I'll always sing for you

Chapter 1 Red Like Blood

Our first real concert was here. Up until this point, we'd only ever experienced small crowds in fancy restaurants, at house parties, company gatherings and school talent shows. This though was new, and I couldnt believe It was actually happening. Me, Lauren Castle, and my brother, were opening for an up and coming band, 'Simple Solution."

Sure, they weren't exactly Coldplay, but they were a freshly signed band all the same. They were on their way to to greater things, and we had the chance to hitch a ride on their musically inclined backs.

Ah, supporting an actual band at a live outdoor concert in my home town- It couldn't get better than that.

Bliss was mine.

Or, it would be, if Cleif would show up!

I was waiting backstage. My guitar was in my hands, and my lucky locket Cleif had gifted me on our sixteenth birthday hung prettily at my collar bone. My chocolate brown eyes were thick with black makeup, making me look cooler than I actually was. I was ready to preform. The fans were ready for us too. They, mostly locals who knew me and my brother from around town, were chanting outside, "Castle, Castle," our super clever band name.

We were on in two minutes; but Cleif wasn't here.

"He'll be here." Said Blossom, my second best friend to my brother. She was wearing a T-Shirt with mine and Cleif's faces. Of course, she'd had it made, not us.

Blossom looked more like a rocker than I ever would, with vibrant blue hair, and the stunning leather jacket she always wore. If she walked out on the stage in my place, the people who didn't know me would find it a lot more natural. Until she tried to sing, that is. The girl was tone deaf... But still very tasteful when it came to music.

I preferred a softer look myself, despite my hobby as a musician. I wore jeans with holes, and off the shoulder pink shirt. My brown hair hung down my back, with ironed curls that bounced when I moved. I wasn't as cute as Blossom, but tonight, I looked hot enough. Hopefully Cleif wouldn't take one look at me and say, "Pink? Really? Our most popular song is called "Feeling red like your blood!"

Yeah... But I liked pink. It was pretty.

"If he doesn't show up, I swear I'm going to-" my phone rang.

I snatched it up, not even checking the caller ID. I assumed it was Cleif, with some lame excuse. I could hold off a few extra minutes, if I had too. Still, I was feeling annoyed at my brother.

It wasn't Cleif though. The voice was my mom's, and she was crying. No, she was sobbing, her words barely coherent.

I caught, "Hospital." And, "Coma." And worse of all, "Cleif. Hurt."

Cleif was injured. My brother was in the hospital.

The phone fell from my hands. I was shaking. I couldn't breath, let alone explain to Blossom what had happened. She looked stricken with panic. She lifted my phone from the floor quickly, staring strangely into my eyes all the while, as the phone rested against her own ear.

"Mrs. C? What happened?" Soon she too was shaking, nodding as my mom explained on the other line, her pretty face twisted up, like she was barely holding herself together, too.

"You're on in two minutes!" A stage hand appeared through my foggy Haze, touching his watch. He disappeared again.

On? But I had to go the hospital!

Blossom finally hung up the phone. She looked at me, tears in her eyes. "He's hurt, but the car accident was fairly minor. Just go preform without him. We can run over there after your set."