Page 6 of Lyric & the Heartbeats

Andi flicked the camera back on to record the audition.

He plucked a chord and a soft, high-pitched G note rang through the room and the mics. A smile curled his lips.

And then he began to play.

After he plucked that initial chord, he drew in a deep breath, and then his fingers began to fly over the strings.

Lyric listened in something quite close to awe as he played a fast but somehow still gentle melody.

The application lay forgotten as she lost herself to his music. And then, just when she was lulled into an atmosphere of dreamy, elegant music, he transitioned the song into a faster, upbeat tune. It made her perk up and the happy melody put a smile on her face.

Then he suddenly stopped and glanced down at the watch on his wrist.

“That was three minutes I believe. How did I do?”

Lyric glanced to Andi, a question ready to fall from her lips, and Andi held her hands up defensively. “If he can put a smile like that on your face with the music, I think you have your answer.”

Her smile didn’t lessen as she tapped the microphone button, but she did attempt to speak with a level voice. “Thank you, we’ll be in touch.”

She grabbed his application and paperclipped it to Adra’s, effectively adding it to the pile of too good to be true until Andi finds something wrong.

He seemed disappointed by her lack of excitement, but what he didn’t know was that he played the guitar with ease she’d only found in a few.

The guard escorted him from the room, and Lyric repacked the files as they waited for the all clear signal.

“What plans do you have tonight?” Andi asked.

Lyric shrugged. “The usual.”

“So… pour over the applications and eat ice cream while you toggle between baking shows?”

“You know me so well,” Lyric teased.

Lyric could tell Andi wanted to ask her out, maybe get her out of the house for a bit, but… she didn’t push Andi to ask.

She was consumed with finding the perfect bandmates.

The tour was drawing closer and closer with each passing day, and the pressure to choose the four others was intensifying.

Pouring over applications and weeding out the bad ones was just something to make her feel like she was being productive. When really, all she could do was wait. Wait for the next day, wait for the next audition.

And Lyric hated waiting.

That was the only reason she opened her mouth and queried, “Why, what’s up?”

Andi beamed, her frenulum piercing making an appearance. “I’m going out to one of the new clubs tonight. It’s low key, and there’s going to be a live performance there. Want to come?”

Maybe it would distract her from the inevitable. “Sure, why not?”

“Yes! You’re going to love it. The—”

Just then, the guard’s voice came through Andi’s earpiece. “All clear.”

Lyric followed Andi out the back door to their separate cars and waved to the guard at the end of the parking lot.

“I’ll text you with details later,” Andi announced.

“Okay, see you soon!”