"You gotta get out of your head, man,"Dylansaid.
"I'm sure once you're up there you'll feel better," Lucky said as she began to worryagain.
Unfortunately, as the drummer, everyone would hear his mistakes. One little mistake on the drummer's part and if the rest of the band wasn't careful, they'd lose their timing and have sonic mud. She had to trust that the label and her producer wouldn't give her someone who would flake onstage.
After the stage was set up, the band did a sound check and ran through a couple of songs that turned out perfectly, setting Lucky's mind at ease. She and Jordan peeked out the curtain from the side of the stage as the crowd entered and took theirseats.
"It's time Lucky, are you ready?" Richard asked. He looked excited as he peeked through the curtain. "Those people out there will love you. Now knock 'emdead!"
She didn't expect a pep talk from him, but it did help her confidence. Jordan stayed off stage as the curtains opened and Lucky and the band took their places, waving to the crowd. Paul was the last to take his place, running to his drums. Lucky thought he looked a little sweaty but attributed it to his nerves. As the first boom of the drum hit her, all hernervesleft.
The band went through five songs, and the crowd cheered and clapped along with each of them. Paul made a few minor errors, but they were able to keep going without any problems until he remembered the song again. The next song "All My Stars" started with a complicated drum groove, and Lucky stood at the mic waiting tohearit.
When nothing happened, she turned around and caught Paul's eye. He looked dazed and pale as he stared out in front of him. She snapped her fingers as she counted out the beat, but he didn't play. Unsure what to do, she turned back to the audience andsmiled.
"I'm sorry, we're having a little technical issue right now,"shesaid.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a furious Richard off stage. He commanded a stage hand to close the curtain and got to Paul as the band surrounded hisdrumkit.
"What the hell! Why aren't you playing?" Richardbarked.
"I…I can't. I just can't."Paulsaid.
"What do you mean you can't?" Luckyasked.
"It's too much! I know I'm going to mess up that groove. I'll let everyone down like I did in practice. I can't do it.Isuck!"
"Paul, breathe," she said. "Get it together! This isn't thetimefor--"
"Listen to me right now," Richard said. "You will either play this song right now or I swear you will never play on stage again. Do youhearme?"
Paul got up and walked off stage, leaving his drumsticksbehind.
"Wait, Paul!" Lucky called outtohim.
"Don't worry, I'll talk to him." Dylan set his bass down and left thestage.
"This is what's going to happen," Richard said. "You're going to do a signing. I'll get CDs and posters set up now in the lobby. I'll explain that one of your band members got sick and you can't finish the show, but the signing is how you're making it uptothem."
Lucky was speechless. Performing on stage was one thing, but the possibility of having to meet people and possibly sign stuff seemed crazy to her. She walked over to Jordan, knowing only her oldest friend would understand herdoubts.
"I can't believe I have to do a signing," Lucky said. "Richard must have lost his mind. I can't do a signing. Who would want tomeetme?"
"Calm down, Lucky," Jordan said. "That crowd was into it. You have no idea, but I saw them, they loved you," Jordan said, smiling. "You wereawesome."
"Really?" Lucky said, shakingherhead.
She had a hard time believing anyone would want to meet her. When she played, it felt like nothing else mattered in the world. She belonged on stage singing and playing guitar. It was the only place she feltatease.
"Really. Now go out there," Jordan said. "I'm sure there will be tons of people lined up. I'm going to grab a cab back to the hotel. I'm really tired from all this traveling. Come get me when yougetback."
Richard found some people to set up a long cafeteria-style table in the lobby and grabbed the Lucky Saldano posters and CDs from the vendors, then lined them up on the table. By the time Lucky caught up with Kat by the stage doors, Dylan was alreadywiththem.
"Paul is heading back to the hotel. He said he's sorry. I think he smoked a little too much weed…paranoia is a bitch," he said. "He said he'll make it up to you and will be readyforDC."
"I sure hope so. Thanks Dylan," saidLucky.
"Hey Lucky, one quick thing." He pulled her away from Kat. "Your friend, Jordan? Is she seeinganyone?"
