Page 27 of Down Beat
TEN
Tabitha
Theme from Schindler’s List – John Williams, Itzhak Perlman
I said he was good to save inflating his ego to dangerous levels. I lied.
It. Was. Fucking. Phenomenal.
I’d come across the name of the song in the press pieces I read that were published pre-tour, but because the track was a key selling point prior to the new album dropping, they’d decided to keep the song relatively under wraps. No YouTube video, no Spotify upload. Nope. “Descent of My Mind” is the dark horse of the tour.
And I can see why.
“I’ve got to take these guys to a radio interview,” Rick says as he stops beside where I unpack my violin. The guy is attractive in a clean-cut corporate way. “But I’ve asked one of the cars to stay behind for you and your friend.” He hands me a business card, which I promptly drop into my open case. “Phone me if you have any issues, otherwise we’ll see you back here tomorrow night, an hour at least before you’re due to go on, okay?”
“All my ticket holders have been notified of the change in time?”
He nods. “An alert went out through the seller.”
“Cool.” I lift my tried and trustworthy Cremona from its case and force a smile.
I need a better violin. This one has done well—hell has it done well—but if I want to notch my performances up that bit higher I need a better tool for the job. Only problem: that tool costs in the vicinity of two grand. I can’t afford to feed myself properly, let alone save enough to buy my ideal instrument.
Talk about a hell of a catch-22.
“Keep these guys here as long you need them,” Rick instructs. “They get paid by the hour, so don’t let them bitch out on you, okay?”
“Sure.” Not 100 percent sure how I’d feel about ordering around people I don’t know, let alone pay, but okay.
He gives me a curt nod and then turns for the exit. I cast my gaze across the room, violin tucked under my arm as I check the tension on my bow. The band hangs near the doors that lead through to the lobby, Toby chewing everyone’s ears off. Kris leans his shoulders against the wall, hands in pockets as he listens. Emery clutches a new can of energy drink like his life depends on it.
Probably does.
Rey, however. Rey nods at what Toby says, yet his gaze keeps cutting across the enormous auditorium toward where I set up. Seems I’m not the only curious one.
I shy away, same as I always do when people are fascinated by me, and swallow back my nerves. Like you have a million times before, Tab.
“You got everything you need?” Kendall drops her ass to the front of Toby’s platform, legs crossed as she watches me apply rosin.
“I think so.” I flick my eyes toward the band. “Be better when they leave.”
“Babe.” She sets her lips in a firm line. “If you’re nervous about playing in front of them, then how the hell will you handle it tomorrow with a full house?”
“Let’s not talk about that, okay?” I wince at the thought, and then bring my violin to rest on my collarbone.
The bow glides over the strings perfectly until the final inch where it snags. I huff and drop the instrument back under my arm to apply a little more rosin to the end of the bow hairs.
“Breathe,” Kendall coos. “You got this.”
“I have to play classical to rock fans. I don’t have this.”
“You don’t have to do anything.” Her gaze flicks to the rear of the room as the guys head out. She gives Toby a cute finger wave. “If you don’t want to play, don’t.”
“And how would that look to the people who wanted to see me?” I ask, noting Rey leave without so much as a backward glance. Asshole. “First I change the time, and then I bail altogether.”
Kendall smiles. She has me in her little trap.
“That was your point, wasn’t it?” I drone.