Rockstar

“Hey, you’re going to be late.”

Azure jumped when Janessa spoke behind her. After a nod of acknowledgement, issued while struggling to pry the last of her textbooks from the locker, she turned to face her friend. “I had trouble getting out of Chemistry. Mr. Oak was trying convince me to tutor Garret.” She dumped the books into her backpack and slung it over her shoulder.

Janessa’s copper eyes gleamed with interest. “You said yes, didn’t you?”

Shaking her head, Azure started walking in the general direction of the auditorium for the drama try-outs. “Of course not. I couldn’t spend that much time with Garret and not trip over my tongue.”

Janessa laughed. “Do it for me. You know I’ve loved him since kindergarten.”

Azure didn’t bother to point out he didn’t even know she existed, except in a casual way, knowing it would do nothing to reduce Janessa’s “love.” She shook her head again. “Nope, not even for you. I can’t talk to him—not even long enough to tutor him.” She shrugged. “You know how shy I am.”

Janessa sighed audibly as she opened the door to the auditorium. “Fine, but you’re breaking my heart.”

With a roll of her eyes, she stepped aside to let Janessa pass. “No, I’m not. You’ll be back to scheming a new plot in no time.”

Janessa giggled as they joined Brandy in seats near the front.

“Sorry we’re late, but Azure was running behind.”

Azure grinned. “I was too busy ruining Janessa’s chance for true love to be on time.”

When the teacher began speaking, everyone fell silent. “I see some new faces this year,” said Mr. Michaels. “Thanks to everyone who turned out. Before we begin the auditions, I just want to say it isn’t a reflection on you if you aren’t chosen for a part. It’s a small play, with only five core characters and a few bit parts. I’ll try to make room for everyone.” He gave them a distracted smile.

All three of the girls, along with a few sitting near them, sighed in unison. Mr. Michaels defined the word sexy, with his gently waving blond hair, sparkling green eyes, and handsome features. He was slightly taller than average and more attractive than any guy at their high school, with a firm body that wasn’t extremely buff. Half the girls at Harnett High were in love with him.

Settling back, she waited for the auditions to begin. She was in the audience for support only, at Brandy’s request, though it seemed unlikely she would get a part. Her friend had a nice voice, but nothing that stood out from the crowd. The three girls had met in choir and recognized kindred spirits. It had taken Azure a long time to open up to the other two, but they were inseparable now. She was thankful they had persisted in their efforts to build a friendship.

Mr. Michaels called the first name, and Azure listened to the girl sing a bland version of a Miley Cyrus song. Three more people followed, and she leaned over to Brandy. “When are they going to call you?” There was no rush to get home, since her grandmother couldn’t care less what she did as long as she wasn’t with a boy and was home before dinnertime, but she was restless. The performers thus far had been lackluster, at best.

Brandy smiled a strange smile. “I’m not sure when I’ll be auditioning.” Her tone alerted Azure something was up, but she didn’t have time to figure it out before she heard her name.

“Azure Wilkins,” Mr. Michaels called, making her freeze. She shot accusing looks at her two friends, shaking her head rapidly. “Azure,” Mr. Michaels said again, scanning the small group.

“Right here.” Brandy pointed to her. All eyes focused on her, and her face burned bright red. She hated to be the center of attention, and all those gazes on her made her squirm.

Janessa was urging Azure to the stage, and Brandy held out a sheet of music. “Go.” Janessa finally succeeded in pushing her from her seat. She stood there awkwardly, debating between running away or getting up on the stage to sing. Was it egotistical to admit she was better than the previous singers? At least they’d had the courage to try, which was more than she seemed capable of doing.

She cast a longing glance to the exit. As if reading her thoughts, Brandy hissed, “Don’t run away. You can do this, and better than anyone I ever heard.” With a deep breath, she slowly turned toward the stage, taking the sheet music Brandy held. Mr. Michaels looked puzzled, and a light buzz of whispered conversation filled the room.

Almost against her will, Azure found herself climbing the stairs to the stage. Averting her eyes from the crowd, she passed her sheet music to the pianist and stood in front of twenty pairs of eyes, thankful Brandy had selected a song she could sing in her sleep.

The music started, and she waited for the cue. When the pianist hit the note, she opened her mouth, but no words emerged. A huge weight seemed to settle on her chest, making it impossible to breathe. All those eyes. The piano ceased abruptly with a harsh crash, and the quiet was worse than the music. Azure could hear the whispering and giggles.

She backed away from the microphone, shaking her head. Mr. Michaels made a note on his clipboard, and she didn’t know whether to be relieved or disappointed. She looked up in surprise when Brandy jumped to her feet. “You can do it, Azure,” she said loudly, making herself the focus of attention. Janessa joined in, and she took strength from their confidence in her.

She approached the microphone again, squeezed her eyes shut, and nodded to the pianist to begin the song again. This time, she was ready when the cue came, and the words flowed from her. As long as she kept her eyes closed, it was possible to sing. Her rich alto filled the auditorium. Without a missed note or garbled word, she finished the song, riding high on a tide of adrenaline.

When the music ended, Azure opened her eyes and crashed back to reality. Face burning, she hurried from the stage, desperate to avoid the eyes of the eerily quiet audience. Suddenly, they burst into applause. Massive thunders of applause, with a catcall here and there. Azure rushed to her seat and huddled in it, unable to believe she’d been as good as the audience’s reaction implied.

After a short hesitation, Mr. Michaels continued calling names. The auditions were over by four. “I’ll have the parts posted by Friday,” he said as everyone filed out.

As soon as they were back in the sunlight, she turned on her friends. “I’m going to kill you. How could you do that to me?” She planted her hands on her hips.

Two girls and a guy interrupted her tirade when they stopped beside her.

“You were terrific.”

“I had no idea you could sing like that.”

“Wow,” said the guy, blushing, and they moved along.

“See, you’re great,” said Janessa. “They loved you. You just blew everyone away, you were so good. You’ll get the lead for sure.”

“Oh, definitely.” Brandy nodded.

Azure rolled her eyes. “I seriously doubt that.” Not that she would take a part if it was offered to her. She’d barely been able to sing in front of twenty or so people. How could she ever do it in front of more than a hundred?

***

Finn tossed his clipboard on his desk and tore off his tie. He propped his feet on the desk in his small office in the auditorium. He fished his cell phone from a trouser pocket and placed a long-distance call to his brother. As soon as Mathias answered, he said, “Mat, I think I’ve found the solution to your problems.”

If it was as usual, he’d been up late last night, just like every night, and had barely been asleep for six hours. It showed in his raspy tone. “What problem?”

“Jada’s departure,” said Finn. “I think I’ve found her replacement.”

“How? Where?” Mathias sounded excited, and all trace of tiredness had disappeared from his voice.

Finn took a deep breath, preparing for his brother’s reaction. “Right here at the high school. I just had a girl audition for a role in our school musical, and she was the best I’ve heard in a long time.”

“A kid?” Mathias sounded skeptical. “How can that help us?”

“I don’t have the details figured out, but she’s damn good, bro. You have to hear her sing.”

***

Mathias hesitated, not wanting to hurt his brother. Finn meant well, but he was no talent scout. After being marooned in a high school for four years, he was bound to be impressed by any level of talent that surpassed the average teen. Still, he was a drama teacher with a minor in music, and he’d once had an ear for talent. He’d been there when Mathias and Dante first formed Burning Starr and helped select Dante’s band members. “When can I hear her?”

“The play is in six weeks.”

Mathias reached for his Blackberry to call up the calendar as Finn gave him the dates.

“Can you make one of the performances?”

“I can make the opening night.” He sighed, already dreading the inconvenience. “We’ll be in Boston then, so I’ll have to catch a flight to Denver and drive to Harnett.”

“Great.” Finn’s enthusiasm was obvious. “I promise you won’t be sorry, Mat.”

Mathias said, “Even if she is as great as you say, how am I going to get her in the band? She’s still in high school, for crap’s sake.”

“She’s a senior and graduates the first week in June.”

Whistling instinctively, Mathias said, “That cuts it close. Jada’s last performance is the end of June. It wouldn’t give us much time to work out the details.”

“Well, keep on looking for a replacement, but keep Azure in mind. She’s fantastic.”

“We’ll see.” Mathias couldn’t quite hide his lack of excitement.

***

Azure couldn’t believe it when she saw her name cast for the lead in the musical. Mouth agape, she stared at the piece of paper, hoping it was just a typo, oblivious to the congratulations offered by the others standing around. In a daze, she turned from the announcement board and walked in the direction of the auditorium. She knocked softly on Mr. Michaels’s office door, struggling with how to word her concerns.

The door opened a moment later, and he smiled, waving her in. She took a seat across the desk from him as he sat down. “I need to talk to you,” she said, looking down at her hands. Her nose twitched at the faint scent of vanilla, but the pleasant smell did nothing to ease her nerves.

Mr. Michaels’s chair creaked when he leaned forward. “Can you speak up?”

She cleared her throat, searching for the right words. “I saw the list,” she blurted out. “I’m Melisande.”

He nodded. “You sure are. You have the best voice I’ve heard in a long time. You’re going to be great in the role.”

She shook her head frantically. “I can’t do it. I shouldn’t have auditioned in the first place. My friends tricked me…” Azure trailed off. “I can’t do it,” she said again.

“Why not?” He wore a ferocious frown that made him intimidating.

“All those people,” whispered Azure. “I can’t get up in front of all those eyes.”

Mr. Michaels’s eyes reflected sympathy. “Stage fright is perfectly normal. All actors go through it, especially their first time.”

“I could barely sing in front of a few people.” She wrung her hands. “How am I supposed to do it in front of a full auditorium?”

Mr. Michaels sighed. “I wish you would at least try,” he said. “You’ll have an understudy. If you absolutely can’t do it, we aren’t without an actor. I just hate to see you waste this opportunity.”

Somehow, Azure found herself agreeing to come to practice on Monday. Mr. Michaels looked relieved, saying to her as she was leaving, “You really are fantastic. I’m not just saying that to get you to take the part. I think you could be the next big thing.”

Blushing from a mixture of embarrassment and pleasure, she fled his office with a mumbled reply. Mr. Michaels was out of his mind.

***

It was no surprise when the first rehearsal was a dismal event. She stood in front of the microphone for several minutes, surrounded by the other actors, and couldn’t get her voice to work. Eventually, Mr. Michaels skipped to a different part of the play. When it was her turn, she was able to say her lines, but couldn’t project them far enough. After rehearsal, once he’d dismissed everyone else, Mr. Michaels took her aside. “I want you to work with me every morning for a half hour before class and a half hour after rehearsal. We’re going to get that beautiful voice out of you.” He looked grimly determined.

She bit back an automatic protest, agreeing with a nod. As she dragged herself home, she wondered if her grandmother would object to the extra time required for practice. It was doubtful, since it would be that much longer she’d be out of Brigette’s home.

Home, she thought bitterly, trudging up the steps of the grand home on Elmore Ave, four blocks from the high school. It had never been home to Azure. Her grandmother hadn’t provided the love or warmth required for her to feel truly at home. Never once could she remember receiving an impulsive hug or a kind word. Instead, Grandmother dispensed harsh words and sharp slaps for all sins, whether real or imagined.

She let herself in quietly, not wanting to disturb Ruth. Her grandmother’s housekeeper was overworked as it was, without having to open the door for Azure. There was no sign of Ruth or her grandmother as she tiptoed up the stairs to her room was on the third floor, in the old servants’ quarters. This time of day was Brigette’s quiet time, and there’d be hell to pay if she disturbed her.

Once in her room, she dropped her bag on the creaky old desk. It had been part of the cramped room long before her arrival. Like the other furnishings, it showed its age clearly with every mark, scratch, and imperfection. Dropping into the lumpy, straight-back chair, she immediately started homework, knowing she would receive a lecture if the work remained unfinished by dinner. She normally had three hours to finish, but rehearsal was from three-fifteen to five. Starting tomorrow, Mr. Michaels wanted her to stay until five-thirty, giving her just one hour to get home and do all her homework.

Azure worked feverishly, finishing with barely five minutes left to change clothes. Tomorrow, she would do some of her homework during lunch instead of socializing and spend time working on it when she wasn’t actively involved in rehearsals. She made a face at herself in the mirror as she ran a brush through the strawberry-blond locks. The thought of giving up her little bit of free time held no appeal, but she couldn’t let down Mr. Michaels and the rest of the cast.

She slipped on a blue dress the same azure shade as her eyes before hurrying down the stairs. Brigette was already waiting in the dining room when she came in, and she slowed to a sedate pace. Her grandmother hated to see a young woman run, because it was undignified.

“You’re two minutes late,” snapped Brigette. “I’ve told you repeatedly to confine your hair when you come to my dinner table. If you can’t care for it properly, you’ll have to cut it.”

“Yes, Grandmother.” Azure knew it would do no good to protest. When her hair was neatly confined in a bun, there was always a hair out of place, or her outfit wasn’t appropriate. Grandmother never failed to find something to pick at. “I’m sorry.” She took a seat at the table as quickly and quietly as possible.

Her grandmother launched into a prayer, which Azure mostly ignored, though her head was bowed. She knew the prayer would include the phrase, “Dear Lord, help the ungrateful in this household learn to appreciate their good fortune.” She wasn’t deliberately ungrateful, but she had little for which to be appreciative.

Her mother had received a trust fund from Brigette’s mother that Azure had inherited when her mother had died. As the trustee, Brigette had tied it up so she couldn’t access it until she was twenty-five. She had no car, little spending money, and received new clothes only once a year. New shoes—two pairs—were provided every six months.

It wasn’t the lack of material things that bothered Azure the most. The lack of love she received from her grandmother wounded her. At some point in her life, she’d been deeply loved by her parents, but had only a few indistinct memories of that time. She was four when she came to live with the austere woman across from her. Her grandmother hadn’t wanted the responsibility of raising the bastard child of her wild daughter.

It didn’t matter to her that Cassie and Richard had lived together for six years. She couldn’t shrug off the shame of an illegitimate grandchild. Ruth had once told her she’d been full of smiles when she arrived in Brigette’s home, but the life had soon drained out of her, leaving the meek shadow she was today.

“Where were you this afternoon?” Brigette asked unexpectedly, over a cold potato soup that Azure particularly hated. “You didn’t get home until five-fifteen. Were you with a boy?”

“No.” Guilt flooded Azure, though she’d done nothing wrong. Her voice emerged sounding defensive. “I was at rehearsal. I have a part in the school play.”

“Will you be able to keep up with your schoolwork?” asked Brigette.

It was doubtful she cared, but probably didn’t want to have to speak with any of her teachers. “Yes, Grandmother.”

“Very well.” Brigette returned to silence. Azure knew the other woman was glad to be rid of her for two more hours each day. Once upon a time, that knowledge would have hurt her, but she’d grown an icy wall around her heart that protected her from most of her grandmother’s casual rejections and daily insults, though they still left an uncomfortable ache in her stomach.

Opening night, a colony of butterflies had taken residence in her stomach. She arrived early to get in costume and take her turn in make-up. Walking into the auditorium and seeing all the empty seats, Azure ran straight for the bathroom. Within an hour, the place would start to fill up. Soon after, she would make her debut in front of all those eyes—critical eyes expecting entertainment for their five dollars. Another rush of bile accompanied the thought that those eyes could paralyze her.

Forcing herself to leave the bathroom, Azure went backstage. Andrea, Mr. Michaels’s wife, was doing the makeup, and she waved her over. “Feeling nervous?” She patted her shoulder.

Still feeling sick, she tried to force a smile. It collapsed immediately. “I don’t know if I can do this.”

Andrea smiled gently. “Finn believes in you, and so do I. I’ve seen you really blossom with the extra practices. You can do this.”

“I hope,” said Azure softly as Andrea started her stage makeup.

***

After paying for his ticket and grabbing a program, Mathias took a seat in the third row. Azure Wilkins was listed as the lead, and he studied her name, wondering what he was doing here. There was no way she could help him out, even if she was as fantastic as Finn had promised. There were too many obstacles to surmount if they asked a seventeen-year-old to replace Jada.

He looked up as Andrea took a seat beside him and leaned over to give his petite sister-in-law a peck on the cheek. “Is everyone ready?”

Andrea nodded, looking unconcerned. “The usual bit of stage fright.”

The lights dimmed, and the audience ceased speaking as the curtain rose. The narrator came out and launched into a brief summary of the setting, and he leaned forward with anticipation, hoping the girl could actually fill in for Jada.

***

Azure stood stiffly as Tom sang the verses to the introduction. In two minutes, she would be out on that stage. She looked up as Chase came to stand beside her. “You’ll do fine,” he said with a smile. She managed a weak smile of her own and forced herself to walk into the spotlight as Tom finished his song.

Frozen, she stood there as the silence lengthened. The music for her first song started, and she stood mute when it reached her cue. A sweeping glance into the faces of the audience revealed, to her amazement, she couldn’t see them or their eyes due to the lighting. The words flowed from her mouth, and she became her character.

An amazing thing happened to Azure as she stood on the stage, performing her role. For a short time, she stopped being herself—painfully shy, outcast Azure Wilkins—and became Melisande. She lost all inhibitions and self-consciousness. She was aware of it happening and surrendered to the moment.

***

Mathias listened to the voice of an angel and stared in wonder. Finn had been right on target with this girl. She was the best he’d heard in a long time, and he’d bet she’d never had any formal training, except maybe choir classes. It was exciting to imagine how she would sound after lessons, making his heart race. He had to have her. Burning Starr desperately needed Azure.

The last scene required her to kiss Chase, and she had always faltered, unable to make it look believable. Tonight, as Melisande, she pressed her lips to his without difficulty and was swept away in the moment. He kissed her back as the curtain fell.

As though awakened from a trance, she immediately returned to herself and stepped away from him, blushing. She stood stiffly with the others as they made their curtain call. She was once again plain Azure and could see everyone in the audience with the house lights up. Their eyes focused on her, and she saw their hands moving but didn’t hear the applause. It was a relief when the curtain fell so she could hurry away from the others to change out of her costume.

The other girls in the dressing room praised her forcefully. She was hugged repeatedly, and someone handed her a bouquet of red roses. It was all a blurry dream to her, and she couldn’t really remember much of the performance. She hoped they were all being sincere instead of nice as they congratulated her and enthused about her performance.

She left a few minutes later, slipping out the side door of the auditorium to walk the four blocks back to Brigette’s home, still in a bit of a fog. Had the night really happened, or would she wake up in her narrow bed only to realize it was all a dream?

Her grandmother was sewing in the sitting room and looked up as Azure came in. “Wash off that make-up. You look like a tramp.” She didn’t inquire about the performance or mention the roses in her hand.

The rest of Azure’s small amount of pleasure evaporated as she hurried upstairs. In her tiny bathroom, she removed the stage make and dressed for bed. She curled up on her stomach, lying in the dark as tears streamed down her face, longing for someone who loved her—someone who would have asked about the play, or even better, would have attended. At that moment, she hated Brigette more than she’d ever done in her life. Knowing her grandmother was a cold, unfeeling woman did nothing to ease the ache in her heart.

***

Mathias found his brother backstage, and the two embraced. “You were right,” he admitted. “She’ll be fabulous. Where is she? I have to meet her.”

Finn looked around, asking several of the students if they’d seen Azure.

“She went home,” said the boy who had played the male lead.

Disappointed, Mathias shook his head. “I have to talk to her. Where does she live?”

One of the girls nearby said, “You can’t go over there. Her grandmother doesn’t allow guests. From what I’ve heard, the old bitch would freak out if a guy showed up.”

His brother visibly winced. “Watch the language, Jill. I have to pretend to care. Oh, and thanks.” Finn turned back to Mathias, looking as disappointed as he felt. “Why don’t you get Dante here and have him check her out tomorrow night? There’s a party after the performance at Chase’s house, so she’ll be hanging around for a while longer. You can talk to her after the show.”

Mathias agreed and found a quiet place to call Dante. “You have to see this girl,” he said. “Get on the next flight to Denver and meet us here tomorrow night at seven.”

***

The next night, the same thing happened to Azure. As soon as she stepped onstage, she became her character. She was dazzling, better than last night, and even she knew it this time. When the curtain closed, she went to the dressing room. “Do you need a ride to Chase’s?” asked Jill, as they removed the heavy makeup.

“I’m not going, but thanks.”

Jill arched a brow. “You have to come. The star of the play can’t just ditch the after-party.”

Biting her lip, Azure slid on a green T-shirt. She hadn’t told her grandmother about the party, because she hadn’t expected to attend. She didn’t really think Brigette would care if she didn’t come home, but rules dictated she had to call to obtain permission. “Let me call my grandmother.” Jill handed over her cell phone, and Ruth answered on the third rang.

“Is Grandmother awake?”

“She doesn’t want to be disturbed by anyone,” said Ruth. “Is something wrong?”

“No.” She gnawed on her lower lip again, wincing at the sharp sting when her teeth breached the skin. Brigette hated having messages passed to her. She expected Azure to obtain her consent for everything before she did it. It would enrage her if Azure went to the party without speaking to her first. Impulsively, Azure said, “I’m going to a party, Ruth. It’s to celebrate the closing of the play, and I don’t know when I’ll be home.”

Ruth drew a deep breath through her teeth, making a whistling sound in her ear. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.” With a bye, she returned the phone to Jill. “I guess I do need a ride,” she said with a false smile, ignoring the twinge of fear that stirred in her stomach.

The girls went backstage to meet the others who’d clustered there. Azure looked up as Mr. Michaels approached her.

“Do you’ve a minute?”

Azure nodded and followed him to his office. Two men stood inside, their gazes focused intently on her. She squirmed under the force of their stares.

The first one was around Mr. Michaels’s height. He resembled Mr. Michaels, except his hair was darker blond and his eyes were a lighter shade of green. When he smiled, she couldn’t help noticing how nice his teeth and lips were.

She switched her attention to the other one and gasped. It was Dante Starr, of Burning Starr. She owned all their music. He was even sexier in person. His black hair was thick and shiny, cut in a spiky style that stood out from his head at odd angles. His green eyes resembled smoky emeralds in person, and he’d grown a small goatee since the last picture she’d seen of him. He was also watching her intently, without the smile.

“Azure, these are my brothers, Mathias Michaels and Dante Starr. Mat and Dante, this is Azure Wilkins.” Mathias extended his hand, and she shook it hesitantly, unaccustomed to adults initiating handshakes. Dante did not offer his hand.

“You were great,” said Mathias. “I saw both performances, and you were even better tonight.”

“Thanks.” The small room was claustrophobic with the men crowded inside. They changed the atmosphere of the room. It was overwhelming, since she was inexperienced with boys her own age let alone men, thanks to her grandmother. “Um, I should go. Jill’s waiting for me.”

“Hold on.” Dante spoke for the first time, his voice husky. “We want to talk to you about something. By the way, you were good,” he added in an offhanded way.

Finn gestured to a chair. “Have a seat.”

Azure sat down, feeling even more claustrophobic as they loomed over her. Loomed wasn’t really the right word, as none of them were taller than five-eleven, but sitting put her at a disadvantage.

“Have you heard of Burning Starr?” asked her teacher.

Azure nodded her head. “Yes, Mr. Michaels. I have all their CDs.” She glanced shyly at Dante.

He seemed amused. “That’s nice. So, you’re a fan?”

Azure nodded again, blushing fiercely. She was having a conversation, sort of, with Dante Starr. No way.

“Did you know Jada Mitchell is leaving the group in June?”

“I’d heard that.”

“We need a replacement,” said Dante. “We want you.”

Azure sat there, stunned at his announcement. She must not have heard correctly, or maybe she was still in her small bedroom on Elmore. She must be dreaming. She’d wake up to find the play had never happened, she’d certainly never met Dante Starr, and she had definitely not heard him say that he wanted her to join Burning Starr. “Excuse me?” Azure’s voice emerged as a timid squeak. She discreetly pinched herself, feeling some pain, which confirmed she wasn’t dreaming.

Mathias rolled his eyes. “What my less-than-subtle little brother means is we think you’ve a wonderful voice and would like you to replace Jada.”

She managed to speak, though it was difficult to get the words past her dry throat. “For how long?”

Mathias shrugged. “Indefinitely, I suppose.”

“College,” she whispered for some reason. The truth was Azure hadn’t enrolled in a college anywhere. Brigette frowned on higher education for women and refused to pay for Azure to attend university or authorize the expense from her trust fund. She made good grades but wasn’t active enough with the school to receive any scholarships. She hadn’t applied for financial aid for anything, having expected she would get a job until she was twenty-five and finally free of Brigette.

“Almost every school has online degree programs now—that’s what I’m doing.” Dante looked like he was preparing to wrestle her next objection into submission.

Azure shook her head, still disbelieving. “How soon?”

“Right away,” said Dante.

Mathias answered at the same time. “After you graduate.”

“My grandmother won’t let me,” she whispered with a sinking sensation in her stomach.

Dante grimaced. “I’m sure we can get her to agree. Let us talk to her. If she says no, we’ll deal with that problem.”

Bewildered, Azure let their voices flow over her, finding herself agreeing to let them meet her grandmother tomorrow at eleven. “She won’t go for it,” she said once more before leaving the men in the office. Jill was still waiting for her, and she spilled the story.

Jill curled one side of her mouth. “You’re saying Dante Starr and his business manager, who’s also his brother, just walked in and asked you to join Burning Starr?”

Azure nodded, understanding her friend’s skepticism. She still didn’t completely believe it herself. “It’s the truth, Jill.” She pointed to the three brothers as they emerged from Mr. Michaels’s office. “There they are.”

Jill looked over and swooned at the sight of Dante Starr. “Omigod, I have to have his autograph.” She tried to push her way through the milling crowd, but others thwarted her attempts to reach him. Giving up, she turned back to Azure. “Promise me you’ll get his autograph tomorrow.”

“I’ll try.” She wouldn’t have the nerve to ask him. He was too unapproachable for her to request anything from him. “Are you ready?”

They drove to Chase’s home, and his mother opened the door. She greeted all the guests, much to her son’s exasperation. His father finally pulled her from the room, and someone turned up the music. A table laden with food had stacks of soda cans, so she took one.

Within half an hour, Jill had managed to tell everyone about Dante Starr approaching Azure to join Burning Starr. She became almost an instant celebrity and finally slipped out to the patio to escape it all. She was drinking her soda and fantasizing about singing with Dante when Chase joined her.

“You were great.”

“Thanks.” Azure dropped her eyes shyly, still sipping at the mostly empty can, just to have something to focus her attention on.

“Congratulations about Burning Starr.”

“It won’t go anywhere,” said Azure, her voice betraying sadness she hadn’t intended to project. “My grandmother will see to that.”

Chase shrugged. “You’ll be eighteen soon. She can’t keep you a prisoner forever.” His tone changed. “Is it true she won’t let you date?”

Azure choked. “Um, she discourages it, but I’ve never been asked out before, so she’s always been happy.” Or as happy as Brigette ever was, she added silently.

“Are you going to the prom?” He seemed to find the patio tile as interesting as she found the aluminum soda can.

Shrugging, Azure set her drink aside, hugging herself as she noticed the chill. “I don’t know. I hadn’t planned to, because I don’t have a date.”

“You wanna go with me?” he asked in a rush, briefly flicking a glance at her before returning his attention to the ground. “It’ll be fun.” He scuffed the toe of his tennis shoe against the ground. “My dad’s springing for a limo.”

Her cheeks were warm, and she struggled to find a breath. She’d often dreamed of a guy, any guy, asking her out, and it was finally happening. Chase might not be her dream guy, but he was sweet and liked her. “Yes?” It sounded more like a question when she answered, but he didn’t seem to notice.

“Great.” Chase hugged her.

He seemed embarrassed by his impromptu display of affection, and she could see the ruddy coloring in his cheeks. Hers must match.

“We’ll nail down the details on Monday,” he said, looking like he wanted to make a fast escape, now that the hard part was over.

She bit back a grin, surprised she could be amused and embarrassed. “That would be great.”

***

She stayed at the party for two hours before catching a ride home with a group of people. Her grandmother had gone to bed already, but Azure found a terse note on her door.

“You’re grounded for two weeks.”

Prom was next weekend.

Azure threw herself across the small bed and wept a storm of tears. In her abject misery, she almost forgot about Dante and Mathias’s upcoming visit, and how joining the band could change her life. The excitement of that unlikely possibility paled in comparison to her grandmother depriving her of yet another normal opportunity.