Hidden Melodies

Chapter Twelve

Copyright Joelle Blue ©

Charlie

Somehow, Calah managed to get us pit tickets, putting us about fifty feet from the stage, and she also dropped the bomb once we got to our spots that we have backstage passes afterward to get a picture with the duo.

I kind of want to strangle her.

Maybe mom and dad won't mind.

I think Calah is going to give herself a heart attack with how excited she is. "Did you drink NyQuil and fucking Red Bull? As a nurse, you should know that's a horrible idea."

"Oh my gosh, have you always been so dramatic? I'm just excited. Look at the stage! This set up is so cool!"

"I'm the dramatic one," I mutter but she doesn't hear me because the lights go down to the point where we're almost in complete darkness. People start to use their phones as lights and everyone gets louder and more excited, including Calah.

"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god," Calah screams and I roll my eyes. You'd swear Elvis was here.

Without warning, a drum solo starts with a lightshow around the stage that's now slowly spinning. I have to admit, I start to move with the music, especially once the guitar starts, and they play a jaw dropping start to a song I recognize. Once the lyrics start, the lights turn on, and the illusive pair are there in the flesh, and the crowd is deafening.

The first few songs go by quickly, and you can tell the women on stage are having so much fun. My eyes seem to be always on the drummer. She's captivating, so incredibly talented, but even when she spoke, it was like my body recognized her, but I ignore it.

She, who's gone by Velvet on stage, sits on the stool by the cello while Cherry sits behind an upright piano, and takes a breath.

"You guys havin' fun?" She asks, smiling. Her voice is smooth and a little low for a woman. The crowd screams, making her smile harder. "I know I am," she chuckles.

"Well, this next song was the first original song we put out, do y'all remember?" She asks the crowd as they cheer.

"I wrote this during a pretty dark time in my life, and I'm sure so many of you can relate. When someone who's supposed to love you, care for you, makes you feel so worthless. So unworthy of love. When people who only have one goal in mind, and that is to hurt you. Music was my solace and helped me through those days when I felt so hopeless. Cherry was there and was the first person to tell me they loved me. But now I'm here and I'm away from those people and I know now I'm not worthless or unlovable. I have a family. But those experiences brought me here and shaped me into the person I am, and I'm proud of who I am today. I'll stop talking for now, but I hope you enjoy She's Real." She smiles and quickly begins the sad song I heard eighteen months ago.

The song is still beautiful, and her voice is still ethereal. I look toward the screen and see they've zoomed in on her face, the skull painting not revealing any features except her light eyes. I'm about to look away when a sparkle on her chest catches my attention, and I see a necklace.

A music note necklace, seemingly identical to the one I got Ellie for her eighteenth birthday. I take a harder look at her, but there's no way, right? This can't be Ellie. I look at the little details, her hair color matches, her body type definitely matches. The fucking necklace matches. Has she kept it this whole time?

If it's Ellie, Cherry would be Scarlet, and that girl matches her, too. This sad song matches her good for nothing parents. Everything checks, but I can't wrap my head around this. I only heard her play guitar covers a few times, but never saw her play the drums or cello or piano.

Now I'm thinking the backstage passes aren't such a bad thing.

The rest of the concert goes by, and there was never a dull moment. So many people knew every single song except the two surprise never before heard songs. I'm surprised the whole building didn't collapse at that point.

It takes us about thirty minutes to make it to the meeting point for the backstage meet up. They only sold fifty of them and we're about halfway down the line waiting for a picture and autograph. We're off to their right, and I stare intently at what I think is Ellie's profile. As I keep staring, I become more and more confident of my conclusion.

Realizing that I'm probably right, the nerves start. What if she doesn't want to see me? Why would she? But what's the worst that could happen? She tells me to fuck off and I go back to life as I know it? Yeah, that won't be so bad.

But she's wearing the necklace I gave her. That has to mean something. I have to believe that means something good.

We start to get really close to them, and I hear her voice and it sounds like her, but it's changed a little.

We're two groups away and I start to sweat.

We're one group away and I check my breath and discreetly check my pits.

It's our turn, and I see her turn toward me and Calah and her eyes widen comically.

There's no hate or malice or fury. Only surprise. So, I lean in close to her, looking her in the eyes.

"Hi, sweetheart."