NOVEMBER
The first show was happening. Actually happening. I'd been dreaming of this since the day dad left. I'd dreamed of him seeing me on the screen. Seeing how great things were going.
We could hear the crowd outside. Roaring, cheering. We'd only gotten a small show, our band, Memo wasn't super popular yet. yet. This tour could make it so much bigger. Excitement filled our dressing room as boys rushed around, getting ready.
October sat on a bench, with his noise reduction headphones, watching us. Radley sat by the window, smoking a cigarette and putting eyeliner on. Roux and Mars were trying to put contacts on. Adam was playing an invisible guitar on his chair, which wobbled precariously under his weight. And Crispin walked out of the dressing room in an expensive outfit.
"Aw you guys look so cute!" He looks at me. "Love the ripped jeans. And blue's really your color, kiddo." He patted my head condescendingly.
"Thanks sugar daddy!" Radley called form the window.
"Don't make that a thing." Crispin threatened form his chair.
Adam started to laugh, and then promptly fell from his chair onto his face.
"Shit!" March ran over to him, turning the boy over. Adam yelled out in pain and covered his nose; his face was bleeding. The other boys rush over to him, putting makeup towels over his nose. "Shit, shit!"
"Oh my god." Adam groaned.
I reached for my phone. "Should we call 911?"
"I don't know--that's a lot of blood. I don't think he can go on stage." March and Crispin help Adam sit up and lean him against his makeup table. He held the towel to his face, which was quickly growing with blood.
"With a hit like that he might have a concussion, with that kind of fall." Radley says, pulling the cloth back for a second, only to reveal more blood. Adam would not be going on stage tonight.
"Fuck, I'm going to call 911."
"It's a nosebleed! I'll be fine!" Adam glares at all of us. March pushes his head back, and Adam yells out in pain. Adam was not going to be okay; Adam is a dumbass.
"Yeah, okay I'm going to call 911."
"Are we canceling the show?" Crispin looks up at me, all the boys freeze and look up at me. "We don't have a replacement."
I looked around. We didn't have any spare players around, and we hadn't recorded instruments for backup. I saw October sitting in the corner, with big eyes. He looked scared and made eye contact with me. "Do you want to be our drummer, October?"
"That's perfect!" March jumps up, eyes alight.
All the boys turn to October, who takes off his headphones. "Should I?"
"Do you know how to play the drums?" Roux asks. All the boys' faces turn from hope to doubt.
"Yes."
"Really?" I looked at him surprised.
"Your drums are just sitting in the garage, what was I supposed to do when I was stuck---when I was home alone? I've heard your songs enough. I'll play." October puts his Nintendo switch away.
"Really?" Radley asks, standing up from Adam's side.
"I'm still bleeding here." Adam raises his hand. His face is now very, very pale. He looked like he was going to pass out.
"Let's get him to a medic, we probably don't need 911." March and Roux start to help him up, but the blond boy wavers, and falls into his make-up chair.
