I had plans, big plans. I'd pull out all the stops and get every fan – not just fans but anyone with a passing interest in our music – along to that gig. I wasn't a man that backed down from a challenge, that's for sure. I didn’t know much about all this fancy Internet stuff but who needed social media when you could just hang out with people and ask them to come to the gig. People were always happy to help out a mate.
I'd make Violet see that there was only one choice for her and that choice would be me.
"I've written a new song and we need to get working on it," I said.
"Yeah? What's it called?" Dazza asked. "We need something with hit song potential."
"Violet Eyes," I said.
Both Bill and Dazza groaned. I saw the look pass between them.
"Fuck you, idiots. This song is killer. Just listen to it."
I started playing and the two of them shut their cakeholes. When I'd been writing this song, I'd thought I'd hit on something special but you can never tell when you are working on your own. Maybe I'd just been deluding myself. I played it all the way through, and when I finished, they both stared at me, dumbstruck. Then Bill punched me on the arm.
"You big lug, I think you've done it. That is killer."
"Yeah, it's pretty darn good, Razer,” Dazza added. “That song could make us a million."
“If we change the lame name.” Bill picked up his bass. "Go again," he said.
Dazza nodded and got behind the drum kit. Soon, the three of us played it together and the song was every bit as good as I'd imagined.
My world glowed with potential. I just had to make it happen. Which made me think. Violet really needed to take a break now and then. Maybe I didn’t need to win a competition to get her out of that club for a while.
Chapter 14 VIOLET
I ONLY HAD TO CONFIRM two more bands and then I'd have the roster done. Except those two bands were out of contact. How the fuck do people think they are going to make it in this industry if they can't be reached? One of the bands had only provided one contact number and that gave me a disconnect message when I called it. The other band had two contact numbers, neither of which were being answered, and an email address. I sent an email giving them 24 hours to get back to me.
I shoved some candy in my mouth. I wanted to get everything finalized before the end of the day. I did NOT want a big gap in things. I'd just find someone else to replace the first band. Screw them. I had a bunch of bands that would do just as well.
I took a swig of Coke but it’d gotten warm. I nearly spat it out. Gross. Ah, I needed a break anyway.
I walked out to the bar.
"Hey Drew, get me a Coke, will you?"
Then I heard shouting.
"Suck balls, bitch. You lose again."
That was Carlie. I looked over to the Galaga table. She and Razer were playing Galaga in the bar in the middle of the afternoon? Didn’t they have lives outside of this place? Although I couldn't talk. But Razer didn't even work here. He just hung around for no reason.
"Hey, Violet," Carlie called. "You would not believe how much Razer sucks at this game."
To be fair, compared to Carlie, most people sucked. She was like some Galaga genius. Maybe because she spent so much time playing it.
I was tempted to just let all work slid and join them. Why did I never get to play Galaga all afternoon?
"Violet, you finished?" Razer asked.
I leaned on the bar and took the Coke from Drew. It didn't have nearly enough ice in it for my liking. Couldn't he see I needed to cool down?
"I won't be finished for hours. I have a ton of work to get through."
Razer frowned He got up from the table and came over to stand beside me.
"Damn, I had something special planned..."