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Chapter One

Linc

The club shts are dim and I can barelyin the spot she always sits in—just left of the stage Fros, she has chosen to sit on the side She told h, but she’s really doing it because she wants et more fans

“One look at this face,” she told me, “and they’ll all fall in love”

“I want them to love my music”

“Use them both” She kissed me then Or I kissed her Not sure but we ended up sweaty and naked, that’s for damn sure

“This next song is for all the lovers out there Grab the one or the one for the night”—I pause as the crowd laughs—“and sing this next song with me”

I scoot my stool over a little to the left so I’ht when Cherry’s parents were gone and ere lying in her backyard on a blanket It was suave birth to her had forgotten to pay the utility bill before they went off to ga about hoe didn’t need thehts through the night

I repeat those lyrics now

It may be dark now

But the night can’t last forever

Just hold my hand

And we’ll reach the stars together

The crowd sings it with me I’ve been here before They’ve been here before We’re old friends so I get up frouitar until I reach Cherry’s side Nick, my drummer, holds the beat for roove While the crowd is singing and swaying, I lean over and kiss her until the crowd’s rowdiness makes me push away

I hop back onto the stage, finish up and ht into the rock tune that everyone loves about how I et up, too drunk to reood for this one night, sleep tight, I’ll get right I proht