Twisted Strings [MONSTER EDITING - Read at your own risk]

The Face of Happiness

11. The Face of Happiness 

After my birthday party, it was time for me and Rhodes to go on stage. The party was normal than I expected and almost everyone showed up. Rhodes gave me the phone cover set as he promised and Dad bought me one of those retro radios with antennas, the sort that people used to have back in days. It was the best gift I could have asked for, since every song I had fallen in love with, I had heard from radio.

''Did you cut your hair?'' It was the first thing Rhodes asked me when I met up with him. Lars and Stella were both with him and Lana had been helping me get ready. I hadn't expected all of them to show up and help us like this, but a lot of unexpected things were happening lately.

''Uh yeah, Lana did it for me.''

''Her hair looked like a forest, so many dead ends! Ever heard of a brush?'' Lana asked me, handing me my white jacket. I had let her help me get ready and after I realized that the outfit she had planned came out splendidly, I let her handle my hair too. She told me to trust me and let her trim the bottoms, and when I closed my eyes, she trimmed a little too much. Now my hair sat right above my shoulders and I had bangs. Bangs!

''And they are yellow...'' Rhodes mattered, touching the strands and examining them,

''That's brown, you dofus! Are you color blind?'' Lars added, giving me an approving look. ''You look wonderful girl, don't let him get to you.''

''I'm not getting anyone, I'm just saying.'' Rhodes said in his defense and shook his head. I gave Lars thumbs up when Rhodes turned his back and we both grinned.

''Uh, I think you guys should get going now.'' Stella reminded us, tapping her wrist watch. It was time, but I wasn't ready yet. I mean I was ready in presentation but not ready to go and sing up there. The club wasn't as crowded as I would have imagined, but it wasn't empty either. Most of the people inside were college students, at least they all looked like they had graduated high school.

''Okay, let's do this.'' I breathed out and Rhodes nodded towards me. Behind us, Lana clapped both of our backs,

''You guys will rock, just make sure you scream your heads out. They love it when you scream.'' I could only crack a nervous smile at that comment.

But the moment we started to leave the waiting room at the back of the club, the manager came in. He was a short and bald man with a busy looking face and a beard. Also, he was always sweating.

''Oh! We were just about to go up.'' Rhodes said when the manager Mr. Sparks joined us.

He looked uncertain as he scratched his head, ''About that, there have been some developments''

Uh oh. I exchanged a wide-eyed look with Lana who was stood beside me. Rhodes gave Mr. Sparks a puzzled look, before glancing at me briefly.

''What's wrong?'' I asked. I didn't know why I assumed that something was wrong, but judging by how the manager was sweating more than usual, I guessed that maybe all this was wishful thinking. And all my doubts were proven right when he hung his head apologetically.

''The band that we signed earlier on showed up and since we had our communication in writing, I can't say no.'' He told us and a shadow passed over Rhodes face.

''B-but you specifically told us! You said we could perform before the actual show!'' He spluttered, waving his hands around wildly.

''I know,'' the manager sighed. ''But my hands are tied. I already made a commitment and I didn't expect them to come back. There was miscommunication in their part and I can't do anything for that.''