Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 87091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Damien’s eyes locked on Crystal as he approached the stage, his stride lengthening. As he reached her, a sheepish grin spread across his face, transforming his rock-star persona into something more boyish and endearing.
Without a word, she handed him the can of soda, pressing the metal into his hand. Their fingers brushed for a moment, and Crystal felt a familiar spark of electricity. “Thought you might need this,” she said softly. “Can’t have our lead singer getting dehydrated before the big show.”
Damien’s eyes softened, gratitude evident in his gaze. “What would I do without you?” he asked, his voice low and sincere.
Crystal felt her heart skip a beat, even as she maintained her outward composure. She had known Damien for so long, had been there through his every up and down, and knew he saw her as someone he could rely on. She was his kid sister Erin’s best friend, after all. But oh, how she wanted to be more, so much more. She watched his lips as he took a long swig of the soda.
“That’s what friends are for,” she replied, her tone light despite the weight of unspoken feelings behind her words.
As the principal’s voice boomed through the auditorium announcing Steel and Shadow’s performance, Damien straightened his shoulders and a fire ignited in his eyes. With a small nod to the band, he strode to center stage, each step exuding confidence and purpose.
The moment Damien stopped in front of the mic stand, the energy in the room pulsed. He grabbed the microphone, his presence magnetic. “Are you ready to rock?” he called, his voice a perfect blend of gravel and silk.
The high school auditorium roared in response and Damien grinned, turning to look at his bandmates. His expression said: Let’s do this. Time to give the audience what they’ve been waiting for.
As the first chords rang out, Crystal felt her breath catch. She’d seen him perform countless times, but this… this was different.
Damien’s voice soared, raw and passionate, as he launched into their opening song. His body moved with the rhythm, every gesture an extension of the music. Crystal was mesmerized, watching his fingers dance across the fretboard of his guitar.
From the wings, she lost herself in his music. On stage, Damien was one with his guitar, one with his band. One with his audience. Steel and Shadow played both popular and unexpected covers and then they played a song Damien had written. As the melody kicked in, something shifted in the crowd. They fell quiet, spellbound.
Crystal couldn’t believe how good his song was. How good he was. Goosebumps rose on her arms and Crystal knew she was in the presence of something seismic. When the last note sounded, the audience burst into crazy applause.
This is what he was born to do, she thought, a mixture of pride and longing twisting in her chest.
Damien opened his eyes, scanning the audience before turning to where she was standing. For a brief moment, his gaze met hers, and he flashed her a brilliant smile. Then he was gone again, swept up in the music as he led the band into their finale, leaving Crystal to wonder if she’d imagined that fleeting connection.
The final notes of Steel and Shadow’s set faded away, replaced by more applause and cheers. Crystal’s heart swelled with pride as she watched Damien take a sweeping bow, those long, stray curls falling over his face. Her eyes never left him, drinking in every detail—the way his chest heaved with exertion, the triumphant grin spreading across his features, the glint of his black Fender catching the stage lights.
After the band set down their instruments backstage, all jacked up on adrenaline and the wild reaction of the audience, they joined the crowd in the auditorium. Damien was immediately swarmed by fans and well-wishers, their excited chatter filling the air. Crystal hung back, clipboard still clutched to her chest like a shield even though the show was over. She watched as he laughed and joked. He suddenly felt light years away from her, all their earlier easy intimacy gone.
Just as she was considering slipping away to check on the crew, Damien’s eyes found hers over the crowd. He said something to the group around him and made his way toward her, his magnetic grin still in place.
“Crystal!” he called, pulling her into a quick, one-armed hug. “I couldn’t have done it without you. You know that, right?”
She laughed, hoping he couldn’t feel how fast her heart was pounding beneath her Crew T-shirt. “Pretty sure you did all the hard work up there.”
Damien shook his head, his expression softening. “Nah, you’re the real MVP. Keeping everything running smoothly, handling all the details…” He made a flourishing air guitar gesture. “You’re like… the perfect bass line. Holding everything together, even if people don’t always notice.”