Playing On Heart Strings - Tokio Hotel

Chapter 5: Biting the Bullet

"The Lucky Strike Tour" was quickly announced. They would tour Scandinavia, Finland and the UK. Starting in mid July, preparations were almost ready. Lukas himself asked for a rehearsal with the band. Maya felt confident! Ronnie and her had worked through all the songs, ans the band sounded good together. She was ready for the tour, despite how much energy the album had taken from her. 

The band walked into the room together. Maya had her guitar with her, Carlo his bass and Sigmund his own drumsticks. "Alright guys! Let's go! You have to go down to Carina and try out some of your outfits for the tour. Come on!" Lukas hurried them. After a couple minutes, they were ready to go. It was a hash rehearsal, with no breaks. Maya was alright, her fingers were hard from all the practicing she had done with Ronnie. The one she felt worst for, was Oscar. He was a passionate guy, giving his everything. It took around 2 hours, as Lukas wanted tome replays on the title songs.

Oscar looked exhausted, and Maya felt slightly annoyed. She could tell Sigmund and Carlo shared her feelings. Lukas put his notepad down. "Okay guys. I have a good amount of constructive criticism. Let's begin with Sigmund." For the first time, Maya felt taken aback from the stupid comments Lukas would make. It was nitpicking, and every comment made the band more tense. After Sigmund, Carlo got the shortest list... Carlo only nodded slightly to each comment. Next, Maya. "Maya, you need to stop looking so boring! Move a bit around!... And, please do the timings better, you're often falling behind Carlo, and it sounds horrible. I also think you should get another guitar, it's to eye catchi-." Maya had enough. 

"I won't change the guitar." She said in a sourly tone. Lukas looked up from his notepad slowly. He tilted his head slightly. "Excuse me? I am your manager. It's not a question." Maya shook her head. "The guitar change is not happening..." She repeated. Lukas walks up to her. "Maya, I can find a replacement for you in minutes. Don't you dare go against me and my demands! I make stars, and you're not halfway there! If you want to keep that crappy guitar, I will have to hear you play three songs perfectly, before every rehearsal on each tour date. If you can't do it, it will slow down the band. And they will lose sleep and time. Is this the game you want to play?"

A new side of Lukas was shining through. Maya stood there, guitar in her hand. Oscar stood there with his jaw open, Carlo was only a few steps away from Maya, and Sigmund looked like he really had something to say. The atmosphere was tense. "Okay. I will play every single song for your picky ass before each concert. If that is what star quality is for you..." Maya said. 

Lukas looked furious. Carlo was scared he would raise his hand so he went between them. "Hey guys, let's finish the notes, yeah? We have a tight schedule..." Carlo said. Sigmund went behind Maya and removed her from the situation. Lukas grinned. "Very well Maya. If you think you can be a star, start behaving like one. I want another rehearsal this time tomorrow. Oscar, I will give you my comments tomorrow." Sigmund stepped forward. "But Lukas! It's our last chance to meet our families before the tour..." Lukas shrugged. "You guys clearly need someone to straighten you out. Your family is very welcome to the rehearsal. Thank Maya for the extra practice opportunity." He ended before leaving the room. The silence he left was the loudest in Maya's life.

After a long, serious lecture from Sigmund, Maya decided to just stay silent. The band was upset that she suddenly lost her composure. Oscar actually made a point when he said "Maya, we all get angry and upset when Lukas nitpicks everything we do. We just know to talk shit when he is not here..." The next lecture was stiff, awkward and quiet. Either Lukas thought they were good enough, or he just let them off the hook for now. Maya only spoke when she was spoken to, and tried concentrating on the playing. 

Luckily, the band had enough time to see friends and family that day. Maya saw her parents together for the first time in a long time. She thought they acted weird and tense. Her dad made sure she knew he didn't like that she was running away on tour. Her mum cried a lot when they had to say their goodbyes. After dinner and grabbing some ice cream, they had to leave... Maya didn't know what to feel. She was excited, happy and proud, but her parents made her feel guilty, sad and nervous for the future.