Chapter Thirteen
Annie
The rest of the day is spent rehearsing in awkward tension.
Dad watches me like a hawk, and if he wants me performing at my best tonight, he needs to loosen the reins a little, because right now I am stressed.
Being near Aston all day while he barely acknowledges me is setting my nerves on edge, and not in a good way.
The other parents arrive, and before long, we’re loading up and heading into London for our first gig. Thankfully, they all know what they’re doing, helping us pack everything into Dingo’s van before we set off.
I’m nervous. Excited. But the excitement is dulled by whatever’s going on with Aston. I did catch him looking at me once or twice today, but the second he realized, he looked away.
I don’t know what’s going on with him, and that unsettles me more than anything.
I let out a slow breath as Dad drives along the highway.
“That’s a big sigh. You okay?” Ella asks quietly from beside me in the back seat.
I shrug, blinking back the threat of tears.
She studies me, then takes my hand and squeezes. Reaching into her pocket, she pulls out her phone. A second later, mine vibrates, and I glance at her, with a small smile tugging at my lips.
Of course.
I let go of her hand, pull out my phone, and open her message.
Ella: Why is Aston avoiding you? Is that what’s bothering you?
I nod, and she frowns, so I type back.
Me: I don’t know what I’ve done wrong. He really seemed to want me last night, and today he can’t even look at me, and when he does he looks away as soon as I see him… :(
Ella’s expression softens, then types.
Ella: I saw him looking at you a lot today.
I think he wants to be near you but is scared.
To be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if Dad has something to do with it.
I’m sure there is a perfectly good reason for him avoiding you.
Trust me when I say he was looking at you.
The times I saw him doing it, he looked upset like he wanted to go to you, but he was restraining himself.
There’s more to the story Annie, trust me!
I lower my phone and bite my bottom lip. “I hope you’re right,” I whisper.
She leans over and pulls me into a hug, squeezing tight, and it helps a little.
We arrive at the venue, a massive place that apparently holds up to ten thousand people. When word got out that Staked, the kids of 12GAUGE-Slayed, were performing, ticket sales went wild. Rob said we’re close to capacity.
Ten thousand.
It sounds huge, but Dad’s played stadiums of over a hundred thousand—something to aim for.
Excitement builds as we climb out of the car and head over to Dingo’s van to unload our gear. We’re last on tonight, which means we’ve got a few hours to kill.
Maybe I can find a moment to talk to Aston.
Or maybe I should wait until after the show.
Because if he tells me he doesn’t want anything to do with me, I don’t think I’ll recover in time to perform.
Ella loops her arm through mine, practically bouncing. Her energy lifts my mood a little.
“I can’t wait for sound check. Our first-ever sound check, Annie. Can you believe it?”
I laugh as she drags me along. “Slow down, Ella, I can’t run in these boots.”
“Annie, I’m in heels. I think I win.”
I roll my eyes as we follow Mum down the corridor into a large green room. “Holy shit… this is getting real,” I whisper.
“I know!” Ella squeals, tightening her grip on my arm.
Inside, plush sofas line the walls. There’s a small kitchen area, a fridge, and a counter covered in platters of fruit, cheese, and snacks that instantly catch my attention.
“Oh my God, food!” I say, dragging Ella toward them.
We laugh as I reach for a piece of creamy cheese, only for Dad to slap it straight out of my hand.
“Ouch! Dad, what the hell?”
“No dairy before a performance, Annie. Weren’t you listening this morning?” he says, already moving the platter into the fridge.
“No. I tuned out. Why can’t I have dairy?”
“Because it affects your vocal cords,” Ella answers.
Dad smiles at her, resting a hand on her shoulder. “Nice to know someone was listening.”
Then his attention snaps to Caleb. “Caleb, you shouldn’t drink before a show.”
He strides off, fully in control-freak mode.
Ella and I exchange a look, raise our brows, and try not to laugh. We each grab a strawberry and clink them together.
“Fruit’s okay though, right?” I ask.
She shrugs and takes a bite.
I grin, following suit. “You rebel.”
We’re halfway through demolishing the fruit when Mum steps in. “Girls, not too much. A full stomach and nerves don’t mix well.” She takes the kiwi from my hand and puts it back.
She’s probably right.
The last thing I need is to throw up on stage. The thought makes me snort quietly.
I’ve been avoiding looking at Aston, but I know exactly where he is, across the room with Chad and Caleb. For now, I’m glad for the distance.
“How are you feeling?” Mum asks, guiding us over to one of the sofas.
“Great,” I say honestly.
Ella shrugs.
Mum turns to her. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know… nerves, I guess. What if I forget what to play? I won’t have my notes up there if I get lost,” she admits.
“Oh sweetheart, you’ve been doing so well at home. Just pretend you’re playing to me, and if you get stuck, don’t worry about it. It’s your first live performance, I don’t expect everything to be perfect. I just want you to have fun,” Mum says.
I nod in agreement. “And if you do get lost, just look at me, and I’ll help you,” I add, nudging Ella. “Come stand next to me tonight if you want. You’ll be able to hear my guitar better.”
She takes a steadying breath and nods. “Okay… but I’ll stay on my side first. If I feel like I’m getting lost, I’ll come to you.”
“So, are we all ready for our first gig?” Rob calls out, raising his voice over the chatter.
“Yep,” Caleb and I answer at the same time.
“Good. Peripheral goes on in about half an hour. Then Red Velvet. And then…” he pauses, milking it, “… the band everyone’s been waiting for… Staked.”
Caleb and I whoop, the excitement bubbling over.
“So, are you pumped or what?” Rob asks.
We all cheer again.
“Awesome. You’ve got about an hour and a half before you’re on, but we need to get you out there for sound check right now. It’ll be quick, ten minutes, tops, but enough to get a feel for the room. Ready to rock it?”
Another round of cheers.
“Right, let’s go.”
He heads out, and we all follow with our small army of parents in tow.
Perks of being mostly underage, I guess.
Still, having Dad here isn’t the worst thing.
He’s been exactly where we are now. He even played this venue back when 12GAUGE-Slayed were starting out.
If anyone knows how to own a stage, it’s him.
As we move down the long, dim hallway, the energy shifts. It’s electric. Every step closer to the stage sends another spike of adrenaline through me.
This is really happening.
Dad catches up to me, slipping an arm around my shoulders. “I’m proud of you, Annie. You’re going to smash it tonight. Just stick to the set list, okay? No going rogue, no reacting if a fan throws something, just play the music the way you know it.”
“I won’t do anything stupid,” I say. “Tonight’s too important.”
“Good girl.”
We reach the side of the stage, and for a second I simply stand there, taking it all in. Towering speaker stacks. The maze of lighting rigs suspended overhead. Microphones waiting patiently on their stands. It feels strangely calm before the storm.
Excitement floods through me, washing away everything outside this moment. Even Aston fades into the background.
Because this is mine.
I walk out onto the stage, and the scale of it steals the air from my lungs. The empty arena stretches endlessly in front of me, every seat waiting for the people who’ll fill it in just a few hours, every inch of the room built to magnify a single performance.
It suddenly feels very, very real.
A smile tugs at my mouth even as my stomach performs an impressive backflip.
Excitement is still winning.
But the nerves have officially entered the room.
Caleb’s already running around like a lunatic, grinning. Chad’s fussing with his shirt, not even looking up. Ella looks like she might throw up.
I smile at her. She frowns back, clearly not reassured.
I hope she’s okay.
Before I can stop myself, I glance over at Aston. He’s talking to his dad, Johnny, focused and serious. But then he looks up, right at me.
And smiles.
My heart stutters, then takes off, racing so fast it leaves me dizzy. Heat rushes through me, my skin prickling as if I’ve been set alight.
One smile. That’s all it takes.
I wipe a bead of sweat from my forehead and smile back.
Johnny notices, turning with a grin and giving me two thumbs up, to which I let out a soft laugh and nod.
But then Aston looks past him toward Dad, and his expression shifts, and he turns his back on me.
And just like that, the warmth drains out of me, replaced with a sharp twist of anger.
Dad’s said something. I know he has. But I can’t lose it now. Not here. Not tonight.
So, I swallow it down, forcing the emotion back where it belongs.
I’ll deal with it later.
After the show.
I turn away from Aston, grab my guitar, and strap it on.
Caleb comes over, looking happier than I’ve seen him since my birthday. “Holy shit, Annie, can you believe this?”
“Nope. It feels surreal, hey?”
“You can say that again. I’ve been waiting for this my whole life. I’m so glad you’re doing it with me. I love you, cuz.” He pulls me into a tight hug. My eyes widen at the sudden burst of emotion, but I hug him back anyway, even though it’s awkward with my guitar wedged between us.
“You’re in a great mood,” I say as he pulls back, grinning.
“Today’s a good day, Annie. And tonight? It’s going to be insane. I can’t fucking wait.”
“All right, guys, let’s get this sound check underway,” Rob calls.
The parents move offstage toward the front, and we take our usual positions. I glance over at Ella and give her a reassuring smile. She returns it, looking a little steadier now, which eases my nerves for her.
The hairs on my arms lift. I know Aston is behind me.
I don’t turn.
Instead, I focus straight ahead, on Dad, who’s grinning like this is the proudest moment of his life. And even if he’s got issues with Aston right now, I know he’s proud of him too.
“Okay, Staked, sound check. Let’s go,” Rob says.
“Mic check, one, two,” Caleb calls.
Energy surges through me, lifting me into a place I’ve never been before, and I love it.
“Mic two,” Rob prompts.
I step up and repeat Caleb’s words. My voice echoes through the massive venue, and I shiver slightly at how clear, how almost angelic, it sounds. Not exactly the gritty rock vibe I was expecting.
“Guitars,” Rob calls.
Ella and I exchange a look before launching into the solo from “Don’t Mess with the Best.” The sound check rolls on, ending with a full run-through of one song.
By the end, everything is dialed in and sounding incredible.
The energy in the room is electric, and I want to hold onto it for as long as I can.
We head offstage, still buzzing, passing the first band—Peripheral. A group of guys in their twenties, all with long hair, tattoos, and a heavy grunge vibe. Definitely harder than us, but their matching outfits are doing them no favors.
They ignore us at first, until one of them spots Dad. “Holy fuck! You’re Colter Slade!” the skinniest one blurts.
Dad stops, smiling easily. “Yeah, that’s me. My kids are the last act tonight.”
“Far out. I knew Staked were playing, but no one’s heard anything from you guys yet. Are you in the band?” he asks, turning to me.
I nod, offering my hand. “Annie Slade. Lead guitar and backing vocals. Nice to meet you.”
He grins like he’s just won the lottery, shaking my hand before looking back at Dad like he might actually pass out.
“Guy. Nice to meet you, too, Annie, and you, too, Colter fucking Slade,” he says, practically drooling over Dad’s name.
I bite back a laugh.
“Guy?” Dad repeats.
“Yeah… unfortunately,” he says with a shrug. “Blame my parents.”
I like him instantly. Beneath the bad makeup and oily hair, he seems decent enough.
“Well, Guy, nice to meet you. Stick around and watch Annie play—”
“Oh, for sure! Will you be there to hear us?” he cuts in eagerly.
I roll my eyes. He’s definitely chasing Dad’s approval.
“Yeah, I’ll listen in,” Dad says. “Play your best.”
“Will do. Thanks again. This is honestly the best day of my life.”
“Guy!” one of his bandmates shouts.
“Coming!” He turns back to us, wide-eyed. “Best. Day. Ever.” Then he disappears up the stairs.
“What took you so long?” someone yells at him.
“That was Colter fucking Slade, man! Didn’t you see him?”
I snort. “Even famous people fangirl.”
Dad glances at me. “Fangirl?”
“Yeah. You know, when people lose their minds over celebrities. That was him just now. Did you not see the drooling?”
He grimaces. “Well, now I feel dirty.”
I laugh. “Is that what it’ll be like for me?” I ask. “People drooling when they meet me?”
Dad wraps an arm around my shoulders. “If anyone drools over you, I’ll knock them out. But they can fangirl all they like. And they will. You and Staked are going to be huge. And it starts tonight, baby girl.”
My smile fades just a little. “I only want one guy to drool over me,” I mutter. “And because of you, he won’t even look at me.”
“What?” Dad asks, frowning.
“Nothing.” I shake it off quickly. “Not now. I want to stay focused. I’m going to make you proud tonight, Dad.” I bounce on my toes, letting out a small, excited squeal.
He studies me for a second, like he knows there’s more to it, but then his expression softens into a smile. “You already have, Annie.”