Fallen From Graceland

Chapter 14

The rhythmic melody of keyboards floated through the hallway, a head full of blonde curls bouncing in time to David's movements. He had been working on a new song all morning, his head buzzing with ideas.

Now it was time to buckle down for the show. Working through the setlist from Jon, his nimble fingers danced across the black and white keys.

"Whoa whoa livin' on a prayer...WHOOOA WHOA livin' on a prayer," he sang, warming up his vocals for what would be a two and a half hour performance.

The gentle hum of the crowd began to build as they filed into the auditorium, their eager anticipation palpable in the air. The lights dimmed, signaling it was time for the show to begin. They're cheers filled the backstage area.

David looked over and smiled at Lexi, her legs curled up on the couch and a glass of wine in her hand. "Lookin' good over there, darlin'," he said with a smile.

Lexi smiled back, her cheeks flushing a bit from the compliment. "You're looking damn good yourself, baby. You ready for this?" she asked seductively, taking a sip of her wine.

He glanced at his watch, then back at her. "As ready as I'll ever be."

BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ

David picked up his phone and glanced at his messages. Richie. David's stomach dropped. He knew it was too much to hope that it was anything but bad news.

Richie: Lema?

David: To what do I owe the pleasure?

Richie: Where are you?

David: Waiting to go onstage. Why?

Richie: Something strange happened.

David perked an eyebrow at the words and turned his back to Lexi. "Wasn't today the funeral for Richie's Dad?" He asked and bowed over his phone and quickly typed back.

David: Always something fucked up with you

"I think that's what you said when you talked to him," Lexi replied back. David glanced at her, then back at his phone.

Richie: I started drinking this morning and...apparently I blacked out. Completely.

David: Told you to lighten up on the liquor

Richie: I'm being serious. Today was my Dad funeral and I crashed into the highway median and flipped the car

David's heart stopped. He couldn't believe what he was reading. "Oh my god," he whispered.

Lexi put her wine down, alarmed. "What's wrong?" He showed her the message. "Fuck," she breathed.

David: Shit...are you ok?

Richie: I don't know when, but you showed up

David felt a surge of relief. At least Richie was alive. But he couldn't ignore the worry that still lingered in the back of his mind. Something must've gone wrong for Richie to have no memory of the accident.

"Shit," he muttered under his breath.

David: Glad to know you're still thinking of me

Richie: It's complicated. I... I think I need you.

David stared at the message, shocked and weak-kneed. He had never expected Richie to say that. They had their problems, sure, but David had always thought Richie was stronger than this. He glanced at Lexi, who was watching him intently.

David: Hold on...

David gave Lexi a kiss and excused himself, walking down the long twisting hallways backstage. Shrugging off security trying to follow, David waved them away with the excuse of needing to be alone for a minute.