AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I do. When do you leave, and how long will you be gone?”
“I’ll leave Sunday night from Virginia. I’ll start off with three weeks to see if I enjoy it and can always extend if I want to. It’s given me something to look forward to.”
“If the audition doesn’t turn out, will you still return to Los Angeles?”
That was one thing I knew for certain. California was staying in my life regardless of anyone else. “Yes. This is home for me here. I wouldn’t be opposed to moving to San Diego or another city; however, I love Southern California, so I’m remaining out here. It may have taken four years and the threat of having to move home to realize it, but this is where I’ve found my voice. My free spirit can live my life the way I want to and, in the meantime, do it with a healthy dose of vitamin D all year round.”
“Can’t argue about the weather. Where will you live?”
“I’m not sure. I’m staying with friends at their house the next couple of nights, and that could be an option when I get back.”
His eyes softened, and he smiled at me. “I’m proud of you.”
“For what? I’ve yet to accomplish anything, with the exception of moving out of my apartment, and that was with your help.”
He shook his head. “Kenzie, you’re all grown up and figuring it out on your terms. You’re not driven by pressure to have the right job or make enough money. Instead, you’re working toward the ultimate goal, which is being happy with your life. That’s all I could ever wish for you. I’ll worry about you in Bali, but I admire your bravery in doing this on your own. Then again, maybe I could get a couple weeks off work—”
“No way. I love you dearly, but you’re not coming. This trip is about me and finding out what I want.”
Brian’s brown eyes twinkled playfully. “And you can’t do that with your big brother tagging along?”
“No offense, but absolutely not.” I laughed for the first time in days.
* * *
If ever therewas a weak point where I almost broke down to call Colby, it was five minutes before my audition while I sat in a room with my guitar, waiting for someone to announce my name. There were three other women waiting with me. My knee bobbed up and down with nervous energy while I kept repeating a mantra to be fearless. Considering I was whispering out loud, it was better than my original mantra of ‘do me’. I smiled at the thought, which relaxed me some. However the moment a woman peeked her head in, calling my name, all calm thoughts went out the window.
The auditorium where the tryouts were being held was dark with the exception of a light on a long table down in front of the elevated stage. Four people sat looking expectantly at me. There was a standing microphone and a spotlight on the stage and I’d never seen anything more intimidating as I walked nervously to the center, standing before them.
“Hello, McKenzie.” The record label executive who had met me at the hospital greeted, passing out what I assumed was my profile sheet to the three others at the table.
“Hello, Mr. Willis.”
Three men and one very severe-looking woman scanned the page.
“What song will you be performing?”
My song choice inspiration had come to me on the return flight from Vegas while I’d listened to the airline’s radio playlist. “It’s called “Burning House” by Cam.”
The song’s haunting lyrics were about a dream where the woman couldn’t save the man she loved from a burning house, so she lay down beside him. It was the only place she could be with him because, outside of her dream, love wasn’t enough to keep them together. Tragic and raw, it had spoken to me.
“Sounds good, but we’ll want to hear you without the guitar, please.”
I swallowed hard. Shit, it should’ve dawned on me they wouldn’t allow it since a backup singer wasn’t going to play an instrument. “Of course.” I set it down and fought my shaking hands. My guitar was such a crutch for me that the thought of performing without it was daunting.
“You can begin whenever you’re ready,” one of them instructed.
I closed my eyes, and when I finally opened them, concentrated on the dark, empty seats behind the panel. After starting the song, I let my voice go up to its full potential with the acapella version once I reached the chorus.
Finally, at the end, I focused on the people in front of me. I was near tears, feeling extremely vulnerable given my connection to the powerful words over this last week, when the sound of a door opening accompanied by a bright light at the back of the auditorium caught my attention. A man whose silhouette looked about Colby’s height and build exited the building. Obviously my mind was playing tricks.
“We’ll be in touch, Ms. Lane. Thank you.”
“Thank you for the opportunity,” I replied, picking up my guitar and returning to the waiting room on shaky legs, leaving the same way I’d come in. Squinting in the morning light after being in the dark auditorium, I walked out into the parking lot and glimpsed the back of Colby’s car pulling out.
* * *
The dayafter making it through my audition without freaking out, I boarded the plane to face yet another challenge. The thought of dealing with my mother when I told her, adamantly, that I wasn’t moving home was intimidating. Yet I knew there could be no backing down this time if I was to move forward in my life, doing what I wanted.
