I could hear the crowd screaming behind me as I walked off stage, my entire top half drenched with sweat. We had played a good concert tonight and the fans were eager for more. If it weren't for my burning throat I would have definitely jumped back on stage for an encore. I loved singing and I loved the people. It was times like these that got me all riled up!
“You guys did great out there,” Our manager Tony complimented. I could tell he was getting ready to go into one of his pep talks about how we can do better because were young and talented and blah blah blah. “But I think you can all do a little better. If you wanna make it to the top of the hits list your gonna have to take it up a notch. You guys are young and talented. You wanna be the best dontcha?” See what I mean? Tony was so predictable. “I'm not saying you guys wont make it to the top, but you've got to step it up if you wanna beat out The Weight of Paper Clips.” The Weight of Paper Clips, or as there fans liked to call them, Paper Clips, were our number one rivals. Who cared that their band name sucked because everyone liked their music. I'm not saying our music was not as good or that we couldn't beat them in a battle of the bands, but even I had to admit their lead guitarist was just ungodly amazing. He made the guy from Dragon Force look like a grandma playing the guitar.
“I guess I'd better get to work on practicing my guitar then. Guess there'll be no partying for me for a while.” Hayner said with a sigh. He was our lead guitarist and he loved more than anything to party. I knew he wouldn't follow up on his word the moment those lies came out of his mouth. I was fighting the urge to throw a bar of soap at his lying face.
“Don't kid yourself, Hayner. You won't be able to hold the pick for two seconds before your off chasing some girl at a party.” Jackson Darl said as he hit Hayner playfully in the back. Yes, Jackson Darl was his first name. He was Hayner's best friend, and if anyone knew Hayner better than him it was Hayner's mother. And even she didn't know Hayner chased girls during his free time.
“Guys this is serious. You wanna make the hits list right? Than I suggest you stop partying and actually start working for a change.” Tony's voice rose over everyone else's.
“You know he's right guys,” And in came Xander's voice. Right on time. “I've been working my butt off practicing the keyboard while you guys are out partying and doing nothing for this band. It's a wonder we can even match up to Paper Clip, let alone any other band.” Aw yes, Papa Xander. He was there any time you needed him for moral support or even just to spot you when you needed a drink at the bar. But if you misbehaved or acted immature he was all over your sorry as- “Cedric, you agree right? I mean you are the lead singer and basest. What do you think about this whole situation?”
Now, I knew what I wanted to say. Heck, I felt like I had the balls to say it out loud if I really wanted to. But Xander was one of my best friends and I didn't wanna piss him off too much.
“Lets just go out there and do our best next time,” I said with a toast of my soda can. Xander just shook his head and tried his best not to let a smile show on his face. I knew he wanted to smile. He was just too smug to show it, too mature, the arrogant idiot.
“So are you coming with us Cedric? I heard theres gonna be a lot of hot chicks at this party.” I would tell Hayner was excited by the high pit in his voice. It annoyed me to no end. How did he get girls with that annoying voice? I was just glad it was me who was the singer and not him. Man our band would suck if it was him.
“Nah, I gotta get packed. I'm suppose to go to my parents house this weekend.” I said with a clear sign of annoyance in my voice. For one, because I had to go to my parents house, but mostly because I just wanted Hayner to get his annoying self to his stupid party. If I was dumb like Hayner I might skip the packing and join him, but I knew better than to piss my parents off with a hang over. Damn my good nature.
“Alright, see ya Ceddie.”
“Ugh! Go to your party you fag!” I hated when he called me by that nickname. I slammed the door in his face and walked to the hotel closet where my outfits hung neatly in a row. A light knock at the door sent me heading back to open it.
“What is it Hayner?!” I was fighting the urge to knock him up side the head.
“Chill, dude, it's me.” Xander's eyes looked a little confused.
“I guess I should have checked who it was before I started yelling,” I let him in and walked back to my closet. “Hayner kept tempting me with that party. I wanna go, but my parents would hate me if I came to the house with a hang over. Or if I was too tired to talk to them.”
“Don't think about it too much. Your a mature guy. At least more mature than Hayner is. You don't need to be partying every night. Trust me, it's not healthy for you.”
“Yeah I know. I'm cool about it now. It's just when I'm with the band, playing music and singing, I just feel the need to get out there and go wild.” I mused for a moment, forgetting totally that Xander was listening intently.
“You think it's dual personalities?” He sounded like he was actually being serious.
“Psh! Nah, I think it's just the music that gets me so pumped up that I don't know what to do with myself.”
“That could be it. Maybe now that were ending our tour you can start to relax and enjoy your more mature side.” Xander said with a smile.
“That still wont take me away from the music,” I reminded him. “We still have to do a recording for our new album. Which reminds me. I need to get started on those lyrics.”
“How many songs you got written so far?” Xander's eyes were beginning to look worried.
“Umm....two,” I held up two fingers with a worried smile.
“Only two?!” Oh great, Papa Xander's back. “Cedric we only have a few weeks before we start recording and were releasing fifteen songs on our new album! How are you gonna pull off 15 songs in that amount of time?!”
“Xander you worry too much,” I hated when he got like this. He's such a mother hen. “I'll get em done, I just need inspiration.”
“You wanna be better than Paper Clip don't you?” Great, Papa Xander was starting to lose it. “I don't even know how our bands gonna survive Paper Clips massacre. You guys need to pull it together and stop partying!”
“Chill dude, your over reacting.” I was starting to get kinda pissed. I really hated when people got all edgy like this. I could tell he was starting to cool down though.
“Sorry dude. I'm sorry. Didn't mean to get like that.” His voice was now definitely calmer than before. “It's just my mom, ya know? I have to pay for her operation and it's gonna cost me a lot. I don't wanna screw up what I have.”
“I know, man. Don't worry about it. It's cool.” I reassured him. I knew his mom was important to him. She was practically his life. He cared so much about her. Maybe that's why he was always such a mother hen. “Hey, can you help me pack? I got a lot of stuff I gotta take with me. Who knows when I'll be coming back.”
“What do your parents want you over for?”
“Probably some quality family bonding time. Of course, knowing my parents thats probably the last thing on their minds.” I said with a shrug. Being the only child you would have thought my parents would have wanted me over more, but the sad truth was they never really asked for me unless it was Christmas or one of their birthdays. Heck, I don't even think I celebrated my own birthday with them. It was probably a good thing I was always on the road. If I stayed home I'd have no luck with finding love at all. At least here I could find quick love with a chick at a party or with Xander if he was in a good mood. Love was a feeling right? At least I think it was. Either way, I felt loved every time I was with a girl and it felt good.
