"Keep on swimmin’."
I laugh at his movie reference. "How’d you know I was a musician?"
"I didn’t." He smiles. "Just asked the right questions to see if you were."
"Cameron, we still need your help out here…." Benji’s voice gets louder as he approaches the room. "I know having your ex-band mate play at The Hush Society seems a bit thick; he’s an arse for lying to you, but you have to get over it. It’s—" Benji gasps at the sight of Callum, who looks at me with pity. "Callum Ford!" Benji regains speech, but not movement.
"He’s a fan," I explain, getting up.
"Massive fan," he says composing himself. "I play the bass, too!" And goes on to tell him about his latest vintage bass guitar and takes my place on the couch.
They launch into a technical discussion, so I excuse myself. I thank Callum for his advice, which he repeats—"Stop comparing your journey to others’. Be the better lad tonight."—and head back into the hallway and out to the mosh pit area, where Elliot and his new mate are doing sound check. Elliot ignores me, but his mate flinches.
I chuckle, puff out a heavy sigh, and visualise the anger evaporating with my breath. I am not my anger.
Elliot hesitates in between songs. There’s a moment of awkward, interrupted silence and he glances at his new friend for assurance.
"What’s the matter? Isn’t the next song ‘Rise’?" his friend says.
Rise? What a ginormous twat!
It’s one thing to lie about wanting out of the band, but to play one of our songs on stage as if it’s only his? If it’s one thing that narks me, it’s egotistic, self-serving individuals.
All eyes are on me. I must have cursed aloud. Being in here is building waves of toxicity; I dash for the nearest door, and slam it open, nearly knocking someone down in the process.
Cassie gives me an irritated look, but composes herself. "You nearly ran me over!" Then she stops to observe me. "Why do you look like the Grinch?"
I laugh and shake my head. The last thing I want is to sulk in front of a girl I fancy. Okay. There, I admitted it. I fancy her.
"I started The Hush Society to spread positivity," she says with a softer tone. "You’re like a dark cloud ready to strike thunderbolts." Her eyebrows are furrowed.
She looks cute when she’s concerned.
I sigh. "I’d rather not spoil your afternoon, but if you want to get to the bottom of it, I suggest you talk to Elliot."
"What is wrong with that guy? You’re not the first one to complain about him today."
"For what it’s worth, he is a talented individual." Am I defending my ex-band mate?
"But from what I’ve been hearing this afternoon, he doesn’t have a great work ethic." I snort. "That means he’s not worth my time."
I’m about to enumerate the guy’s mishaps when Callum’s plea to be the better lad taunts me.
I decide on a compromise. "He’s great at what he does, but he tends to be half-arsed."
Cassie raises a suspicious brow.
"It’s your show," I say and shrug.
She shakes her head—I can’t tell if she’s shaking it at Elliot. Then she walks away on her mobile, sounding frantic.
I sigh once more and resolve to not let my foul mood or my ex-band mate get in the way of my happiness tonight.
Be the better lad.
Cassie turns around, mumbling to herself.
"What happened?" I ask and follow her.
"First the original venue’s electrical shuts off a day before our gig and now this?"
"What do you need help with?" I ask as she slides her Samsung mobile into the pocket of her black leather shorts.
"One of the amplifiers blew up and the guy who volunteered to man the sound booth is MIA."
"Benji’s got a few extra amplifiers I’m sure he’d be willing to lend. That’s how your community works, right? Everything is on a volunteer basis?"
She nods.
"As for the sound guy, I can try to pull a few strings." I think of the crew at URadio. I reach for my mobile to call Judy or Nate—depending on who picks up first.
"Thank you!" Her eyes go wide and she pinches my arm. "I owe you."
"Buy me a pint after the show?" I offer, smirking.
"Done." She smiles. "Pour your sorrows out on me. Maybe there’s a silver lining."
I grin like an idiot.
"For now, I’ve got last-minute technical issues to attend to. I’ll see you later." She squeezes my arm and rushes back inside The Verve.
CHAPTER SEVEN
My ears ring from the whistling, screaming, and cheering. If my mouth could grin any wider, I would let it. Based off the look in Cassie’s gleaming, star-struck eyes, this has to be one of the biggest Hush Society shows she’s organised. Despite Elliot & Co—his new project name—performing, it’s an ace time. Having Callum Ford host a full-house secret show at The Verve was bloody brilliant.
I’ve that same kind of hit that the elixir of life gives me. My hands are shaking. I can’t stop smiling.
"Ladies and gents, the night isn’t over," a rough, male voice echoes through the pub speakers. "We’ve opened The Verve to the public once again, as well as the mic and our house guitar for anyone willing to give their music a go."
Like that first night I’d stumbled into The Hush Society, crackles of electricity pulsate in the air. People bustle about the mosh pit area as crew members scramble to get the last of the equipment off stage and return the tables on the floor. The loud chatter is in tune with the vibration and cadence that lingers and overpowers the ambient rock music playing in the background.
Cassie has disappeared somewhere in the pub—or maybe outside—as she ties up the loose knots of the show now that The Verve has opened to the public once again.
Dan, carrying a couple of cords and an amplifier, is in a heated discussion with Ella, who seems to be swaying back and forth.
Eric,
