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Minneapolis, Minnesota

April 2nd, 1983.

I was running late. So, so late. I sped down the street at probably my top speed since I was a kid, I had most likely pummeled about three old ladies in my mad dash to First Avenue. It was a rare occasion that I was ever late for my own rehearsal, most of the times I would be driving myself but I had been stupid last night and left my keys at my aunt's house.

Nice going, Sapphire.

Noticing that First Avenue in my line of vision is almost like I'm about to cross through the tape at a finish line. Relief washes over me as I make it across the street without a repeat of last week when I had thrown myself into a real life game of Frogger. I knock politely on the door as I catch my breath, coming face to face with the usual bodyguard who I never caught the name of.

"You're late," he states in his gruff voice.

"Thanks for stating the obvious, genius," I sarcastically give him a thumbs up before rolling my eyes.

I push past his large frame and head straight to the stage where the rest of the band is set up already.

"Girl, where have you been? I called you a billon times," India, my bandmate, hops down from the stage and pulls me aside. We've always been the closest out of the four of us, mostly because we've been friends since middle school. Most of the kids would make fun of her full name, India Summers, but I was the only one who thought it was pretty cool and we became fast friends from there.

"You know that stupid phone has to be charged for ten hours, I couldn't be bothered."

"Well, I was trying to call and tell you that I spoke to Billy."

"What about?"

"Our slot."

"Is he kicking us from Friday nights?" That's the last thing I needed right now. We had only just started here.

"No, he's keeping us for Friday and Saturday. We're gonna be in the lineup with The Revolution."

"The Revolution?"

"You know, The Kid's band?"

"Who?" I'd like to go on record and say, we've only just started working here about two months ago. It's not that I wasn't trying to learn about the other groups at the club, I just didn't have the time. I had heard things about The Kid but I wasn't too sure about any of them, mostly because I had never seen him myself. Which is due in part to the fact he was here on certain nights and we were not. To be quite honest, he sounded really intimidating.

"I heard they really bring in the crowds, maybe we should check them out when we got time?" India shrugs off my last question.

"Maybe, but first we gotta get through rehearsal," I rush up to the stage and take hold of the microphone. I greet Sam and Poppy quietly before getting right into the first song.

If you want something to play with
Go and find yourself a toy
'Cause baby, baby my time is much too expensive
And I don't want no little boy

But you, if you are serious
Don't go play with my heart makes me furious
And if you want me to love you
Ooh baby I will, ooh yeah, I will tell it like it is

Oh yeah, just let your conscience be your guide
You know deep down inside, I believe you love me
Just forget your foolish pride

I think life is too short for all this sorrow
We might be here today, gone tomorrow
I might as well just get what I want
I'll live, I wanna live, tell it like it is

Don't be ashamed now let your conscience be your guide
Yeah deep down inside I believe you love me
Just forget your foolish pride
Oh oh oh oh oh

Tell it like it is
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah let your conscience be your guide
Oh, oh, tell it like it is baby, baby I believe you love me
Just forget your foolish pride

Oh, tell, yeah yeah, tell it to me baby, tell it to me
You gonna tell it to me right now, yeah yeah
Oh tell, tell me, oh right now, yeah yeah
Oh yeah, oh yeah yeah

The hours pass and soon the four of us leave and head back to my aunt's place at least three in the afternoon. I had been staying there since I was a kid and my younger sister was a few years younger than me, she was now in high school. It hadn't always been like this but we managed since our parents passed.

I could've easily left and gotten an apartment by now, but something kept me here. Whether it be the fact that Aunt Rose was the only thing both me and Khalia could really hold onto for the memories of our parents or that she needed the company and the help around the house. I couldn't be sure which one it was.

"I hope your auntie made something to eat, I'm starving," Sam pipes up in the backseat as she and Poppy flip through a random People magazine in the backseat together. India drives her 1978 Cadillac at a snail's pace down the streets, and I'm almost sure old people on their walkers are passing us at this rate.

"India, could you speed up a bit? I feel like a sitting duck right now."

"Well, excuseee me for caring about our safety, plus this car just got out the shop two weeks ago and I don't plan on wrecking it again. Cost every single dime I had from working to pay for the bodywork," India gives me a stink eye expression before focusing her eyes back on the road.

When we finally make it, I quickly hop out the car and head straight to the front door. Aunt Rose doesn't even bother to come to the door, instead I find Khalia on the other end with an annoyed expression. She lets us all in and we disperse among different areas of the living room. Sam doesn't, leaving to raid the fridge like the hog she is, I don't know why she does it but as long as she doesn't touch any of my food I don't complain.

"What's the matter with you?" I question Khalia, pinching at her cheek.

"School sucks, maybe if I join a band, I wouldn't have to go."

"Education is more important than a band, Lia. Besides, being in a band actually requires talent."

"Bitch!"

"Khalia, watch your mouth!" Aunt Rose's voice fills the room as she smacks Khalia upside her head without a second to spare. This makes me unintentionally laugh for some reason as Khalia rubs at the back of her head. Aunt Rose was dressed comfortably but I could tell she was in the middle of getting ready to go out since she had curlers in her hair. She did that most weekends and I didn't blame her since she worked in the city all morning to two in the afternoon.

"Sapphire, next time, try not to leave your car keys. I had to take Khalia to school this morning and she was lucky I didn't have to go in till late this morning."

"My bad, Auntie." She doesn't say another word about it and leaves us be. Just as I'm about to make my escape to my room, the phone rings next to Poppy. She hastily picks it up and the next few minutes are spent with quiet responses of "Okay." "Alright." And "Sounds good."

She hangs up without another word.

"Who was that?"

"It was Billy."

"Again? Why didn't you hand me the phone then?" Billy only called my house if it was really important, plus he knew I was only one out of the four of us who would actually bother to pick up the phone and check the ID.

"He assumed I was you and seemed easier to just let him talk," I press a hand to my forehead and sit down on the couch between Sam and India.

"What did he say?"

"He wants us to come to the club tonight."

"To do what?"

"He wants us to see The Revolution."

Well, won't this be interesting.

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