"Ashanté? Are you paying attention? There's going to be a quiz on this later."
Huh? Ashanté sat up straighter and tried to focus on the board at the front of the room, but the notes went over her head.
Notes! They're going to expect me to write songs. What if I can't come up with anything?
She had a few tunes, but mostly she had a collection of disconnected riffs. There weren't enough completed songs for a full album, and she was legally obligated to produce at least three now.
And they have to sell! Waaaah!
After class she met her roommates for lunch at the student union.
"Why so distracted in class today, Ash? Music theory should be your easiest course."
You'd think. Oh, man. Music theory is my life now and I'm failing it. I just want to die.
"You okay, Ash? You don't look well."
Oh, good. Maybe she was going to die right now, and this whole nightmare would be over. "I don't know. Have you ever made a really, really stupid mistake?"
Keiko thought about it. "Depends on how you define really, really. I once tried my aunt's squid ink soup. I'll never do that again. Blargh."
"Oh, but it's supposed to be super healthy," Tiffany interjected.
"My aunt will be happy to make it for you. A lot of people like it, but it was the worst mistake of my life. Just... ewwwww."
Tiffany laughed. Ashanté didn't.
"I think I can top that. Omigod, I signed a contract this morning with Broken Pony Records."
Keiko and Tiffany stared.
"Oh my gawd, that's awesome! You're on your way up, Ash!"
"Yeah, remember us when you're partying with Sugarland and Carrie Underwood. You're so lucky!"
"Lucky?!"
Argh. Yes, it did seem ungrateful of her. Other people would kill for such an opportunity.
"But I hate performing in front of other people! It scares me to death. I was only able to sing karaoke the other night because I was plastered. What have I gotten myself into?"
"No worries. Just drink enough to take the edge off whenever you have to perform. It'll be fine."
Whuh? Ashanté pictured herself stumbling around the stage in a drunken haze every night, and laughed. Were they kidding? She couldn't stay permanently hammered.
Or could she?
Maybe they had medication for nervous performers.
Or maybe they don't. Is that why everyone in country music drinks?
She'd have to ask Bryce the next time she saw him.
That wouldn't be long; he was on his way over right now.
YOU ARE READING
Ashes
Romance// BWWM romance // A black teen tries to make a name for herself in the mostly white world of country music. Ashanté wants to be a star like her idols Mickey Guyton, Vicki Vann and Rissi Palmer. Unfortunately, she gets nervous whenever she has to...
