Chapter 43: Chapter 43

Chapter 42

Red Adamson ~

“Heellp!” I screamed louder when I felt my back against the wall.

“Didn’t you hear her you fool? She said you should leave her alone!” Charlie said turning Angos’ shoulder over to himself and giving him a hard blow on his face. “I can’t imagine what can make an idiot like you having the intent of taking advantage of Red. That’s just wrong!” Charlie added giving him another blow from the opposite direction on his face and another in the gut.

“Are you alright?” Charlie asked taking off his eye patch.

“I am, now! Thanks to you!” I said crossing over Angos who was unconscious on the bathroom floor.

“I just came back to the hallway to get the spare amp cord for my guitar when I heard your scream but God knows what would have happened to you if I hadn’t.” Charlie said giving Angos a brutal kick in the back.

“Everyone have been looking for you. By the way, this witch costume looks great on you. Ryan has arrived, his entire band too. You’re the last piece for the festivities to begin.” Charlie said walking me out of the bathroom.

“Seriously? Then let’s get going.” I said suddenly hastening my steps.

“At some point you are going to have to tell me what was actually going on back there, you know? With your bodyguard always around, how was that going on? Didn’t Gar come along for the Halloween?” Charlie asked fixing his eyes on Red.

“I know and he did. We’re just not on very good terms at the moment okay? And please don’t ask what happened because I won’t tell you!” I replied rudely and quickened my steps both in a bid to avoid his eyes and any more questions from Charlie.

“Well, then, let’s forget that I was ever concerned.” Charlie said putting his eye patch back on. “Come on lad, we have a Halloween to celebrate!” he added using the perfect accent of a pirate captain.

I don’t need anyone to tell me that what I said had hurt his feelings. All Charlie was trying to do was show some level of concern over my well-being but how did I repay him, by giving him a mouthful of hurtful words.

He was angry and by his looks not in the mood to accept an apology from me so I just allowed him to be and kept on walking until we both just got to the back-passageway leading to the hall. Charlie went to get his guitar leaving me in the presence of other musicians including the fabulous ‘Ryan McFlame’.

“You must be Red Adamson!” Ryan said making me turn to look at him with a shocked face. “Nice costume! What do you think of mine? It’s supposed to be a phoenix but they ended up making it look like a golden feathered chicken with enormous wings.”

“Dude…. I mean sir…. You’re…”

“Yes, I know. I’m Ryan McFlame and you’re late!” He said cutting me off softly.

“It’s an honor to meet you.” I said stretching my hand out for a handshake with broad smiles all over me. “…and to be honest, the chicken costume really sucks!”

For a brief moment, I was able to keep behind me, all which transpired between me, Gar, Angos and Charlie before I got here. Ryan took my hand in his for a quick shake. He looked at me for a while almost like he was trying to decipher a code from my appearance.

“Do we know each other from anywhere? What I mean to say is have we met before?” he asked breaking the handshake.

“I don’t think so. You’re famous. I don’t think I would ever forget having met with a celebrity before.” I replied with a meek chuckle. “The festivities should be beginning in a few minutes and I was thinking, would you mind listening to what I have in mind to sing? With you, of course?” I asked handing over my MP3 to Ryan.

“It contains a few songs I came up with having the intent of us both singing them as duets.” I added as he took it from my hand.

“I wouldn’t lie but I can’t say I was expecting this. When I requested for a female lead singer, they didn’t inform me that she’s a song writer too but anyways, let’s see what you’ve got.”

Ryan got a pair of earpieces and plugged them into the MP3. For about 15 minutes, he sat himself on a chair going through what were contained in the music player. By his facial expression, I could tell that he felt irritated by the sounds he was hearing.

I turned away when I observed it.

It made me feel like I had wasted my time and effort compiling those lyrics from my heart from the first to the last word.

At last, Ryan got up from the chair after his personal assistant had informed him that we had about three more minutes before the festivities were to officially begin.

“Well, I want to be completely honest with you.” He began pulling the pair of earpieces out of his ears. “These songs….. They’re…. They’re amazing! You have a pretty lovely voice and it made every word easy for me to grasp! You have the potentials of a pro indeed!” Ryan said as his former facial expressions transformed into beams of smiles. “My favorite is ‘Unbreakable’. I wish I had enough time to listen to them all. Why don’t we begin with that?”

“Sure! You have no idea how I feel hearing you say all these. To have a person of your caliber appreciating my little compilation of songs.” I said proudly.

“What do you say, let’s set New York on fire?” he asked handing over a microphone to me.

“Gladly!” I answered taking it from his hands.

“Boss, the stage-lights are all off. We are live in about 40 seconds.”

Ryan gave me a nod signifying I go out and begin the intro-part of the song. I went out leaving my witch cap on a table. The curtains behind the stage went up and I alongside the instrumentalists went out to begin the festivities with the opening song.

They began the tuning for the song in accordance to what Charlie had clearly told them.

Perfect