Remember, I told you

Cracking Voices

I internally screamed. Goddamnit. I couldn't catch a break. Ryder alone was bad enough, but his band too. What was Broken Windshields even doing in our small town? It wasn't like they would get much publicity here. 

Our town was in the middle of nowhere New York, was just far enough away from the city to feel small and suburban. It was nice being able to get to the city on a quick train ride but to escape the fast-pace and settle down more quietly, was even better. 

But regardless, our town wouldn't be a particularly exciting press or tour stop so what the hell did Broken Windshields want?

Cas began to shake my shoulder saying "Ro, you good? Say something."

"I'm just confused. There's nothing for them here," I stated.

"Yeah, I don't know." She said. "Wait....actually...they might here be for one thing-"

I raised my hand and stopped her. "If you say they are here for me again, you're wrong. The whole band wouldn't come back. That's insane. Regardless, Ryder probably forgot about me, just like I did him..."

This time Cas interrupted me. "Okay so, I wasn't gonna say Ryder came back for you," she paused and gave me a suggestive wink. Gross. Ugh. My cheeks flushed in embarrassment. "But we'll unpack that later. Now what I was gonna say, and don't be mad-damn I've been saying that a lot now haven't I-sorry Ro," she laughed.

I rolled my eyes in agreement as she continued. "So you know the bonfire...?"

"Yes, Cas...it was just yesterday I agreed...I reserve my right to back out..." I said uneasily.

"Fair, but please don't back out. Remember, you owe me." Guilt trip, wow, great. Fantastic.

"Fine," I grudgingly said. "So what's with the bonfire?"

"Max said something about having a special guest performing this year. He seemed really excited about it. I didn't think much of it then- I just assumed it would be a small band from the city or something..." She continued to say something about what Max had planned, but I barely heard her...

The bonfire had always been something special for me. I had been performing since I was a kid. Mom and Dad took me and Evalyn on stage with them every summer as soon as we could walk. Still in diapers, we waddled across the stage, with little triangles and tambourines and we banged those till our heart's content. 

Our family performances then were a mess, but always a fan favorite. I can pridefully say, that as I got older, the wardrobe got better as did the music. I switched the out ringing of the triangle with my guitar and sang. Sometimes solo and sometimes with a band.

Ryder used to also performed every year- usually an indie medley that made the girls go crazy for him, as expected.

It was about 6 years ago, that Ryder asked me to perform with him for the first time.