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I had to reach out and grab the edge of her cart “Is the girl here? Is he talking about Dawn? The redhead? Can you at least tell me that much?”

She watched htest nod of her head “There is nothing you can do Nothing you can do but watch”

Had this crazy shit happened to o, I wouldn’t have a believed a word this woman said I’d say she’s an obviousher in her dreams But now I knew better

“Please,” I begged, feeling foolish, helpless “You have to tell me more Who are you?”

“I a “I work here”

She began to push her cart ahile I heard Tricky call out, “Sage!”

I turned to look at hio after Tatiana, the crazy elephant lady, but Tricky was already running down the hallway toward me

“You alo,” he said

I watched Tatiana and her cart ruht

“Sage,” Tricky repeated I finally looked over at hi kind of pale”

I wiped a layer of sweat off my forehead and tried to slowheld on to ht Is it that time already?”

Tricky nodded “Yes—well, no, but we have to get our clothes and everything together for tonight We have to coordinate our outfits, don’t you think?”

I gave him a funny look Robbie was like that, too, e played shows Figures that Tricky would be displaying front-o hatever crazy thing you’re going to squeeze your balls into”

He grinned “Bright orange velvet jumpsuit”

I shook my head “My God”

“And platform Alice Cooper boots”

Tricky put his hand onus back to our roo about for the next night So as we passed Dawn’s rooh she didn’t want to talk to me

“Sage, we don’t have tilued to her door “This is a big deal for you, whether you want to ad deal for your fans We can’t mess this up, and I don’t want to ot it?”

I was surprised at the sincerity in his voice, that he was actually taking this seriously for once

I nodded reluctantly “Okay Let’s get ready”

I left Dawn’s door, thinking I could hear her shuffling around on the other side Still that barrier between us

Soundcheck actually went okay I was a little distracted,back to Dawn and back to what the crazy wos left ether Actually, I ed to not sound half bad My voice was a little rahen I hit the few higher notes, and I fuotten (yeah, I wrote them, but believe me, it’s easier said than done), but the players worked out really well and picked up the groove in no time It definitely helped that the sound in the venue was excellent and that they’d been listening to Sage Wisdo each and every crevice of the album

We were about to take a break for lunch when I caught Dawn and Max slinking into the back of the theater, about to sit down on the plush red seats

I looked behind rin and bass played up high; Garth at the keyboards, eyeing me fearfully; Pascal, the wiry beatnik on the drulasses inside and a silk suit I raised uys, let’s take an hour for lunch, okay? Meet back here at three”

“Is that allowed?” Garth spoke up “What if Jacob comes back?”

“I’ll handle Jacob,” I told hiuys eat”

As foron my plate Food could come later

I laid down e,fro the band leave and looking bewildered

“I thought Jacob wanted us to catch the soundcheck,” Max said, adjusting the camera pack around his shoulder

I shrugged “You can when they get back from lunch” I looked to Daho looked a bit frustrated as she clutched her notebook, her pen already out and ready “Can I talk with you? Alone? It’s important”

I knew she didn’t want to say anything to me, but to Max’s credit, he did kind of prod her and say, “You go I’ll be right here It will give ht apertures anyway” He took off his ca out lenses

“Please,” I added, hoping she could see the sincerity in my eyes

She sucked in her lip but said, “Fine”

I started walking down the aisle and she followed I could feel her taking great pains to not walk directly beside or too close tofor her not to tell me to fuck off and run back to Max I had really upset her—far, far ht I could have Now that I was sober, it was really hitting me hard

I really fucked up