. As soon as we exit the room, we see Chloe approaching us with Carter … and Tyler.

“Where are you guys off to?” Chloe goes over to Jack and gives him a hug. His pout evaporates and he wraps his arms around her. Ah, young love. “We wanted to wish you good luck!”

Tyler comes up to me and gives me a quick kiss on the lips. “I brought these for you.” Behind his back is a bouquet of roses.

“Thanks,” I say quietly.

Jack starts to say something, but Chloe hits him. “Um, yeah, anyway …” Jack motions toward the side of the stage. “We were going to check out the City Kings, and um …” Jack can’t stop looking between Tyler and me. I feel the entire group’s eyes are on us and I don’t know what to do.

I grab Carter’s arm and lead him to the side of the stage, just as a group made of students from the LaGuardia school start their set.

“How are things?” I shout above the loud guitars blaring through the room.

He smiles at me. “Good. I’ll be soap-free by spring!” Carter fills me in on his progress of moving away from acting. He’s even looking into private art lessons.

“That’s fantastic.” A ballad starts playing and Tyler comes over, wrapping his arms around my waist. As if I wasn’t nervous enough before facing a packed crowd of five hundred people.

We all stand there and watch the band. I can’t really concentrate on the music — my entire focus is on Tyler’s hands and his breath hitting my neck. Jack nudges me a few times playfully, but I try to stare out at the stage and look like I’m not freaking out inside.

The City Kings finish their set and we head to our dressing room.

“I’ve never seen a show from the side before,” Chloe says. “That was cool.”

Jack puts his arm around her. “You can see our shows from anywhere you want. I know I don’t have a bad angle.”

The stage manager pops his head in the door and yells “Five minutes!”

“Yikes, we better get going.” Chloe gives Jack a quick kiss.

“Yeah, break a leg.” Tyler gives me a quick kiss as well.

Before the door even closes, Jack starts in on me. “Ooh, Red! You’ve finally snagged a groupie. My little girl’s all growns up!”

“Ah, guys,” Ben interrupts us. “Do you know where Ethan is?”

I didn’t even realize he wasn’t there. It’s not like the room is that big. “Where did he —”

Ben opens the door and looks down the hallway. “He left right when the band started — I thought he was going back here. Maybe he’s just getting some fresh air or ru

Ben and I head in opposite directions and I see Ethan talking to one of the members of the headlining band, Prophecy’s Cupid, an honest-to-goodness signed band.

“Hey, we’re on soon!” I call out.

Ethan turns his head toward me and I immediately smell alcohol on him. He hasn’t had a drink before a show since The Incident. He used to have a drink to loosen up his nerves, and I guess none of us ever said anything to him because we knew how nervous he was about being the front man. But then he started to have a couple more drinks that led to more Ethan drama, including his subsequent meltdown over Kelsey. I thought he was better, but he’s not. He’s wasted. He must’ve been doing shots or something to get this drunk this quickly.

“Awesome.” He barely looks at me. “Thanks, man.” He shakes hands with the lead singer.

“Are you okay?”

He stumbles slightly. “Yep, everything’s great, Emme. No need to worry about me. Thanks so much for your concern, though.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

He doesn’t bother to answer me as he heads to the side of the stage.

“There you are!” Jack screams over the audience. But the second he sees Ethan, he knows we’re in trouble. “Dude, are you feeling all right?”

Ethan gives a big smile. “Never felt better!” He runs out to the stage before we’re even a

“Crap.” Jack follows behind him while Ben and I stare at each other.

“Please don’t tell me he’s been drinking,” Ben says.

I shake my head. “Then don’t ask a question you don’t want to know the answer to.”

Ben runs out and I have no choice but to follow him.

Ethan grabs the microphone. “All right, New York City! I’m feelin’ good; how are you all doing tonight?” The crowd screams back. Ethan stumbles slightly as he reaches for his guitar. “I’ll tell you what. You all look beautiful tonight, you do.”

Some girl in the audience shouts, “You’re hot!”

Ethan falls to his knees. “Who said that?” There are a bunch of screams. “It’s nice to know that somebody appreciates me.”

I look back to Jack, who motions for me. I run over.

“Can you do the main riff for ‘I Wa

“Of course!” I scream over Ethan’s incessant banter.

“You might as well do it because I don’t think he’s going to shut up.”

Jack counts off and I start playing.

Ethan starts jumping up and down. This probably isn’t the best way to calm him down, but we need to do something to get him focused.

Ethan runs to grab the microphone, but loses balance. Everything plays out in slow motion. He lunges forward, and although he tries to steady himself, he falls down into the small barrier between the crowd and stage.

Ben and I run up to the side of the stage.

When I look down, I see Ethan sprawled out like one of the chalk outlines you see on TV.